System and method for providing to multiple user computers concurrent telephonic access to muliple remote devices

• US 20040010541A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ibeam Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Varch Incorporated
• Inventors: Irwin, Gregg, Allen, Thomas H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]

Abstract

A method and system for acquiring and managing data from multiple remote devices. A server is programmed to automatically dial and connect to remote devices that are connected to standard phone lines. The invention allows multiple remote user computers to concurrently control and access data supplied by the remote devices over combined computer network and telephone systems.

Claims

1. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, a connection system comprising:

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system;

a user directory containing user information including for each computer user listed in the user directory, which of the devices are permitted to be communicatively linked to one of the user computers being used by the computer user;

a device directory containing for each of the devices, identification of which of the computer users are authorized to access the device and containing device access information for the user computers being used by the authorized computer users to communicatively link to the device through the telephone system; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between particular user computers, being used by particular computer users authorized to access particular devices, and the particular devices.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection manager is further configured to monitor status of and terminate the user-device connections based upon a predetermined duration of inactivity.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer network access is configured to communicatively link to a server computer on a local area network, the server computer being one of the user computers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer network access is configured to communicatively link to personal digital assistants (PDAs) as the user computers.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the device access information includes at least one of the following:

telephone numbers, IP addresses, URL addresses, data collection information, operation protocols, and registered user lists associated with the devices.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the devices are communicatively linked to the telephone system via a device server connected to a remote modem and wherein the device access information of the device directory further contains information to access the devices via the device server and the remote modem.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the devices are communicatively linked to the telephone system via one of the following connections:

a T1 direct connection, a T3 direct connection, a DSL connection, a broadband cable connection, a satellite connection, and the user-device connections established by the connection manager are partially comprised of at least one of these connections.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-device connections include concurrent communication links between one of the user computers and more than one of the devices.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-device connections include concurrent communication links between more than one of the user computers and one of the devices.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer network access is one of the following:

a direct T1 connection, a direct T3 connection, a dial-up modem connection, a digital cellular connection, a satellite link, a DSL connection, and a broadband cable connection.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the telephone system access includes a modem pool.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a host computer communicatively linked to the computer network via the computer network access and communicatively linked to the telephone system via the telephone system access, wherein each of the user-device connections includes a user-host communication link between the host computer and one of the user computers via the computer network and includes a host-device communication link between the host computer and one of the devices via the telephone system, and wherein common devices are accessed by more than one of the user computers through the host computer via a single host-device communication link.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the user-host communication links are PPP connections and the host-device communications links are PPP connections.

14. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a device, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the device being communicatively linked to a telephone system, a connection system comprising:

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the device through the telephone system;

a directory containing identification of which of the users are authorized to access the device and containing device access information for the user computers being used by the authorized users to communicatively link to the device through the telephone system; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between particular of the user computers, being used by particular computer users authorized to access the device, and the device.

15. For communication between a user computer and a plurality of devices, the user computer being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, a connection system comprising:

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computer through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system;

a directory containing user information for each computer user listed in the user directory, which of the devices are permitted to be communicatively linked to the user computer being used by the computer user; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between the user computer, being used by particular computer users authorized to access particular devices, and the particular devices.

16. A communication system comprising:

a computer network;

a telephone system;

a plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to the computer network;

a plurality of devices being communicatively linked to the telephone system; and

a connection system comprising;

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system;

records containing information on which computer users are authorized to access which devices;

records containing device access information for the user computers being used by the authorized users to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between particular user computers, being used by particular computer users authorized to access particular devices, and the particular devices.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the device is a camera.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the camera is hand-held having a radio frequency link to the telephone system.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the computer network is the Internet.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the telephone system is a packet switch telephone network.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the devices include at least one of the following:

acceleration, deflection, torsion, bending, stress, strain, pressure, temperature, and deformation sensors.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the devices include at least one of following:

electronics still cameras, electronic video cameras, smoke detectors, fire detectors, elevator evacuation systems, automatic air-flow dampers, fire alarm panels, combustion products detectors, weather monitoring systems, geological measurement systems, transportation data collection systems, biological data collection systems, and recreation data collection systems.

23. A communication system comprising:

a computer network;

a telephone system;

a plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to the computer network;

a device being communicatively linked to the telephone system; and

a connection system comprising;

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the device through the telephone system;

records containing information on what computer users are authorized to access the device;

records containing device access information for the user computers being used by the authorized users to communicatively link to the device through the telephone system; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between particular user computers, being used by particular computer users authorized to access the device.

24. A communication system comprising:

a computer network;

a telephone system;

a user computer being communicatively linked to the computer network;

a plurality of devices being communicatively linked to the telephone system; and

a connection system comprising;

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computer through the computer network;

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system;

records containing device access information for the user computer to communicatively link to the devices through the telephone system; and

a connection manager configured to establish user-device connections via the computer network access and the telephone system access to provide concurrent communication links between the user computer and the devices.

