Distributed control scheme for remote control and monitoring of devices through a data network

A method for providing automatic control of one or more devices in an environment, the method comprising:

• connecting the one or more devices to a hub, the hub being in communication with a central server through a data network and being configured to execute event handlers to issue commands to the devices and receive data from the devices in response to events and actions specified in the event handlers;
• retrieving a physical graph describing the devices and the hub in the environment;
• receiving a selection of an automation application, the automation application responding to an event and issuing an action in response, wherein the automation application comprises one or more event handlers, each event handler specifying an event and an action, and wherein an event handler is executed to issue the specified action on one or more devices in the environment in response to the specified event;
• retrieving configuration information for devices specified by the automation application;
• receiving a selection of devices meeting a specification of the automation application;
• and
• determining a deployment strategy for the automation application on an event handler by event handler basis, including, determining for each event handler whether the event handler is to be installed at the hub to handle events at the hub or at a central server to handle events at the central server based, at least in part, on a configuration of the hub and the devices in the environment, and the action specified by the event handler,
• for each event handler determined to be installed at the hub, installing the event handler at the hub to be executed at the hub to issue commands to the devices and/or receive data from the devices in the environment in response to a first set of events;
• and
• for each event handler determined to be installed at the central server, installing the event handler at the central server to be executed at the central server to issue commands to the devices and/or receive data from the devices in the environment in response to a second set of events, the first set of event handlers being different from the second set of event handlers.

A system for providing automatic control of one or more devices in an environment, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
• connect the one or more devices to a hub, the hub being in communication with a central server through a data network and being configured to execute event handlers to issue commands to the devices and receive data from the devices in response to events and actions specified in the event handlers;
• retrieve a physical graph describing the devices and the hub in the environment;
• receive a selection of an automation application, the automation application responding to an event and issuing an action in response, wherein the automation application comprises one or more event handlers, each event handler specifying an event and an action, and wherein an event handler is executed to issue the specified action on one or more devices in the environment in response to the specified event;
• retrieve configuration information for devices specified by the automation application;
• receive a selection of devices meeting a specification of the automation application;
• and
• determine a deployment strategy for the automation application on an event handler by event handler basis, including, determining for each event handler whether the event handler is to be installed at the hub to handle events at the hub or at a central server to handle events at the central server based, at least in part, on a configuration of the hub and the devices in the environment, and the action specified by the event handler;
• for each event handler determined to be installed at the hub, installing the event handler at the hub to be executed at the hub to issue commands to the devices and/or receive data from the devices in the environment in response to a first set of events;
• and
• for each event handler determined to be installed at the central server, installing the event handler at the central server to be executed at the central server to issue commands to the devices and/or receive data from the devices in the environment in response to a second set of events.