Patent ID: 8484366

Claim:
A method of providing at least one service using a hierarchy, the method comprising: storing a hierarchy of a network including virtual network layers and devices in each layer, wherein the virtual network layers divide the network based on categories of devices in each layer and at least one of the virtual network layers includes at least one sub-layer under the at least one virtual network layer in the hierarchy, wherein the at least one sub-layer includes a different category of devices than the at least one virtual network layer; storing service profiles for services associated with a plurality of levels in the hierarchy, the plurality of levels including at least one of the virtual network layers; receiving information for creating a first service for at least one of the devices, wherein the information includes at least one of the stored service functions and attributes; storing a first service profile for the first service, the first service profile including the received information; receiving data from the at least one of the devices; and determining whether to trigger the first service based on the received data and information in the first service profile.