Remote device control

A gateway device for control of Internet of Things devices, the gateway device comprising:

• a network interface for connection to a server arrangement;
• a local data store;
• a device interface for connection to one or more Internet of Things devices;
• and
• processing means of the gateway device, wherein the processing means of the gateway device are configured to:
• establish through the network interface a network connection with the server arrangement;
• establish an agency relationship with the server arrangement to create a distributed management architecture, the agency relationship authorising the gateway device to perform control of Internet of Things devices on behalf of the server arrangement;
• receive security credentials over a network connection from the server arrangement,
• establish through the device interface a data connection to one or more Internet of Things devices;
• use the received security credentials to obtain control of the one or more Internet of Things devices;
• receive tasks assigned from the server arrangement, over a network connection, for the gateway device to perform on behalf of the server arrangement;
• perform assigned tasks on the one or more Internet of Things devices asynchronously;
• receive from the one or more Internet of Things devices, over a data connection, event data relating to the one or more Internet of Things devices;
• store the received event data in the local data store;
• and
• transfer to the server arrangement, over a network connection, the event data relating to the one or more Internet of Things devices from the local data store.

A method for the control of Internet of Things devices, comprising:

• establishing a data connection between a server arrangement and a gateway device;
• transferring security credentials from the server arrangement over the data connection to the gateway device, to enable the gateway device to obtain control of one or more Internet of Things devices;
• establishing an agency relationship between the server arrangement and the gateway device or user of the gateway device to authorise the gateway device or user of the gateway device to perform control of Internet of Things devices on behalf of the server arrangement, creating a distributed management architecture;
• assigning tasks to the gateway device to be performed on behalf of the server arrangement;
• establishing a local network connection between the gateway device and the Internet of Things device;
• using the transferred security credentials to establish a secure relationship between the gateway and Internet of Things device;
• and
• performing one or more of the assigned tasks on the Internet of Things device;
• receiving at the gateway device, via a local network connection, event data from the Internet of Things device in respect of performed tasks;
• transmitting from the gateway device to the server arrangement, over a data connection, event data relating to Internet of Things devices controlled by the gateway device;
• and
• storing the transmitted event data in a data store.

A method for the control of Internet of Things devices, performed at a server arrangement, the method comprising:

• establishing a data connection between the server arrangement and a gateway device;
• transferring security credentials from the server arrangement to the gateway device over the data connection, to enable the gateway device to establish a secure relationship between the gateway and an Internet of Things device and to obtain control of the Internet of Things devices;
• establishing an agency relationship between the server arrangement and the gateway device or user of the gateway device authorising the gateway device or user of the gateway device to perform control of Internet of Things devices on behalf of the server arrangement, creating a distributed management architecture;
• assigning tasks to the gateway device to be performed on behalf of the server arrangement;
• subsequently receiving from the gateway device event data relating to assigned tasks performed on or by the Internet of Things device;
• and
• storing the received event data in a data store.

A method for the control of Internet of Things devices, performed at a gateway device, the method comprising:

• establishing a data connection between a server arrangement and the gateway device;
• receiving security credentials from the server arrangement over the data connection;
• establishing an agency relationship between the server arrangement and the gateway device or user of the gateway device authorising the gateway device or user of the gateway device to perform control of Internet of Things devices on behalf of the server arrangement, creating a distributed management architecture;
• receiving an assignment of tasks to be performed on behalf of the server arrangement;
• establishing a local network connection between the gateway device and an Internet of Things device;
• using the received security credentials to establish a secure relationship between the gateway and the Internet of Things device;
• performing assigned tasks on the Internet of Things device asynchronously;
• receiving from the Internet of Things device, over a local network connection, event data relating to the Internet of Things device;
• storing the received event data in a local data store;
• and
• transmitting to the server arrangement, over a data connection, event data relating to the Internet of Things device.