KR102188562B1 - IoT APPLICATION PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT BASED ON VISUAL BLOCK LANGUAGE AND ITS OPERATING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

A visual block language based IoT application development tool is disclosed. The visual block language based IoT application development tool according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a device table providing a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest composed of at least one smart device; A rule block for defining an event-condition-action (ECA)-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, the event A toolbox that provides a condition block for a valid condition of an environment in which the event occurs and an action block for an operation accompanying the event; And a workspace for generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block.

Description

Visual block language based IoT application development tool and its operation method {IoT APPLICATION PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT BASED ON VISUAL BLOCK LANGUAGE AND ITS OPERATING METHOD}

The present invention relates to a tool for developing an IoT application program based on a visual block language and a method of operation thereof, and more particularly, a development tool for developing an IoT application program through block programming based on event-ccondition-action (ECA), and It relates to how it works.

IoT (internet of things, IoT) refers to all things in the world connected through a network and communicating with each other. This is evaluated as one of the most drastic changes since the advent of the Internet, and it is predicted that the Internet of Things will become intelligent and create a smart world such as smart cars, smart homes, and smart cities.

Meanwhile, with the development of smart home, smart device, and automation technology, interest in the development of IoT application programs is increasing day by day. IoT applications not only enable end users to remotely control their homes via smartphones, but also enable automation of certain routine tasks.

However, it is difficult for general users to easily access the development of such IoT applications. In particular, it was practically difficult for a general user who is not familiar with programming to directly develop an IoT application program through a conventional development tool using a text-based programming language.

Accordingly, there is a need for a development tool and a method that allow general users to easily create IoT application programs suitable for their lifestyles.

As a related prior art, there is Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0053869 (invention title: cloud-based energy convergence development type IoT platform service development system, publication date: May 24, 2018).

An object of the present invention is to provide a development tool and a method of operation thereof that allow a general user to easily develop an IoT application program suitable for his/her lifestyle by using ECA rules based on a visual block language.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the problem(s) mentioned above, and another problem(s) not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the visual block language based IoT application development tool provided by the present invention includes: a device table providing a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest consisting of at least one smart device; A rule block for defining an event-condition-action (ECA)-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, the event A toolbox that provides a condition block for a valid condition of an environment in which the event occurs and an action block for an operation accompanying the event; And a workspace for generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block.

Preferably, an AST generation unit for generating an abstract syntax tree (AST) having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule; And a code generator that generates a code corresponding to an IoT application program related to the device of interest based on the AST.

Preferably, the generated code is executed on a cloud server, and the at least one ECA rule may be operated by the cloud server communicating with a hub connected to the device of interest.

Preferably, the workspace may be for further generating at least one EA rule, which is an EA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, and the action block.

Preferably, the rule block corresponding to the ECA rule related to the device of interest is arranged in the workspace, and the event block, the condition block, and the action block are connected to the rule block, so that the at least one ECA rule Can be generated.

Preferably, the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block may be moved from the toolbox to the workspace through drag and drop.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the method of operating a visual block language based IoT application development tool provided by the present invention provides a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest consisting of at least one smart device. step; A rule block for defining an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, a condition block for the valid condition of the environment in which the event occurs, and the event Providing an action block related to the task involved in the operation; And generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block selected by the user.

Preferably, generating an AST having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule; And generating a code corresponding to the IoT application program related to the device of interest based on the AST.

Preferably, the generated code is executed on a cloud server, and the at least one ECA rule may be operated by the cloud server communicating with a hub connected to the device of interest.

Preferably, the generating of the at least one ECA rule may further generate at least one EA rule, which is an EA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, and the action block. have.

The IoT application development tool and its operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention have an effect of allowing a general user to easily develop an IoT application program suitable for their lifestyle by using an ECA rule based on a visual block language. .

1 is a block diagram showing a tool for developing an IoT application program based on a visual block language according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a tool for developing an IoT application program based on a visual block language according to another embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a visual block language based IoT application development tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating a device table according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a tool box according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating a workspace according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a rule block, an event block, a condition block, and an action block according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining an AST and a code according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, various modifications may be made and various embodiments may be provided, and specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing each drawing, similar reference numerals have been used for similar elements.

Terms such as first, second, A, and B may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element. The term and/or includes a combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it is understood that it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in the middle. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in the middle.

The terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features. It is to be understood that the presence or addition of elements or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, does not preclude in advance.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms as defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and should not be interpreted as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in this application. Does not.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a tool for developing an IoT application program based on a visual block language according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a visual block language based IoT application development tool 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a device table 110, a tool box 120, and a workspace 130.

The device table 110 provides a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest composed of at least one smart device.

Here, the smart device may be various types of devices that are connected through a network and can exchange data with other devices. For example, a lighting device with an Internet of Things (IoT) function added, a door lock device, a music player, a cooling and heating device, a sensor device such as a thermometer and a hygrometer, and other home appliances, etc., but the smart device of the present invention is limited to this. It doesn't work.

Meanwhile, the list of the plurality of smart devices may be a list of smart devices located in the user's home. In this case, the list may be provided in various forms such as a list, a button, a check box list, and the like, and the user may select a device of interest, which is at least one smart device to be used in the IoT application program through the list.

