Patent ID: 8682957

Claim:
A cloud-connector device comprising: an integrated circuit or a set of integrated circuits that include: one or more processing units, one or more communications modules, and one or more electronic memories; a first communications interface that is publicly documented and through which data, control commands, and status are exchanged between the cloud-connector device and a microprocessor-controlled or micro-controller-controlled electronic device in which the cloud-connector device is embedded; data values stored in at least one of the one or more electronic memories, the data values including a current-state value, a device identifier, a cloud-provider identifier, and a wireless carrier identifier/address; and a second, wireless communications interface that allows the cloud-connector device to connect to, and exchange at least some of the data with, a wireless carrier that bills a cloud provider identified by the cloud-provider identifier for transmitting the at least some of the data through the second, wireless communications interface between the cloud-connector device and the cloud provider.