Discovering device drivers within a domain

• US 9,729,607 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Candi Controls, Inc.
• Inventors: Raschke, Steve, Anderson, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAO HONG
• Application Number:
  US14/952,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20160156695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709217, 709220, 709221, 709223, 709224, 709225, 709227, 709230, 719321, 719327
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A system for managing a domain in a premises is described. The system includes: an action identifier coupled with a server, the action identifier identifies an action to be mapped to a device of the at least one device, wherein the device comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol; a device driver determiner coupled with the server, the device driver determiner determines a device driver that supports a second protocol, wherein the second protocol supports the action; a comparer coupled with the server, the comparer compares the second protocol with a domain configuration store comprising device configuration information for the at least one device; and a device driver implementer coupled with the server, the device driver implementer implements, based on the comparing, the device driver when the first protocol corresponds to the second protocol such that the action is enabled for performance.

Claims

1. A method for automatically mapping an action requested to be performed on a specified device of at least one device in a domain, said method comprising:

identifying, at a computer system, an action to be performed on said specified device, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on said specified device, wherein said specified device comprises a communication port, wherein said communication port is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a functioning of said action on said specified device, wherein said specified device is communicatively coupled to said computer system via said communication port;

comparing, at said computer system, said first protocol with a domain configuration store, wherein said domain configuration store comprises device configuration information for said at least one device;

based on said comparing, determining, at said computer system, which device driver, that is coupled with said specified device, supports a second protocol, wherein said second protocol supports said functioning of said action on said specified device, and wherein said second protocol matches said first protocol such that said device driver is able to support said action for performance on said specified device; and

based on said determining which device driver supports said second protocol, implementing, at said computer system, said device driver to perform said action on said specified device, wherein said action is for performance using said device driver communicatively coupled to said specified device via said computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:

managing an application, wherein said application controls said at least one device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking data associated with said at least one device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending tracked data to a remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said physical communication method is coupled with a legacy device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discovering a device of said at least one device on a premises.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

notifying a subscriber of a discovered device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method for automatically mapping an action requested to be performed on a specified device of at least one device in a domain, said method comprising:

identifying an action to be performed on said specified device, wherein said action comprises running a third party application on said specified device, wherein said specified device comprises a communication port, wherein said communication port is defined by a physical communication method and a first protocol operating on said communication port, wherein said first protocol supports a functioning of said action on said specified device, wherein said specified device is communicatively coupled to said computer via said communication port;

comparing said first protocol with a domain configuration store, wherein said domain configuration store comprises device configuration information for said at least one device;

based on said comparing, determining which device driver, that is coupled with said specified device, supports a second protocol, wherein said second protocol also supports said functioning of said action on said specified device, and wherein said second protocol matches said first protocol such that said device driver is able to support said action for performance on said specified device; and

based on said determining which device driver supports said second protocol, implementing said device driver to perform said action on said specified device, wherein said action is for performance using said device driver communicatively coupled to said specified device via said computer system.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

populating said at least one device;

editing said at least one device; and

tracking data for said at least one device, wherein tracked data comprises;

device configuration information; and

usage data.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

uploading tracked data to a remote location.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

reporting data for said at least one device.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

actuating said action based on one of a user input and at least one predetermined condition.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting pre-categorized content from available sources by hierarchy, wherein said available sources reside within an accessible network.

14. A method for maintaining a domain in a premises, wherein said domain is coupled with a remote server, said method comprising:

receiving a set of instructions relating to managing said domain, wherein said set of instructions comprises a complete set of instructions associated with said managing a configuration of said domain such that said domain functions according to said complete set of instructions without any further communication necessary between said remote server with a local server until a change in said domain occurs, wherein said change requires an update to said remote server and components coupled therewith, wherein said domain comprises;

at least one device, a device of said at least one device comprising a communication port that supports a first protocol matching a second protocol, wherein said second protocol is supported by a device driver that is coupled with said domain such that said device driver is able to support an action for performance on said device and wherein said action is for performance using said device driver communicatively coupled to said device via said local server;

establishing a secure connection between said local server and said remote server;

exchanging device configuration information between said local server and said remote server; and

based on said exchanging, updating an application residing on at least one of said remote server and a computing device that is separate from said remote server and updating device configuration information stored on a first database coupled with said remote server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said updating said application comprises updating a second database coupled with said local server.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

creating preload files for said application.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

least one of adding and removing a device driver to accommodate a change made to said domain.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

downloading code to said remote server.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

instructing, by said local server, said remote server to perform a task.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a mirror image of an application managed at said remote server, wherein said mirror image is accessible to a subscriber over a wide area network via said mirror image.