Controlling Devices Using Cloud Services and Device-Agnostic Pipe Mechanisms
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorEhab Sobhy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An environment is described in which a cloud-implemented service system controls a plurality of target devices via a plurality of respective device-agnostic pipe mechanisms. The target devices themselves may represent “dumb” devices, e.g., lacking local control logic, or providing reduced reliance on local control logic. Users may interact with the service system via applications running on any type of user devices.
Claims20
A service system, implemented by one or more computer devices, comprising:
- a plurality of service modules configured to provide a plurality of respective services, the services, in turn, for use in controlling a plurality of target devices;
- a controlled device interface module configured to allow the target devices to interact with the services via a plurality of pipe mechanisms that are associated with the respective target devices;
- and
- a user device interface module configured to allow a plurality of user devices to interact with the services,
- the service system being accessible to the pipe mechanisms via a wide area network.
A pipe mechanism for providing interaction between a service system and a target device, comprising:
- a device interface mechanism configured to:
- receive data from the target device;
- provide control instructions to the target device, which cause the target device to perform a function;
- a service interface mechanism configured to communicate with a remote service system, the service system having at least one service that is configured to:
- receive the data from the target device;
- and
- provide the control instructions to the target device;
- a processing module configured to control operation of the pipe mechanism;
- and
- a data store for storing data for use in controlling operation of the pipe mechanism,
- the pipe mechanism being configured in a device-agnostic manner, enabling the pipe mechanism to interact with plural kinds of target devices.
A method for interacting with a plurality of target devices, comprising:
- providing a service system implemented by one or more servers, the service system providing a plurality of service modules, each service module providing a service;
- and
- using the service system to control a plurality of target devices via a plurality of pipe mechanisms which couple to the target devices,
- each pipe mechanism incorporating device-agnostic functionality that enables the pipe mechanism to interact with plural kinds of target devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.