Methods and systems for acquiring and processing data at intelligent edge devices via software kernels

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software code for performing a method of acquiring and processing data about an environment, the software code causing a processor of each edge device in a system of edge devices and sensors to perform the method comprising:

• operating as a sensor gateway for managing communication with the other edge devices and the sensors;
• performing edge environment analytics based on information about the environment and sensor data;
• and
• operating as a switchboard to perform edge switchboard analytics based on information about the system, the information including libraries identifying a communication and data protocol for each other edge device, for non-edge devices, and for each sensor available to the system;
• wherein when the processor operates as the sensor gateway, the method further comprises the steps of:
• managing the communication with the other edge devices, the non-edge devices, and the sensors available to the system based on at least one of the libraries included in the system information;
• wherein when the processor operates as the switchboard, the method further comprises the steps of:
• identifying at least a portion of the system information and storing the identified system information in the memory, the system information further including:
• one or more resources associated with any of the other edge devices;
• communication information including protocols, data formats, and properties associated with each of the system, the other edge devices, and the resources associated with the other edge devices;
• and
• an operational status and information associated with each of the system, the other edge devices, and the resources associated with the other edge devices;
• sending a request to another edge device to obtain or update system information for performing the switchboard analytics;
• using at least one of the libraries in the system information to identify the resources associated with the other edge devices that are available to provide data which can be used in performing the environment analytics;
• sending a request to another edge device to obtain environment information;
• establishing a registry of the other edge devices and sensors in the environment;
• managing a use of available communications protocols to communicate with another edge device or non-edge device in the system based on the communication information;
• managing a frequency and size of data communicated to another edge device or non-edge device based on a capacity of available communication protocols/channels;
• converting system information to appropriate formats and protocols based on the communication information, the conversion enabling communication with another edge device and enabling environment information to be provided in formats appropriate for the other edge device to use in performing edge environment analytics;
• receiving a request from another edge device to provide environment information that the requesting edge device requires to perform edge environment analytics;
• receiving environment information from other edge and non-edge devices;
• and
• sending environment information to another edge device in response to a request to provide the environment information the other edge device requires to perform edge environment analytics.

A method for acquiring and processing data about an environment in a system of edge devices and sensors, each edge device being configured to:

• operate as a sensor gateway for managing communication with other edge devices and the sensors;
• perform edge environment analytics based on information about the environment and sensor data;
• and operate as a switchboard to perform edge switchboard analytics based on information about the system, the information including libraries identifying a communication and data protocol for each other edge device, for non-edge devices, and for each sensor available to the system, the method performed by a processor at each edge device comprising:
• when operating as the sensor gateway, the processor performing the steps including:
• managing the communication with the other edge devices, the non-edge devices, and the sensors available to the system based on at least one of the libraries included in the system information;
• and
• when operating as the switchboard, the processor performing the steps including:
• identifying at least a portion of the system information and storing the identified system information in the memory, the system information further including:
• one or more resources associated with any of the other edge devices;
• communication information including protocols, data formats, and properties associated with each of the system, the other edge devices, and the resources associated with the other edge devices;
• and
• an operational status and information associated with each of the system, the other edge devices, and the resources associated with the other edge devices;
• sending a request to another edge device to obtain or update system information for performing the switchboard analytics;
• using at least one of the libraries in the system information to identify the resources associated with the other edge devices that are available to provide data which can enhance the environment analytics;
• sending a request to another edge device to obtain environment information;
• establishing a registry of the other edge devices and sensors in the environment;
• managing the use of available communications protocols to communicate with non-edge devices and the other edge devices in the system based on the communication information;
• managing a frequency and size of data communicated to another edge device or non-edge device based on a capacity of available communication protocols/channels;
• converting system information to appropriate formats and protocols based on the communication information, the conversion enabling communication with another edge device and enabling environment information to be provided in formats appropriate for the other edge device to use in performing edge environment analytics;
• receiving a request for data from another edge device to provide environment information that the requesting edge device requires to perform edge environment analytics;
• receiving environment information from other edge and non-edge devices;
• and
• sending environment information to another edge device in response to a request to provide the environment information the other edge device requires to perform edge environment analytics.