Application and communication platform for connectivity based services

Abstract

Open, horizontal service platforms are described. Service providers can, via network operators, load software associated with a service onto a dedicated, service platform server. The service platform server is connected, via a LAN, to one or more remote devices (e.g., sensors, transducers, processors, etc.). The functionality associated with the service can be distributed among two or more of the entities involved in the architecture. The distributed software operates and/or monitors these remote devices to implement the subscribed service.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for controlling operation of a service comprising: 
 at least one remote device associated with said service;    a local area network connected to said at least one remote device;    service gateway equipment connected to said local area network;    network operator equipment connected to said service gateway equipment for selectively loading a first portion of software associated with said service onto said service gateway equipment; and    service provider equipment connected to said network operator equipment via a communication link for providing said at least said first portion of software to said network operator equipment;    wherein said service gateway equipment runs said first portion of software to interact with said at least one remote device.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said communication link is the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes a sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 3   , wherein said at least one remote device is a thermostat and said at first portion of software runs to operate said thermostat and control temperature.  
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein control and maintenance of said service gateway equipment is performed by said network operator equipment.  
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 5   , wherein said service provider equipment loads a second portion of software associated with said service into said network operator equipment, said second portion of software including control and maintenance instructions for supervising said service gateway equipment implementation of said service.  
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes a transducer.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes a processor.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes an electricity meter and said service is automated meter reading.  
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes an electricity meter and said service is real time electricity pricing.  
     
     
         11 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one remote device includes an electricity meter and said service is automated electricity load control.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a client device connected to said system for allowing a subscriber of said service to interact therewith.    
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein said client device is directly connected to said local area network.  
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 12   , wherein said client device is connected to said system via a radiocommunication system.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 a smart card containing a third portion of software associated with said service, the user loading the third portion of software contained in the smart card onto the service gateway equipment for implementing the service.    
     
     
         16 . A method for providing at least one utility service to a user comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one remote device associated with a first utility service;    providing a local area network connected to said device;    connecting a service platform server to said local area network;    selectively loading software associated with said first utility service onto said service platform server from a first service provider equipment; and    operating said first utility service to control said at least one remote device using said loaded software.    
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said step of connecting further comprises the step of: 
 directly connecting said service platform server to said local area network using a cable or wire.    
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said service platform server is dedicated to operating services.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 16   , further comprising the steps of: 
 selectively loading software associated with a second utility service onto said service platform service from a second service provider equipment; and    operating said second utility service to control said at least one remote device.    
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein said first utility service is automated meter reading and said at least one remote device is an electricity meter.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein said second utility service is automated load control and said at least one remote device is an electricity meter.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 16   , wherein said step of operating further comprises the steps of: 
 distributing software associated with said first utility service across processors in addition to said service platform server; and    running said distributed software to operate said first utility service.    
     
     
         23 . The system of    claim 13   , wherein said client has a display and an output of information associated with said service is adjusted based on a size of said display.  
     
     
         24 . A software system for controlling operation of a service, the software system comprising: 
 a service application controlled by a network operator for interacting with at least one remote device connected to a local area network and associated with said service, the service application consisting of one or more boxlets;    a plurality of cells, at least one of the plurality of cells residing on service gateway equipment connected to said local area network, a one of the plurality of cells comprises software resources made available to the service application; and    a plurality of gates which provide and control inter-cell communication between ones of the plurality of cells;    wherein the one or more boxlets of the service application reside within a one of the plurality of cells.    
     
     
         25 . The software system of    claim 24    for controlling operation of a service, further comprising: 
 a cell manager for controlling the software system, the cell manager being accessed only by the network operator.  
 
     
     
         26 . The software system of    claim 24    for controlling operation of a service, further comprising: 
 a main gate between the cell manager and the one of the plurality of cells containing the boxlets of the service application.  
 
     
     
         27 . The software system of    claim 26    for controlling operation of a service, wherein the boxlets of the service application are selectively loaded by the network operator via the main gate.  
     
     
         28 . The software system of    claim 24    for controlling operation of a service, wherein at least a portion the boxlets for the service application is dedicated to a service provider.  
     
     
         29 . The software system of    claim 25    for controlling operation of a service, wherein the cell manager communicates via Internet with the one of the plurality of cells containing the boxlets of the service application.  
     
     
         30 . The software system of    claim 24    for controlling operation of a service, further comprising: 
 classes, each of the classes comprising boxlets categorized for restricted access by certain ones of the plurality of cells.  
 
     
     
         31 . The software system of    claim 24    for controlling operation of a service, further comprising: 
 a class libraries for storing a classes, access to the class library being restricted to authorized ones of the plurality of cells.