Updating devices in a local network of interconnected devices

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for updating an operational parameter of a device of a local network of interconnected devices are provided. A user-operated device, in association with an attempt to access the device, may provide an update to the operational parameter of the device. The user-operated device may send the update to the operational parameter before sending the device an operational command. The device may apply the update received from the user-operated device before performing an operation corresponding to the operational command.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application is generally related to computer networks. More specifically, this application is related to multicomputer data transferring. In particular, this application is related to network computer configuring in which operating characteristics are assigned to the computing devices of the network.

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of network-enabled devices continues to grow in terms of both volume and type. The “Internet of Things” (or IoT) refers to the collection of devices (e.g., “smart devices”), objects (e.g., “smart objects”), and sensors having networking capabilities. IoT principles are applied in a variety of areas such as, for example, home automation. It is estimated that within a few years, the average household will include dozens of network-enabled devices and the worldwide total of network-enabled devices will reach tens of billions.

As with traditional computing, the security of such devices is a concern. The introduction of new types of network-enabled devices introduces new challenges with respect to securing those devices. Such challenges include, among others, determining which individuals are authorized to interact with a device and determining what interactions an individual is authorized to perform. Furthermore, different types of devices may implicate different security concerns. While some devices may only transmit information read and/or collected by other devices (e.g., sensor-type devices) thus implicating relatively minor security concerns, other devices may provide and/or house sensitive information or be user-controlled thus implicating relatively major security concerns. As a result, new solutions to provide security for network-enabled devices are needed.

SUMMARY

To overcome the challenges described above, various techniques are provided for updating the operational parameters of a computing device (referred to below as a device node) in a local network of interconnected devices. These techniques may be employed to ensure that only authorized user-operated devices are granted access to the device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices. In one example, a server generates an update package for a device node (e.g., an electronic door lock) and transmits the update package to a user-operated device (e.g., a smartphone). The update package may, for example, include an updated list of those user-operated devices that are authorized to access the device node. Having received the update package, the user-operated device, in this example, transmits the update package to the device node. After receiving the update package, the device node evaluates whether the received update package is more recent than a previously received update package and, if so, updates its internally stored list of authorized user-operated devices based on the updated list of user-operated devices included in the update package.

The user-operated device may, in some examples, transmit the update package to the device node when initially requesting access to the device node and prior to an attempt to authorize the user-operated device. In this way, the device node can advantageously receive updates to its operational parameters close in time and prior to granting a user-operated device access to the device node. And even if the user-operated device is ultimately denied access to operate the device node, the user-operated device may nevertheless connect to the device node and deliver an update package to update that device node. The updated list of user-operated devices may thus be employed to indicate new user-operated devices that have been authorized to access a device node and thus should be granted access to the device node. Similarly, the updated list of user-operated devices may be employed to revoke authorization from existing user-operated devices and thus should be denied access to the device node. It should thus be appreciated that, by delivering the update package as part of a request to access a device node, a user-operated device that is no longer authorized to access that device node may itself deliver the update package that causes the subsequent authorization of that user-operated device to be denied. In other words, the mere request by an newly unauthorized user-operated device to access a device node may cause the device node to determine that the user-operated device is no longer authorized to access the device node and, as a result, deny the request. The security of the device node is thus preserved.

The update package may be employed to deliver updates to additional and alternative operational parameters of a device node. For example, the update package may deliver updates to one or more of a parameter indicating whether local authentication is enabled at the device node, a parameter indicating whether the device node is assigned to a gateway device (also referred to as a bridge device below), and a parameter indicating whether the device node is enabled or disabled. Further to the advantages noted above, the mere request by a user-operated device to access a device node may disable that device node if an update package delivered by that user-operated device updates the enabled/disabled parameter at the device node.

A server may deliver an update package to a device node via additional and alternative communication paths. For example, the local network of interconnected devices may be a wireless mesh network that includes multiple device nodes and a gateway device that bridges the mesh network to the server via a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. The device nodes and the gateway device of the wireless mesh network may communicate with each other using a wireless mesh networking protocol in which messages are routed through various device nodes. The server, in this example, may deliver an update package for one of the device nodes by transmitting the update package to the gateway device which then routes the update package through the wireless mesh network to the target device node.

This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential features of the disclosures herein, but instead merely summarizes certain features and variations thereof. Other details and features will also be described in the sections that follow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosures below provide techniques for updating the operational parameters of a device node in a local network of interconnected devices. As noted above, the techniques described in further detail below may be employed to ensure that a user-operated device is authorized to access a device node of the local network of interconnected devices and should thus be granted access to that device node. As used herein, accessing a device node includes transmitting a message to the device node, receiving a message from the device node, and transmitting a command to the device node. In other words, accessing a device node includes controlling the device node, interacting with the device node, or otherwise communicating with the device node. Operational parameters of a device node include settings, configurations, flags, and other types of information that control the operation of the device node.

For convenience the following terminology is adopted herein. A local network of interconnected devices as used herein refers to at least two devices that are in signal communication with each other using at least one of a short-range wireless communication standard or a low-power wireless communication standard. The local network of interconnected devices may also include additional devices in signal communication with one or more devices of the network and configured to employ other wired and/or wireless communication standards. A device node as used herein refers to one of the devices of a local network of interconnected devices. A gateway device node as used herein refers to a device of a local network of interconnected devices that is configured for communicating via a wide area network (WAN)—such as the Internet and/or a cellular network—and for communicating with another one of the device nodes of the network. The gateway device node may also function as the hub of the local network of interconnected devices. The gateway device node may also be referred to as a bridge device node in view of the functionality it provides to bridge the local network and a WAN.

The device nodes of the network may be categorized based on their physical proximity to a gateway device node of the network. A zero-level device node as used herein refers to a device node that is located within the wireless range of the gateway device node, i.e., capable of receiving wireless communications transmitted from the gateway device node and/or capable of transmitting wireless communications that will be received at the gateway device node. A first-level device node as used herein refers to a device node that is located outside the wireless range of a gateway node but is located within the wireless range of a zero-level device node. A second-level device node as used herein refers to a device node that is located outside of the wireless range of a gateway device node and the wireless range of a zero-level device node but is located within the wireless range of a first-level device node. Zero-level device nodes are thus in direct signal communication with a gateway device node and may exchange point-to-point wireless communications. First-level device nodes and second-level device nodes are thus in indirect signal communication with a gateway device node, and communications may be routed to first-level device nodes and second-level device nodes via other device nodes of the network.

The device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices may also be deployed in a master/slave configuration. A master device node as used herein refers to a device node that issues commands to another device node. A slave device node as used herein refers to a device node that receives commands from a master device node. A relay device node as used herein refers to a device node that routes a communication between two other device nodes. Although the network of interconnected devices is referred to as a local network of interconnected devices, a device node that is located remotely relative to another device node of the network may communicate with that device node via a WAN (such as the Internet) as described in further detail below.

The device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices are configured to utilize one or more of the following communication standards: wired LAN communication standards; wireless LAN communication standards; cellular communication standards; short-range wireless communication standards; and low-power wireless communication standards. Examples of wired LAN standards include the IEEE 802.3 family of Ethernet standards. Examples of wireless LAN standards include the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless LAN standards commonly known as “Wi-Fi.” Examples of cellular communication standards include any of the 2G, 3G, or 4G generation of cellular communication standards. Examples of short-range communication standards include the IEEE 802.15 family of wireless communication standards which include implementations commonly known as Bluetooth Classic developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), ZigBee developed by the ZigBee Alliance, and any of the near-field communication (NFC) standards developed by the NFC Forum. Short-range wireless communication standards may permit maximum wireless ranges of about 1 meter (m) to about 100 m (i.e., about 3.3 feet (ft) to about 330 ft) depending on transmission power. Examples of low-power wireless communication standards include Bluetooth low energy (also known as Bluetooth LE, BLE, and Bluetooth Smart) also developed by the Bluetooth SIG and include ANT developed by Dynastream Innovations Inc. Accordingly low-power wireless communication standards include those that exhibit a peak power consumption of about 10 milliamps (mA) to about 30 mA when employed to transmit and/or receive wireless communications.

One or more device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices may also be referred to as a low-power device. As used herein, low-power devices include those that, when active and consuming at least some power, are configured to toggle between a sleep mode and an awake mode where the device consumes significantly less power while in the sleep mode relative to the power consumed while in the awake mode. In some example implementations, the power consumed by an example low-power device during a sleep mode may differ from the power consumed during an awake mode by an order of magnitude—e.g., the device may consume power on a scale of microamps (μA) during a sleep mode and consume power on a scale of milliamps during an awake mode. In one particular example, a low-power device may receive a power supply voltage of 3 volts (V) and exhibit the following power consumption characteristics. While in a sleep mode, this example low-power device may exhibit a power consumption of about 0.6 μA with no retention of data in volatile memory, a power consumption of about 1.2 μA with 8 kilobytes (kB) of data retention in volatile memory, and a power consumption of about 1.8 μA with 16 kB of data retention in volatile memory. While in an awake mode, this example low-power device may exhibit a power consumption of about 2.6 μA during periods of relatively low activity at a controller, a power consumption of about 10.5 mA during transmission of a wireless signal at about 0 dBm, and a peak power consumption of about 13 mA during reception of a wireless signal. It will be appreciated that the values provided above are provided by way of example only and that other low-power devices may exhibit different power consumption profiles.

A dual-mode device node as used herein refers to a device node configured to wirelessly communicate using at least two low-power wireless communication standards (e.g., both ANT and BLE). A multi-mode node as used herein refers to a device node configured to wirelessly communicate using at least two low-power wireless communication standards (e.g., both ANT and BLE) as well as at least one other wired or wireless communication standard (e.g., a short-range wireless communication standard, a cellular communication standard, a wired LAN communication standard, and/or a wireless LAN communication standard). It will be recognized that the local network of interconnected devices may, in some circumstances, be or include a personal area network (PAN) where the device nodes of the network are logically associated with an individual user and communicate over relatively short distances. A local area network of interconnected devices may thus include multiple PANs each respectively associated with a particular user, e.g., each the individual of a household.

An access device as used herein refers to a user-operated device that is configured to interact with other device nodes in the local network of interconnected devices. Examples of access devices include computing devices (e.g., mobile cellular telephones, palmtop computing devices, tablet computing devices, laptop computing devices, desktop computing devices, video game machines, network-enabled televisions, and the like), miniature remotes (e.g., keyfobs), and other types of devices having at least one communication interface configured for communicating with one or more types of devices nodes of a local network of interconnected devices either directly or indirectly via one or more device nodes and/or via local and/or remote computing devices. As described in further detail below, access devices include instructions that, when executed at the access device, cause the access device to wirelessly communicate with device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices. Some of the instructions cause the access device to accept input from the user such that the access device initiates communications to device nodes responsive to and based on that input. Other instructions cause the access device to provide output to the user responsive to and based on communications received from devices nodes. The instructions may reside in non-volatile memory at the access device, and those instructions may or may not be updatable. In some examples, those instructions may be implemented as an application installed at the access device.

As described in further detail below device nodes may pair and bond with each other when in direct signal communication. As used herein, pairing refers to the process of discovering a device, exchanging device information, and exchanging communications during a temporary communication session. As also used herein, bonding refers to the process of exchanging long-term keys between paired devices such that those devices may subsequently pair automatically when those devices are within their respective wireless ranges. In some examples, bonding may include a standard Bluetooth bonding procedure. In other examples, bonding may include the procedures used to establish communication sessions as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624, which is incorporated herein by reference.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be given their broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. The use of the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “coupled,” “positioned,” “engaged” and similar terms, is meant to include both direct and indirect mounting, connecting, coupling, positioning and engaging. In addition a “set” as used in this description refers to a collection of one or more elements. Furthermore non-transitory computer-readable media refer to all types of computer-readable media with the sole exception being a transitory propagating signal.

Networks of Interconnected Devices

Referring now toFIG.1, an example of an implementation of a local network of interconnected devices100(“network”) is shown. As seen inFIG.1, the network100includes multiple device nodes of different types in signal communication with each other. In particular, the network100, in this example, includes a gateway device node102(“gateway”), access devices104a,104b,104c,104d, and104e(generally access device104and collectively access devices104a-e), and device nodes106a,106b,106c,106d,106e,106f,106g, and106h(generally device node106and collectively device nodes106a-h). It will be appreciated that the network100depicted inFIG.1is illustrated by way of example only and that other implementations of a local network of interconnected devices may include more or fewer devices nodes in signal communication with each other.

As also seen inFIG.1, the gateway102and the access device104eare each in signal communication, via a network108, with a device management server110. The network108may be a WAN that includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks such as, e.g., the Internet, a cellular network, a satellite network, and the like. In this way, the access device104emay communicate with the gateway102or any of the other device nodes106of the network100even though that access device is located remotely relative to the other device nodes.

The device management server110, in this example, includes an access portal112and a data store114storing user profiles116and device profiles118. The access portal112is configured to facilitate the communications between the access device104eand the gateway102. Accordingly, in some example implementations, the access portal112may be implemented as a web server that utilizes the HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) to communicate with the access device104eand the gateway102. In particular, the access portal112may receive HTTP requests from the access device104eand gateway102and transmit HTTP responses to the access device104eand gateway102. In addition, the access portal112may be configured to push communications to the access device104eand the gateway102. In some example implementations, the access portal112may utilize HyperText Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to encrypt and thus secure the communications. The content (i.e., the payload) of the communications may be formatted according to an Extensible Markup Language (XML) format and/or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format. Content may thus be submitted to the access portal112, for example, in HTTP POST requests. The content of the communications may also be encrypted using a key associated with the device node receiving the communications. Encrypting communications between device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices is discussed in further detail below. The access portal112of the device management server110may thus act as a relay for communications between the gateway102and device nodes106and the remotely-located access device104e. Various configurations and arrangements may be employed to implement the device management server110. In some example implementations, the access portal112and data store114may reside at the same machine while in other example implementations an access portal and data store may reside at different machines that are in signal communication with each other. In some example implementations, the device management server110may utilize a user device interface (UDI) and a physical device interface (PDI) to respectively serve XML and JSON content. The UDI, for example, may serve XML content over HTTPS to access devices (e.g., access device104e). The PDI, for example, may serve JSON content (e.g., encrypted JSON content) to device nodes (e.g., gateway device node102and device nodes106).

