Device control system

A method of controlling at least one device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) creating a device abstraction unit that respectively corresponds to the device, transmits data or information to and from the corresponding device, and removes a difference in control procedure due to a type of the corresponding device, so as to provide an application unit, which is constructed by a specified applications program, with an identical control environment, which does not depend upon the type of the device;
• (b) creating an interface unit that respectively corresponds to the device abstraction unit, is connected to the corresponding device abstraction unit via a communications path, and mediates transmission of data or information between the corresponding device abstraction unit and the application unit;
• (c) creating a communications path abstraction unit that respectively corresponds to the interface unit and removes a difference in control procedure due to a type of the communications path, which connects the corresponding interface unit with the device abstraction unit further corresponding to the interface unit, so as to provide the application unit with an identical control environment, which does not depend upon the type of the communications path;
• and
• (d) causing the application unit to control the device via the interface unit, the communications path abstraction unit, and the device abstraction unit.

A computer program product for constructing a device control system for controlling at least one device, said computer program product comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• a first program code segment that causes a computer to create a device abstraction unit that respectively corresponds to the device, transmits data or information to and from the corresponding device, and removes a difference in control procedure due to a type of the corresponding device, so as to provide an application unit, which is constructed by a specified applications program, with an identical control environment, which does not depend upon the type of the device;
• a second program code segment that causes the computer to create an interface unit that respectively corresponds to the device abstraction unit, is connected to the corresponding device abstraction unit via a communications path, and mediates transmission of data or information between the corresponding device abstraction unit and the application unit;
• and
• a third program code segment that causes the computer to create a communications path abstraction unit that respectively corresponds to the interface unit and removes a difference in control procedure due to a type of the communications path, which connects the corresponding interface unit with the device abstraction unit further corresponding to the interface unit, so as to provide the application unit with an identical control environment, which does not depend upon the type of the communications path,
• wherein each of the program code segments is stored in the computer readable medium.