How Automation Rules Work

An automation rule is used to perform actions on a device based on a change in the state of the device. To be triggered, an automation rule must be informed about a change in device state, and this can occur in the following ways.

• Some device types can automatically inform SOTI Connect about a change in state. If the device state change meets the conditions specified in the automation rule, the rule is triggered.

• For device types that cannot automatically inform SOTI Connect about state changes, SOTI Connect must periodically reach out and query the device about its current state. If the device's state has changed, and the state change meets the conditions in the automation rule, the rule is triggered.

  Querying a device about its current state can be accomplished using either an action rule that specifies a periodic check-in action, or a data collection rule that periodically collects data about the device, again by using a check-in action. Whenever the action rule or data collection rule runs, and the rule finds that the device state has changed, that rule will inform the automation rule about the state change, potentially triggering the automation rule.