The user profiles116stored at the data store114include individual user profiles for users each having established respective local networks of interconnected devices. Individual user profiles116, in this example, include data corresponding to a unique identifier for the user (e.g., a user account number, a username, an email address, a phone number, and the like). Individual user profiles116may also include data corresponding to login credentials (e.g., a username and a salted and hashed password). The device profiles118, in this example, include two types of device profiles: (i) device profiles corresponding to the gateway102and device nodes106of the network100, and (ii) device profiles corresponding to the access devices104that communicate with the device nodes106. Individual device profiles118for device nodes include data corresponding to a unique identifier for the device node (e.g., a serial number), a device type, a default or user-specified description of the device, a security token associated with the device, one or more keys associated with the device (e.g., public and private digital signature keys), and a status of the device. In some example implementations, device nodes may be associated with multiple serial numbers, e.g., a 16 byte serial number and a 4 byte serial number. The serial numbers, security token, and keys may be generated at the time of manufacture and associated with the device throughout its lifetime. The keys may be, e.g., 128-bit keys. A device node may utilize one or more of its keys with one or more encryption algorithms to encrypt at least a portion of the communications transmitted and with one or more decryption algorithms to decrypt at least a portion of the communications received.

Individual device profiles118for device nodes also include data identifying the user profile116the device node is associated with (e.g., the user account number, username, email address, and the like). Individual device profiles for the access devices104may likewise include data corresponding to a unique identifier for the access device (e.g., a serial number, a device address such as a media access control (MAC) address, and the like), a type of the access device (e.g., mobile cellular telephone, tablet computing device, keyfob, and the like), a manufacturer of the access device, a model number of the access device, an operating system of the access device, and the like. The device profiles for gateways may also include a command queue corresponding to a list of commands that have been transmitted to the device management server from access devices located remotely relative to the local network of interconnected devices. As described in further detail below, the device management server transmits to a gateway the commands included in its corresponding command queue. Individual user profiles116may also include or be otherwise associated with invitations to other access devices authorized to communicate with, and thus access, the device nodes106of the network100. Invitations will be discussed in further detail below. In addition, the data included in the user profiles116and device profiles118discussed above is described by way of example only. Accordingly other implementations of the user and device profiles may include additional or alternative data corresponding to additional or alternative aspects or characteristics of the users, device nodes, and access devices.

The data store114may include a database (not shown) that implements a data model for storing the data of the user profiles116and the device profiles118. The database may store the data of the user profiles116and the device profiles118according to that data model. The database may thus include one or more tables respectively corresponding to users and device nodes, e.g., a USER table, a DEVICE table, and an INVITATION table. The rows of the USER table may correspond to records of the user profiles116, and the rows of the DEVICE table may correspond to records of the device profiles118. The rows of the INVITATION table may correspond to records of invitations that have been generated for access devices. The columns of the tables may correspond to the particular data elements stored for the user profiles116and the device profiles118. The database may associate records of individual user profiles116with records of device profiles118through the use of primary and/or foreign keys included in those records. The database may associate records of individual user profiles116with invitations in a similar fashion. Through the associations of their corresponding database records, users and user accounts are thus associated with access devices104and devices nodes106of the network100. The device management server110may thus also include a database management system (DBMS, not shown) that manages the storage and retrieval of the data of the user profiles116and the device profiles118, e.g., creating new records, querying for existing records, and deleting records from the database. The access portal112and the gateway102, in this example, are in signal communication with the data store114and may store and retrieve the data of the user profiles116and the device profiles118, e.g., via the DBMS.

The access portal112, in this example, is also configured to authenticate the access device104ebased on login credentials provided by to the access device by the user and subsequently transmitted to the access portal. Upon successful authentication, the access portal112may provide a dashboard interface (“dashboard”) at which the user may access and manage the devices of the network100that are associated with the user account of the user. The access device104emay present the dashboard to the user and accept input from the user. Through the dashboard, the user may, for example, check the status of device nodes106in the network100, issue commands to device nodes, toggle activation of the device nodes, add device nodes to the network, remove device nodes from the network, view audit logs associated with the device nodes, view access devices currently authorized to communicate with the device nodes, view invitations to other access devices, resend invitations to access devices, create new invitations, and engage in other activities associated with the device nodes that will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure. These activities will be discussed further below.

The access devices104, in this example, are configured with instructions for receiving input from a user and providing output to a user and for communicating with the device management server110, gateway102, and device nodes106. The instructions may be implemented for example, as a device monitoring and control mobile application (“mobile application”) installed at an access device such as the mobile application128installed at the access device104e. As discussed in further detail below, the mobile application128provides functionality for viewing the status of the device nodes, pairing and/or bonding with those device nodes, and issuing commands to those device nodes.

As noted above, some device nodes in a local network of interconnected devices may be in direct signal communication with each other while other devices nodes may be in indirect signal communication via a relay device node. Whether a device node is in direct or indirect signal communication with another device node depends on the wireless ranges of those device nodes. The network100shown by way of example inFIG.1illustrates device nodes that are both in direct and indirect signal communication with each other based on their wireless range. The dashed lines surrounding the gateway102and device nodes106inFIG.1demarcate the device nodes that are within their respective wireless range and thus in direct signal communication with each other. In particular, area120indicates that the gateway102and device nodes106a-eare within wireless range; area122indicates that device nodes106a-bare within wireless range; area124indicates that device nodes106dand106fare within wireless range; and area126indicates that device nodes106eand106g-hare within wireless range.FIG.1also illustrates respective access devices104a-dthat are within the wireless range of various device nodes106of the network. In particular, access device104ais in direct signal communication with the gateway102and device node106g, access device104bis in direct signal communication with device nodes106a-b, access device104cis in direct signal communication with device node106c, and access device104dis in direct signal communication with device nodes106d-e. As discussed in further detail below, the communications among the access devices104, gateway102, and devices nodes106may be secured using various security techniques.

The device nodes106may include different classes of device nodes, e.g., dual-mode device nodes and multi-mode device nodes. The device nodes106may also include different types of devices nodes within those classes of device nodes. Dual-mode and multi-mode device nodes may include the following types of device nodes: (i) sensor-type device nodes that include sensors for measuring various parameters associated with the surrounding environment such as for example, acoustic and optical sensors, chemical sensors (e.g., oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, smoke, etc.), electric and magnetic sensors, electromagnetic radiation sensors, temperature sensors, force and pressure sensors, moisture and fluid flow sensors, air and air flow sensors, velocity and acceleration sensors, position and displacement sensors, proximity and motion sensors, and the like; and (ii) activation-type device nodes that include actuators, solenoids, and/or output devices that are operable in response to receipt of commands such as, for example, locks for structures (e.g., doors, gates, and the like) and for containers (e.g., safes, drawers, cabinets, and the like), optical output devices (e.g., lights, display devices, and the like), audio output devices (e.g., speakers, alarms, and the like), automatic garage door openers, automatic gate openers, and the like. In some example implementations, device nodes may be configured to include audio data and/or image data in the communications transmitted to other device nodes, a gateway, the device management server, or an access device.

Referring now toFIG.2, another local network of interconnected devices200(“network”) is shown. InFIG.2, the hierarchical arrangement of the network200is depicted with respect to a gateway device node202, a set204aof zero-level device nodes206a, and a set204bof first-level device nodes206b(collectively device nodes206). InFIG.2, the zero-level device nodes206aand the gateway202are within their respective wireless ranges and thus in direct signal communication with each other. The first-level device nodes206bare outside the wireless range of the gateway202, but within the wireless range of one of the zero-level device nodes206a. The first-level device nodes206bare thus in direct signal communication with the zero-level device nodes206aand in indirect signal communication with the gateway202via the zero-level device nodes. Second-level device nodes (not shown) may be in direct signal communication with the first-level device nodes206band in indirect signal communication with the gateway202via the first-level device nodes and the zero-level device nodes206ain a similar fashion. Third-level device nodes, fourth-level device nodes, and so on, may be connected to upper-level device nodes in a similar fashion. Accordingly the number of levels of the local network of interconnected devices is not intended to be limited to the two example levels shown inFIG.2. As also seen inFIG.2and noted above, the gateway202(and thus the device nodes206) may be in signal communication with an access device208via an access portal210of a device management server212across a network214, e.g., a WAN such as the Internet and/or a cellular network. In some example implementations, the gateway202may be in signal communication with an access device208via a PDI of the device management server212.

In this hierarchical arrangement, the gateway202and device nodes206may interact in a master-slave configuration. In other words, one device may be designated as a master device node, and another device may be configured as a slave device node relative to that master device node. The master device node may issue commands to the slave device node, and the slave device node may respond according to those commands. With respect to the network200shown by way of example inFIG.2, the gateway202may be configured as a master device node, and at least one of the zero-level device nodes206amay be configured as a slave device node to the gateway. Additionally or alternatively, one of the zero-level device nodes206amay be configured as a master device node, and one of the first-level device nodes206bmay be configured as a slave device node relative to that zero-level device node. Commands transmitted from a master device node to a slave device node include a command to provide the current status of the slave device node (e.g., whether a lock-type device node is in a locked or unlocked state), a command to provide a measurement value measured by the slave device node (e.g., the current reading measured by a sensor-type device node), and a command to perform some action at the slave device node (e.g., perform a lock or unlock operation at a lock-type device node). Other examples of various command types and specific commands will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

By equipping the device nodes with multiple types of communication interfaces and configuring the device nodes to utilize multiple wireless communication standards, users advantageously derive the benefit of multiple types of network topologies. As an example, various short-range wireless communication standards may be suitable for establishing master/slave configurations in point-to-point networks, star networks, and tree networks but might not be suitable for establishing mesh networks. Various low-power wireless communication standards, however, may be suitable for establishing mesh networks. Accordingly, device nodes configured to utilize both short-range and low-power wireless communication standards may thus establish networks that include a combination of network topologies, e.g., networks exhibiting point-to-point, star, tree, and mesh topologies. The device nodes may advantageously utilize each of the respective features provided by the different technologies, e.g., the master/slave features available with the point-to-point, star, and tree network topologies as well as the relay features and multiple communication pathways available with the mesh network topology.

One or more of the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices may receive updates with respect to its stored instructions. A device node may receive an update wirelessly or via a wired connection. As an example, a gateway device node may receive an update from the device management server via its wired connection to a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). The device management server may also send an update for one of the device nodes to the gateway device node, and the gateway device node may wirelessly transmit the update to the specified device node (i.e., an over-the-air update). If necessary, the update for the specified device node may be routed from the gateway device node via one or more other device nodes. A device node may also receive an update from an access device in signal communication with the device node. In some circumstances, the device management server may provide the gateway device node with an update to be applied at each device node of the local network of interconnected devices, and the gateway device node may broadcast the update to each of the device nodes.

Device Nodes

Referring now toFIGS.3-5example types of device nodes are illustrated. InFIG.3, an example of an implementation of a gateway device node is shown. InFIG.4, an example of an implementation of a multi-mode device node is shown. InFIG.5, an example of an implementation of a dual-mode device node is shown. The device nodes discussed above with reference toFIGS.1-2may respectively correspond to the example device nodes illustrated inFIGS.3-5and discussed in further detail below. A local network of interconnected devices may include one or more of each type of device node. In one example implementation of a local network of interconnected devices, a gateway node may serve as the hub of multiple dual-mode device nodes and multi-mode device nodes that are part of the network at various layers.FIGS.3-5include lines illustrating the signal paths between various components of the device nodes. It should be appreciated, however, that, for the sake of clarity, not every signal path between the components of the device nodes have been illustrated in the figures.

Device nodes—including gateway device nodes, dual-mode device nodes, and multi-mode device nodes—may each be assigned a serial number, a security token, and a set of keys (e.g., three keys) upon manufacture. This unique identification information is employed to recognize, authenticate, and authorize device nodes when added to a local network of interconnected devices and when communicating with other device nodes of the network and the device management server. The keys are also used to encrypt and decrypt portions of the communications exchanged between access devices and other device nodes. In particular, the device nodes may utilize the keys to encrypt and decrypt session identifiers of the communication sessions established between access devices and other device nodes as well as the content of those communications. Authorized access devices may also be provided with the keys associated with a device node and also utilize those keys to encrypt and decrypt portions of the communications exchanged with the device node.

With reference toFIG.3, an example of an implementation of a gateway device node300(“gateway”) is shown. The gateway300, in this example, includes a control module302, a communication module304, a power module306. The gateway300, in this example, also includes multiple physical user interface elements including an ignition button308, a reset button310, a pairing button312, and a light emitting diode (LED)314. In other examples, a gateway device node may omit buttons308-312and may instead include only a single factory reset button used to restore the factory settings of the gateway device node. In some examples, a gateway device node may omit physical buttons entirely.

The communication module304of the gateway300includes multiple communication interfaces. In particular, the communication module304, in this example, includes a wired LAN interface316, a wireless LAN interface318, and a cellular network interface320. The gateway300may thus exchange wired and wireless communications with access devices and device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices via one or more of the wired LAN interface316, the wireless LAN interface318, and the cellular network interface320. Although not shown inFIG.3for the sake of clarity, the communication module304of the gateway300may also include one or more radios with corresponding transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers having one or more antennas to receive and/or transmit wireless communications. Such radios may include radios configured to operate at one or more frequencies suitable for wireless LAN communications such as those frequencies in the ISM band (e.g., 2.4 GHz radios, 5 GHz radios, 60 GHz radios) as well as radios configured to operate at one or more frequencies suitable for cellular communications such as the frequency bands specified by various cellular network standards (e.g., the 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G families of cellular network standards). In addition, the communication module304of the gateway300may also include a physical communication port (e.g., an Ethernet port) configured to communicate via the wired LAN interface316(e.g., using one or more of the IEEE 802.3 family of Ethernet standards). The wireless LAN interface318may likewise be configured to communicate using one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless LAN standards. The wired LAN interface316and the wireless LAN interface318thus facilitate communications at the gateway300via IP-based networks including LANs and/or WANs (e.g., the Internet). The cellular network interface320likewise facilitates the communications to and from the gateway300via a cellular network. The cellular network interface320may thus include a cellular modem. Cellular modems suitable for use with the cellular network interface320include those available from Gemalto M2M GmbH of Munich, Germany such as the cellular machine-to-machine modules having model numbers PLS8, PXS8, PCS3, PVS8, PHS8, PGS8, PDS5, PDS6, PDS8, and the like. The various communication interfaces of the communication module304of the gateway300advantageously allow access devices that are located remotely relative to the local network of interconnected devices to communicate with the device nodes of the network for monitoring and control purposes.

