Apparatus and method for managing a network of intelligent devices

摘要

Systems and methods of managing a network of intelligent devices in communication with a server are disclosed. For each intelligent device that is part of a network a client process associated with the device issues a query to the device causing the issuance of a query to the server for instructions. In a controllable response to the query as a result of the client process the server causes at least one of: (i) downloading, for storage local to the device, at least one of data and instructions, for use in association with the device and (ii) uploading of data pertinent to the device.

主权项

1. A system for management of intelligent devices within a network, the system comprising:
a receiver component located at a server receiving a set of device characteristics, the device characteristics comprising criteria by which an organized group of the networked intelligent devices is defined, and by which the membership of an intelligent device within the organized group of intelligent devices may be determined; a group determination component located at the server, the group determination component configured to determine membership of intelligent devices within the organized group by comparing a database containing characteristics of intelligent devices within the network to the criteria; the receiver component configured to receive an update signal from any member of the organized group, the update signal comprising an updated configuration for the member of the organized group from which the update signal was received; and the group determination component configured to re-assess the membership of the member from which the update signal was received in the organized group by comparing the updated configuration for the member to the criteria, so as to determine if the updated intelligent device is still a member of the group based on the contents of the update signal; and the group determination component is also configured to update the membership of the organized group if the re-assessment of the membership of the member from which the update signal was received indicates that the configuration of the member no longer matches the criteria; an information component configured for receiving a request for group information from a networked device other than one of the intelligent devices; and a security component wherein when the information component receives a request for group information from a networked device, the security component determines an associated access level for the request and based upon the access level, the security component determines if the networked device can receive the group information, wherein the information component causes a communication module to send the group information to the networked device if the security component determines that the networked device can receive the requested group information.