Cloud services platform

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a cloud-hosted central service platform that interfaces and enables access to both central and distributed resources and peripherals for connected mobile applications. For example, this platform allows service providers and application developers to create a large number of new classes of applications, leveraging web access to devices, sensors, and/or actuators of any kind. This platform can be applied to virtually any vertical segment. Any of the disclosed features or aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be used in various combinations and subcombinations with one another or with other methods, apparatus, and systems.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A system, comprising:
 one or more central servers configured to host a set of web services and applications; and   one or more edge nodes in communication with the one or more central servers, each of the one or more edge nodes being further configured to drive two or more peripherals,   wherein the web services and applications are configured to be accessed by a mobile device separate from the central servers and the edge nodes and to facilitate operation of at least one of the peripherals driven by an edge node at a location in common with the mobile device without the mobile device directly communicating with the at least one of the peripherals.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the two or more peripherals are non-internet-enabled peripherals. 
     
     
         48 . A system, comprising:
 one or more central servers; and   one or more edge nodes in communication with the one or more central servers, each of the one or more edge nodes comprising an edge node processor executing edge node software services including one or more of (a) a local web server/proxy request parser; (b) a local web browser configured to provide a local interface and execution client; and (c) one or more local device handlers or drivers,   each of the one or more edge nodes being further configured to control one or more peripheral devices.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more peripherals are non-internet-enabled peripherals. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprise two or more heterogeneous peripherals that operate using (a) different peripheral drivers; (b) different peripheral APIs; or (c) different operating systems. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the one or more central servers host one or more web services accessible via a mobile device application, at least one of the web services being configured to communicate with a respective edge node and drive a respective peripheral connected to the edge node in response to a request from a mobile device executing the mobile device application at a location coincident with the respective peripheral. 
     
     
         52 - 76 . (canceled)