Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11729255-B2
Application number	US-202117455005-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2021
Priority date	Aug 11, 2008
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods include a cloud hub located in a premises, and the cloud hub comprises adapters configured for coupling to premises devices. The cloud hub is configured as a gateway for the premises devices. The system includes a virtual gateway located in a cloud server environment and coupled to the cloud hub. The virtual gateway is configured as a server-side abstraction of the cloud hub. The cloud hub and the virtual gateway are configured as an automation platform that maintains state data of the premises devices, controls interaction among the premises devices, and monitors and manages the premises devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A server device comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server device to:
receive, by a virtual gateway of the server device located external to a premises, from one or more of a premises gateway located at the premises and a plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices, wherein the virtual gateway is configured based on the premises gateway and the premises gateway is in communication with the plurality of premises devices; and
determine, by the virtual gateway, and based on the state data, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

2. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises an instance of a plurality of virtual gateways running on the server device.

3. The server device of claim 2 , further comprising a registry gateway, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
determine, by the registry gateway, the virtual gateway from the plurality of virtual gateways; and
route, by the registry gateway, incoming data from the premises gateway to the virtual gateway.

4. The server device of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of virtual gateways is configured based on a different corresponding premises gateway of a plurality of different premises gateways.

5. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises a server-side abstraction of the premises gateway.

6. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
run, on the virtual gateway, a first gateway state machine; and
wherein a second gateway state machine runs on the premises gateway.

7. The server device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
store, by the first gateway state machine, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and
manage, by the first gateway state machine, the plurality of premises devices.

8. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices via a cellular connection.

9. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
receive, by the virtual gateway, inbound communications comprising packet communications; and
send, by the virtual gateway, outbound communications comprising short message server (SMS) messages.

10. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with the premises gateway via one or more of a broadband connection or a cellular connection.

11. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
send, by the virtual gateway and to a remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and
receive, by the virtual gateway and from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

12. The server device of claim 11 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with the remote device via at least one of a mobile portal or a web portal.

13. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen controller, a video camera, an input/output (I/O) device, an actuator, and a device controller that controls an attached device.

14. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:
receive, by the virtual gateway, instructions to takeover functionality of the premises gateway;
receive, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and from the plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and
send, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and to the plurality of premises devices, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

15. A non-tranistory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:
receiving, by a virtual gateway located external to a premises, from one or more of a premises gateway located at the premises and a plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices, wherein the virtual gateway is configured based on the premises gateway and the premises gateway is in communication with the plurality of premises devices; and
determining, by the virtual gateway, and based on the state data, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
determining, by a registry gateway, the virtual gateway from a plurality of virtual gateways; and
routing, by the registry gateway, incoming data from the premises gateway to the virtual gateway.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises a server-side abstraction of the premises gateway.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
running, on the virtual gateway, a first gateway state machine; and
wherein a second gateway state machine runs on the premises gateway.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
storing, by the first gateway state machine, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and
managing, by the first gateway state machine the plurality of premises devices.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices via a cellular connection.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
receiving, by the virtual gateway, inbound communications comprising packet communications; and
sending, by the virtual gateway, outbound communications comprising short message server (SMS) messages.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with the premises gateway via one or more of a broadband connection of a cellular connection.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
sending, by the virtual gateway and to a remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and
receiving, by the virtual gateway and from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with the remote device via at least one of a mobile portal or a web portal.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:
sending, by the virtual gateway and to the remote device, the state data of the plurality of premises devices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of premises devices com

Assignees

• Icontrol Networks Inc

Inventors

• Kitchen Jim
• Gates Corey
• Decenzo Chris

Classifications

• H04L67/125

  involving control of end-device applications over a network · CPC title

• H04L67/025

  for remote control or remote monitoring of applications · CPC title

• H04L41/40

  using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities · CPC title

• H04L67/10 Primary

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title

• G06F16/972 Primary

  Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation · CPC title