Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks

• US 10,523,689 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Decenzo, Chris, Baum, Marc, Dawes, Paul, Chu, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil H
• Application Number:
  US14/202,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20180191740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer

Abstract

A system and methods comprise a gateway that includes a processor coupled to a security system at a premises. A touchscreen at the premises is coupled to the gateway and presents user interfaces. The user interfaces include a security interface that provides control of functions of the security system and access to data collected by the security system, and a network interface that provides access to network devices. A camera is located at the premises and coupled to the gateway via a plurality of interfaces. A security server at a remote location is coupled to the gateway. The security server comprises a client interface through which remote client devices exchange data with the gateway and the security system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a gateway device, located at a premises, configured to communicate with a plurality of premises devices located at the premises;

a touchscreen device, located at the premises, configured to communicate with the gateway device, wherein the touchscreen device is configured to present a plurality of user interfaces comprising a security user interface and a network user interface,

wherein the security user interface is configured to enable control of functions of the plurality of premises devices and access to data collected by the plurality of premises devices, and

wherein the network user interface is configured to enable access to one or more network devices located at the premises; and

a camera device located at the premises and configured to;

receive, via a first camera interface and from the gateway device, a command, and

send, to at least one computing device located external to the premises and based on receiving the command, content via a second camera interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface is configured to establish a communication channel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the communication channel comprises a persistent bi-directional communication channel.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera device is configured to, based on receiving the command, perform at least one task associated with the command.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera device is configured to send, via the second camera interface and to the at least one computing device, the content by streaming the content to the at least one computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface is configured to establish a secure protocol session.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera device is further configured to send, based on the command and to the gateway device, an indication that at least a portion of the command comprises a parameter not supported by the camera device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera device is further configured to generate the content.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, via a first camera interface and from a gateway device, a command, wherein the gateway device is located at a premises and is configured to communicate with a plurality of premises devices located at the premises; and

sending, to a computing device located external to the premises and based on the command, content via a second camera interface;

wherein a touchscreen device, located at the premises, is configured to cause output of a security user interface configured to enable control of functions of the plurality of premises devices and a network user interface configured to enable access to one or more network devices located at the premises.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises establishing, via at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface, a communication channel with at least one of the gateway device or the computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the communication channel comprises a persistent bi-directional communication channel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises performing at least one task associated with the received command.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the sending, to the computing device, the content comprises streaming the content to the computing device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises establishing, via at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface, a secure protocol session with at least one of the gateway device or the computing device.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending, based on the command and to the gateway device, an indication of an error associated with the command.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the content is generated by a camera device.

17. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

receive, via a first camera interface and from a gateway device, a command, wherein the gateway device is located at a premises and is configured to communicate with a plurality of premises devices located at the premises; and

send, to a device located external to the premises and based on receiving the command, content via a second camera interface.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to send, to the device, the content by streaming the content to the device located external to the premises.

19. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the computing device is located at the premises.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to establish, via at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface, a secure protocol session with at least one of the gateway device or the device.

21. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to perform at least one task associated with the received command.

22. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to send, based on the command and to the gateway device, an indication of an error associated with the command.

23. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to generate the content.

24. A method comprising:

receiving, by a camera device located at a premises and from a gateway device, a command via a first camera interface, wherein the gateway device is located at the premises and is configured to communicate with a plurality of premises devices located at the premises;

sending, to at least one computing device and based on the command, content via a second camera interface; and

outputting, via at least one of a security user interface or a network user interface, the content, wherein the security user interface is configured to enable control of functions of the plurality of premises devices, and wherein the network user interface is configured to enable access to one or more network devices located at the premises.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the outputting the content comprises streaming the content.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the method comprises establishing, via the first camera interface, a secure protocol session with the camera device.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the computing device is located external to the premises.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising, performing at least one task associated with the received command.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the content comprises streamed content.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the method comprises establishing, via the first camera interface, a communication channel with the camera device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the communication channel comprises a persistent bi-directional communication channel.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the content is generated by the camera device.

33. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

receive, via a first camera interface a command from a gateway device, wherein the device and the gateway device are located at a premises, and wherein the gateway device is configured to communicate with a plurality of premises devices located at the premises;

send, to at least one computing device and based on the command, content via a second camera interface; and

output, via at least one of a security user interface or a network user interface, the content, wherein the security user interface is configured to enable control of functions of the plurality of premises devices, and wherein the network user interface is configured to enable access to one or more network devices located at the premises.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to output the content by streaming the content.

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to establish, via the first camera interface, a secure protocol session with the gateway device.

36. The device of claim 33, wherein the computing device is located external to the premises.

37. The device of claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to perform at least one task associated with the received command.

38. The device of claim 33, wherein the content comprises streamed content.

39. The device of claim 33, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the device to establish, via the first camera interface, a communication channel with the gateway device.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the communication channel comprises a persistent bi-directional communication channel.

41. The device of claim 33, wherein the content is generated by the device.

42. A system comprising:

a camera device located at a premises, wherein the camera device is configured to;

receive, via a first camera interface and from a gateway device located at the premises, a command; and

send, to at least one computing device and based on receiving the command, content via a second camera interface, wherein the at least one computing device is located external to the premises; and

a touchscreen device located at the premises,

wherein the touchscreen device is configured to;

receive, from the camera device, the content; and

output, via at least one of a security user interface or a network user interface, the content, wherein the security user interface is configured to enable control of functions of a plurality of premises devices located at the premises, and wherein the network user interface is configured to enable access to one or more network devices located at the premises.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface is configured to establish a communication channel.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the communication channel comprises a persistent bi-directional communication channel.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the camera device is configured to perform at least one task associated with the received command.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the camera device is configured to send, via the second camera interface and to the at least one computing device, the content by streaming the content to the at least one computing device.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one of the first camera interface or the second camera interface is configured to establish a secure protocol session.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the camera device is further configured to send, based on the command and to the gateway device, an indication that at least a portion of the command comprises a parameter not supported by the camera device.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein the camera device is further configured to generate the content.