Systems and methods for creating virtual devices

1. A method performed by one or more computing systems for creating a virtual device, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of physical devices configurably connected to at least one controller, wherein each physical device of the plurality of physical devices includes at least one function associated with capabilities of the physical device;

extracting, via the at least one controller, the functions from the plurality of physical devices;

presenting to a user, via a user interface, a list of the plurality of physical devices available for combination to create the virtual device;

receiving from the user selection of two or more physical devices to be combined to create the virtual device;

presenting to the user, via the user interface, a list of functions that can be performed by the virtual device based on the selected physical devices;

receiving, from the user, a selection of one or more functions to be performed by the virtual device; and

creating, via the at least one controller, the virtual device to perform the selected functions of the two or more physical devices, wherein the virtual device includes automation rules associated with the selected functions of the two or more physical devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the user to create a new function to be performed by the virtual device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising checking compatibility of the selected devices, wherein, when the selected devices are incompatible, providing an alert to a user regarding incompatibility of the selected devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein checking the compatibility includes checking a spatial relationship of the selected devices.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the user selection comprises receiving a first user selection of a first device, and automatically disabling selection of devices that are incompatible with the first device.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising proactively suggesting a virtual device based on analysis of actions frequently performed by the user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the analysis is performed by applying one or more of machine learning algorithms.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting to the user a list of predefined recipes for creating a virtual device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising allowing the user to modify the predefined recipes.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising when the user selects a recipe, displaying information regarding the recipe, the information including one or more of a name, a description, functions, and ingredients of the recipe.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying current status of the available devices.

12. One or more computing systems for creating a virtual device, the one or more computing systems comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage mediums for storing computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more computing systems to:

identify the plurality of physical devices configurably connected to at least one controller;

extract the functions from the plurality of physical devices;

present to a user, via a user interface, a list of recipes for creating the virtual device based on the functions of the plurality of physical devices;

receive, from the user, a selection of a recipe;

in response to receiving the selection, display information about the recipe, the information including a descriptive image, a description, and ingredients;

receive an indication that the user wants to create the virtual device; and

in response to receiving the indication, define the virtual device according to the recipe, wherein the virtual device utilizes the functions of at least two of the plurality of physical devices, and wherein the virtual device includes automation rules associated with the functions of at least two of the plurality of physical devices; and

one or more processors for executing the computer-executable instructions stored in the one or more computer-readable storage mediums.

13. The one or more computing systems of claim 12 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further control the one or more computing systems to allow the user to modify the selected recipe.

14. The one or more computing systems of claim 13 , wherein modifying the selected recipe includes adding or removing a device or adding or removing a function.

15. The one or more computing systems of claim 12 , wherein the recipes are presented based on one or more of common use cases, recipes that have been created by other users, frequency of use, and actions frequently performed by the user.

16. A virtual device management system for creating and implementing virtual devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of physical devices configured to communicate data, wherein each physical device of the plurality of physical devices includes at least one function associated with capabilities of the physical device, and wherein the plurality of physical devices includes at least a first physical device and a second physical device;

at least one controller configurably connected to the plurality of physical devices, wherein the at least one controller comprises at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to:

identify the plurality of physical devices configurably connected to the at least one controller;

extract the functions from the plurality of physical devices;

define at least one virtual device that utilizes the functions of at least the first and second physical devices, wherein the virtual device includes automation rules associated with the functions of the first and second physical devices;

present to a user, via a user interface, the at least one virtual device;

receive from the user, via the user interface, a selection of the at least one virtual device; and

create the at least one virtual device selected by the user by defining automation rules associated with data received from the first and second physical devices.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of physical devices comprises at least two of a camera, a door lock, a doorbell, a light, a sensor, a robotic vacuum, a speaker, and an electrical outlet.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine compatibility of the plurality of physical devices to identify which functions of the individual physical devices can be combined to create virtual devices.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to identify spatial relationships between the plurality of physical devices as a parameter of compatibility for creating a virtual device.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

present to the user, via the user interface, a list of functions associated with the plurality of physical devices; receive from the user, via the user interface, a selection of two or more functions from the list; and

configuring a new virtual device to perform the selected functions.