The control module302of the gateway300includes multiple controllers for handling and responding to the communications received at and transmitted from the gateway300. In particular, the control module302of the gateway300, in this example, includes a dual-standard low-power controller322(“low-power controller”), a dual-standard short-range controller324(“short-range controller”), and a local area network controller326(“LAN controller”). As seen inFIG.3, the LAN controller326, in this example, is in signal communication with the wired LAN interface316, the low-power controller322, and the short-range controller324. The low-power controller322, in this example, is also in signal communication with the wireless LAN interface318and the cellular network interface320. The low-power controller322, wireless LAN interface318, and cellular network interface320may be in respective signal communication with one or more radios (not shown) of the communication module304.

The short-range controller324, in this example, is configured to selectively utilize multiple short-range wireless communication standards to wirelessly communicate with access devices and device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. In some example implementations, the short range controller324may be configured to wirelessly communicate using both the Bluetooth Classic and the BLE short-range wireless communication standards. In this way, the gateway300may wirelessly communicate with access devices and device nodes that are also configured to wirelessly communicate using the Bluetooth Classic and/or BLE short-range wireless communication standards. In this regard, the short-range controller324includes memory327storing instructions corresponding to a protocol stack328that is configured to handle and process multiple types of short-range wireless communications received at the gateway300(e.g., Bluetooth Classic communications and BLE communications) from the access devices or device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. The protocol stack328may be any protocol stack suitable for use with a local network of interconnected devices including, for example, those protocol stacks designed for embedded systems (e.g., the Qualcomm® Bluetopia™ protocol stack available from Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.).

The low-power controller322, in this example, is configured to selectively utilize multiple low-power wireless communication standards to wirelessly communicate with access devices and device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. In some example implementations, the low-power controller322may be configured to utilize both the BLE and the ANT low-power wireless communication standards. In this way, the gateway300may wirelessly communicate with access devices and device nodes that are also configured to wirelessly communicate using the BLE and/or ANT low-power wireless communication standards. In this regard, the low-power controller322likewise includes memory330storing instructions corresponding to a protocol stack332that is configured to handle and process multiple types of low-power wireless communications received at the gateway300(e.g., BLE communications and ANT communications) from the access devices or device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

As seen inFIG.3, the low-power controller322is in signal communication with the wired LAN interface316(via the LAN controller326), the wireless LAN interface318, and the cellular network interface320. In this way, the gateway300may advantageously route communications received via any of these interfaces to device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices, the access devices, and the device management server. The cellular network interface320may employ an AT command structure and/or a machine-to-machine command structure for communicating with the low-power controller322. The wired LAN interface316and the wireless LAN interface318may likewise employ a serial command structure for communicating with the low-power controller322. As an example, the wired LAN interface316may communicate with the low-power controller322via the LAN controller326using universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) communications.

The low-power controller322may be a system-on-chip (SoC). Accordingly the low-power controller322may include, among other components, a processor334and logic stored at the memory330for controlling operation of the low-power controller. The low-power controller322may thus include other components common to a SoC (e.g., timing sources, peripherals, digital signal interfaces, analog signal interfaces, power management components, and the like) which have been omitted fromFIG.3for the sake of clarity. Low-power controllers suitable for use as the low-power controller322include those available from Nordic Semiconductor of Oslo, Norway such as the Multiprotocol ANT™/Bluetooth® low energy System on Chip having model number nRF51422 as well as those in the nRF52 Series SoC. In addition, a suitable protocol stack for use as the protocol stack332may also be available from Nordic Semiconductor of Oslo, Norway such as the Concurrent ANT™ and Bluetooth® Low Energy SoftDevice having model number S310 nRF51422 as well as those in the SoftDevice family of Nordic Semiconductor. Additional and alternative low-power controllers and protocol stacks may be selectively employed.

The low-power controller322, in this example, is also configured with instructions for communicating with access devices and device nodes in the local network of interconnected devices. As seen inFIG.3, the memory330of the low-power controller322stores instructions corresponding to control1For example, the control logic336may implement one or more of the procedures used to establish a communication session as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624.336addiogic336, routing logic338, and security logic340for controlling operational aspects of the gateway300. As also seen inFIG.3, the memory330of the low-power controller322additionally includes a node database342for storing records corresponding to the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices and an access device database344for storing records corresponding to the access devices that are authorized to communicate with those device nodes. The records of the node database342thus corresponds to a list of the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices, and the records of the access device database344thus corresponds to a list of access devices that are authorized to access the device nodes of the network.

The control logic336of the low-power controller322corresponds to instructions that handle various operational aspects of the gateway300. In particular, the control logic336, in this example, handles the initialization of the gateway300upon startup including the configuration of various operating parameters such as, e.g., the operating frequency for the gateway, the initial security mode for the gateway, and the like. The control logic336also initiates the periodic transmissions (e.g., every 500 milliseconds) from the gateway300announcing its presence to any devices that are within wireless range of the gateway. In addition, the control logic336maintains the list of device nodes of the network by creating new records at the node database342when new device nodes are added to the network and deleting records from the node database when device nodes are removed from the network. The control logic336additionally handles the pairing and bonding procedures performed with access devices. For example, the control logic336may implement one or more of the procedures used to establish a communication session as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624. Furthermore the control logic336issues commands to the device nodes of the network (e.g., operations to perform) and polls the device nodes for status updates. Moreover the control logic336, in this example, also sets a security mode of the gateway300in response to receipt of user input indicating a user-selected security mode. The control logic336additionally issues, to device nodes of the network, commands that instruct those device nodes to employ a user-selected security mode. Additional operational aspects associated with the gateway that the control logic336may handle will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

The routing logic338of the low-power controller322corresponds to instructions that route communications between device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices, between the device management server and those device nodes, and between the access devices and those device nodes. The routing logic338thus ports communications received at the gateway300via the low-power wireless communication standards to the other communication standards the gateway300is configured to use, e.g., the wired LAN and wireless LAN communication standards, the short-range communication standards, and the cellular communication standards. The routing logic338likewise ports communications received via these other communication standards to the low-power communication standards utilized by the low-power controller322. The routing logic338may include routing tables that are utilized to route communications through the local network of interconnected devices. Those routing tables may be updated responsive to changes at the local network of interconnected devices, e.g., as device nodes are added to and removed from the network. The gateway300may also be configured to measure various metrics associated with the transmission environment surrounding the gateway (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, parity check losses, and the like) and make routing decisions based on those metrics, e.g., determining whether to route a communication to a device node using one or more of a low-power wireless communication standard, a short-range wireless communication standard, a wireless LAN communication standard, and/or a wired LAN communication standard. As an example, the metrics measured by the gateway300may favor routing a communication via one device node over another device node depending on the environmental metric measurements. The routing logic may also make routing decisions based on the respective security modes set for the device nodes along potential routing pathways. As an example, the routing logic may not select a potential routing pathway where the security mode for a device node along that pathway is relatively less secure than the security mode set for the target device node. In other words, when routing a communication to a target device node, the routing logic may select a routing pathway where the respective security modes of each device node along that pathway is at least as secure as the security mode set for the target device node.

The security logic340of the low-power controller322corresponds to the instructions that control the manner in which the gateway300secures the communications (if at all) between access devices, other device nodes of the network, and the device management server. The security logic340, in this example, includes respective sets of instructions that each correspond to a particular security mode. Each respective security mode may be configured to employ various techniques for securing the communications or, in some circumstances, permitting unsecured communications. Accordingly, example security modes included in the security logic340may include one or more security modes that require communications to be encrypted as well as one or more security modes that permit communications to be unencrypted. In addition, the security modes requiring encryption may each specify a particular encryption method to employ when encrypting the communications, e.g., security modes respectively requiring relatively more or less complex encryption methods. The security logic340stored at the memory of the low-power controller322may include one or more keys associated with the gateway device node300used to encrypt the content (i.e., the payload) and communications transmitted to the access devices as well as decrypt the content and communications received from access devices, the device management server, and other device nodes of the network. The security modes that do not require encryption may include security modes that require authentication of a security token in order to communicate as well as security modes that permit communication without authenticating a security token. The gateway300may be configured with a default security mode. As noted above, however, the security mode of the gateway300may be changed in response to receipt of user input identifying a security mode selected for the gateway by the user. User-selectable security modes will be discussed in further detail below.

The node database342, in this example, stores records of the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. A device node record includes a set of information associated with one of the device nodes of the network. A device node record may include, for example, the serial number of the device node and a security token associated with the device node. A device node record may also include the local network address assigned to the device node upon joining the network, the serial number of its parent device node, the local network address assigned to its parent device node, and the layer number of the parent device node in the network. A device node record may also include identifications of the class of device node as well as the type of the device node—e.g., whether the device node is dual-mode or multi-mode device node, whether the device node is a sensor-type device node or an activation-type device node, and the particular type of sensor or activatable device. In addition, a device node record may include an indication of the security mode set for the device node. Furthermore a device node record may include an indication of whether the device node is powered via an internal power source (e.g., a battery) or via an external power source (e.g., an AC or DC power supply). In some example implementations, the device class, device type, and power profile may be encoded in the serial number of the device node. A device node record may also include one or more of the keys associated with the device node and used by the low-power controller322to encrypt and decrypt content and communications transmitted to and received from the device node corresponding to that device node record.

The access device database344, in this example, stores records of the access devices that are authorized to exchange communications with device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. The low-power controller322may create a new record for an access device when the gateway300successfully bonds with that access device during a pairing and bonding procedure. The gateway device node300may bond with an access device by employing the procedures used to establish a communication session as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624. In this way, the low-power controller322may engage in subsequent low-power communication sessions with that access device without repeating the pairing and bonding process. An access device record includes a set of information associated with an access device including information used to secure communications between the gateway300and the access device. An access device record may include, for example, a unique identifier for the access device (e.g., a MAC address) and one or more keys exchanged between the gateway300and the access device during a bonding procedure (e.g., LTK, EDIV, and Rand keys). The keys exchanged may include, e.g., a key to secure communications exchanged between the gateway300and the access device during a communication session as well as a key associated with the access device that is used to verify digital signatures received from the access device and sign content transmitted to the access device. An access device record may also include an invitation code generated for an invited access device that has been authorized to communicate with the gateway300. The short-range controller324may also include an access device database similar to the access device database344of the low-power controller322. In this way, the short-range controller324may likewise store records of access devices that have bonded with the gateway300which the short-range controller may utilize for subsequent short-range communication sessions with the access device.

The LAN controller326handles and processes the communications received at and transmitted from the gateway300via the wired LAN interface316. Such communications may be received from and transmitted to the device management server via an IP-based WAN such as the Internet. Accordingly, the LAN controller326, in this example, likewise includes memory346storing instructions corresponding to a protocol stack348that is configured to handle and process IP-based communications received at the gateway300from the device management server. Protocol stacks suitable for use as the protocol stack348of the LAN controller326include those designed for use in embedded systems (e.g., the open source “lightweight IP” protocol stack, the open source “micro IP” protocol stack, and the like). As seen inFIG.3, the LAN controller326is in signal communication with both the short-range controller324and the low-power controller322. Accordingly the LAN controller326, in this example, is configured to port communications between the wired LAN interface and the short-range controller324, between the wired LAN interface and the low-power controller, and between the short-range controller and the low-power controller. In addition, some implementations of the gateway device node may store the device node database and access device database in local memory rather than the memory of a low-power controller. The low-power controller, in these example implementations, may thus be in signal communication with the local memory of the gateway device node to access the device node database and access node database.

In some example implementations, the short-range controller324and/or the LAN controller326may also be SoCs and thus include their own respective processors, timing devices, control logic, and the like. In other example implementations, the gateway300itself may include, e.g., one or more processors, timing devices, and memory storing instructions corresponding to control logic (also omitted fromFIG.3for the sake of clarity) which the short-range controller324and/or the LAN controller326may utilize for operation.

The power module306of the gateway300includes components for supplying power to the gateway300and configuring how power is supplied to the gateway. The power module306, in this example, includes both an internal power source, a battery350, and a power port352for connecting to an external power source (e.g., an AC or DC power source). The battery350may be a battery (e.g., an alkaline battery, a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, lead-acid battery, and the like) and may be recharged when an external power source supplies power to the gateway300via the power port352. The power module306also includes a power switch354for controlling whether the gateway300is powered by the battery350or an external power source via the power port352. A user may thus toggle the switch to selectively control whether the internal or external power source provides power to the gateway300. In some examples, a gateway device may not include a battery and may instead be only mains powered. Additionally or alternatively, the gateway300may be receive power via Power over Ethernet (PoE), an energy harvesting device that harvests ambient energy (e.g., energy from sources such as solar, thermal, wind, fluid flow, kinetic movements, mechanical strain, electromagnetic radiation, and the like), or a wireless power transfer (WPT) using electric, magnetic, or electromagnetic fields.

The power module306, in this example, also includes a power controller356connected to the battery350and the power port352. The power controller356may, in turn, be connected to one or more of the radios (not shown) of the gateway300to control the power supplied to the radios and thus control the transmission power of the wireless communications transmitted from the gateway. The power controller356may thus control the wireless range of the gateway300by controlling the transmission power of its radios. Furthermore the power controller356may automatically adjust the power supplied to a radio based on whether the gateway300is currently powered by an internal power source (e.g., the battery350) or an external power source. If currently powered externally, the power controller356may provide full power to a radio of the gateway in order to maximize the wireless range of the gateway (e.g., up to about 100 m). In some example implementations, full power to a radio of the gateway300may result in transmission power between about 16 decibels (dB) and about 23 dB. If currently powered internally, however, the power controller356may provide less than full power to a radio of the gateway in order to reduce or minimize power consumption at the gateway at the expense of a wireless range that is less than the maximized wireless range.

