Apparatus and method for managing mobile device servers

• US 10,484,260 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, William A., Meuninck, Troy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US15/484,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20170223396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a media resource center a first pairing key from a first mobile device server and enabling the first mobile device to access at least one media device based on the first pairing key, where the at least one media device is operably coupled with the media resource center, where the first mobile devices provides media services by executing a web server application that utilizes the at least one media device, and where the first mobile device communicates with a second mobile device server to provide the media services. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, by a processing system including a processor, access to a media resource center comprising a plurality of media resources, according to a first pairing key;

identifying, by the processing system, a first service grade of a subscriber according to the first pairing key;

receiving, by the processing system, a first request from a first mobile device associated with the subscriber for a first media service, wherein the first request is associated with an application running on the first mobile device, wherein the first media service is from the media resource center, wherein the first media service comprises first media content and second media content;

determining, by the processing system, that the first media service is available to the subscriber based on the first service grade; and

allocating, by the processing system, a media resource of the plurality of media resources for providing the first media content to the first mobile device over a communication network, use of the media resource of the plurality of media resources by the application is controlled according to the first pairing key, wherein the second media content is provided to the first mobile device by a second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device coordinate prior to the providing the first media content and the second media content to enable providing of second media content to the first mobile device by the second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the first media content and the second media content are presented on the first mobile device simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device displays the first media content and second media content side by side to provide the first media service.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

determining, by the processing system, to apply a first charge to a subscriber account according to the first service grade;

determining, by the processing system, a share of revenue from the first charge to the subscriber account according to a first commercial arrangement for the providing of the first media content.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

providing, by the processing system, access to the media resource center according to a second pairing key;

identifying, by the processing system, a second service grade of the subscriber according to the second pairing key; and

receiving, by the processing system, a second request from the first mobile device associated with the subscriber for a second media service, wherein the second media service is from the media resource center, wherein the second media service comprises third media content.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

determining, by the processing system, that the third media content is available to the subscriber based on the second service grade; and

providing, by the processing system, the third media content to the first mobile device.

6. The method of claim 4, comprising determining, by the processing system, to apply a second charge to a subscriber account according to the second service grade.

7. The method of claim 6, comprise determining, by the processing system, a share of revenue from the second charge to the subscriber account according to a second commercial arrangement for the providing of the third media content.

8. The method of claim 4, comprising determining, by the processing system, that the third media content is not available to the subscriber based on the second service grade.

9. A device, 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;

providing access to a media resource center comprising a plurality of media resources, according to a first pairing key and a second pairing key;

identifying a first service grade of a subscriber according to the first pairing key and identifying a second service grade of the subscriber according to the second pairing key;

receiving a first request from a first mobile device associated with the subscriber for a first media service, wherein the first request is associated with an application running on the first mobile device, wherein the first media service is from the media resource center, wherein the first media service comprises first media content and second media content;

determining that the first media service is available to the subscriber based on at least one of the first service grade and second grade; and

enabling a media resource of the plurality of media resources for providing the first media content to the first mobile device over a communication network, use of the media resource of the plurality of media resources by the application is controlled according to the first pairing key, wherein the second media content is provided to the first mobile device by a second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device coordinate prior to the providing the first media content and the second media content to enable providing of the second media content to the first mobile device by the second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the first media content and the second media content are presented on the first mobile device simultaneously.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise determining to apply a first charge to a subscriber account according to one of the first service grade and second service grade.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise determining a share of revenue from the first charge to the subscriber account according to a first commercial arrangement for the providing of the first media content.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a second request from the first mobile device associated with the subscriber for a second media service, wherein the second media service is from the media resource center, wherein the second media service comprises third media content.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the third media content is available to the subscriber based on at least one of the first service grade and the second service grade; and

providing the third media content to the first mobile device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise determining to apply a second charge to a subscriber account according to one of the first service grade and the second service grade.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise determining a share of revenue from the second charge to the subscriber account according to a second commercial arrangement for the providing of the third media content.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the third media content is not available to the subscriber based on the second service grade.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

providing access to a media resource center comprising a plurality of media resources, according to a first pairing key and a second pairing key;

identifying a first service grade of a subscriber according to the first pairing key and identifying, by the processing system, a second service grade of the subscriber according to the second pairing key;

receiving a first request from a first mobile device according to the first pairing key and the first service grade associated with the subscriber for a first media service from the media resource center, wherein the first request is associated with an application running on the first mobile device, wherein the first media service comprises first media content and second media content;

determining that the first media content and the second media content is not available to the subscriber based on the first service grade;

receiving a second request from the first mobile device according to the second pairing key and the second service grade associated with the subscriber for a second media service, wherein the second media service is from the media resource center, wherein the second media service comprises third media content and fourth media content;

determining that the third media content is available to the subscriber based on the second service grade; and

associating a media resource of the plurality of media resources for providing the third media content to the first mobile device over a communication network, use of the media resource of the plurality of media resources by the application is controlled according to the first pairing key, wherein the fourth media content is provided to the first mobile device by a second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device coordinate prior to the providing the third media content and the fourth media content to enable providing of the fourth media content to the first mobile device by the second mobile device over the communication network, wherein the third media content and the fourth media content are presented on the first mobile device simultaneously.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first mobile device displays the third media content and fourth media content side by side to provide the second media service.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise determining to apply a first charge to a subscriber account according to the second service grade.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise determining a share of revenue from the first charge to the subscriber account according to a first commercial arrangement for the providing of the third media content.