Service provider for providing data, applications and services to embedded devices and for facilitating control and monitoring of embedded devices

Abstract

A service provider for embedded devices is disclosed for controlling, monitoring and/or updating embedded devices. The service provider includes a computer having communications hardware for communicating over a computer network. The computer also includes a storage device and a processor. The service provider further includes a database of embedded device information that contains information relating to a number of embedded devices. An embedded device communications module is used by the service provider to communicate with a number of embedded devices. The service provider further includes a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network. In addition, the service provider has a database interface module for accessing the information in the embedded device information database. The service provider may also include an information collection manager for searching the computer network and for accessing and obtaining updated information from the computer network relating to the embedded devices. Certain information in the embedded device information database is linked to certain updated information. A system that is used in combination with the service provider for embedded devices includes a plurality of service providers in electronic communication with a central provider to coordinate communications between embedded devices and service providers for embedded devices.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A service provider for embedded devices comprising: 
 a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;    a database of service information obtained from the computer network, the database being available to the embedded devices;    an embedded device communications module for communicating with the embedded devices;    a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network; and    a database interface module for accessing the service information in the service information database.    
     
     
         2 . The provider of  claim 1  further comprising an information collection manager for searching the computer network and for accessing and obtaining updated service information from the computer network.  
     
     
         3 . The provider of  claim 2  wherein the updated service information obtained from the computer network relates to computer program code on an embedded device.  
     
     
         4 . The provider of  claim 2  wherein the updated service information obtained from the computer network relates to a location of an embedded device.  
     
     
         5 . The provider of  claim 1  wherein the embedded device communications module establishes electronic communication with an embedded device and receives at least one message from the embedded device that includes an embedded device identifier.  
     
     
         6 . The provider of  claim 1  further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and wherein the schedule data is being used to control monitoring of the embedded devices.  
     
     
         7 . The provider of  claim 1  wherein the provider communicates with an embedded device via the embedded device communications module and obtains from computer program code loaded on the embedded device a device description.  
     
     
         8 . The provider of  claim 7  wherein the device description is selected from the group consisting of functions, variables, data types, events and files.  
     
     
         9 . The provider of  claim 1  wherein the provider monitors an embedded device through use of the embedded device communications module by periodically obtaining interface data from computer program code loaded on the embedded device and wherein the provider stores the interface data on the storage device.  
     
     
         10 . The provider of  claim 9  wherein the provider stores monitoring data created from the interface data received and wherein the provider further provides the monitoring data to a requestor through the computer network.  
     
     
         11 . The provider of  claim 6  wherein the provider controls an embedded device via the embedded device communications module by periodically sending control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device and wherein the periodic sending is based on the schedule data.  
     
     
         12 . The provider of  claim 1  wherein the provider updates computer program code on an embedded device by obtaining updated computer program code via the computer network and by notifying the embedded device of an available update and by further sending the updated computer program code to the embedded device.  
     
     
         13 . A service provider for embedded devices comprising: 
 a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;    a database of embedded device information, the embedded device information database being available to the computer network;    an embedded device communications module for communicating with the embedded devices;    a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network; and    a database interface module for accessing the information in the embedded device information database.    
     
     
         14 . The provider of  claim 13  wherein the embedded device communications module establishes electronic communication with an embedded device and receives at least one message from the embedded device that includes an embedded device identifier.  
     
     
         15 . The provider of  claim 13  further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications, the schedule data being used to control monitoring of the embedded devices.  
     
     
         16 . The provider of  claim 13  wherein the embedded device information database includes a plurality of capabilities tables.  
     
     
         17 . The provider of  claim 13  wherein the provider communicates with an embedded device via the embedded device communications module to obtain from computer program code loaded on the embedded device a device description.  
     
     
         18 . The provider of  claim 17  wherein the device description is selected from the group consisting of functions, variables, data types, events and files.  
     
     
         19 . The provider of  claim 13  wherein the provider monitors an embedded device via the embedded device communications module by periodically obtaining interface data from computer program code loaded on the embedded device and wherein the provider stores the interface data on the storage device.  
     