As seen inFIG.3, the gateway300, in this example, also includes a pairing button312connected to the power controller356. A user may press the pairing button312to temporarily reduce the transmission power of the gateway300such that its wireless range is minimized (e.g., up to about 1 m). As described in further detail below, the user may press the pairing button to reduce the wireless range of the gateway300as a security measure when pairing and bonding an access device with the gateway. In this way, the user may ensure that no other devices can receive the communications exchanged between the gateway and the access device during the pairing and bonding process. In some example implementations, the pairing button312may be configured such that the transmission power of the gateway300is reduced until the pairing button is again pressed by the user. In other example implementations, the pairing button312may be configured to initiate a temporary reduction of the transmission power of the gateway for a predetermined time period (e.g., about 1-2 minutes) such that, at the end of that time period, the transmission power of the gateway returns to the previous transmission power.

The ignition button308of the gateway300, in this example, triggers an initialization procedure at the gateway300. In some example implementations, the control logic336of the low-power controller322is configured to carry out the initialization procedure. The initialization procedure may include, for example, setting various operating parameters (e.g., selecting an operating frequency channel), confirming signal communication with the device management server via the wired LAN interface316, confirming signal communication with a cellular network via the cellular network interface320, clearing any existing records from the node database342and the access device database344, and transmitting announcements indicating the gateway is present and available to accept requests to join the local network of interconnected devices. Forming the local network of interconnected devices is discussed in further detail below. The reset button310of the gateway300, in this example, triggers re-initialization of the gateway300. The LED314of the gateway300, in this example, may indicate one or more statuses of the gateway300, e.g., via the on/off status of the LED or via its blink pattern. One or more respective blink patterns of the LED may indicate, for example, that an error has occurred during the initialization procedure (e.g., the gateway could not connect to the device management server or the cellular network), that an access device has successfully paired and bonded with the gateway, that a device node has been added to or removed from the local network of interconnected devices, and the like. If the ignition button308is omitted from a gateway device node, then that gateway device node may perform the initialization procedure described above automatically upon power-up.

Finally, the gateway300, in this example, includes a physical security token358that is affixed to the gateway300and accessible to a user. As an example, the physical security token358may be affixed to a housing of the gateway300. The physical security token358may be a barcode (e.g., a QR code) that encodes information associated with the gateway300. The encoded information may include, e.g., the serial numbers of the gateway300, the device class and device type, the default security level for the gateway, and the security token associated with the gateway. This information may also be encrypted, and the barcode may encode the encrypted information. The information may be encrypted using an encryption algorithm suitable for embedded systems such as, e.g., the tiny-AES128-C encryption algorithm. An access device may scan the barcode (e.g., using an optical input device such as a camera) to obtain the encoded information. The access device may also store a key (e.g., as part of the mobile application), and use the key to decrypt the encrypted information obtained from the barcode.

Referring now toFIG.4, an example of an implementation of a multi-mode device node400is shown. Similar to the gateway device node300, the multi-mode device node400, in this example, includes a control module402, a communication module404, and a power module406. The multi-mode device node400, in this example, also includes an ignition button408, a reset button410, a pairing button412, and an LED414. The multi-mode device node400may also include a physical security token416affixed to the device node, e.g., to a housing of the device node. In other examples, a multi-mode device node may omit buttons408-412and may instead include only a single factory reset button used to restore the factory settings of the multi-mode device node. In some examples, a multi-mode device node may omit physical buttons entirely.

The ignition button408, the reset button410, and the pairing button412may be the same as or at least similar to the ignition button308, the reset button310, and the pairing button321respectively discussed above with reference toFIG.3. In some example implementations, the multi-mode device node400may be configured to enter into a sleep mode if it is unable to connect to a local network of interconnected devices after a user presses the ignition button408. Engaging the reset button410may cause the multi-mode device node to awake from the sleep mode and reattempt the process of locating a network to connect to. The physical security token416may also be the same as or at least similar to the physical security token358discussed above with reference toFIG.3and encode the same type of information associated with the multi-mode device node400. If the ignition button408is omitted from a multi-mode device node, then that multi-mode device node may perform an initialization procedure automatically upon power-up.

The communication module404of the multi-mode device node400, in this example, likewise includes multiple communication interfaces. In particular, the communication module404, in this example, includes a wireless LAN interface418and a cellular network interface420. The multi-mode device node400may thus exchange wireless communications with a access devices, a gateway device node, and other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices via one or more of the wireless LAN interface418and the cellular network interface420. The wireless LAN interface418may be the same as or at least similar to the wireless LAN interface318discussed above with reference toFIG.3, and the cellular network interface420may be the same as or at least similar to the cellular network interface320also discussed above with reference toFIG.3. In addition, although again not shown inFIG.4for the sake of clarity, the communication module404of the multi-mode device node400may also likewise include one or more radios with corresponding transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers having one or more antennas to receive and/or transmit those wireless communications. The radios of the multi-mode device node400may likewise be the same as or at least similar to the radios of the gateway device node300discussed above with reference toFIG.3.

The control module402of the multi-mode device node400, in this example, includes a single controller422for handling and responding to the wireless communications received at and transmitted from the multi-mode device node. The controller422, in this example, is also a dual-standard low-power controller (“low-power controller”) configured to selectively utilize multiple low-power wireless communication standards to wirelessly communicate with access devices, a gateway device node, the device management server, and other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. In some example implementations, the low-power controller422may be configured to utilize both the BLE and ANT low-power wireless communication standards. As seen inFIG.4, the low-power controller422is in signal communication with both the wireless LAN interface418and the cellular network interface420. The low-power controller422may also be in signal communication with one or more of the radios of the multi-mode device node400. In this way, the multi-mode device node400may likewise route communications received via any of these interfaces to access devices, the gateway device node, the device management server, and other device nodes of the network.

The low-power controller422may be the same as or at least similar to the low-power controller322discussed above with reference toFIG.3, e.g., an SoC. In this regard, the low-power controller422likewise includes a processor424and memory426storing instructions that are executed by the processor for controlling operational aspects associated with the multi-mode device node400. The instructions stored at the memory426of the low-power controller422, in this example, include instructions corresponding to a protocol stack428that is configured to handle and process multiple types of low-power wireless communications received at and transmitted from the multi-mode device node400(e.g., BLE communications and ANT communications) from access devices, a gateway device node, the device management server, or other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. The protocol stack428of the low-power controller422may thus be the same as or at least similar to the protocol stack332of the low-power controller322discussed above with reference toFIG.3.

In some example implementations, a device node may also include a signal processor situated between the low-power controller and the radio. The signal processor may intercept the output sent from the low-power controller to the radio and likewise intercept input received at the radio to be sent to the low-power controller. Processing the input and output may include filtering and/or amplifying the signals. As an example, it may be desirable to amplify the signals output from the low-power controller to increase the wireless transmission range of the device node. The extent to which those signals may be amplified might be limited, however, due to distortion that occurs when the signals are amplified beyond a certain power level, e.g., −5 dBm. In order to further amplify the signals and avoid distortion, the signal processor may intercept the signals output by the low-power controller and filter and amplify those signals before passing the signals to the radio for transmission. Suitable signal processors include the 2.4 GHz ZigBee®/802.15.4 Front-End Module having model number SE2431L available from Skyworks Solutions, Inc. of Woburn, Mass.

The memory426of the low-power controller422, in this example, also stores instructions corresponding to control logic430, routing logic432, and security logic434also for controlling operational aspects of the multi-mode device node400. The routing logic432and the security logic434may be the same as or at least similar to the routing logic338and security logic340discussed above with reference to the gateway300inFIG.3. The routing logic432may thus also route communications to an access device, a gateway device node, a device management server, or other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

Depending on the device node type of a multi-mode device node, however, the security logic434may include instructions corresponding to a subset of the security modes available at a gateway device node. As an example, the security logic of multi-mode device nodes that are configured to secure buildings, structures, and containers (e.g., lock-type device nodes), may include instructions corresponding to security modes that are relatively more secure than other security modes. The security logic of multi-mode device nodes that are not at risk for unauthorized access may include instructions corresponding to both relatively less secure and relatively more secure security modes. Where the multi-mode device node is a sensor-type device node, for example, the risk or costs of unauthorized access may be relatively small. Accordingly, the security logic of one or more sensor-type multi-mode device nodes may include instructions corresponding to one or more relatively less secure security modes. In addition, as noted above, the security logic434of the multi-mode device node400may be configured to employ a default security mode or a user-selected security mode.

The control logic430of the low-power controller422may depend on the device node type of the multi-mode device node400. For activation-type multi-mode device nodes, the control logic430may include instructions for receiving and processing commands from a gateway device node, the device management server, or other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. For activation-type multi-mode device nodes, commands may include commands to activate a motor, an actuator, solenoid, optical output device or unit, audio output device or unit, and the like. For lock-type multi-mode device nodes, in particular, commands may include commands to toggle a lock status, i.e., commands to lock or unlock. For sensor-type multi-mode device nodes, commands may include commands to, e.g., activate or deactivate one or more sensors, adjust one or more sensor parameters (e.g., sensitivity), take a new measurement, and provide a most recent measurement, the previous x number of measurements, or a measurement obtained at a specified date and/or time or within a specified date range or time period.

The control logic430of the low-power controller422may also include instructions that are not dependent on the device node type. In particular, the control logic430for each type of multi-mode device node may include instructions for initializing the multi-mode device node upon startup, searching for and connecting to a local network of interconnected devices to join (e.g., a gateway device node or another device node), responding to polling commands (e.g., transmitted by a gateway device node), adding a new device node to the network, registering that new device node with a gateway device node, removing a device node from the network, establishing a master/slave relationship with another device node, and exchanging communications with an access device. The control logic430of the low-power controller422may also include instructions for toggling between a sleep mode and an awake mode during which the multi-mode device node400transmits announcements at periodic intervals (e.g., every 10-50 ms) for a predetermined time period (e.g., for 30-60 seconds). If the multi-mode device node400receives a pairing request while awake—e.g., from an access device or another device node—then the multi-mode device node may pair and communicate with that access device or device node. The control logic430may also include instructions that terminate the connection if a communication (e.g., a command request) is not received for a predetermined time period (e.g., 60 seconds). Furthermore the control logic430may include instructions to reenter a sleep mode upon termination of a connection and upon failing to receive a pairing request while awake during the predetermined time period.

As also seen inFIG.4, memory426of the low-power controller422also stores a device node database436and an access device database438. The access device database438may be the same as or at least similar to the access device database344discussed above with reference toFIG.3. In this regard, the access device database438, in this example, may store records corresponding to the access devices that have paired and bonded with the multi-mode device node400and are thus authorized to access the multi-mode device node. The multi-mode device node400may bond with an access device by employing the procedures used to establish a communication session as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624. As noted above, an access node record may also include one or more keys associated with the access device and used by the low-power controller422to encrypt and decrypt content and communications transmitted to and received from the access device corresponding to that access device record. An access node record may also store an invitation code for an invited access device that has been authorized to communicate with the multi-mode device node400.

The device node database436, in this example, stores records of the next-level device nodes that are connected to the multi-mode device node400in the local network of interconnected devices. For a zero-level device node, the device node database436may thus store records corresponding to its child device nodes, i.e., the first-level device nodes in signal communication with that zero-level device node as well as the corresponding child device nodes of each of its child device nodes, i.e., the second-level device nodes in signal communication with those first-level device nodes. For a first-level device node, the device node database436may likewise store records corresponding to its child device nodes, i.e., the second-level device nodes in signal communication with that first-level device node. Accordingly, a device node record may include: the serial number of the child node and the network address assigned to the child node, the serial number of the parent node and the network address assigned to the parent node, the layer number of the parent node, and a registration status of the child node. The registration status of the child node may indicate whether the child node has been registered with an upper level device node. As an example, the device node record stored at a first-level device node for a second-level device node may indicate whether that second-level device node has been registered with a zero-level device node and/or a gateway device node.

The power module406of the multi-mode device node400, in this example, includes a power port440for receiving power from an external power source and a power controller442for controlling the power supplied to one or more of the radios (not shown) of the multi-mode device node. As seen inFIG.4, the power controller442is connected to the pairing button412. Accordingly, like the pairing button312discussed above with reference toFIG.3, the pairing button412, when pressed by a user, may cause the power controller442to reduce the transmission power of the multi-mode device node400thus reducing its wireless range. Additionally or alternatively and similar to a gateway device node, a multi-mode device node may receive power via PoE, an energy harvesting device, or WPT.

It will be appreciated that some implementations of multi-mode device nodes may also include an internal power source such as a battery in addition to a power port for receiving power from an external power source. Multi-mode device nodes having both an internal and an external power source may also include a power switch for toggling whether the multi-mode device node is powered internally or externally as described above with reference toFIG.3. In addition, a multi-mode device node may also include a wired LAN interface and corresponding wired LAN controller similar to those of the gateway device node300discussed above. In addition, other implementations of a multi-mode device node may store its node database and access device database in local memory rather than the memory of the low-power controller.

With reference now toFIG.5, an example of an implementation of a dual-mode device node500is shown. Similar to the gateway device node300and the multi-mode device node400, the dual-mode device node500, in this example, includes a control module502, a communication module504, and a power module506. The dual-mode device node500, in this example, also includes an ignition button508, a reset button510, a pairing button512, and an LED514. The dual-mode device node500may also include a physical security token516affixed to the device node, e.g., to a housing of the device node. In other examples, a dual-mode device node may omit buttons508-512and may instead include only a single factory reset button used to restore the factory settings of the dual-mode device node. In some examples, a dual-mode device node may omit physical buttons entirely.

The ignition button508, the reset button510, and the pairing button512may be the same as or at least similar to, respectively, the ignition button308, the reset button310, and the pairing button321discussed above with reference toFIG.3. In some example implementations, the dual-mode device node500may be configured to enter into a sleep mode if it is unable to connect to a local network of interconnected devices after a user presses the ignition button508. Engaging the reset button510may cause the dual-mode device node to awake from the sleep mode and reattempt the process of locating a network to connect to. The physical security token516may also be the same as or at least similar to the physical security token358discussed above with reference toFIG.3and encode the same type of information associated with the dual-mode device node500. If the ignition button508is omitted from a dual-mode device node, then that dual-mode device node may perform an initialization procedure automatically upon power-up.

