System and method for automating generation of an automated sensor network

A method for automatically generating an application software unit, comprising the steps of:

• receiving values of one or more configurable parameters;
• extracting one or more components from a component repository in accordance with the received values;
• and
• combining the components with an application framework to generate the application software unit.

A system for automatically generating an application software unit, comprising:

• means for receiving values of one or more configurable parameters;
• means for extracting one or more components from a component registry in accordance with the received values;
• and
• means for combining the components with an application framework to generate the application software unit.

A system for automatically generating executable application software for a network of sensors or actuators, said application software comprising one or more of an executable software unit resident on embedded sensor or actuator nodes, an executable software unit resident on gateways which collect data from or control the operation of a plurality of said sensor nodes, and an executable software unit resident on a server which collects data from or controls the operation of a plurality of said gateways, said system comprising:

• a plurality of software components, each of which perform one or more logically related functions, each said software component consisting of a core that performs the function or functions of the component, an interface that allows the component to interact with other components, and a shell that contains descriptive or quantitative information regarding the component;
• a component repository that stores said plurality of software components;
• an application framework which defines the structure of the application software and which provides an infrastructure for said components to interact with each other;
• and
• a graphical user interface for inputting parameters of said network of sensors or actuators;
• wherein
• said system for automatically generating said application software units further comprises:
• means for obtaining user input of the parameters of said application software for said network of sensors or actuators using said graphical interface;
• means for choosing a plurality of said software components based on said the parameters of the said application software;
• means for retrieving said plurality of software components from said component repository;
• means for removing said shell that contains descriptive or quantitative information regarding the component from each of said plurality of software components;
• and
• means for combining the resultant components with said application framework to produce one more of said executable application software units.

A system for generating a software component from a software core module that performs one or more logically related functions, said system comprising:

• a component repository that stores a plurality of said software components;
• a graphical user interface for selecting a software core module, for specifying the interface of the software core module according to a pre-defined format and for specifying a shell for the software core module that contains descriptive or quantitative information regarding the module according to a pre-defined format;
• said system for generating the software component, further comprising:
• means for combining the said software core module with the said interface of the software core module and with the said shell for the software core module to produce the said software component;
• and
• means for storing the said software component in the said component repository.