Abstract: Methods and systems for a product-as-a-service. One aspect includes a product-as-a-service system comprising a server computing device. The server computing device stores information associated with a connected device, the information including at least a claim code, and upon receipt of the claim code and an application identifier of an application to be associated with the connected device, associates the connected device with the application and facilitates interactions between the connected device and the application. The server computing device includes a server operating environment that provides one or more Internet of Things (IoT) services for interacting with the connected devices, and subscriber access to the one or more IoT services. The product-as-a-service system can be decoupled from the subscriber access to the one or more IoT services. The product-as-a-service system can be instantiated with a single action. The product-as-a-service system can also be instantiated using a structured template.

Abstract: A method for establishing secured connection on an apparatus, comprising: connecting to a network; retrieving a last known block header hash corresponding to a last known block in a last known blockchain; connecting to a plurality of trusted peers via the network; in response to each trusted peer being successfully connected, downloading a latest block header of the trusted peers; based on the last known block header hash, determining whether the latest block header of each trusted peers is referenced to the last known block; and in response to a first number exceeding a threshold number, verifying the latest block header to form a latest version blockchain, wherein the first number is a number of peers in the plurality of trusted peers being successfully connected, and the peers have the latest block header being referenced to the last known block.

Abstract: A blockchain scaling method includes the following operations: determining whether a transaction parameter of a block generating process in an original chain of blocks exceeds a first threshold; and forking the original chain into two sub-chains when the transaction parameter exceeds the threshold, wherein each of the two sub-chains comprises same previous block information corresponding to the original chain and a sub-chain identification.

Abstract: A product-as-a-service for connected devices includes a product-as-a-service system comprising a server computing device. The server computing device stores information associated with a connected device, the information including at least a claim code, and upon receipt of the claim code and an application identifier of an application to be associated with the connected device, associates the connected device with the application and facilitates interactions between the connected device and the application. The server computing device includes a server operating environment that provides one or more Internet of Things (IoT) services for interacting with the connected devices, and subscriber access to the one or more IoT services. The product-as-a-service system can be decoupled from the subscriber access to the one or more IoT services. The product-as-a-service system can be instantiated with a single action. The product-as-a-service system can also be instantiated using a structured template.

Abstract: A method for establishing secured connection on an apparatus, comprising: connecting to a network; retrieving a last known block header hash corresponding to a last known block in a last known blockchain; connecting to a plurality of trusted peers via the network; in response to each trusted peer being successfully connected, downloading a latest block header of the trusted peers; based on the last known block header hash, determining whether the latest block header of each trusted peers is referenced to the last known block; and in response to a first number exceeding a threshold number, verifying the latest block header to form a latest version blockchain, wherein the first number is a number of peers in the plurality of trusted peers being successfully connected, and the peers have the latest block header being referenced to the last known block.

Abstract: A blockchain scaling method includes the following operations: determining whether a transaction parameter of a block generating process in an original chain of blocks exceeds a first threshold; and forking the original chain into two sub-chains when the transaction parameter exceeds the threshold, wherein each of the two sub-chains comprises same previous block information corresponding to the original chain and a sub-chain identification.

Abstract: A method for configuring network access parameters for a smart object to access a network is disclosed. The method comprises connecting, by the smart object, to a network using a first network access device. The smart object uses a wireless networking protocol to connect to the first network access device. The method further comprises authenticating the smart object with a server on the network and receiving network access information from the server. The network access information relates to a second network access device. The method further comprises using the network access information to connect to the network using the second network access device.

Abstract: A network-connected object for performing a function and communicating with a server computing device via a network includes a functional object, application-specific input/output (I/O) device, and a gateway device. The functional object is configured to perform a function. The application-specific I/O device includes an electronic circuit configured to perform an application-specific function related to the functional object. The gateway device includes a first communication device configured for data communication with the application-specific I/O device, a second communication device configured for data communication with the server computing device, at least one processing device, and at least one computer readable storage device.

Abstract: A smart object establishes communication with an application provider server computing device by sending a request to a manufacturer server computing device to identify a second server computing device; receiving a response from the first server computing device with an identifier indicating the second server computing device; and using the identifier to establish communication between the smart object and the second server computing device.

Abstract: A network-connected object for performing a function and communicating with a server computing device via a network includes a functional object, application-specific input/output (I/O) device, and a gateway device. The functional object is configured to perform a function. The application-specific I/O device includes an electronic circuit configured to perform an application-specific function related to the functional object. The gateway device includes a first communication device configured for data communication with the application-specific I/O device, a second communication device configured for data communication with the server computing device, at least one processing device, and at least one computer readable storage device.

Abstract: A modularized intermediate communication device for a sensor network includes multiple electronic modules assembled in a stack and configured to communicate with one another. Each of the stackable electronic modules includes a housing including first and second stacking portions mechanically complementary to each other. Each module further includes a first inter-module communication connector arranged on the first stacking portion, a second inter-module communication connector arranged on the second stacking portion, and a communication device electrically connected to the first and second inter-module communication connectors and communicating with a matching electronic module using at least one communication protocol.

Abstract: A smart object establishes communication with an application provider server computing device by sending a request to a manufacturer server computing device to identify a second server computing device; receiving a response from the first server computing device with an identifier indicating the second server computing device; and using the identifier to establish communication between the smart object and the second server computing device.

Abstract: A method for configuring network access parameters for a smart object to access a network is disclosed. The method comprises connecting, by the smart object, to a network using a first network access device. The smart object uses a wireless networking protocol to connect to the first network access device. The method further comprises authenticating the smart object with a server on the network and receiving network access information from the server. The network access information relates to a second network access device. The method further comprises using the network access information to connect to the network using the second network access device.