For example, referring to FIG. 4, the device table 110 may provide a list of smart devices related to music player, presence sensor, light, lock, and alarm in the form of a button.

The toolbox 120 is a rule block for defining an event-condition-action (ECA)-based rule related to a device of interest, and an event block for defining an event related to a device of interest in connection with the rule block. , Provides a condition block for a valid condition of an environment in which the event occurs and an action block for an action accompanying the event.

At this time, the ECA-based rule may indicate 1) (when) in which case, 2) (if) when a certain condition is satisfied, and 3) (then) a rule regarding which task to perform. In addition, one ECA-based rule includes at least one event indicating which event has occurred, and at least one condition that is a condition that is valid in an environment in which the at least one event occurs, and when the at least one event occurs At least one action to be performed may be included.

Here, the event represents an event that occurred in the smart device. For example, the state of the lock may be changed from a locked state to an unlocked state, or an alarm may be generated at 8 am in the clock device. In addition, the condition indicates whether the Boolean algebra of the state change of the smart device is true or false. For example, it may indicate whether a person is detected by the presence sensor 1, and whether the temperature of the thermometer 1 is 22 degrees or more. Also, an action represents an action to be performed. For example, it may be an operation such as turning on a lighting device, playing music on a music player, and transmitting a message that an unexpected guest has arrived to the user.

Meanwhile, one ECA-based rule may correspond to one rule block. In addition, one rule block may include at least one event block, at least one condition block, and at least one action block.

For example, referring to FIG. 5, the toolbox 120 may provide a plurality of event blocks, a plurality of condition blocks, and a plurality of action blocks related to a device of interest selected by a user.

More specifically, when music player, presence sensor, light, lock, and alarm are selected as the device of interest through the device table 110, the tool box 120 includes a plurality of event blocks, a plurality of condition blocks, and Multiple action blocks can be provided. In this case, the plurality of event blocks, the plurality of condition blocks, and the plurality of action blocks may be a set of blocks configured differently according to the types and characteristics of each of the devices of interest.

The workspace 130 provides a space for generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to a device of interest, based on a rule block, an event block, a condition block, and an action block.

For example, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the workspace 130 includes two rule blocks 131 and 132, two event blocks 133 and 134, two condition blocks 135 and 136, and four action blocks. (Two in each of 137 and 138) are arranged, and two ECA rules corresponding to each of the two rule blocks can be generated.

In another embodiment, the workspace 130 may provide a space for further generating at least one EA rule, which is an EA-based rule related to a device of interest, based on a rule block, an event block, and an action block.

That is, the workspace 130 may provide a space for further generating an EA (event-action) based EA rule that does not have a valid condition, that is, which is always valid. Such an EA rule can be used when a specific event occurs and it is necessary to perform a specific task unconditionally.

In this case, the rule block corresponding to the EA rule may include at least one event block and at least one action block.

In another embodiment, a rule block corresponding to an ECA rule related to a device of interest is arranged in the workspace 130, and an event block, a condition block, and an action block are connected to the rule block, thereby generating at least one ECA rule. Can be.

That is, referring to FIG. 6, two rule blocks 131 and 132 corresponding to the ECA rule are preferentially disposed, and event blocks 133 and 134 and condition blocks 135 are respectively disposed in the rule blocks 131 and 132. , 136) and action blocks 137 and 138 may be connected to generate an ECA rule.

Meanwhile, in a similar manner, a rule block corresponding to an EA rule is preferentially arranged, and an event block and an action block are connected to the rule block to generate an EA rule.

In another embodiment, a rule block, an event block, a condition block, and an action block may be moved from the toolbox 120 to the workspace 130 through drag and drop.

Meanwhile, a rule block, an event block, a condition block, and an action block provided through the toolbox 120 are dragged and dropped by a user, thereby being moved to the workspace 130 to generate an ECA rule.

At this time, after the rule block is preferentially drag-and-dropped and placed in the workspace 130, the event block, the condition block, and the action block are drag-and-dropped to each corresponding position of the rule block to be connected, so that the ECA rule Can be generated.

As described above, the IoT application program development tool according to an embodiment of the present invention has an effect that a general user can simply develop an IoT application program suitable for his/her lifestyle by using an ECA rule based on a visual block language.

2 is a block diagram showing a tool for developing an IoT application program based on a visual block language according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a visual block language based IoT application development tool 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a device table 110, a tool box 120, a workspace 130, and an AST generator 140. And a code generation unit 150.

The device table 110 provides a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest composed of at least one smart device.

The toolbox 120 is a rule block for defining an event-condition-action (ECA)-based rule related to a device of interest, and an event block for defining an event related to a device of interest in connection with the rule block. , Provides a condition block for a valid condition of an environment in which the event occurs and an action block for an action accompanying the event.

The workspace 130 provides a space for generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to a device of interest, based on a rule block, an event block, a condition block, and an action block.

The AST generation unit 140 generates an abstract syntax tree (AST) having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule.

That is, the AST generation unit 140 may generate an AST corresponding to at least one ECA rule generated in the workspace 130.

