Distributed rules engine

Abstract

A plurality of devices of an enterprise are identified. For example, lights and door sensors are identified. The plurality of devices of the enterprise uses a plurality of gateways in a hierarchy of gateways to control the plurality of devices of the enterprise. A first rule for at least two of the plurality devices of the enterprise is received. For example, the first rule may be to turn on a light when door is opened. In response to receiving the first rule, a first lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways is determined for applying the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise. The first rule for the at least two of the plurality devices of the enterprise is sent to the first lowest level gateway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a microprocessor;   a computer readable medium, coupled with the microprocessor and comprising microprocessor readable and executable instructions that program the microprocessor to:
 identify a plurality of devices of an enterprise, wherein the plurality of devices of the enterprise use a plurality of gateways in a hierarchy of gateways to control the plurality of devices of the enterprise; 
 receive a first rule for at least two of the plurality devices of the enterprise; 
 in response to receiving the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise, determine a first lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise; and 
 send the first rule for the at least two of the plurality devices of the enterprise to the first lowest level gateway. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways are separate devices from different vendors that use different protocols. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor readable and executable instructions further program the microprocessor to receive a second rule that is for at least two different devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise and wherein the second rule is sent to a second lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first lowest level gateway is at a lowest level in the hierarchy of gateways and wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a highest level in the hierarchy of gateways. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor readable and executable instructions further program the microprocessor to:
 identify that a new device of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been added to the first rule;   in response to identifying that the new device of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been added to the first rule, determine a second lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule with the added new device; and   send the first rule with the added new device to the second lowest level gateway.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the microprocessor readable and executable instructions further program the microprocessor to send a message to the first lowest level gateway to delete the first rule for the at least two of the plurality devices in the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a higher level in the hierarchy gateways than the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise is for at least three devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise and wherein the microprocessor readable and executable instructions further program the microprocessor to:
 identify that a first device of the at least three of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been removed from the first rule;   in response to identifying that the first device of the at least three of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been removed from the first rule, determine a second lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule with the removed first device; and   send the first rule with the removed device to the second lowest level gateway.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a lower level in a hierarchy of gateways than the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the microprocessor readable and executable instructions further program the microprocessor to send a message to the first lowest level gateway to delete the first rule for the at least three devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise in the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 identifying, by a microprocessor, a plurality of devices of an enterprise, wherein the plurality of devices of the enterprise use a plurality of gateways in a hierarchy of gateways to control the plurality of devices of the enterprise;   receiving, by the microprocessor, a first rule for at least two of the plurality devices of the enterprise;   in response to receiving the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise, determining, by the microprocessor, a first lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise; and   sending, by the microprocessor, the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise to the first lowest level gateway.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways are separate devices from different vendors that use different protocols. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, receiving a second rule that is for at least two different devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise and wherein the second rule is sent to a second lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first lowest level gateway is at a lowest level in the hierarchy of gateways and wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a highest level in the hierarchy of gateways. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying that a new device of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been added to the first rule;   in response to identifying that the new device of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been added to the first rule, determining a second lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule with the added new device; and   sending the first rule with the added new device to the second lowest level gateway.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sending a message to the first lowest level gateway to delete the first rule for the at least two of the plurality devices in the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a higher level in the hierarchy gateways than the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first rule for the at least two of the plurality of devices of the enterprise is for at least three devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise and further comprising:
 identifying that a first device of the at least three of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been removed from the first rule;   in response to identifying that the first device of the at least three of the plurality of devices of the enterprise has been removed from the first rule, determining a second lowest level gateway of the plurality of gateways in the hierarchy of gateways for applying the first rule with the removed first device; and   sending the first rule with the removed device to the second lowest level gateway.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second lowest level gateway is at a lower level in a hierarchy of gateways than the first lowest level gateway. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sending a message to the first lowest level gateway to delete the first rule for the at least three devices of the plurality of devices of the enterprise in the first lowest level gateway.