The communication module504of the dual-mode device node500, in this example, includes one communication interface. In particular, the communication module504, in this example, includes a radio having a transceiver520and corresponding antenna522. The radio518may be configured to operate at one or more frequencies within the ISM radio band. Accordingly the radio518may be, e.g., a 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz radio. Other types of radios and frequency bands suitable for wireless communications may be selectively employed. The radios discussed above with reference to the gateway device node300and the multi-mode device node400may be the same as or at least similar to the radio518of the dual-mode device node500.

The control module502of the dual-mode device node500, in this example, also includes a single controller524for handling and responding to the wireless communications received at and transmitted from the dual-mode device node. The controller524, in this example, is also a dual-standard low-power controller (“low-power controller”) configured to selectively utilize multiple low-power wireless communication standards to wirelessly communicate with access devices, a gateway device node, and other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. In some example implementations, the low-power controller524is configured to utilize both the BLE and ANT low-power wireless communication standards. As seen inFIG.5, the low-power controller524is in signal communication with the radio518.

The low-power controller524may be the same as or at least similar to the low-power controller322discussed above with reference toFIG.3, e.g., an SoC. In this regard, the low-power controller524likewise includes a processor526and memory528storing instructions that are executed by the processor for controlling operational aspects associated with the dual-mode device node500. The instructions stored at the memory528of the low-power controller524, in this example, include instructions corresponding to a protocol stack530that is configured to handle and process multiple types of low-power wireless communications received at and transmitted from the dual-mode device node500(e.g., BLE communications and ANT communications) from access devices, a gateway device node, or other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. The protocol stack530of the low-power controller524may thus be the same as or at least similar to the protocol stack332of the low-power controller322discussed above with reference toFIG.3.

The memory528of the low-power controller524, in this example, also stores instructions corresponding to control logic532, routing logic534, and security logic536for controlling operational aspects of the dual-mode device node500. The dual-mode device node500may bond with an access device by employing the procedures used to establish a communication session as described in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,407,624. The routing logic534and the security logic536may be the same as or at least similar to the routing logic338and security logic340discussed above with reference to the gateway300inFIG.3. The routing logic534may thus also route communications to an access device, a gateway device node, or other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

Like the security logic434of the multi-mode device node400, the security logic536may similarly depend on the device node type of a dual-mode device node. The security modes included in the security logic536of the low-power controller524may thus depend on the risk associated with unauthorized access to the dual-mode device node (e.g., sensor-type device nodes versus lock-type device nodes). Accordingly where relatively less risk is associated with the dual-mode device node500, the security logic536may include instructions corresponding to relatively less secure security modes. Likewise where relatively more risk is associated with the dual-mode device node500, the security logic536may include instructions only corresponding to relatively more secure security modes. The security logic536of the low-power controller524may also be configured to employ a default security mode or a user-selected security mode.

The control logic532of the low-power controller524may likewise depend on the device node type of the dual-mode device node500. Accordingly, the control logic532of the low-power controller524may be similar to the control logic430discussed above, e.g., with respect to activation-type dual-mode device nodes and sensor-type dual-mode device nodes. The control logic532of the low-power controller524may likewise include instructions that are not dependent on the device node type. In particular, the control logic532for each type of dual-mode device node may include instructions for initializing the dual-mode device node upon startup, searching for and connecting to a local network of interconnected devices to join (e.g., a gateway device node or another device node), responding to polling commands (e.g., transmitted by a gateway device node), adding a new device node to the network, registering that new device node with a gateway device node, removing a device node from the network, establishing a master/slave relationship with another device node, and exchanging communications with an access device. The control logic532of the low-power controller524may thus also include instructions for toggling between a sleep mode and an awake mode during which the dual-mode device node500transmits announcements at periodic intervals for a predetermined time period. The control logic532may thus likewise include instructions to terminate a connection and reenter a sleep mode if a communication is not received within a predetermined time period or reenter a sleep mode if a pairing request is not received in response to an announcement transmitted within a predetermined time period.

The memory528of the low-power controller524likewise stores a device node database538and an access device database540. The access device database540may be the same as or at least similar to the access device databases344and438discussed above with reference toFIGS.3-4. In this regard, the access device database540, in this example, may store records corresponding to the access devices that have paired and bonded with the dual-mode device node500and are thus authorized to access the dual-mode device node. As noted above, an access node record may also include one or more keys (e.g., a public key) associated with the access device and used by the low-power controller524to encrypt and decrypt content and communications transmitted to and received from the access device corresponding to that access device record as well as an invitation code generated for an invited access device that has been authorized to communicate with the dual-mode device node. The device node database538likewise stores records of the next-level device nodes that are connected to the dual-mode device node500in the local network of interconnected devices. Accordingly the device node database538and its corresponding device node records may be the same as or at least similar to the device node database436discussed above with reference toFIG.4.

The power module506of the dual-mode device node500, in this example, includes an internal power source, in particular, a battery542and a power controller544for controlling the power supplied to the radio518. As seen inFIG.5, the power controller544is connected to the pairing button512. Accordingly, like the pairing button312discussed above with reference toFIG.3, the pairing button512, when pressed by a user, may cause the power controller544to reduce the transmission power of the dual-mode device node500thus reducing its wireless range. Additionally or alternatively and similar to a gateway device node and a multi-mode device node, a dual-mode device node may receive power via PoE, an energy harvesting device, or WPT.

It will be appreciated that some implementations of dual-mode device nodes may also include a power port for receiving power from an external power source in addition to a battery. Dual-mode device nodes having both an internal and an external power source may also include a power switch for toggling whether the dual-mode device node is powered internally or externally as described above with reference toFIG.3. It will also be appreciated that in some implementations of gateway device nodes, multi-mode device nodes, and dual-mode device nodes one or more of the ignition button, the reset button, the pairing button, and the LED may be optional. In addition, other implementations of a dual-mode device node may store the device node database and access device database in local memory rather than in the memory of the low-power controller.

Referring now toFIGS.6A-B, respective examples of implementations of two types of device nodes600aand600bare shown. InFIG.6A, an activation-type device node600ais shown, and inFIG.6B, a sensor-type device node600bis shown Like the device nodes discussed above, the activation-type device node600aand the sensor-type device node600beach include, respectively, a control module602aand602b. The control modules602aand602bmay be the same as or similar to the control modules discussed above with respect to the gateway device node, the multi-mode device node, and the dual-mode device node. The control module602a, in this example, is in signal communication with a motor control unit604(MCU) which is in turn in connected to an actuator606. The control module602amay issue commands to the MCU604which in turn triggers activation of the actuator606based on those commands. As noted above, activating the actuator606may include locking or unlocking a lock, automatically opening or closing a door (e.g., a garage door), and the like. Instead of an MCU604and actuator606, other activation-type device nodes may include optical output devices (e.g., display screens, lights, etc.), audio output devices (e.g., speakers), solenoids, and the like that are connected to the control module602a. The control module602b, in this example, is in signal communication with a sensor608. The control module602amay thus issue commands to the sensor608as discussed above and/or receive data from the sensor (e.g., one or more sensor readings). Various types of sensors that may be employed will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

With reference toFIG.6C, another example of an implementation of a device node600cis shown. The device node600cmay correspond to any of the various types of device nodes described above. Like the device nodes600a-b, the device node600cincludes a control module602c. The device node600c, in this example, also includes a physical switch610in signal communication with the control module602cand accessible to a user. A user may engage the physical switch610to toggle the active/inactive status of the device node600cand/or toggle the awake/asleep status of the device node. Accordingly, in some example implementations, the physical switch610may be the same as or at least similar to the ignition buttons or reset buttons discussed above. In an inactive state, the device node600cmay be completely powered down. In an active state, the device node may be powered up and either in an asleep state or an awake state. In the asleep state, the device node600cmay only listen for communications transmitted by other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. In response to receipt of a communication while in the asleep state, the device node600cmay enter the awake state and take some action, e.g., transmit a response to the communication received. In the awake state, the device node600cmay both listen for communications transmitted by other device nodes as well as transmit communications to other device nodes. The device node600cmay also perform other types of actions when in the awake state, e.g., trigger an actuator or obtain data measured by a sensor. If the device node600cis in the inactive state, engaging the switch610activates the device node. A device node may be configured to enter either the asleep state or the awake state when activated, and the state the device node enters when activated may depend on the type of device. A keyfob, for example, may be configured to immediately enter the asleep state (i.e., power up and listen) when its physical switch is engaged. A door lock, however, may be configured to immediately enter the awake state when its physical switch is engaged and attempt to join the local network of interconnected devices (i.e., power up and transmit). In a similar fashion, a device node may be configured to either listen or immediately transmit when entering the awake state from the asleep state, i.e., wake up and listen versus wake up and transmit. Additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

As noted above, the control logic of the respective controllers at the gateway device nodes, multi-mode device nodes, and the dual-mode device nodes include instructions for forming a local network of interconnected devices, securing and routing communications along pathways through and to device nodes of the network, and responding to commands received in those communications. These functional aspects are discussed in further detail below.

Update Packages

As noted above, the device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices store various operational parameters that govern the operation of those device nodes. Examples of such operational parameters include whether local authentication of user-operated devices is enabled, whether the device node is assigned to a bridge, whether the device node is enabled/disabled, and a list of user-operated devices that are currently authorized to access the device node. A device node may utilize the list of authorized user-operated devices during local authentication of a user-operated device that requests access to the device node. Updates to these operational parameters may be needed from time to time. In one example, local authentication may be disabled to enforce stricter security protocols (e.g., remote authentication) with respect to user-operated devices requesting access to the device node. In another example, the list of authorized user-operated devices may be updated to include any new user-operated devices that are authorized to access the device node and to exclude any existing user-operated devices that are no longer authorized to access the device node.

The following example scenario demonstrates how delivering update packages as described below can advantageously help secure access to the device nodes in a local network of interconnected devices. An organization, such as a business, deploys a set of electronic door locks at the exterior doorways of a building to control which individuals are granted access to the building. Authorized individuals interact with the electronic door locks by providing unlock commands via a user-operated device (e.g., a smartphone) in order to gain access to the building. An electronic door lock locally stores a list of those user-operated devices that are authorized to interact with it. Prior to arriving at the building, a guest's smartphone is temporarily granted access to the building via the main entrance by identifying the guest's smartphone in a list of devices authorized to interact with the main entrance's electronic door lock. The updated list of authorized devices is transmitted to guest's smartphone. When the guest's smartphone is within wireless range of the electronic door lock at the main entrance, a mobile application at the smartphone attempts to establish a connection with the electronic door lock in order to gain access to the electronic door lock and issue commands such as an unlock command. Establishing a connection includes an authentication and authorization procedure to confirm the guest's device is authorized to access the main entrance's electronic door lock. Prior to that authentication and authorization procedure, however, the mobile application transmits to the electronic door lock the updated list of authorized devices, which identifies the guest's smartphone as one of those device authorized to interact with the electronic door lock. After receiving the updated list of authorized devices, the electronic door lock updates its locally stored list of authorized devices which, following the update, includes the guest's smartphone as one of the authorized devices. Having updated the list of authorized devices, the electronic door lock successfully authenticates the guest's smartphone and authorizes the smart phone to interact with it. The guest's smartphone may thus transmit an unlock command via the connection established with the electronic door lock. Subsequent to the guest's visit, the smartphone's authorization to interact with the main entrance's electronic door lock is revoked by again updating the list of authorized devices associated with the main entrance's door lock to remove identification of the user's smartphone. When the next user requests to connect to the electronic door lock of the main entrance, the smartphone of that user requests and receives the updated list of authorized devices and transmits that updated list to the electronic door lock. In response, the electronic door lock replaces its stored list of authorized devices with the new list of authorized devices received. Since the new list of authorized devices excludes identification of the guest's smartphone, the guest will not be able to use that smartphone to interact with (e.g., issue an unlock command) to the main entrance's electronic door lock—unless that smartphone is subsequently identified again as an authorized device. The next user may be the guest himself or another user that attempts to interact with the electronic door lock with another user-operated device (e.g., another smartphone). It should thus be recognized that, even after authorization of the guest's smartphone has been revoked, the guest's smartphone may operate as the delivery vector for the updated list of authorized devices transmitted to the electronic door lock. In this regard, an attempt by the guest to interact with the main entrance's electronic door lock after the smartphone's authorization has been revoked (or granted) can trigger the transmission of the updated list of authorized devices to the electronic door lock. It should also be appreciated that the scenario described above is provided only by way of example to illustrate some of the principles associated with the techniques described herein for updating a device in a local network of interconnected devices. As set forth in further detail below, various particular implementations of those techniques may include additional steps not described in the example scenario above.

For device nodes that permit local authentication and authorization, having the most up-to-date list of user-operated devices that are authorized to interact with those device nodes can result in various technical advantages in terms of device security and user-experience. With respect to device security, transmitting updates to a device node's operating parameters (e.g., an updated list of authorized devices) prior to attempting authentication and authorization of a user-operated device, helps to ensure that any user-operated devices no longer authorized to interact with the device node are excluded from the list of authorized devices stored at the device node. With respect to user-experience, only minimal steps may be needed for a newly authorized user-operated device to obtain access to a device node. For example, the user-operated device may only need to obtain a control application configured to carry out the steps (described in further detail below) of obtaining the updates to the device node's operational parameters and transmitting those updates to the device node when attempting to access it. Additional technical advantages will be appreciated upon review of the additional disclosures provided herein.

InFIG.7, a block diagram depicts, by way of example, updating a device node of a local network of interconnected devices. Here, an administrator user-operated device702is in signal communication with a device management server704which is in signal communication with a user-operated device706which, in turn, is in signal communication with a device node708of a local network of interconnected devices. The administrator user-operated device702and the user-operated device706may be the same as, or at least similar to, the access devices described above with reference toFIGS.1-2, e.g., access device104(FIG.1) or208(FIG.2). Similarly, the device management server704may be the same as, or at least similar to, the device management servers discussed above with reference toFIGS.1-2, e.g., device management server110(FIG.1) or212(FIG.2) Likewise, the device node708may be the same as, or at least similar to, any of the device nodes discussed above with reference toFIGS.1-5and6A-C, e.g., gateway device node102(FIG.1),202(FIG.2), or300(FIG.3); device node106(FIG.1),206(FIG.2), or600a-c(FIGS.6A-C); multi-mode device node400(FIG.4); or dual-mode device node500(FIG.5).

