System and method for providing network support services and premises gateway support infrastructure

• US 10,097,367 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KIP Prod PI LP (Kip Prod P1 LP)
• Original Assignee: KIP Prod PI LP (Kip Prod P1 LP)
• Inventors: Ansari, Amir, Cowgill, George A., Nicholls, Leon E., Ramayya, Jude P., Masina, Ramprakash, McQuarters, Alvin R., Raissyan, Atousa
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US15/799,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20180152311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/80 : Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 : based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 : Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 : Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 : for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 : Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 : Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 : Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 : Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 : Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/911 : Bridge, e.g. brouter, bus extender

Abstract

A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices.

Claims

1. A home automation services device for operation at a user area to provide and manage services in relation to one or more endpoint devices, the home automation services device comprising:

one or more wireless network interfaces providing communication via at least two communication protocols;

wherein a first of the communication protocols enables bi-directional communications, within the user area, between the home automation services device and the one or more endpoint devices; and

wherein a second of the communication protocols enables bi-directional communications, via a wide area network, between the home automation services device and a remotely located client external to the user area;

a processor coupled to first and second interfaces of the one or more wireless network interfaces;

storage, at the user area and coupled to the processor, storing programming related to one or more services, wherein, for each respective service, execution of the programming by the processor causes the home automation services device to provide;

(1) a communication channel for the one or more endpoint devices, for the respective service, using one or both of the first and second communication protocols;

(2) administration of one or more of;

authorization operations, authentication operations, or configuration settings of the one or more endpoint devices;

(3) management of the respective service based upon the communications with the remotely located client via the wide area network;

(4) measurement based on communications with one of the endpoint devices that includes a sensor, wherein the measurement is related to one or more of the endpoint devices and related to facility management of the user area; and

(5) control of one or more others of the endpoint devices related to facility management of the user area, the control performed such that the measurement is maintained without negatively impacting concurrently provided services.

2. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the second communication protocol enables communications via the wide area network through a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network.

3. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the one or more services includes a home security service at the user area.

4. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the one or more services includes management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user area.

5. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the one or more services includes management of sensors located at the user area.

6. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the one or more services includes management of medical devices at the user area.

7. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the communication channel for the one or more endpoint devices comprises communications being received, at the home automation services device via the first interface, and forwarded via the second interface.

8. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the administration comprises establishing configuration settings, provided from a remote client, on at least one of the one or more endpoint devices.

9. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the measurement is a measurement of application specific resources that comprise one or more of:

CPU cycles,

memory space,

network bandwidth, or

any combination thereof.

10. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol is X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee.

11. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein one of the respective services is related to automation of the one or more endpoint devices that include one or more of:

a sensor device;

an automatic window;

window blinds;

lighting or a lamp unit;

a digital picture frame;

a web cam;

or

any combination thereof.

12. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the management is based on a resource allocation instruction from the remotely located client.

13. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the home automation services device is configured for peer to peer type communications between the home automation services device and a gateway device.

14. The home automation services device of claim 1, wherein the management of the one or more others of the endpoint devices comprises monitoring for excessive resource utilization by at least one endpoint device.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a home automation services device, cause the home automation services device to perform operations comprising:

providing communication, via one or more wireless network interfaces, using at least two communication protocols;

wherein a first of the communication protocols enables bi-directional communications, within an area, between the home automation services device and one or more endpoint devices; and

wherein a second of the communication protocols enables bi-directional communications, via a wide area network, between the home automation services device and a remotely located client external to the area; and

interacting with the one or more endpoint devices to provide;

(1) a communication channel for the one or more endpoint devices using one or both of the first and second communication protocols;

(2) administration of one or more of;

authorization operations, authentication operations, or configuration settings of the one or more endpoint devices;

(3) management of the one or more endpoint devices based upon communications with the remotely located client via the wide area network;

(4) measurement based on communications with one of the endpoint devices; and

(5) management of one or more others of the endpoint devices such that the measurement is maintained without negatively impacting concurrently provided services.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the management of the one or more endpoint devices comprises managing one or more of:

a home security device at the area;

a video camera and associated video data captured within the area;

a medical device at the area;

or

any combination thereof.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the management of the one or more endpoint devices comprises management of sensors located at the area.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the administration comprises providing configuration settings, provided from a remote client, to the one or more endpoint devices.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first communication protocol is X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the management of the one or more endpoint devices comprises automation or control of networked home devices including one or more of:

a sensor device;

an automatic window;

window blinds;

lighting or a lamp unit;

a digital picture frame;

a web cam;

or

any combination thereof.

21. A home automation device, for operation at a user premises, comprising:

one or more wireless network interfaces providing communication via at least two communication protocols;

wherein a first of the communication protocols enables communications, within the user premises, between the home automation device and one or more of the endpoint devices; and

wherein a second of the communication protocols enables communications, for one or more endpoint devices, with a remotely located system external to the user premises;

a processor coupled to the interfaces;

storage coupled to the processor; and

programming in the storage comprising;

logic to execute at least one application service;

logic to manage a user interface related to the at least one application service;

logic to implement a services framework;

logic to perform platform management;

logic to determine the availability of application specific resources; and

logic to manage one or more of the endpoint devices, in response to a sensor measurement from one of the endpoint devices, such that a setting related to the sensor measurement can be implemented without negatively impacting concurrently provided services;

wherein interaction and interoperability of the user interface logic, the application service logic, the services framework logic, and the platform management logic are managed responsive to the communications with the remotely located system.

22. The home automation device of claim 21, wherein the first communication protocol utilizes X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee communications.

23. The home automation device of claim 21, wherein the management of the one or more endpoint devices comprises management of sensors located at the user premises.

24. A home automation device for operation at a location having at least one endpoint device, the home automation device being in communication with a remote service manager, the home automation device comprising:

an application service module including a processor that executes at least one application, the application service module being remotely managed by the remote service manager via a connection, wherein the application service module resides at the location;

a user module having a user interface that is associated with the at least one application, wherein some interactions with the user module cause bi-directional communications between the home automation device and the at least one endpoint device;

a network module having the connection that enables bi-directional communications with the remote service manager;

an operational information module configured to log operational information related to the home automation device; and

a management module operable to process the operational information and provide at least a portion of the processed operational information to the remote service manager;

wherein the processor is coupled to the user module, network module, operational information module, and management module.

25. The home automation device of claim 24, wherein the bi-directional communications between the home automation device and the at least one endpoint device utilize X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee communications.

26. The home automation device of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the logged operational information is from the at least one endpoint device which comprises a sensor that obtained the operational information.