Cloud Hub and Virtual Gateway for Premises Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods that integrate cloud services and internet-connected devices with a user interface and other components and functions of a service provider system, enabling third-party devices and services to control or trigger automations within the service provider system.
Innovation Solution
A cloud hub located in a premises, coupled with a virtual gateway in a cloud server environment, serves as a gateway for premises devices and maintains state data, controls interactions, and monitors and manages these devices, facilitating integration with third-party devices and services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional gateway system is used to integrate cloud services with premises devices, then device control and automation functionality is provided, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual gateway as an intermediary component that runs in the cloud server environment. This virtual gateway acts as a mediator between the cloud hub and the service provider system, handling integration tasks remotely. By offloading integration functionality to the virtual gateway, the physical gateway device complexity is reduced while maintaining comprehensive integration capabilities through cloud-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions integration functionality from a single physical dimension (local gateway) to multiple dimensions by distributing components across different environments: the cloud hub in the premises, the virtual gateway in the cloud server environment, and the service provider system remotely. This dimensional distribution allows complex integration tasks to be performed in the cloud dimension while keeping the local device simple.
2Device complexity
If cloud-based virtual gateway is used, then device complexity at premises is reduced, but network dependency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud hub maintains state data of premises devices locally at the premises before needing to interact with the service provider system. This preliminary caching of device states allows the system to continue basic local operations and maintain device control functionality even when network connectivity to the virtual gateway is temporarily unavailable, reducing the impact of network dependency.
3Extent of automation
If comprehensive device monitoring and control is implemented, then automation functionality is enhanced, but data processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts heavy data processing and state maintenance functions from the local cloud hub and relocates them to the virtual gateway in the cloud server environment. The cloud hub performs only lightweight local monitoring and control operations, while the virtual gateway handles comprehensive device state management and complex automation logic. This extraction reduces the energy consumption and computational requirements at the premises device while maintaining enhanced automation functionality through cloud-based processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include a system comprising a cloud hub located in a premises. The cloud hub comprises adapters coupled to premises devices, and the cloud hub is configured as a gateway for the premises devices. A virtual gateway is 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. A security system coupled to the virtual gateway. The security system includes security system components.