The administrator user-operated device702, in this example, is used to provide update information710to the device management server704. The administrator user-operated device702is operated by an administrator of the local network of interconnected devices that includes the device node708. The administrator may be, in one example, the owner of a local network of interconnected devices deployed at the home premises of the owner. The administrator may also be, in another example, an information technology (IT) or security official that manages a local network of interconnected devices deployed at the enterprise premises of a business or other organization. The administrator user-operated device702may provide the update information710to the device management server704using, for example, a desktop application, a mobile application, a command line program, a web portal, a web service, and the like. In this regard, the device management server704may provide an application programming interface (API) that may be invoked by the administrator user-operated device702in order to transmit the update information710to the device management server704. The device management server704itself may additionally or alternatively provide a user interface (e.g., an application, user selection menus, and the like) that receives, from an administrator, user input corresponding to the update information.

The update information710includes information pertaining to an operational parameter of the device node708. Any suitable means for identifying which operational parameter should be updated and the corresponding value for that operational parameter may be selectively employed. For example, one or more HTTP requests may be employed to transmit the update information710(in whole or in part) from the administrator user-operated device702to the device management server704. A markup language such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) may also be employed to format a text file that indicates one or more operational parameters of the device node708and, for each operational parameter indicated, one or more respective values for that operational parameter. The administrator user-operated device702may thus transmit the update information710as an XML-formatted text file to the device management server704which may be configured to parse the XML-formatted text file and extract the operational parameters indicated as well as their corresponding values. In an implementation that utilizes an API to provide the update information710, the administrator user-operated device702may invoke one or more API function calls to provide the update information710to the device management server704. The API provided by the device management server704, in this example, may be configured to provide a generic “update” function that accepts at least three input variables—a unique identifier (ID) for the device node, the operational parameter to update, and the value of the operational parameter, e.g., update(device_node_ID, parameter, value). Additionally or alternatively, the API may be configured to provide multiple, specific “update” functions for each updatable operational parameter that accepts at least two input variables—the device node ID and the value of the operational parameter. For example, this API may provide: a function to update whether local authentication is enabled at the device node, e.g., update_local_authn(device_node_ID, true/false); a function to update whether the device node is enabled update_enabled(device_node_ID, true/false); and/or a function to update whether the device node is assigned to a bridge, e.g., update_assigned_bridge(device_node_ID, true/false). The API may also include one or more functions to indicate which user-operated devices are and are not authorized to access the device node. The user-operated devices may likewise be identified using a unique device ID such as a device serial number, a media access control (MAC) address, and the like. In this regard, the API may provide: a function to indicate a user-operated device is newly authorized to access the device node, e.g., add_authz_user_device(device_node_ID, user_device_ID); a function to indicate a user-operated device is no longer authorized to access the device node, remove_authz_user_device(device_node_ID, user_device_ID); and/or a function to replace the list of authorized user-operated devices, e.g., replace_authz_user_devices(device_node_ID, user_device_ID list). Additional and alternative techniques may be selectively employed to transmit the update information710from the administrator user-operated device702to the device management server704. For example, the update information710may be provided to the device management server704via the access portal, UDI, and/or PDI of the device management server.

The administrator user-operated device702may also provide at least some of the update information710in terms of a user rather than a user operated device. In this regard, the update information710may, in some implementations, additionally or alternatively indicate users that are or are not authorized to access the device node708. Users may likewise be identified by a unique user ID, and the update information710may indicate a user is newly authorized to access or no longer authorized to access the device node708. In an implementation that utilizes an API to provide the update information710, the API may additionally or alternatively include functions that indicate a user ID in place of a user-operated device ID. As explained in further detail below, the device management server704may then utilize the user IDs received in the updated information710to identify which corresponding user-operated devices are and are not authorized to access the device node.

As seen inFIG.7, the device management server704, in this example, includes a data store712that stores profiles for the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices, the user-operated devices used to access those device nodes, and the users that operated the user-operated devices. In this regard, the data store712of the device management server704, in this example, includes device node profiles714, user-operated device profiles716, and user profiles718. The device node profiles714and the user-operated device profiles716may be the same as, or at least similar to the device profiles118discussed above with reference toFIG.1which, as noted above, include two types of device profiles—those corresponding to the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices and those corresponding to the access devices. Similarly, the user profiles718may be the same as, or at least similar to, the user profiles116discussed above with reference toFIG.1. In this regard, a device node profile714corresponds to a particular device node of a local network of interconnected devices, a user-operated device profile716corresponds to a particular user-operated device with which a user accesses one or more device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices, and a user profile718corresponds to a particular user (e.g., an owner or operator) of a user-operated device.

The user-operated device profile716, in this example, indicates one of the user profiles718so as to identify which particular user is associated with that user-operated device. The device management server704may thus utilize this relationship between the user-operated device profiles716and the user profiles718to identify which user-operated device(s) a particular user is associated with, e.g., when the update information710indicates the user(s) that are and are not authorized to access a device node.

The device management server704may utilize a device node profile714to characterize the desired operational state of the corresponding device node at the local network of interconnected devices. Accordingly, the device node profile714, in this example, includes an authorized user-operated device list720indicating one or more of the user-operated device profiles716that are authorized to access the corresponding device node. In some example implementations, the device node profile714may additionally or alternatively include an authorized user list indicating one or more of the user profiles718that are authorized to access the corresponding device node. In addition, the device node profile714, in this example, also includes one or more operational parameter values722. As noted above, the operational parameter values722may include values indicating, for example, whether the corresponding device node is enabled, whether the corresponding device node is associated with a gateway device, and whether local authentication is enabled at the corresponding device node. By maintaining device node profiles714that characterize the desired operational state of the corresponding device nodes, the device management server704can generate update packages to be delivered to the device nodes that update their internal operational parameters based on the update packages received.

As also seen inFIG.7, the data store712of the device management server704, in this example, also stores update packages724. The device management server704may retain at least one update package724—e.g., the most recent update package—that has been generated for one or more of the device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices. In some example implementations, the device management server704may retain a sequence of multiple update packages that have been generated for a device node which may provide a historical record of all changes that have been made to the operational parameters of that device node. The sequence of update packages may be utilized to roll back changes to a corresponding device node. In some example implementations, the first update package in the sequence may indicate an initial configuration of the operational parameters for a corresponding device node, akin to a “factory settings” set of operational parameters. In other example implementations, the device management server704may only store the most recent update package724(or the previous x number of update packages) for each device node of the local network of interconnected devices. The number of update packages retained by the device management server704may be a configurable parameter at the device management server, e.g., a global parameter applicable to all device nodes of all local networks, a network-specific parameter applicable to all device nodes on a particular local network, and/or device-specific parameter applicable to individual device nodes.

Each update package includes information enabling the device node to determine whether one update package is more recent than another update package. Such information may include a timestamp indicating when the update package was generated. Accordingly, a device node may determine that an update package with a later timestamp is the more recent update package when compared to an update package with an earlier timestamp. Additionally or alternatively, such information may include a sequence number indicating the position of the update package in the sequence of update packages generated for that device node. The device node may thus determine that an update package with a higher sequence number is the more recent update package when compared to an update package with a lower sequence number. As described in further detail below, a device node determines whether to keep or discard a received update package based on whether it is more recent than a previously received update package. For convenience, the information indicating the position of a particular update package in a sequence of update packages may be referred to as a sequence identifier.

The device management server704, in this example, generates an update package724in order to propagate, to a device node, desired updates to the operational parameters of a device node of a local network of interconnected devices. The device management server704may generate an update package for a device node in response to receiving the update information710form the administrator user-operated device702. Generating the update package724includes creating a new update package using at least the update information710received from the administrator user-operated device702. Generating the update package724also includes modifying an existing update package using the update information710received. When modifying an existing update package, the device management server704may also update the sequence identifier (e.g., by inserting a new timestamp or by incrementing a sequence number) in order to indicate the modified update package that is generated is the most recent update package for the corresponding device node.

Having generated the update package724, the device management server704transmits the update package to the user-operated device706for storage. The device management server704may transmit the update package724to the user-operated device via, e.g., a WAN such as the Internet. Details regarding the transmission of the update package724to the user-operated device with reference toFIG.10. After receiving the update package724, the user-operated device706stores the update package in a data store. As seen inFIG.7, the user-operated device706, in this example, includes a control application726, which a user utilizes to control or otherwise interact with the device node708. As noted above, the user-operated device706may be a mobile cellular telephone (e.g., a smartphone). Accordingly, the control application726may be, in some examples, a mobile application (“mobile app” or “app”) residing on and executed by the user-operated device706.

The control application726, in this example, is configured to receive the update package724from the device management server704and to transmit the update package724to the device node708. As described in further detail below, the control application726may be configured to poll the device management server704at regular or irregular intervals for any new update packages associated with the device nodes the user-operated device706is authorized to access. The control application726may additionally or alternatively be configured to poll the device management server704for any new update packages in response to a triggering event. Such triggering events include launching, waking, and obtaining focus of the control application726at the user-operated device706. To identify any new update packages that are available when polling the device management server704, the control application726may be configured, for example, to transmit a timestamp indicating that last date and time the control application polled the device management server. The device management server704may thus identify any new update packages to be transmitted to the user-operated device706based on the timestamp received from the control application726. Additionally or alternatively, the control application726may be configured to transmit, when polling the device management server704, a list of the most recent update packages received from the device management server. For example, that list may include, for each update package indicated, the device ID of the device node associated with the update package and the sequence identifier of the update package. The device management server704may thus similarly identify any new update packages to be transmitted to the user-operated device706based on the sequence identifier received.

If the control application726determines a new update package is available at the device management server704, the control application may, in some example implementations, obtain that new update package from the device management server using a request-response protocol. For example, the control application726may submit a request (e.g., an HTTP request) to the device management server704for the new update package and receive the requested update package in a response (e.g., an HTTP response) from the device management server. In some example implementations, the device management server704may be configured to push the update package724(e.g., in a push notification) to the control application726executing at the user-operated device706. The update package724may correspond to the payload of a communication transmitted from the device management server704to the user-operated device706.

After receiving the update package724, the user-operated devices706stores it in a data store. A user-operated device may be authorized to interact with multiple device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices. The user-operated device706may thus store multiple update packages724—e.g., one update package for each device node the user-operated device is authorized to interact with. In some example implementations, a user-operated device may replace a stored update package it has previously received with a newly received update package. In other implementations, a user-operated device may store a sequence of update packages (e.g., the previous x number of update packages) received for a particular device node.

Having received the update package724, the user-operated device706may wirelessly transmit the update package724to the device node708. For example, the user-operated device706may wirelessly transmit the update package724to the device node708when the two are within wireless range of each other. The range within which the user-operated device706and the device node708may exchange wireless communications may depend on the wireless communication protocol employed. As described above, a short-range wireless communication protocol such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, or NFC may be employed to directly transmit the update package724from the user-operated device706to the device node708. If, however, the user-operated device706and the device node708are not within wireless range of each other, then transmitting the update package724from the user-operated device to the device node708may include routing the update package through the local network of interconnected devices, e.g., via another device node of the local network of interconnected devices that is within wireless range of the user-operated device, via a cellular network in signal communication with the device node708, or via a WAN such as the Internet and a gateway device node of the local network of interconnected devices. The update package724may similarly correspond to the payload of a communication transmitted from the user-operated device706to the device node708.

Various events may trigger the transmission of the update package724from the user-operated device to the device node708. In one example, the transmission may be in response to receipt, by the user-operated device706, of an announcement from the device node708. In another example, the transmission may be in response to a receipt, by the user-operated device706, of an acknowledgment transmitted by the device node708in response to an announcement by the user-operated device. The transmission may also be triggered in response to receipt, at the control application726, of user input selecting the device node708of a list of device nodes displayed on a user interface of the user-operated device. In some example implementations, the control application726may be configured to delete the update package724from the data store of the user-operated device after its successful transmission to the device node708. The user-operated device706may transmit the update package724to the device node708based on (e.g., upon, after, in response to) successfully establishing a connection with the device node but before the device node performs any operation (e.g., locking/unlocking). The user-operated device706may transmit the update package724to the device node708during an active connection with the device node and based on receiving a new update package from the device management server after polling the device management server for any new update packages that are available.

As seen inFIG.7, the device node708, in this example, includes one or more operational parameters728, an authorized user-operated device list730, and the most recent update package received732. The operational parameters728may include any of those operational parameters discussed herein. The authorized user-operated device list730identifies, as described above, those user-operated devices that are authorized to access the device node708. The most recent update package received732may be transmitted to the device node708via various communication paths as described herein. One of those communication paths is via a user-operated device that transmits an update package to the device node708as described herein. Additional and alternative communications paths are noted above and discussed in further detail below.

After receiving the update package724, the device node708stores it in its data store. Storage of the update package724at the device node708may be temporary or persistent. As described in further detail below, the device node708determines whether the received update package724is more recent than a previously received update package. If the new update package724received (e.g., update package #80) is not more recent than a previously received update package (e.g., update package #82), then the device node708may discard the newly received update package. If, however, the new update package724received (e.g., update package #92) is more recent than a previously received update package (e.g., update package #90), then the device node708may process the update package to obtain the values for the operational parameters included in the update package and, using the values obtained, apply any necessary changes to the operational parameters stored at the device node. Applying changes to the operational parameters of a device node includes toggling a Boolean value; replacing one numerical, textual, or alphanumerical value with another; and modifying or replacing a list of devices authorized to access the device node.

The device node708, in some example implementations, may be configured to delete the most recent update package received732once the values of the operational parameters included therein have been obtained and applied at the device node708. In other example implementations, the device node708may be configured to persistently store the most recent update package received732until it is replaced with a more recent update package as needed. By persistently storing the most recent update package received732, the device node708may determine whether a newly received update package is more recent than the most recent update package received, e.g., based on the respective sequence identifiers for the respective update packages received. Alternatively, to minimize memory usage, the device node708may be configured to persistently store only the sequence identifier of the most recent update package received732after the device node obtains and applies the values for the operational parameters included in the most recent update package received. In this way, the device node708may advantageously determine whether a newly received update package is the most recent update package available using a minimal amount of information.

