Patent ID: 8065400
Filing Date: 2011-11-22
Classification: G06F,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a plurality of devices in a computer network via a data processing device, the method comprising the steps of: storing control sequences in a central applications module contained in a memory of a central data processing device operatively coupled to the computer network, each control sequence including a sequence of instructions, wherein the central data processing device includes a protocol unit, and wherein the central applications module has a plurality of decentralized application modules assigned to it; transmitting respectively assigned decentralized application modules to data processing devices requesting download of the respective decentralized application module, wherein the data processing devices each include a control unit; selecting one of the stored control sequences in accordance with instruction received from the downloaded decentralized application modules; transferring successively the instructions of the selected control sequence from the central applications module via the computer network to a respective control unit of the plurality of devices in the computer network, wherein the instructions are transmitted as a communications file; receiving a status message from at least one control unit, wherein the status message contains communication status information on an application running on the control unit, and wherein the status message is at least partially derived from the communications file; and transmitting control data to the application, wherein the control data is at least partially derived from the received status message.