Reusing domain-specific rules in a cloud-based internet of things system

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions to be executed in a computer system to carry out a method of processing data in an internet-of-things (IoT) system having a plurality of hubs and devices in a tree hierarchy, the method comprising:

• percolating a formula down the tree hierarchy to a hub of the plurality of hubs, the formula associating a higher-order stimulus with a response, the higher-order stimulus and the response defined with respect to a plurality of sensor devices of the devices;
• forwarding the formula from the hub to a local hub of the hubs in response to determining, at the hub, that the hub is not logically closest to the plurality of sensor devices;
• receiving, at the local hub, data collected by a plurality of sensor devices of the devices;
• evaluating, at the local hub, the received data to determine whether each of a plurality of stimuli is satisfied, wherein the higher-order stimulus is defined in terms of the plurality of stimuli and is satisfied when each of the plurality of stimuli is satisfied;
• and
• in response to the higher-order stimulus being satisfied, causing by the local hub one or more actuator devices of the devices to perform the response specified in the formula that associates the higher-order stimulus with the response.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a program, which, when executed on the processor, performs an operation of processing data in an internet-of-things (IoT) system having a plurality of hubs and devices in a tree hierarchy, the operation comprising:
• percolating a formula down the tree hierarchy to a hub of the plurality of hubs, the formula associating a higher-order stimulus with a response, the higher-order stimulus and the response defined with respect to a plurality of sensor devices of the devices;
• forwarding the formula from the hub to a local hub of the hubs in response to determining, at the hub, that the hub is not logically closest to the plurality of sensor devices:
• receiving, at the local hub, data collected by a plurality of sensor devices of the devices;
• evaluating, at the local hub, the received data to determine whether each of a plurality of stimuli is satisfied, wherein the higher-order stimulus is defined in terms of the plurality of stimuli and is satisfied when each of the plurality of stimuli is satisfied;
• and
• in response to the higher-order stimulus being satisfied, causing by the local hub one or more actuator devices of the devices to perform the response specified in the formula that associates the higher-order stimulus with the response.