Here, AST is an abstract syntax tree, and may mean a tree related to an abstract syntax structure of a source code written in a programming language. Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 8, the AST of the present invention uses the workspace 130 as a root node, so that a rule block is located under the root node, and an event block, a condition block, and an action block are located under the rule block. Can be configured.

The code generation unit 150 generates a code corresponding to an IoT application program related to the device of interest based on the AST.

For example, the code generator 150 may analyze the AST of FIG. 8 to generate the code of FIG. 9 corresponding to at least one ECA rule included in the AST. In this case, the code of FIG. 9 is a code corresponding to an IoT application program.

In another embodiment, the generated code is executed in a cloud server, and the cloud server communicates with a hub connected to a device of interest to operate at least one ECA rule.

For example, the generated code can be executed on a cloud server in order to use a cloud computing environment that a user can access from anywhere. In addition, the cloud server is connected to a central hub connected to the device of interest via the Internet, and can be operated to comply with at least one ECA rule for the device of interest.

At this time, it goes without saying that the user can access the cloud server through an application mounted on a smartphone or tablet PC, and manage the IoT application program running on the cloud server and the device of interest connected to the hub.

More specifically, the user may exclude or add a specific device from at least one smart device included in the device of interest, and may add or delete a specific ECA rule.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a visual block language based IoT application development tool according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S310, the IoT application development tool 100 provides a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest including at least one smart device.

In step S320, the IoT application development tool 100 is a rule block for defining an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, and the event occurs. Provides condition blocks for the valid conditions of the environment and action blocks for tasks accompanying the event.

In step S330, the IoT application development tool 100 generates at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, event block, condition block, and action block selected by the user.

In another embodiment, the IoT application development tool 100 may generate an AST having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule, and generate a code corresponding to an IoT application program related to a device of interest based on the AST. have.

In another embodiment, the generated code is executed on a cloud server, and the cloud server communicates with a hub connected to a device of interest, so that at least one ECA rule may be operated.

In another embodiment, when the IoT application development tool 100 generates the at least one ECA rule, based on a rule block, an event block, and an action block, at least one EA-based rule related to a device of interest. You can create more EA rules.

Meanwhile, the above-described embodiments of the present invention can be written as a program that can be executed in a computer, and can be implemented in a general-purpose digital computer that operates the program using a computer-readable recording medium.

The computer-readable recording medium includes a magnetic storage medium (for example, a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, etc.), and an optical reading medium (for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD, etc.).

So far, the present invention has been looked at around its preferred embodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to understand that the present invention may be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered from an illustrative point of view rather than a limiting point of view. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the above description, and all differences within the scope equivalent thereto should be construed as being included in the present invention.

Claims (10)

A device table providing a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest including at least one smart device;
A rule block for defining an event-condition-action (ECA)-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, the event A toolbox that provides a condition block for a valid condition of an environment in which the event occurs and an action block for an operation accompanying the event;
A workspace for generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block selected from the toolbox;
An AST generator for generating an abstract syntax tree (AST) having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule; And
A code generation unit that generates a code corresponding to an IoT application program related to the device of interest based on the AST
Including,
The toolbox provides rule blocks configured differently according to the type and characteristic of the device of interest selected from the list of the plurality of smart devices,
The generated code is executed in a cloud server, and the at least one ECA rule is operated by the cloud server communicating with a hub connected to the device of interest. delete delete The method of claim 1,
The workspace is
Based on the rule block, the event block, and the action block, a visual block language-based IoT application development tool, characterized in that for further generating at least one EA rule that is an EA-based rule related to the device of interest. The method of claim 1,
The rule block corresponding to the ECA rule related to the device of interest is arranged in the workspace, and the event block, the condition block, and the action block are connected to the rule block, thereby generating the at least one ECA rule. Visual block language based IoT application development tool characterized by. The method of claim 5,
The rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block are
A visual block language based IoT application development tool, characterized in that it is moved from the toolbox to the workspace through drag and drop. Providing a list of a plurality of smart devices for selecting a device of interest including at least one smart device;
A rule block for defining an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, an event block for defining an event related to the device of interest in connection with the rule block, a condition block for a valid condition of the environment in which the event occurs, and the event Providing an action block related to an operation involved in the operation;
Generating at least one ECA rule, which is an ECA-based rule related to the device of interest, based on the rule block, the event block, the condition block, and the action block selected by a user;
Generating an AST having a tree structure from the at least one ECA rule; And
Generating a code corresponding to the IoT application program related to the device of interest based on the AST
Including,
Providing the action block,
Providing a rule block configured differently according to the type and characteristic of the device of interest selected from the list of the plurality of smart devices,
The generated code is
A method of operating a visual block language based IoT application development tool, characterized in that it is executed on a cloud server and the cloud server communicates with a hub connected to the device of interest to operate the at least one ECA rule. delete delete The method of claim 7,
Generating the at least one ECA rule comprises:
Based on the rule block, the event block, and the action block, the method of operating a visual block language based IoT application development tool, characterized in that further generating at least one EA rule that is an EA-based rule related to the device of interest .

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