WEB SERVICES PLATFORM WITH INTEGRATION OF DATA INTO SMART ENTITIES

1 . A web services platform comprising:

an entity database storing a plurality of interconnected smart entities, the smart entities comprising:

object entities representing a plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces; and

data entities representing data associated with the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the smart entities being interconnected by relational objects indicating relationships between the object entities and the data entities;

a software defined gateway configured to receive information technology (IT) data and operational technology (OT) data from a plurality of different data sources, wherein:

the IT data describe one or more characteristics of the physical devices, people, or spaces, the characteristics being static or changing at a first rate and

the OT data describe one or more dynamic states or conditions the physical devices, people, or spaces, the states or conditions being dynamic or changing at a second rate faster than the first rate;

an entity service configured to create a new smart entity in the entity database or update an existing smart entity in the entity database using the IT data and the OT data, the new or existing smart entity comprising one or more first attributes having values derived from the IT data and one or more second attributes having values derived from the OT data.

2 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the software defined gateway is configured to use a different communications protocol to communicate with each of the plurality of different data sources.

3 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data sources comprise at least two of internet of things (IoT) devices, building equipment, a weather service, a news service, a document service, or a media service.

4 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the IT data describe a plurality of smart entities and the relationships therebetween.

5 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the OT data comprise event data received in real-time from a web-based service, the web-based service comprising at least one of a web-based advertising service, a website traffic monitoring service, a web-based sales service, or a web-based analytics service.

6 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the OT data comprise data samples collected from internet of things (IoT) devices comprising at least one of physical devices, sensors, actuators, electronics, vehicles, or home appliances.

7 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein a first smart entity of the plurality of interconnected smart entities comprises a first attribute identifying a physical device represented by the first smart entity and a second attribute storing a most recent value of a dynamic variable associated with the physical device.

8 . The web services platform of claim 1 , wherein the entity service is configured to create and manage the plurality of interconnected smart entities;

the object entities comprising a first object entity representing a physical device; and

the data entities comprising a timeseries representing data generated by the physical device, the timeseries comprising a first attribute identifying the object entity and a second attribute storing a most recent value of a dynamic variable associated with the physical device.

9 . A web services platform for managing data relating to a plurality of physical devices connected to one or more electronic communications networks, comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

store a plurality of interconnected smart entities in an entity base, the smart entities comprising:

object entities representing a plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces; and

data entities representing data associated with the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the smart entities being interconnected by relational objects indicating relationships between the object entities and the data entities;

receive information technology (IT) data and operational technology (OT) data from a plurality of different data sources, wherein:

the IT data describe one or more characteristics of the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the characteristics being static or changing at a first rate; and

the OT data describe one or more states or conditions of the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the states or conditions being dynamic or changing at a second rate faster than the first rate; and

create a new smart entity in the entity database or update an existing smart entity in the entity database using the IT data and the OT data, the new or existing smart entity comprising one or more first attributes having values derived from the IT data and one or more second attributes having values derived from the OT data.

10 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to use a different communications protocol to communicate with each of the plurality of different data sources.

11 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of data sources comprise at least two of internet of things (IoT) devices, building equipment, a weather service, a news service, a document service, or a media service.

12 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the IT data describe a plurality of smart entities and the relationships therebetween.

13 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the OT data comprise event data received in real-time from a web-based service, the web-based service comprising at least one of a web-based advertising service, a website traffic monitoring service, a web-based sales service, or a web-based analytics service.

14 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the OT data comprise data samples collected from internet of things (IoT) devices comprising at least one of physical devices, sensors, actuators, electronics, vehicles, or home appliances.

15 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein a first smart entity of the plurality of interconnected smart entities comprises a first attribute identifying a physical device represented by the first smart entity and a second attribute storing a most recent value of a dynamic variable associated with the physical device.

16 . The web services platform of claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to create and manage the plurality of interconnected smart entities;

the object entities comprising a first object entity representing a physical device; and

the data entities comprising a first a data entity representing data generated by the physical device, the first data entity comprising a first attribute identifying the first object entity and a second attribute storing a most recent value of a dynamic variable associated with the physical device.

17 . A method for managing data relating to a plurality of physical devices connected to one or more electronic communications networks, comprising:

storing a plurality of interconnected smart entities in an entity base, the smart entities comprising:

object entities representing a plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces; and

data entities representing data associated with the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the smart entities being interconnected by relational objects indicating relationships between the object entities and the data entities;

receiving information technology (IT) data and operational technology (OT) data from a plurality of different data sources, wherein:

the IT data describe one or more characteristics of the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the characteristics being static or changing at a first rate; and

the OT data describe one or more states or conditions of the plurality of physical devices, people, or spaces, the states or conditions being dynamic or changing at a second rate faster than the first rate; and

creating a new smart entity in the entity database or updating an existing smart entity in the entity database using the IT data and the OT data, the new or existing smart entity comprising one or more static attributes having values derived from the IT data and one or more dynamic attributes having values derived from the OT data.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising using a different communications protocol to communicate with each of the plurality of different data sources.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of data sources comprise at least two of internet of things (IoT) devices, building equipment, a weather service, a news service, a document service, or a media service.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein:

the IT data describe a plurality of smart entities and the relationships therebetween; and the OT data comprise data samples collected from internet of things (IoT) devices comprising at least one of physical devices, sensors, actuators, electronics, vehicles, or home appliances.