The device management server704may secure the update package724using various encryption techniques. As noted above, one or more device-specific encryption keys may be generated for a device node of a local network of interconnected devices for use throughout the lifetime of the device node. The device management server704may use one or more of these device-specific encryption keys to encrypt the update package724(in whole or in part) prior to transmitting it to the device node708. For example, the device management server704may use one of the device-specific encryption keys generated for the device node708to encrypt the entire update package724. As another example, the device management server704may use one of the device-specific encryption keys generated for the device node708to encrypt only the one or more of the values of the operational parameters included in the update package724. In a further example, the device management server704may employ dual layers of encryption by using one of the device-specific keys generated for the device node708to encrypt one or more of the values of the operational parameters included in the update package724and using another one of the device-specific encryption keys to encrypt the entire update package itself. In this way, the security of the update package724and the values of the operational parameters included therein may be maintained when the update package is transmitted to a user-operated device for delivery to the device node708.

The device-specific encryption keys may be implemented using various techniques. In some example implementations, a device-specific encryption may be a symmetric encryption key and thus used to both encrypt and decrypt payloads transmitted to or received from a device node. In other example implementations, the device-specific encryption key may be a public-private key pair in which the device management server704uses a device node's public encryption key to encrypt a payload (e.g., the update package724) to be transmitted to a device node, and that device node uses its corresponding private encryption key to decrypt encrypted payloads upon receipt. In implementations where a symmetric encryption key is employed as the device-specific encryption key, the device management server704may store a copy of the device-specific encryption key generated for a device node of a local network of interconnected devices such that the same device-specific encryption key is stored at the device management server and that device node. In implementations where a public-private key pair is employed as the device-specific encryption key, the device management server704may only store the public encryption key generated for the device node. Accordingly, in implementations that use a public-private key pair for the device-specific encryption key, the public key of the device-specific encryption key is used (e.g., by the device management server704) to encrypt a communication, payload, or other data transmitted to a device node. Likewise, in implementations that use a public-private key pair for the device-specific encryption key, the private key of the device-specific encryption key is used (e.g., by the device node708) to decrypt an encrypted communication, encrypted message, or other encrypted data transmitted to the device node. Using a public-private key pair for the device-specific encryption key may be more secure than using a symmetric key. The device-specific encryption key may be, in some example implementations, a 128-bit encryption key, although it should be appreciated that larger or smaller encryption keys may be selectively employed in other implementations (e.g., 64-bit encryption keys or 256-bit encryption keys).

Turning now toFIG.8, a block diagram depicts, by way of an additional example, another technique for updating a device node of a local network of interconnected devices. The technique depicted inFIG.8may be performed in addition to or as an alternative to delivering the update package724to the device node a user-operated device706as described above with reference toFIG.7. As seen inFIG.8, the device management server704, in this example, delivers the update package724via a gateway device node734of the local network736of interconnected devices the device node708belongs to. Here, the device management server704may transmit the update package724to the gateway device node734over a WAN such as the Internet.

After receiving the update package724, the gateway device node734transmits it to the device node708. As noted above, the gateway device node734may be in direct or indirect signal communication with the device node708. If in direct signal communication, the gateway device node734may transmit the update package724to the device node708using, e.g., a short-range wireless communication standard or a low-power wireless communication. If in indirect signal communication, the gateway device node734may route the update package to the device node708through the local network of interconnected devices using, e.g., a wireless mesh networking protocol. After receiving the update package724, the device node, as described above, evaluates whether that update package is more recent than the most recent update package received732by the device node. If so, the device node708updates one or more of its operational parameters728based on the values of the operational parameters indicated in the update package724.

It should be appreciated that the block diagrams respectively illustrated inFIGS.7-8may not illustrate all of the steps associated with various implementations of the techniques for updating a device node of a local network of interconnected devices. Additional steps associated with particular implementations are described in further detail below. It should be appreciated that the additional steps described herein may be selectively performed according to the needs and preferences of a particular implementation.

InFIG.9A, the structure of an example message900identifying which device nodes have available updates is shown. As noted above and described in further detail below, a user-operated device may poll a device management server to evaluate whether any updates are available for the device nodes that user-operated device is authorized to access. In response to this poll, the device management server may transmit, to the user-operated device, a message having a list of those device nodes the user-operated device is authorized to access. The message900ofFIG.9is one example of such a message.

The message900may be sent from a device management server to a user-operated device in response to a poll of the device management server by the user-operated device. As seen inFIG.9, the message900, in this example, includes a device update response902having a list of updated device nodes904. The list of updated device nodes904, in this example, includes device node entries906a-ccorresponding to three device nodes of a local network of interconnected devices. A list of updated device nodes may include more, fewer, or no device node entries depending on whether and to what extent updates are available for the device nodes a user-operated device is authorized to access. As described in further detail below, a user-operated device may iterate over the list of updated device nodes904in order to individually request the current update packages available for the device nodes listed. The device update response902includes a timestamp indicating a date and time the message900was transmitted—e.g., Dec. 31, 2017 a 6:28:26 PM. Each of the device node entries906a-cincludes a respective device ID910a-cof the corresponding device node. The message900may include information in addition to the device update response902. It should also be appreciated that, although the message900is structured according to an XML-based format, alternative formats may be selectively employed to structure the message and the information contained therein.

InFIG.9B, the structure of an example message950indicating the update information for a device node is shown. The message950represents an example of an implementation of the update package (e.g. update package724) discussed above, for example, with reference toFIG.7. As noted above and described in further detail below, a user-operated device may request the current update package available for a device node. For example, the control application (e.g., control application726inFIG.7) at a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7) may submit, to the device management server, a request for the current update package available for a specified device node. The control application may specify a particular device node by, for example, including the device ID for that device node in the request transmitted to the device management server. As described above, the control application may obtain the device ID in a message (e.g., message900inFIG.9) received from the device management server that includes a list of those device nodes the user-operated is authorized to access.

As seen inFIG.9B, the message950includes device update information952pertaining to a device node. The device update information952, in this example, includes the device ID954of the device node, a sequence identifier956for the message, a list of authorized user-operated devices958, and values for various operating parameters of the device node which, in this example, include a local authentication operating parameter960indicating whether to enable or disable local authentication at the device node is enabled, an assigned bridge operating parameter962indicating whether the device node is assigned to a bridge (i.e., gateway) device node at the local network of interconnected devices, and an enabled/disabled operating parameter964indicating whether to enable or disable the device node itself. The sequence identifier956may be utilized by the corresponding device node to determine whether the message950is represents an update package that is more recent than the most recent update package received by the device node. The sequence identifier956, in this example, is a sequence number. As noted above, however, a sequence identifier may alternatively be implemented as a timestamp. The list of authorized user-operated devices958, in this example, includes user-operated device entries966a-ccorresponding to three user-operated devices that are authorized to access the corresponding device node. A list of authorized user-operated devices may include more, fewer, or node user-operated device entries depending on which user-operated devices, if any, have been authorized to access the corresponding device node. Each of the user-operated device entries966a-cincludes a respective user-operated device ID968a-cof the corresponding user-operated device that is authorized to access the device node. Again, it should be appreciated that, although the message950is structured according to an XML-based format, alternative formats may be selectively employed to structure the message and the information contained therein.

Disabling the device node itself may include disabling one, some, or all of the operations device node is configured to perform. It should be appreciated, however, that when a device node is disabled, it may still perform some of its operations. For example, disabling the device node may include putting the device node into a sleep mode in which it will only return to a wake mode upon receipt of a command from an administrator user-operated device and otherwise ignore commands and/or messages from other (non-administrator) user-operated devices or other devices nodes of the network of local interconnected devices. In another example, disabling the device node may include completely powering-off the device node or putting the device into a sleep mode in which it will not respond to any messages and/or commands from any user-operated device or other device node. In this other example, it may be necessary for the user to activate a physical switch at the device node in order to power-on the device node or wake it from the sleep mode. Such selective disabling of one or more features of a device node advantageously allows an administrator to disable a device nodes operational capabilities (e.g., preventing a door lock from unlocking during vacation) while maintaining communication capabilities which can have the benefit of sustaining the health of the network of device nodes (e.g., the wireless mesh network).

Turning now toFIG.10, a flowchart1000of example method steps for delivering an update package to a user-operated device and to a device node is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by an administrator user-operated device (e.g., administrator user-operated device702inFIG.7), a device management server (e.g., device management server704inFIG.7), a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7), and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices.

The process, in this example, starts when the administrator user-operated device transmits, to the device management server, update information indicating an update to a user account (1002). As discussed above, the update information may include, among other examples, a update to the list of user-operated devices that are authorized to access one of the device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices associated with the user account. After receiving the update information, the device management server updates the user profile and/or the device profile based on the update information received (1004). Continuing the previous example, the update to the device profile may be an update to the list of user-operated devices that are authorized to access the device node corresponding to the device profile, e.g., adding one or more new user-operated devices to the list and/or removing one or more existing user-operated devices from the list. The device management server then generates, based on the update information received, an update package for the device node corresponding to the device profile (1006). As described above, the device management server may configure the update package generated with a sequence identifier (e.g., a timestamp) to indicate the new update package is the most recent update package available for the device node.

After the update package is generated, the user-operated device polls the device management server for any new update packages (1008) that are available for those device nodes the user-operated device has (at least previously) been authorized to access. As described above, the user-operated device may poll the device management server after a triggering event, e.g., launching a control application (e.g., control application726inFIG.7) at the user-operated device, the control application obtaining focus at the user-operated device, and/or selection of the device node from a list of device nodes displayed by the control application. As also described above, the device management server may transmit, to the user-operated device, a list of those device nodes the user-operated device has (at least previously) been authorized to access, and the user-operated device may iterate through that list of device nodes to explicitly request, from the device management server, the most recent update package available for each device node. Additionally or alternatively, the user-operated device may explicitly request, from the device management server, the most recent update package available for a selected device node. If the user-operated device determines a new update package is not yet available (1012:N), then the user-operated device continues typical operation (1014) which may include, for example, typical login and authentication procedures to grant access to a selected device node. The user-operated device may again poll the device management server for any new update packages (1008) after a subsequent triggering event.

If, however, the user-operated device determines a new update package is available (1012:Y)—e.g., by receiving a list of newly available update packages from the device management server—then the user-operated device requests, from the device management server, the new update package that is available (1016). As described above, the request for the update package may identify the corresponding device node using the unique identifier (e.g., a serial number) of that device node. After receiving the request, the device management server transmits the requested update package to the user-operated device (1018). The user-operated device then connects to the corresponding device node (1020) and transmits, to that device node, the new update package (1022). The user-operated device may connect to the device node close in time to the time the user-operated device receives the new update package from the device management server—e.g., in association with an attempt to access the device node. The user-operated device may connect to the device node later in time to the time the user-operated device receives the new update package—e.g., independent of any subsequent attempt to access the device node. Furthermore, the user-operated device may establish a connection with the device node prior to any authentication or authorization procedures performed to grant the user-operated device access to the device node. In other words, the connection between the user-operated device and the device node may be a preliminary connection used to commence subsequent authentication and authorization procedures.

After receiving the update package from the user-operated device, the device node applies updates to its operational parameters based on the update information included in the update package (1024). As described above, the updates to the operational parameters may include updates to the list of user-operated devices that are authorized to access the device node, whether local authentication is enabled at the device node, and the like. It should also be recognized that the steps depicted by way of example inFIG.10assumes the update package received from the device management server is the most recent update package available for the device node (e.g., the update package with the most recent timestamp) and that the update package has not been previously transmitted to the device node (e.g., by another user-operated device). As described above, the device node is configured to determine whether an update package received from a user-operated device is more recent than the most recent update package the device node has previously received (e.g., by comparing the respective timestamps of the update packages). Accordingly, in circumstances where the device node determines the update package received is not the most recent update package available or where the device node determines it has already received the most up-to-date update package, the device node may discard the update package received from the user-operated device.

InFIG.11, a flowchart of1100of example method steps for delivering an update package to a device node along an alternative path is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by an administrator user-operated device (e.g., administrator user-operated device702inFIG.7), a device management server (e.g., device management server704inFIG.7), a gateway device node (e.g., gateway device node734inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices, and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of the local network of interconnected devices.

The process, in this example, similarly starts when the administrator user-operated device transmits, to the device management server, update information indicating an update to a user account (1102). After receiving the update information, the device management server likewise updates the user profile and/or the device profile based on the update information received (1104). The device management server also likewise generates, based on the update information received, an update package for the device node corresponding to the device profile (1106). Having generated the new update package, the device management server transmits the update package to the gateway device node (1108) deployed at the local network of interconnected devices at which the corresponding device node is also deployed.

After receiving the update package from the device management server, the gateway device node routes the update package to the target device node (1110). Routing the update package to the target device node includes transmitting the update package to the target device node directly, e.g., a short-range wireless communication standard or a low-power wireless communication standard as described above if the gateway device node and the target device node are within wireless range of each other. Routing the update package to the target device node also includes using a wireless mesh networking protocol to transmit the update package via one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices if the gateway device node and the target device node are not within wireless range of each other.

The gateway device node, in this example, is configured to determine whether the update package was successfully delivered to the target device node (1112). The gateway device node may make this determination, for example, based on whether the gateway device node receives a message from the device node confirming receipt of the update package. If the gateway device node cannot confirm successful delivery of the update package to the device node (1112:N), then the gateway device node generates an alert indicating the failure to deliver the update package to the device node (1114). The gateway device node may, for example, transmit the alert back to the device management server and/or to an administrator user-operated device. If, however, the update package is successfully delivered to the target device node (1112:Y), then the device node applies updates to its operational parameters based on the update information included in the update package (1116) as described above. Again, the steps depicted by way of example inFIG.11assumes the update package received is the most recent update package available and that it has not been previously transmitted to the device node. As noted above, the device node may discard (e.g., delete, ignore) the update package received if it determines the received update package is not the most up-to-date update package or if it determines it has already received that update package.

