US Patent 9246921 Secure external access to device automation system

A secure external access method provides an external system with access to a device automation system implementing automatic control of one or more devices in an automation environment. The external access method enables external system access to devices only when the devices have been authorized for external access and the external system has the proper authentication credential. External access endpoints are dynamically defined by the web service automation applications and are unique to each installed instance of the web service automation application.