     
         20 . The provider of  claim 19  wherein the provider stores monitoring data created from the interface data and wherein the provider further provides the monitoring data to a requestor through the computer network.  
     
     
         21 . The provider of  claim 15  wherein the provider controls an embedded device via the embedded device communications module by periodically sending control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device and wherein the periodic sending is based on the schedule data.  
     
     
         22 . The provider of  claim 13  wherein the provider updates computer program code on an embedded device by obtaining updated computer program code via the computer network and by notifying the embedded device of an available update and by further sending the updated computer program code to the embedded device.  
     
     
         23 . An embedded device service provider, the embedded device service provider comprising: 
 communications hardware for communicating over a computer network; memory;    an embedded device information database including embedded device information, the embedded device information database being available to the computer network;    a service information database including service information obtained from the computer network, the service information database being available to embedded devices capable of communicating with the provider;    a processor, the processor executing instructions for implementing a method comprised of the steps of: 
 receiving a message from an embedded device;  
 identifying the embedded device;  
 accessing the embedded device information database;  
 sending a transmit message to the embedded device; and  
 storing device information descriptive of a transaction.  
   
     
     
         24 . The provider of  claim 23  wherein the service information database further includes updated service information that has been obtained via the computer network.  
     
     
         25 . The provider of  claim 24  wherein the embedded device information database further comprises: 
 linking data that links certain embedded device information to certain updated service information;  
 a plurality of embedded device identifiers; and  
 a plurality of capabilities tables.  
 
     
     
         26 . The provider of  claim 25  further comprising schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and routing data, the schedule data being used to control monitoring of a plurality of embedded devices.  
     
     
         27 . The provider of  claim 26  wherein the embedded device information database further comprises interface data that has been obtained from computer program code loaded on the embedded device.  
     
     
         28 . The provider of  claim 27  further comprising control data to be sent to the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device.  
     
     
         29 . The provider of  claim 28  wherein the embedded device information database further comprises a plurality of files of updated computer program code that have been obtained via the computer network and that are capable of being used to update program code on embedded devices.  
     
     
         30 . A method for providing service to a plurality of embedded devices, the method comprising: 
 providing electronic communications between a service provider for embedded devices and a communications network;    receiving a message from an embedded device;    identifying the embedded device through use of the message received;    accessing an embedded device information database;    sending a transmit message to the embedded device; and    storing device information descriptive of a transaction.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising collecting updated information from the computer network relating to embedded devices.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising linking certain information in the embedded device information database to certain updated information.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising parsing the message from the embedded device to obtain an embedded device identifier.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising monitoring the plurality of embedded devices based on schedule data, the schedule data including embedded device identifications and routing data, the schedule data being used to control monitoring of the plurality of embedded devices.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising obtaining a device description from computer program code loaded on the embedded device.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising: 
 periodically obtaining interface data from computer program code loaded on the embedded device; and  
 storing the interface data on a storage device.  
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising providing the interface data to a requestor through the computer network.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising sending control data to computer program code loaded on the embedded device to affect operation of the embedded device and wherein the periodic sending is based on schedule data.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising updating computer program code on the embedded device by obtaining updated computer program code via the computer network and by notifying the embedded device of an available update and by further sending the updated computer program code to the embedded device.  
     
     
         40 . A system for providing services to embedded devices comprising: 
 a plurality of service providers for embedded devices, wherein each service provider for embedded devices comprises: 
 a computer, the computer including communications hardware for communicating over a computer network, the computer also including a storage device;  
 a database;  
 an embedded device communications module for communicating with the embedded devices;  
 a computer network communications module for communicating with computers via the computer network; and  
 a database interface module for accessing the information in the database; and  
   a central provider in electronic communication with the plurality of service providers for embedded devices, the central provider operating to provide communications between embedded devices and service providers for embedded devices, and to coordinate collecting updated information from the computer network relating to embedded devices, and to coordinate disseminating the updated information to embedded devices.