Virtual Environment for Simulating a Real-World Environment With a Large Number of Virtual and Real Connected Devices

Abstract

A computer implemented method and system for generating a hybrid test construct, and for simulating and recording events, to test and simulate a virtual environment of connected devices. A plurality of real devices and virtual devices are provided and their behavior parameters are provided. A hybrid test construct of virtual and real devices is created by connecting the plurality of real devices and instantiating the virtual devices and external influencers. At least one container is specified to represent the virtual environment. A spatial relationship of the real devices, the virtual devices, and the external influencers are specified. Then at least one event is specified. A simulation is run where real data is received from the real devices that are then combined with a behavioral simulation of the virtual devices and external influencers. The results of the simulation are then compared to forecasted behavior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented system for simulating and recording at least one event to test and simulate a virtual environment of connected devices, the system comprising:
 at least one processor configured to perform operations to:
 load a generated hybrid test construct of virtual and real devices: 
 select at least one event for simulation; 
 select a time and a repetition for the event selected for simulation; 
 receive real data from a plurality of real devices; 
 generate a behavioral simulation of a plurality of virtual devices instantiated based on one or more defined behavior parameters and at least one external influencer instantiated based on one or more configured properties; and 
 combine the behavioral simulation with the data from the plurality of real devices to generate a simulation of a virtual environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further include storing the simulation of the virtual environment for play-back, wherein the play-back is playing back the stored simulation of a virtual environment on a time-lapse mode different from the time-lapse on which the stored simulation of the virtual environment was generated. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the time-lapse mode is an accelerated time-lapse or a decelerated time-lapse. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the event for simulation further comprising selecting a first event and a second event, and selecting an overlap or a lag between the first event and the second event. 
     
     
         5 . A computer implemented method for simulating and recording at least one event to test and simulate a virtual environment of connected devices, the method comprising:
 loading a generated hybrid test construct of virtual and real devices:   selecting at least one event for simulation;   selecting a time and a repetition for the event selected for simulation;   receiving real data from a plurality of real devices; and   generating a behavioral simulation of a plurality of virtual devices instantiated based on one or more defined behavior parameters and at least one external influencer instantiated based on one or more configured properties; and   combining the behavioral simulation with the data from the plurality of eal devices to generate a simulation of a virtual environment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising storing the simulation of the virtual environment for play-back, wherein the play-back is playing back the stored simulation of a virtual environment on a time-lapse mode different from the time-lapse mode on which the stored simulation of the environment was generated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the time-lapse mode is an accelerated time-lapse or a decelerated time-lapse. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the event for simulation further comprising selecting a first event and a second event, and selecting an overlap or a lag between the first event and the second event.