Method and apparatus for extending service capabilities in a communication network
First Claim
1. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
- detecting a plurality of devices connected to a network to identify a set of candidate devices;
determining capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices connected to the network;
selecting a solution set of devices from the set of candidate devices to provide a service to a communication device via a virtual device by comparing the capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices with a set of required functions of the virtual device capable to provide the service, wherein the communication device is connected to the network;
assigning selected capabilities of each device in the solution set of devices to perform the required functions of the virtual device;
generating a virtual finite state machine for controlling the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices, wherein the virtual finite state machine coordinates collaborative efforts of each device of the solution set of devices to generate the service;
generating software data and configuration data for the solution set of devices to allow the virtual finite state machine to control execution of the required functions by the solution set of devices;
transmitting, to a controller device of the solution set of devices, the virtual finite state machine, wherein execution of the virtual finite state machine by the controller device causes the controller device to control the performance of the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices; and
transmitting, to non-controller devices of the solution set of devices, the software data and the configuration data, wherein execution of the software data at the non-controller devices according to the configuration data causes the non-controller devices to perform the selected capabilities according to signals from the controller device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including selecting a solution set of devices from a set of candidate devices connected to a network to provide a service via a virtual device, generating a virtual finite state machine to control execution of the required functions of the virtual device via selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices transmitting, to a controller device of the solution set of devices, the virtual finite state machine, wherein execution of the virtual finite state machine by the controller device causes the controller device to control the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices, and transmitting, to non-controller devices of the solution set of devices, software data and configuration data, wherein execution of the software data at the non-controller devices according to the configuration data causes the non-controller devices to perform the selected capabilities according to signals sent by the controller device.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
-
detecting a plurality of devices connected to a network to identify a set of candidate devices; determining capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices connected to the network; selecting a solution set of devices from the set of candidate devices to provide a service to a communication device via a virtual device by comparing the capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices with a set of required functions of the virtual device capable to provide the service, wherein the communication device is connected to the network; assigning selected capabilities of each device in the solution set of devices to perform the required functions of the virtual device; generating a virtual finite state machine for controlling the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices, wherein the virtual finite state machine coordinates collaborative efforts of each device of the solution set of devices to generate the service; generating software data and configuration data for the solution set of devices to allow the virtual finite state machine to control execution of the required functions by the solution set of devices; transmitting, to a controller device of the solution set of devices, the virtual finite state machine, wherein execution of the virtual finite state machine by the controller device causes the controller device to control the performance of the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices; and transmitting, to non-controller devices of the solution set of devices, the software data and the configuration data, wherein execution of the software data at the non-controller devices according to the configuration data causes the non-controller devices to perform the selected capabilities according to signals from the controller device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A server, comprising:
-
a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising; determining capabilities of each device of a set of candidate devices connected to a network; selecting a solution set of devices from the set of candidate devices to provide a service to a communication device via a virtual device by comparing the capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices with a set of required functions of the virtual device capable to provide the service, wherein the communication device is connected to the network; generating a virtual finite state machine for controlling performance of the required functions of the virtual device via selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices, wherein the virtual finite state machine coordinates collaborative efforts of each device of the solution set of devices to generate the service; generating software data and configuration data for the solution set of devices to allow the virtual finite state machine to control execution of the required functions by the solution set of devices; transmitting, to a controller device of the solution set of devices, the virtual finite state machine, wherein execution of the virtual finite state machine by the controller device causes the controller device to control the performance of the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices; and transmitting, to non-controller devices of the solution set of devices, the software data and the configuration data, wherein execution of the software data at the non-controller devices according to the configuration data causes the non-controller devices to perform the selected capabilities according to signals from the controller device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method, comprising:
-
receiving from a communication device connected to a network, by a processing system comprising a processor, a request for a service; determining, by the processing system, that the communication device is not capable of providing the service; selecting, by the processing system, a solution set of devices from a set of candidate devices connected to the network to provide the service to the communication device via a virtual device, wherein the selecting is based on comparing capabilities of each device of the set of candidate devices with a set of required functions of the virtual device capable to provide the service; generating, by the processing system, a virtual finite state machine for controlling execution of the required functions of the virtual device via selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices, wherein the virtual finite state machine coordinates collaborative efforts of each device of the solution set of devices to generate the service; generating software data and configuration data for the solution set of devices to allow the virtual finite state machine to control execution of the required functions by the solution set of devices; transmitting, by the processing system, to a controller device of the solution set of devices, the virtual finite state machine, wherein execution of the virtual finite state machine by the controller device causes the controller device to control the execution of the required functions of the virtual device via the selected capabilities of each device of the solution set of devices; and transmitting, by the processing system, to non-controller devices of the solution set of devices, the software data and the configuration data, wherein execution of the software data at the non-controller devices according to the configuration data causes the non-controller devices to perform the selected capabilities according to signals from the controller device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification