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

• US 10,673,645 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• 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): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US16/002,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20180323993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 700286-300
• 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. An automation system for operation at a user premises to manage functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the automation system comprising:

one or more interfaces for enabling bi-directional communications including;

communications within the user premises, between the automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices; and

communications via a wide area network, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises;

one or more processors coupled to the one or more interfaces;

storage, storing programming, coupled to the one or more processors, wherein execution of the programming by the one or more processors causes the automation system to;

(1) manage (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices; and

(2) (a) determine and handle resources, (b) use the resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices, (c) perform analysis based on the sensor measurement from the sensor, wherein the analysis uses the resources, and (d) implement controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to prevent communications of the one or more other endpoint devices from negatively impacting each other;

wherein the bi-directional communications establish a communication channel between at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices and the remotely located system, wherein;

the communication channel comprises communications being received from the at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices, at the automation system via a first interface of the one or more interfaces, using the communications within the user premises, and

the communication channel comprises communications being forwarded via a second interface of the one or more interfaces and the wide area network,

wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of;

a sensor device,

an automatic window,

a window blind,

a lighting or lamp unit,

a digital picture frame,

a web cam,

a music player,

a media player,

a television, or

any combination thereof.

2. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more interfaces enables communications via the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network.

3. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide a home security service at the user premises.

4. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user premises.

5. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of sensors located at the user premises.

6. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of medical devices at the user premises, and wherein the performed analysis includes a determining a status change at the user premises and results in handling of home automation schedules and a change in status of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

7. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the management comprises establishing configuration settings, provided from the remotely located system, on at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

8. The automation system of claim 1, wherein the resources comprise one or more of:

central processing unit (CPU) cycles,

memory space,

network bandwidth, or

any combination thereof.

9. A method of operating an automation system, at a user premises, to manage functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the method comprising:

enabling, via one or more interfaces, bi-directional communications that are performed in part using a communication channel, wherein;

a first part of the communication channel receives communications, within the user premises, between the automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices, wherein the first part of the communication channel uses a first interface of the one or more interfaces; and

a second part of the communication channel forwards communications, via a wide area network and using a second interface of the one or more interfaces, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises;

managing (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices;

determination and handling of one or more types of resource;

using at least one of the types of resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices;

performing analysis, using one or more of the types of resources, wherein the analysis is based on the sensor measurement from the sensor; and

implementing controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to modify a setting in relation to the sensor measurement;

wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of;

a sensor device,

an automatic window,

a window blind,

a lighting or lamp unit,

a digital picture frame,

a web cam,

a music player,

a media player,

a television, or

any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the resources comprise central processing unit (CPU) cycles.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the resources comprise memory space.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the resources comprise network bandwidth.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the communications within the user premises utilizes X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee communications.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the implementing controls comprises automation of networked home devices.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication channel is activated in response to authentication of the automation system with the remotely located system.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the handling of resources includes utilizing a message queue or buffer.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising implementing a plurality of different user interfaces for different digital endpoint devices, with respect to one or more services provided via the automation system.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more interfaces comprises one or more of:

a component video interface,

an S-video interface,

a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) interface,

a composite video interface, or

any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 9, further comprising implementing logic including two or more of:

a service for providing notifications based on a set of user-configurable rules;

a scheduler for managing user-configurable schedules of services by the one or more digital endpoint devices;

a display manager for managing at least one display;

or

a logger for tracking user activities.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the remotely located system external to the user premises is an application service management center that provides content, support, and administration services for multiple automation systems.

21. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing peer-to-peer type communications with another automation system by signaling through the remotely located system external to the user premises.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an auditory interface for controlling the one or more digital endpoint devices.

23. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a control interface for receiving options for configuring home automation settings of at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices, wherein the control interface uses a first application programming interface (API) to implement the automation settings for a first of the at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices and uses a second application programming interface (API), different from the first application programming interface (API), to implement the automation settings for a second of the at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the control interface includes an auditory component for receiving voice commands that are recognized to determine the options for configuring the home automation settings.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the control interface is implemented as a graphical user interface, which is provided for visual display on one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein programming specific to at least one of the digital endpoint devices is obtained from the remotely located system and is configurable, by a user, via the control interface.

27. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more interfaces comprise at least three interfaces including each of:

a wired network interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and a wireless interface.

28. The method of claim 9, wherein the analysis is performed using the same type of resources.

29. The method of claim 9, wherein the analysis is performed using the different types of resources.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for managing functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the operations comprising:

enabling, via one or more interfaces, bi-directional communications including;

communications within the user premises, between an automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices; and

communications via a wide area network, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises,

wherein at least some of the bi-directional communications are via a communication channel between at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices and the remotely located system, and wherein communications over the communication channel comprise;

communications within the user premises received, from the at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices, at the automation system via a first interface of the one or more interfaces, and

communications sent via a second interface of the one or more interfaces, using the wide area network;

managing (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices;

determination and handling of resources;

using the resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices;

performing analysis, using the resources, wherein the analysis is based on the sensor measurement from the sensor; and

implementing controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to modify a setting to limit impact on the sensor measurement;

wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of;

a sensor device,

an automatic window,

a window blind,

a lighting or lamp unit,

a digital picture frame,

a web cam,

a music player,

a media player,

a television, or

any combination thereof.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the automation system provides voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone services for at least some of the digital endpoint devices.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the operations are performed, in part, using multiple logic modules, wherein the multiple logic modules can be activated or deactivated by the remotely located system.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein at least two of the multiple logic modules are voice controlled application services, wherein each of the voice controlled application services provide multiple functions in relation to a respective service for one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the operations further comprise providing a control interface, through a graphical user interface of the computing system or of one of the one or more digital endpoint devices, wherein the control interface provides weather information.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein one or more services provided in relation to the operations are for automation of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the implementing controls is based on a resource allocation instruction from a remotely located application service management center.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the enabling via the one or more interfaces comprises providing for peer-to-peer type communications between the computing system and an automation system.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the implementing controls comprises monitoring for excessive resource utilization by at least one endpoint device.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the resources comprise one or more of:

central processing unit (CPU) cycles,

memory space,

network bandwidth, or

any combination thereof.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the handling of the resources comprises:

determining an amount of required resources for one or more applications to execute properly; and

taking corrective measures to free up the amount of required resources, wherein the corrective measures comprise one or more of;

prioritizing packets;

throttling bandwidth;

performing operations to reduce noise on an RF interface;

freeing up time slices on a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) interface;

or

any combination thereof.