Referring now toFIG.12, a flowchart1200of example method steps for delivering an update package from a user-operated device to a device node is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7) and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices in which the user-operated device is located locally relative to the local network of interconnected devices, e.g., in direct signal communication with the device node or in indirect signal communication with the device node via one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

The process, in this example, starts when the user-operated device initially connects to the device node (1202). As noted above, this initial connection may be established prior to any procedures performed to authenticate and authorize the user-operated device. The user-operated device determines whether it has a new update package to deliver to the device node (1204). If not (1204:N), then the user-operated device may continue typical operation (1206) which, as noted above, may include typical login and authentication procedures to grant access to the device node. If, however, the user-operated device does have a new update package to deliver to the device node (1204:Y), then the user-operated device transmits the new update package to the device node (1208). If the user-operated device is within wireless range of the device node, then the user-operated device may directly transmit the update package to the device node using, for example, a short-range wireless communication standard or a low-power wireless communication standard. If the user-operated device is not within wireless range of the device node, then the user-operated device may indirectly transmit the update package to the device node by using a wireless mesh networking protocol to route the update package through one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices. As noted above, a user-operated device that is ultimately denied access to operate the device node may nevertheless connect to the device node and deliver the update package.

As noted above, the device node is configured to determine whether a newly received update package is the most recent update package available (1210). If not (1210:N), then the device node discards (e.g., deletes, ignores) the received update package. If, however, the device node determines the received update package is the most recent update package available (1210:Y), then the device node applies updates to its operational parameters based on the update information included in the newly received update package (1214) as described above.

Authentication of User-Operated Devices

InFIGS.13-14below, example method steps for authenticating a user-operated device requesting access to a device node of a local network of interconnected devices are shown. The steps discussed below by way of example illustrate various techniques for authenticating a user-operated device when the user-operated device is located locally or remotely relative to the device node and when local authentication is enabled and disabled at the device node. As described above, a device node may be configured to perform various operations, one of which may be a local authentication operation to locally authenticate user-operated devices attempting to access the device node. As also described above, local authentication may be enabled and disabled at a device node. A device node may thus store an indication (e.g., a flag) of whether local authentication is enabled or disabled at the device node.

InFIG.13, for example, a flowchart1300of example method steps for authenticating a local user-operated device with local authentication enabled is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7) and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices in which the user-operated device is local relative to the device node, e.g., in direct signal communication with the device node or in indirect signal communication with the device node via one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

The process, in this example, starts when the user-operated device locally connects to the device node (1302). After establishing a connection with the device node, the user-operated device transmits, to the device node, a request to access the device node in which the request includes an identifier of the user-operated device (1304). It should be appreciated that the user-operated device may transmit the request to access the device node after transmitting, to the device node, any new update packages available as described above.

After receiving the request, the device node determines whether local authentication is enabled at the device node (1306). If not (1306:N), then the device node transmits, to the user-operated device, a response indicating that global authentication is required (1308) before the user-operated device will be granted access to the device node. Global authentication of a user-operated device is discussed below with reference toFIG.14. If, however, local authentication is enabled at the device node (1306:Y), then the device node evaluates whether its stored list of authorized devices includes the identifier of the user-operated device received in the request (1310) thus indicating the user-operated device is authorized to access the device node. If the device node determines the list of authorized devices does not include the identifier of the user-operated device (1312:N), then the device node transmits, to the user-operated device, a response indicating that global authentication is required (1308) before the user-operated device will be granted access to the device node. If, however, the device node determines that the list of authorized devices does include the identifier of the user-operated device (1312:Y), then the device node grants access to the user-operated device (1314) after which the user-operated device may transmit commands to be consumed and executed by the device node.

InFIG.14, a flowchart1400of example method steps for authenticating a local user-operated device with local authentication disabled is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7), a device management server (e.g., device management server704inFIG.7), and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices in which the user-operated device is local relative to the device node, e.g., in direct signal communication with the device node or in indirect signal communication with the device node via one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

The process, in this example, start when the user-operated device locally connects to the device node (1402). After establishing a connection with the device node, the user-operated device transmits, to the device management server, a request for an access token (1404) used to authenticate user-operated device. It should be appreciated that the user-operated device may transmit the request for the access token after receiving, from the device node, a response indicating that global authentication is required before the user-operated device will be granted access to the device node. In addition, the request for the access token may include a unique identifier for the device node, e.g., the serial number of the device node.

After receiving the request for the access token, the device management server attempts to authenticate the user-operated device (1406). Any suitable techniques for authenticating the user-operated device may be employed by the device management server including, for example, a username/password, two-factor authentication, one-time passwords, digital certificates, and the like. If the device management server cannot successfully authenticate the user-operated device (1408:N), then the device management server transmits a response to the user-operated device indicating that access to the device node is denied (1410). If, however, the device management server can successfully authenticate the user-operated device (1408:Y), then the device management server generates an access token for the user-operated device (1412). The access token may be, for example, a random alphabetic, numeric, or alphanumeric string of x bits, e.g., a 128-bit alphanumeric string, a 256-bit alphanumeric string, and the like. The device management server then encrypts the access token with a device-specific encryption key associated with the device node (1414) to generate an encrypted access token and transmits the encrypted access token to the user-operated device (1416).

Since the access token is encrypted using a device-specific encryption key for the device node, the encrypted access token may function a digital key used to gain access to the device node. In this regard, the encrypted access token may also be referred to as a digital key. The device management server may dynamically generate a new access token for each request received from each user-operated device. The device management server may also set an expiration (e.g., an expiration timestamp) for the access token after which a user-operated device cannot use the access token to obtain access to the corresponding device node. Using an expiration may account for variances between the clocks of different the device management server instances, gateways, device nodes, and/or access devices. An example expiration timeframe may be about five (5) minutes. The expiration timeframe may be a configurable parameter stored at the device management server. The expiration timeframe may also be device node-specific and/or device-type specific such that different expiration timeframes may be set and/or configured for different types of device nodes and/or particular device nodes. In addition, the device management server may also apply an access control schedule that indicates one or more timeframes (e.g., 12:00 PM-1:00 PM) within which a user-operated device is authorized to access the device node. In this regard, the device management server may determine whether the user-operated device has requested to access the device node inside or outside a specified timeframe in the access control schedule. If the user-operated device requests to access the device node inside an authorized timeframe, the device management server may grant the user-operated device access to the device node. Otherwise, if the user-operated device requests to access the device node outside all specified timeframes, the device management server may deny the user-operated device access to the device node.

After receiving the encrypted access token from the device management server, the user-operated device transmits a command and the encrypted access token to the device node (1418). The user-operated device may transmit the encrypted access token to the device node before, with, or after transmission of the command to the device node. For example, the user-operated device may transmit to the device node a wireless communication having a payload that includes both the encrypted access token and a selected command for the device node to execute.

After receiving the encrypted access token and the command, the device node attempts to decrypt the encrypted access token with its device-specific encryption key (1420). If the device node cannot successfully decrypt the encrypted access token (1422:N), then the device node discards (e.g., deletes, ignores) the command received from the user-operated device (1424). Otherwise, if the device node can successfully decrypt the encrypted access token (1422:Y), then the device node executes the command received (1426). The device node may determine whether the access token has been successfully decrypted by determining whether a unique value stored at the device node matches a unique value obtained from the access token after a decryption attempt.

InFIG.15, a flowchart1500of example method steps for delivering a command from a remote user-operated device to a device node is shown. The steps discussed by way of example below are respectively performed by a user-operated device (e.g., user-operated device706inFIG.7), a device management server (e.g., device management server704inFIG.7), a gateway device node (e.g., gateway device node734inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices, and a device node (e.g., device node708inFIG.7) of a local network of interconnected devices in which the user-operated device is located remotely relative to the local network of interconnected devices, e.g., in indirect signal communication with the device node via the device management server and the gateway device node.

The process, in this example, starts when the remotely-located user-operated device transmits a command for the device node from a remote location (1502) relative to the local network of interconnected devices. The user-operated device may transmit the command after a control application (e.g., control application726inFIG.7) executing at the user-operated device has received user input selecting an operation from a list of operations the device node is configured to perform which the control application presents at a display of the user-operated device. The command transmitted from the user-operated device may thus correspond to the selected operation. The control application may present the list of operations for the device node after receiving user input selecting the device node from a list of device nodes the user-operated device is authorized to access which the control application presents at the display of the user-operated device. The control application may present the list of device nodes after receiving user input selecting a local network of interconnected devices from a list of local networks of interconnected devices having device nodes the user-operated device is authorized to access. For example, the control application may present a list of local networks of interconnected devices that lists a first local network of interconnected devices associated with the user's residence and a second local network of interconnected devices associated with the user's office. The control application may present the lists of device nodes and/or local networks of interconnected devices after a successfully authenticating the user (e.g., after a successful login using a username/password). The user-operated device may transmit the selected command in a message that also includes, for example, the unique identifier of the user-operated device and the unique identifier of the selected device node.

After receiving the command, the device management server attempts to authenticate the user-operated device (1504), e.g., using any of the techniques noted above. If the device management server cannot successfully authenticate the user-operated device (1506:N), then the device management server transmits a response to the user-operated device indicating that access to the device node is denied (1508). If, however, the device management server can successfully authenticate the user-operated device (1506:Y), then the device management server generates an access token for the user-operated device (1510), e.g., of the type described above. The device management server then encrypts the access token with a device-specific encryption key associated with the device node (1512) to generate an encrypted access token and transmits, to the gateway device node, the encrypted access token and the command received from the user-operated device (1514). The device management server may include the encrypted access token and the command in the payload of a single message. The device management server may also transmit the encrypted access token and the command in the respective payloads of separate messages.

After receiving the encrypted access token and the command from the device management server, the device node may route the encrypted access token and the command to the selected device node (1516). The gateway device node may transmit the encrypted access token and the command in a single message or in multiple messages. To route the encrypted access token and the command to the selected device node, the gateway device node may transmit them directly to the selected device node (e.g., using a short-range wireless communication standard or a low-power wireless communication standard) if it is within wireless range of the selected device node, or the gateway device node may transmit them indirectly to the selected device node (e.g., using a wireless mesh networking protocol) via one or more other device nodes of the local network of interconnected devices.

After receiving the encrypted access token and the command, the device node attempts to decrypt the encrypted access token with its device-specific encryption key (1518). If the device node cannot successfully decrypt the encrypted access token (1520:N), then the device node discards (e.g., deletes, ignores) the command received (1522). Otherwise, if the device node can successfully decrypt the encrypted access token (1520:Y), then the device node executes the command received (1524).

The commands transmitted from the user-operated device to the device node represent operations the device node is commanded to perform. In this regard, the commands may also be referred to as operational commands. Operational commands may include physical actions the device node is to perform or information the device node is to provide. For example, where the device node is an electronic lock, operational commands corresponding to physical actions may include an unlock command that physically unlocks the electronic lock as well as a lock command that physically locks the electronic lock. In another example, whether the device node is a sensor, operational commands corresponding to providing information may include a sensor reading command that causes the sensor to return the value of a sensor reading.

It should be appreciated that encryption techniques may be employed to secure the messages and/or the payloads of the messages transmitted between the user-operated device, device management server, gateway device node, and/or target device node. For example, one or more device-specific encryption keys may be used to encrypt one or more of the commands selected for the device to execute and/or the payloads of the messages that include the selected commands. Furthermore, dual encryption techniques may be employed. For example, a user-operated device may be provided with multiple device-specific encryption keys associated with a device node that user-operated device is authorized to access. The user-operated device may encrypt the selected command with a first device-specific encryption key associated with the selected device node to obtain an encrypted command, include the encrypted command in a payload of a message with the unique identifiers of the user-operated device and the selected device node, and then encrypt that payload with a second device-specific encryption key associated with the selected device node to obtain an encrypted payload. The user-operated device may then transmit a message with the encrypted payload directly or indirectly to the selected device node. The device node may decrypt the encrypted payload with the second device-specific encryption key in order to obtain the unique identifiers and the encrypted command, and then decrypt the encrypted command with the first device-specific encryption key to obtain the command to execute.

Example Computing Environment

Referring now toFIG.16, an example of an implementation of a computing environment1600in which aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented is shown. The computing environment may include both client computing devices1602and server computing devices1604. The client computing devices1602and server computing devices1604may provide processing, storage, input/output devices, application programs, and the like. Client computing devices1602may include, e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, palmtop computers, smartphones, smart televisions, and the like. Client computing devices1602may also be in signal communication to other computing devices, including other client computing devices1602and server computing devices1604via a network1606. The network1606may be part of a remote access network, a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), a cellular network, a worldwide collection of computers, local area networks, and gateways that currently use respective protocols (e.g., FTP, HTTP, TCP/IP, etc.) to communicate with one another. Other electronic device architectures and computer network architectures may be selectively employed.

FIG.16also depicts a block diagram of one of a computing device1607of the computing environment1600. The computing device1607contains a bus1608the computing device utilizes to transfer information among its components. The bus1608connects different components of the computing device1607(e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports, network ports, etc.) and enables the transfer of information between those components. An I/O device interface1610is connected to the bus1608. The I/O device interface1610connects various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, microphone, camera, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computing device1607. A network interface1612is also attached to the bus1608and allows the computing device1607to connect to various other devices attached to a network (e.g., network1606). The memory1614provides volatile storage for one or more instruction sets1616and data1618used to implement aspects described herein. Disk storage1620provides non-volatile storage for one or more instruction sets1622(e.g., an operating system) and data1624used to implement various aspects described herein. The processing unit1626is also attached to the bus1608and executes the instructions stored in the memory1614and/or the disk storage1620. The instruction sets1616and1622as well as the data1618and1624include a computer program product, including a computer-readable medium (e.g., a removable storage medium such as one or more DVD-ROM's, CD-ROM's, diskettes, tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software instructions for implementing aspects of the present disclosure. At least a portion of the instructions may also be downloaded via the network1606. As noted above, computer-readable media include all non-transitory computer-readable media and do not include transitory propagating signals.

One or more aspects of the disclosure may be embodied in computer-usable or readable data and/or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices as described herein. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The modules may be written in a source code programming language that is subsequently compiled for execution, or may be written in a scripting language such as, e.g., HTML, XML, JavaScript, and the like. The executable instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid state memory, RAM, ROM, etc. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like. Various data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects of the disclosure, and such data structures are contemplated to be within the scope of the executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrative embodiments thereof. While illustrative systems and methods as described herein embodying various aspects of the present disclosure are shown, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, the steps illustrated in the illustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order, and one or more steps illustrated may be optional in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. It will also be appreciated and understood that modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present disclosure.