Network architecture for internet appliances

• US 20020165953A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Devices World Sdn. Bhd.
• Original Assignee: Chong Khai Diong
• Inventors: Diong, Chong Khai
• Granted Patent: US 6,965,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and network architecture for a plurality of internet-enabled appliances to communicate with each other and with a plurality of users simultaneously in real time. In a preferred embodiment, a system in accordance with the present invention allows any appliance with built-in internet connectivity, or retrofitted with an interface device containing said connectivity, to communicate with a central server over the internet without human intervention. Software means is provided at said central server to enable such communication. Firmware and hardware means are provided for each appliance to connect to and disconnect from said server on demand either through a dial-up connection or a dedicated communication line. The present invention allows for each device to send data to said central server, receive data from said server, or send data to and receive data from another device via said central server under user-programmable control means residing in said server.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of appliances, said system comprising:

access means providing said appliances with internet connectivity; and

at least one central server located on the internet, through which all data from said appliances and users of said system passes;

wherein said system is capable of allowing any said user to simultaneously communicate with a plurality of said appliances in real-time; and

capable of allowing a plurality of said users to simultaneously communicate with any particular said appliance in real-time; and

capable of allowing any said appliance to communicate with a plurality of other said appliances simultaneously and in real-time.

2. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising communication means enabling said appliances to initiate communication with a plurality of other said appliances and said users without any human intervention.

3. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said central server is capable of receiving inputs from and transmitting outputs to said appliances under the control of a plurality of program control means.

4. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said central server contains software application means for a plurality of users of said system to write and modify said program control means.

5. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said central server contains software application means for a plurality of users of said system to write and modify said program control means and the writing and modification of said program control means is done through a graphical user interface (GUI).

6. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliances are capable of communicating within the internet without the need of a static IP address.

7. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliances automatically connect to the internet and said central server using a dial-up connection when one or

8. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliances automatically logon to said central server at regular pre-programmed intervals to report their status.

9. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliance contains an embedded internet access means built-in as an integral part of said appliance.

10. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliance has an embedded internet access means connected to it in the form of a retrofit embedded internet access device.

11. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, further comprising means:

to send out alerts to said users;

to communicate with any other internet enabled device using XML; and

to encrypt and decrypt communication between said central server and said appliances.

12. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said appliance is capable of receiving a request from said central server while said appliance is offline, thereafter responding to said request by initiating a connection to said central server.

13. A monitoring and control system of claim 1, wherein said internet is an intranet.

15. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, wherein said device or its functionality thereof is a built-in integral part of said appliance.

16. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, wherein said device is connected to said appliance as a retrofit equipment.

17. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, further comprising communication means capable of communicating within the internet without the need of a static IP address.

18. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, further comprising communication means capable of making a dial-up connection to the internet when one or more changes of state is detected in the appliance connected to it.

19. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, further comprising communication means capable of disconnecting from the internet after a user-programmable period of inactivity

20. An embedded internet access device of claim 14, further comprising communication means capable of automatically connecting to said central server at regular user-programmable intervals.

21. An embedded internet device as in claim 14, wherein said device has a unique identification means.

22. An embedded internet device as in claim 14, wherein said device connects to said central server using said unique identification means and a password in combination.

23. An embedded internet device as in claim 14, wherein communication between said device and said central server is encrypted.

24. An embedded internet device as in claim 14, wherein said dial-up connection is established through a wireless means.

25. An embedded internet device as in claim 14, further comprising communication means to connect to a plurality of slave devices, wherein said slave devices are capable of communicating with said central server via said embedded internet device without the need of a separate internet connection

14. An embedded internet access device for enabling any appliances to communicate over the internet using a system comprising.

at least one central server located on the internet through which all data from said appliances and users of said system passes;

wherein said system is capable of allowing any said user to simultaneously communicate with a plurality of said appliances in real-time; and

capable of allowing a plurality of said users to simultaneously communicate with any particular said appliance in real-time; and

capable of allowing any said appliance to communicate with a plurality of other said appliances simultaneously and in real-time.