METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AND COORDINATING DEVICES AND APPLIANCES, SUCH AS FROM A CENTRAL PORTAL AND VIA A WIDE/AREA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

A central portal coordinates and controls devices at client sites based on, for example, predetermined times, or requests by users or service providers. The central portal includes one or more server computers that receive an event associated with a client site. The central portal identifies the client site from the received event and retrieves a record or other data associated with a client site. The central portal provides a command sequence based on the received event and the retrieved record, and provides, over a network, an executable command sequence to a device residing at the client site to control the device at the client site. The client site can include both private residences, commercial buildings, vehicles (cars, boats, etc.), etc. The central portal resolves any conflicts and performs any necessary data transformations.