Abstract: A system and method are described for anonymous IoT device accounts. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises an IoT app to be executed on a mobile device of a user, the IoT app comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow the user to capture one or more identification (ID) codes from one or more IoT devices, the mobile device to transmit the ID codes to an IoT service; a device management module on the IoT service to provision the IoT devices with the IoT service; an account management module on the IoT service to establish an anonymous user account and to associate the anonymous user account with the one or more IoT devices provisioned by the device management module; wherein upon the provisioned IoT devices being associated with the anonymous user account, the GUI of the IoT app is to provide the user with controllable access to the IoT devices prior to the user entering user identification information to the IoT service.

Abstract: A system and method are described for loaning IoT devices. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises receiving a command submitted by a first user to loan a plurality of Internet of Things (IoT) devices associated with a first user account to a second user, establishing a secure communication channel between an IoT service and an IoT app on an IoT device used by the second user, and receiving an identification code from the IoT app to provide the IoT app access to the plurality of IoT devices over the secure communication channel, wherein the IoT app is to capture the identification code from an optical code, the IoT service to use the identification code to identify the plurality of IoT devices, wherein the IoT service prevents access to the plurality of IoT devices by the first user while the second user has access to the IoT devices.

Abstract: A system and method are described for anonymous IoT device accounts. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises an IoT app to be executed on a mobile device of a user, the IoT app comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow the user to capture one or more identification (ID) codes from one or more IoT devices, the mobile device to transmit the ID codes to an IoT service; a device management module on the IoT service to provision the IoT devices with the IoT service; an account management module on the IoT service to establish an anonymous user account and to associate the anonymous user account with the one or more IoT devices provisioned by the device management module; wherein upon the provisioned IoT devices being associated with the anonymous user account, the GUI of the IoT app is to provide the user with controllable access to the IoT devices prior to the user entering user identification information to the IoT service.

Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for detecting that an IoT hub communication channel has become inoperative. For example, one embodiment of an IoT system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a second communication channel; connection monitoring logic to detect when the first communication channel between the IoT service and the IoT hub has become inoperative; notification logic to transmit a notification to a data processing device of a user of the IoT system responsive to the connection monitoring logic detecting that the first communication channel has become inoperative.

Abstract: A miniature IoT hub is described for coupling IoT devices and an IoT service. For example, one embodiment of a miniature Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprises: a housing having a compact form factor; a first network interface integrated within the housing to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; a second network interface integrated within the housing to couple the IoT hub to at least one IoT device over a second communication channel, the second communication channel being a local wireless communication channel; an alternating current (A/C) input interface to couple the miniature IoT hub to an A/C power outlet; a transformer integrated within the housing to transform the A/C power from the A/C input interface into a lower voltage D/C signal; and at least one light emitting diode (LED) powered by the lower voltage D/C signal, the LED to notify a user of a current status of the IoT hub and additionally configurable as a user-programmable night-light.

Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for filtering events at an Internet of Things (IoT) hub. For example, one embodiment of a system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service, the IoT hub further comprising a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of IoT devices over local communication channels; the IoT hub to receive a plurality of different events of different event types from each of the IoT devices, the IoT hub further comprising: an event filter to evaluate each event and responsively determine whether to forward the event to one or more external services over the network interface in accordance with a set of event filtering rules programmed on the IoT hub, the event filtering rules provided by the IoT service and specifying how different event types are to be processed by the IoT hub.

Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for disabling IoT-enabled home devices.

Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a communication interface for coupling the microcontroller to a network; a plurality of input elements communicatively coupled to the microcontroller to detect user input; a slot for receiving a selection card, the selection card comprising a plurality of user-selectable items displayed thereon, wherein each of the input elements are associated with at least one of the user-selectable items displayed on the card when the selection card is inserted in the slot; and wherein upon selection of a particular input element corresponding to a particular item, the microcontroller transmits an identification code for the item to a service over the network, the service identifying the item using the identification code and performing one or more operations responsive to selection of the item by the user.

Abstract: A platform, apparatus and method for Internet of Things Implementations. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises an Internet of Things (IoT) clock hub comprising: a memory for storing program code and a microcontroller for executing the program code; a WAN interface to couple the IoT clock hub to an IoT service over the WAN, and a local communication interface to communicatively couple the IoT hub to a plurality of different types of IoT devices; and a display to display a clock indicating a current time, a current temperature, and one or more calendar events retrieved from a user's calendar, wherein the calendar events are provided to the IoT clock hub over the WAN interface.