A home appliance configured to be registered in a server, the home appliance includes: a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) module, based on the home appliance being registered in the server, communicatively connected to an access point (AP) and configured to periodically operate in an AP mode through a virtual interface, and a controller configured to control the Wi-Fi module to periodically operate in the AP mode. The Wi-Fi module is configured to generate a beacon signal to search for an unregistered home appliance based on the Wi-Fi module being operated in the AP mode.

An internet-of-things, IoT, device (100) includes a luminosity sensing unit and a motion sensing unit. The IoT device (100) also includes a first network interface connectable to an IoT coordinator device (200) over a first network using a first network protocol, and a second network interface configured to communicate over a second network via a second network protocol. The IoT device (100) is configured to act as a bridge between the first and second networks, allowing integration of various smart building management services (600). A smart building control system (300) comprises a plurality of the IoT devices (100).

An internet-of-things, IoT, device (100) includes a luminosity sensing unit and a motion sensing unit. The IoT device (100) also includes a first network interface connectable to an IoT coordinator device (200) over a first network using a first network protocol, and a second network interface configured to communicate over a second network via a second network protocol. The IoT device (100) is configured to act as a bridge between the first and second networks, allowing integration of various smart building management services (600). A smart building control system (300) comprises a plurality of the IoT devices (100).

A function invoking method, applied to a first device, includes: acquiring a function executing instruction; parsing device capabilities required to execute the instruction; and invoking a capability of at least one second device to execute the function executing instruction to implement a corresponding function, the second device being another device different from the first device. As such, the capabilities can be invoked between devices, such that the interconnection and intercommunication between devices can be achieved.

Improved systems, methods, and architectures to enhance decision making in Smart Cities and Smart Regions. A system includes an index structure including a first hierarchical data structure including a first hierarchical score based on a plurality of first-level elements, each of the plurality of first-level elements having a respective weighting, and a second hierarchical data structure including a plurality of second hierarchical scores based on a plurality of second-level elements, each of the plurality of second-level elements having a respective weighting, such that the first hierarchical score is based on the plurality of second hierarchical scores through an index factor; and a computer-implemented regional monitor engine to manage local access to a plurality of external data sources to coordinate writes to the index structure.

Improved systems, methods, and architectures to enhance decision making in Smart Cities and Smart Regions. A system includes an index structure including a first hierarchical data structure including a first hierarchical score based on a plurality of first-level elements, each of the plurality of first-level elements having a respective weighting, and a second hierarchical data structure including a plurality of second hierarchical scores based on a plurality of second-level elements, each of the plurality of second-level elements having a respective weighting, such that the first hierarchical score is based on the plurality of second hierarchical scores through an index factor; and a computer-implemented regional monitor engine to manage local access to a plurality of external data sources to coordinate writes to the index structure.

In some examples, a system for comfort or security in a building and its premises includes a plurality of “first” devices configured to wirelessly communicate with a hub device that is a master for controlling the system for comfort or security in the building and premises, wherein the plurality of first devices and the hub device are configured to wirelessly communicate using either one of an IEEE 802.15.4 standard or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) 5.0 standard; a plurality of “second” devices that are battery powered and configured to wirelessly communicate with respective ones of the plurality of first devices, wherein the plurality of second devices and respective ones of the plurality of first devices are configured to communicate using the BTLE 5.0 standard, wherein the hub device and the plurality of second devices are configured to communicate with each other via respective ones of the plurality of first devices.

Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous vehicles may be automatically refueled by routing the vehicles to available fueling stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A fuel level within a tank of an autonomous vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a refueling threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to refuel the vehicle may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a fueling station, refill a fuel tank, and return to its starting location in order to refuel when not in use.

Implementations can identify a given assistant device from among a plurality of assistant devices in an ecosystem, obtain device-specific signal(s) that are generated by the given assistant device, process the device-specific signal(s) to generate candidate semantic label(s) for the given assistant device, select a given semantic label for the given semantic device from among the candidate semantic label(s), and assigning, in a device topology representation of the ecosystem, the given semantic label to the given assistant device. Implementations can optionally receive a spoken utterance that includes a query or command at the assistant device(s), determine a semantic property of the query or command matches the given semantic label to the given assistant device, and cause the given assistant device to satisfy the query or command.

Implementations can identify a given assistant device from among a plurality of assistant devices in an ecosystem, obtain device-specific signal(s) that are generated by the given assistant device, process the device-specific signal(s) to generate candidate semantic label(s) for the given assistant device, select a given semantic label for the given semantic device from among the candidate semantic label(s), and assigning, in a device topology representation of the ecosystem, the given semantic label to the given assistant device. Implementations can optionally receive a spoken utterance that includes a query or command at the assistant device(s), determine a semantic property of the query or command matches the given semantic label to the given assistant device, and cause the given assistant device to satisfy the query or command.