System and method for a centralized intelligence network

• US 20030061302A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Fang, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,930,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1262 with more than one format/standard, e.g. conversion from CD-audio format to R-DAT format
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A system and method for a centralized intelligence network are presented. A user connects to a control gateway. The control gateway is configured to access a control module. The control module is configured to perform at least one operation associated with the user device. The control module performs the operation. The control gateway sends, to the user device, information based on the performed operation. Accordingly, control modules may assist user devices in providing functions for a user.

Claims

1. A method for a centralized intelligence network, comprising:

connecting a user device to a control gateway via a network, the control gateway being configured to access at least one control module, the control module being configured to perform at least one operation associated with the user device;

performing, by the control module, the operation; and

sending, by the control gateway to the user device, information based at least in part on the performed operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises one of a computer, a communications device, an application-specific device, and an entertainment device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the entertainment device comprises a VCR.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sent information includes at least one of control information and information content.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering the user device with the control gateway; and

selecting a control module to perform the operation.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising upgrading the control module, the upgrading comprising replacing the control module, modifying the control module, or adding at least one control module accessible to the control gateway.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises one of the Internet, an intranet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a cable television network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control gateway is connected to a plurality of control gateways in a hierarchical mesh network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising invoking, by a user of the user device, a function of the user device, the function being associated with a control module accessible to the control gateway.

10. A centralized intelligence network, comprising:

a control gateway;

a user device configured to connect to the control gateway via a network; and

at least one control module configured to perform at least one operation associated with the user device,

wherein the control gateway is configured to access the control module and to send information to the user device based at least in part on the performed operation.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein the control gateway includes the control module.

12. The network of claim 10, wherein the control gateway is configured to connect to a plurality of control gateways in a hierarchical mesh network.

13. The network of claim 10, wherein the network comprises one of the Internet, an intranet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a cable television network.

14. The network of claim 10, wherein the user device comprises one of a computer, a communications device, an application-specific device, and an entertainment device.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the entertainment device comprises a VCR.

16. The network of claim 10, wherein the sent information includes at least one of control information and information content.

17. The network of claim 10, wherein the user device is configured to register with the control gateway, and one of the user device and the control gateway is configured to select at least one control module to perform the operation.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein the control module is configured to be upgraded, the upgrading comprising replacing the control module, modifying the control module, or adding at least one control module accessible to the control gateway.

19. The network of claim 10, wherein the user device is configured to allow a user to invoke a function of the user device, the function being associated with a control module accessible to the control gateway.

20. A control gateway for a centralized intelligence network, comprising:

a connection mechanism configured to connect the control gateway to at least one user device via a network;

an accessibility mechanism configured to access at least one control module, the control module being configured to perform at least one operation associated with the user device; and

a transmission mechanism configured to send information to the user device based at least in part on the performed operation.

21. The control gateway of claim 20, wherein the connection mechanism is further configured to connect the control gateway to a plurality of control gateways in a hierarchical mesh network.

22. A computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of processor-executable instruction sequences for:

connecting a user device to a control gateway via a network, the control gateway being configured to access at least one control module, the control module being configured to perform at least one operation associated with the user device;

performing, by the control module, the operation; and

sending, by the control gateway to the user device, information based at least in part on the performed operation.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the sent information includes at least one of control information and information content.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising processor-executable instruction sequences for:

registering the user device with the control gateway; and

selecting a control module to perform the operation.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising processor-executable instruction sequences for upgrading the control module, the upgrading comprising replacing the control module, modifying the control module, or adding at least one control module accessible to the control gateway.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the network comprises one of the Internet, an intranet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and a cable television network.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising processor-executable instruction sequences for invoking, by a user of the user device, a function of the user device, the function being associated with a control module accessible to the control gateway.