IP Library Granted Patent US 11,729,255
Granted Patent B2
US 11,729,255 · App. 17/455,005 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Integrated cloud system with lightweight gateway for premises automation

Inventors: Jim Kitchen (Round Rock, TX); Corey Gates (Redwood City, CA); Chris Decenzo (Menlo Park, CA)
Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc.
H04L67/10H04L65/1033H04L67/02H04W4/80H04L43/08H04L49/70H04W84/042H04W84/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,729,255
App. No.
17/455,005
Filed
Nov 15, 2021
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2446
USPC
709/223
Abstract

Systems and methods include a cloud hub located in a premises, and the cloud hub comprises adapters configured for coupling to premises devices. The cloud hub is configured as a gateway for the premises devices. The system includes a virtual gateway located in a cloud server environment and coupled to the cloud hub. The virtual gateway is configured as a server-side abstraction of the cloud hub. The cloud hub and the virtual gateway are configured as an automation platform that maintains state data of the premises devices, controls interaction among the premises devices, and monitors and manages the premises devices.

Claims (60)

1. A server device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server device to:

receive, by a virtual gateway of the server device located external to a premises, from one or more of a premises gateway located at the premises and a plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices, wherein the virtual gateway is configured based on the premises gateway and the premises gateway is in communication with the plurality of premises devices; and

determine, by the virtual gateway, and based on the state data, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

2. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises an instance of a plurality of virtual gateways running on the server device.

3. The server device of claim 2 , further comprising a registry gateway, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

determine, by the registry gateway, the virtual gateway from the plurality of virtual gateways; and

route, by the registry gateway, incoming data from the premises gateway to the virtual gateway.

4. The server device of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of virtual gateways is configured based on a different corresponding premises gateway of a plurality of different premises gateways.

5. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises a server-side abstraction of the premises gateway.

6. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

run, on the virtual gateway, a first gateway state machine; and

wherein a second gateway state machine runs on the premises gateway.

7. The server device of claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

store, by the first gateway state machine, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

manage, by the first gateway state machine, the plurality of premises devices.

8. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices via a cellular connection.

9. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

receive, by the virtual gateway, inbound communications comprising packet communications; and

send, by the virtual gateway, outbound communications comprising short message server (SMS) messages.

10. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with the premises gateway via one or more of a broadband connection or a cellular connection.

11. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

send, by the virtual gateway and to a remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

receive, by the virtual gateway and from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

12. The server device of claim 11 , wherein the virtual gateway is configured to communicate with the remote device via at least one of a mobile portal or a web portal.

13. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen controller, a video camera, an input/output (I/O) device, an actuator, and a device controller that controls an attached device.

14. The server device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the server device to:

receive, by the virtual gateway, instructions to takeover functionality of the premises gateway;

receive, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and from the plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

send, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and to the plurality of premises devices, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

15. A non-tranistory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause:

receiving, by a virtual gateway located external to a premises, from one or more of a premises gateway located at the premises and a plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices, wherein the virtual gateway is configured based on the premises gateway and the premises gateway is in communication with the plurality of premises devices; and

determining, by the virtual gateway, and based on the state data, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

determining, by a registry gateway, the virtual gateway from a plurality of virtual gateways; and

routing, by the registry gateway, incoming data from the premises gateway to the virtual gateway.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the virtual gateway comprises a server-side abstraction of the premises gateway.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

running, on the virtual gateway, a first gateway state machine; and

wherein a second gateway state machine runs on the premises gateway.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

storing, by the first gateway state machine, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

managing, by the first gateway state machine the plurality of premises devices.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with at least one premises device of the plurality of premises devices via a cellular connection.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

receiving, by the virtual gateway, inbound communications comprising packet communications; and

sending, by the virtual gateway, outbound communications comprising short message server (SMS) messages.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with the premises gateway via one or more of a broadband connection of a cellular connection.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

sending, by the virtual gateway and to a remote device, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

receiving, by the virtual gateway and from the remote device, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the virtual gateway to communicate with the remote device via at least one of a mobile portal or a web portal.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

sending, by the virtual gateway and to the remote device, the state data of the plurality of premises devices.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of premises devices comprises at least one of a sensor, a detector, a camera, an input/output (I/O) device, a touchscreen controller, a video camera, an input/output (I/O) device, an actuator, and a device controller that controls an attached device.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause:

receiving, by the virtual gateway, instructions to takeover functionality of the premises gateway;

receiving, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and from the plurality of premises devices, state data of the plurality of premises devices; and

sending, by the virtual gateway, based on the instructions, and to the plurality of premises devices, control data for the plurality of premises devices.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: KITCHEN, JIM; GATES, COREY; DECENZO, CHRIS
To: ICONTROL NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058118/0163 →
Continuity (22)
Continuation 15198531 · Jun 30, 2016
Continuation In Part 15196646 · Jun 29, 2016
Continuation In Part 15177915 · Jun 9, 2016
Continuation In Part 14943162 · Nov 17, 2015
Continuation In Part 14645808 · Mar 12, 2015
Continuation In Part 14628651 · Feb 23, 2015
Continuation In Part 13954553 · Jul 30, 2013
Continuation In Part 13929568 · Jun 27, 2013
Continuation In Part 13718851 · Dec 18, 2012
Continuation In Part 13531757 · Jun 25, 2012
Continuation In Part 13334998 · Dec 22, 2011
Continuation In Part 13104932 · May 10, 2011
Continuation In Part 12972740 · Dec 20, 2010
Continuation In Part 12539537 · Aug 11, 2009
Continuation In Part 12197958 · Aug 25, 2008
Continuation In Part 12189780 · Aug 11, 2008
Provisional Application 62186974 · Jun 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62186925 · Jun 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62186857 · Jun 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62186825 · Jun 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62186696 · Jun 30, 2015
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