Method and apparatus for brokering of control instructions for an intelligent device

• US 20030084139A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huddleston, Wyatt Allen, Wojnowski, Steven, Schwartz, David John
• Application Number:
  US10/045,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084139A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A web site (110) is arranged (502) to have access to control instructions (414) for an intelligent device (112), and a desired function to be performed by the intelligent device is defined (504) in a wireless internet access device (WIAD) (102). The WIAD identifies (506) the intelligent device and the desired function to the web site through a wireless communication network (104), and the web site returns (508) to the WIAD a subset (316) of the control instructions for controlling the intelligent device to perform the desired function. The WIAD then forwards (510) the subset of the control instructions to the intelligent device to effect the desired function.

Claims

1. A method for command brokering on behalf of an intelligent device, comprising the steps of:

defining in a wireless internet access device (WIAD) a desired function to be performed by the intelligent device;

identifying the intelligent device and the desired function to a web site having access to control instructions for the intelligent device by the WIAD, through a wireless communication network;

returning, to the WIAD from the web site, a subset of the control instructions for controlling the intelligent device to perform the desired function; and

forwarding the subset of the control instructions from the WIAD to the intelligent device to effect the desired function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding step comprises the step of forwarding the subset through an infrared communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding step comprises the step of forwarding the subset through a radio frequency communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forwarding step comprises the step of forwarding the subset through an ultrasonic communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step comprises the step of defining said desired function through a user keypad entry.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step comprises the step of defining said desired function through a measurement made by the WIAD.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step comprises the step of defining said desired function through a measurement made by the wireless communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of arranging for the web site to have access to the control instructions by pre-programming the control instructions into a memory of the web site.

9. The method of claim 1, further including a step of arranging for the web site to have access to the control instructions by the web site accessing a server having the control instructions for controlling the intelligent device.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein the intelligent device comprises a motorized celestial telescope, and

wherein the defining step comprises the step of determining geographic coordinates corresponding to a position of the WIAD.

11. A wireless internet access device (WIAD) for performing command brokering on behalf of an intelligent device through a wireless communication network coupled to a web site having access to control instructions for the intelligent device, the WIAD comprising:

a function interface for defining a desired function to be performed by the intelligent device;

a processor coupled to the function interface for controlling the WIAD; and

a communication port coupled to the processor for identifying the intelligent device and the desired function to the web site through the wireless communication network and for receiving a response from the web site,

wherein the processor is programmed to

receive from the web site a subset of the control instructions for controlling the intelligent device to perform the desired function; and

forward the subset of the control instructions from the WIAD to the intelligent device to effect the desired function.

12. The WIAD of claim 11,

wherein the communication port comprises an infra-red communication device, and

wherein the processor is further programmed to forward the subset through the infrared communication device.

13. The WIAD of claim 11,

wherein the communication port comprises a radio frequency communication device, and

wherein the processor is further programmed to forward the subset through the radio frequency communication device.

14. The WIAD of claim 11,

wherein the communication port comprises an ultrasonic communication device, and

wherein the processor is further programmed to forward the subset through the ultrasonic communication device.

15. The WIAD of claim 11, wherein the function interface comprises a keypad.

16. The WIAD of claim 11, wherein the function interface comprises a measurement element.

17. The WIAD of claim 11, wherein the function interface is arranged to cooperate with the wireless communication port for communicating with the wireless communication network to define the desired function.

18. A web site for facilitating command brokering on behalf of an intelligent device through a wireless communication network via a wireless internet access device (WIAD), the web site comprising:

a communication port for communicating with the WIAD; and

a processor coupled to the communication port for controlling the web site,

wherein the processor is arranged and programmed to

access control instructions for the intelligent device;

receive from the WIAD an identification of the intelligent device and a desired function to be performed by the intelligent device; and

return a subset of the control instructions to the WIAD for forwarding to the intelligent device to effect the desired function.

19. The web site of claim 18, further comprising a memory pre-programmed with the control instructions.

20. The web site of claim 18, wherein the processor is programmed to access a server having the control instructions for controlling the intelligent device.