Patent ID: 8285838

Claim:
A method for managing edge processors, the method comprising: generating, with one or more processors associated with one or more computer systems, an interface that allows users of the interface to define management hierarchies for edge processors configured to receive sensor data from sensor devices tracking physical objects; receiving, at the one or more computer systems, information via the interface adding a virtual node to a management hierarchy, the virtual node grouping a plurality of edge processors as a single entity; generating, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, the management hierarchy based on the information adding the virtual node to the management hierarchy; and configuring, with the one or more processors associated with the one or more computer systems, the plurality of edge processors grouped as the virtual node based on the management hierarchy such that sensor data collected each edge processor is communicated automatically to a computer system designated as a node in the management hierarchy to appear from the single entity.