25. For a camera having a radio frequency access, a communication system comprising:

a telephone system communicatively linked with the camera by a radio frequency link with the radio frequency access of the camera;

a computer network;

a plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to the computer network; and

a connection system comprising;

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network; and

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the camera through the telephone system.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the computer network includes the Internet.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the telephone system includes a packet switch telephone network.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the connection system is configured to contain identification of users that are authorized to access the camera via the user computers.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the connection system is configured to further contain camera access information to communicatively link the user computers being used by the authorized users to the camera through the telephone system.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the connection system is configured to provide concurrent communication links, each link between a particular user computer being used by one of the authorized users and the camera via the computer network access and the telephone system access.

31. For a building equipment controller, communication system comprising:

a telephone system configured to communicatively link to the building equipment controller;

a computer network;

a plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to the computer network; and

a connection system comprising;

a computer network access configured to communicatively link to the user computers through the computer network; and

a telephone system access configured to communicatively link to the building equipment controller through the telephone system;

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the computer network includes the Internet.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the telephone system includes a packet switch telephone network.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the connection system is configured to contain identification of users that are authorized to access the building equipment controller via the user computers.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the connection system is configured to further contain building equipment controller access information to communicatively link the user computers being used by the authorized users to the building equipment controller through the telephone system.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the connection system is configured to provide concurrent communication links, each link between a particular user computer being used by one of the authorized users and the building equipment controller via the computer network access and the telephone system access.

37. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, a system comprising:

means for receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network;

means for verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized;

means for establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network if the first user is verified as being authorized;

means for determining a first set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the first computer user is authorized to access;

means for establishing first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link to provide access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

means for receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

means for verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized;

means for establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network, if the second user is verified as being authorized;

means for determining a second set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the second computer user is authorized to access; and

means for establishing second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link to provide access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link.

38. A system that of communication between a plurality of user computers and a device, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the device being communicatively linked to a telephone system, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

means for the verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized;

means for establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network, if the first computer user is verified as being authorized;

means for establishing a host-device communication link via the telephone system with the device, the host-device communication link to provide access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

means for receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

means for verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized;

means for establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network, if the second computer user is verified as being authorized;

means for sending a first communication between the first user computer and the device via the first user-host communication link and the host-device communication link; and

means for sending a second communication between the second user computer and the device via the second user-host communication link and the host-device communication link.

39. A system of communication between a user computer and a plurality of devices, the user computer being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, the system comprising:

means for receiving a user identification of the computer user who is using a user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

means for verifying, from the provided user identification for the computer user, that the computer user is authorized;

means for establishing a user-host communication link with the user computer via the computer network, if the computer user is verified as being authorized;

means for determining a first device and a second device that the computer user is authorized to access;

means for establishing a first host-device communication link with the first device and a second host-device communication link with the second device, the first and second communication links being concurrent with one another;

means for sending a first communication between the user computer and the first device via the user-host communication link and the first host-device communication link; and

means for sending a second communication between the user computer and the second device via the user-host communication link and the second host-device communication link.

40. A system comprising:

means for establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

means for establishing a second user-host communication link with a second user computer used by a second computer user via the computer network;

means for establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide concurrent first access to the first device for the first and second user computers; and

means for establishing a user communication link between the first and second computer users.

41. A system comprising:

means for establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

means for establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide first access to the first device for the first user computer; and

means for establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system with a second device to provide second access to the second device for a second user computer, the second access being concurrent with the first access.

42. For communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, a method comprising:

receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

determining a first set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the first computer user is authorized to access;

establishing first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link and providing access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

determining a second set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the second computer user is authorized to access; and

establishing second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link and providing access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising if the first computer user is verified as authorized, sending to the first user computer a registered device list listing devices that the first computer user is authorized to access.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising selecting from the registered device list those devices desired to be accessed by the first computer user.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein establishing second host-device communication links further includes verifying for each of the second set of devices whether an active first host-device communication link already exists and if so, using the active first host-device communication link as the second host-device communication link for the device.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the user-host communication links and the host-device communication links are PPP connections.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein determining which of the devices can be accessed by the first user is based upon information stored in a user directory on the host server.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising identifying user-host communication links and the host-device communication links that have an absence of traffic for a predetermined duration and inactivating the so identified communication links.

49. A method of communication between a plurality of user computers and a device, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the device being communicatively linked to a telephone system, the method comprising:

receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

establishing a host-device communication link via the telephone system with the device, the host-device communication link providing access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

sending a first communication between the first user computer and the device via the first user-host communication link and the host-device communication link; and

sending a second communication between the second user computer and the device via the second user-host communication link and the host-device communication link.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the first and second communications are based on at least one of the following:

data collection protocols and operational protocols.

51. A method of communication between a user computer and a plurality of devices, the user computer being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, the method comprising:

receiving a user identification of the computer user who is using a user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the computer user, that the computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a user-host communication link with the user computer via the computer network;

determining a first device and a second device that the computer user is authorized to access;

establishing a first host-device communication link with the first device and a second host-device communication link with the second device, the first and second communication links being concurrent with one another;

sending a first communication between the user computer and the first device via the user-host communication link and the first host-device communication link; and

sending a second communication between the user computer and the second device via the user-host communication link and the second host-device communication link.

52. A method comprising:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

establishing a second user-host communication link with a second user computer used by a second computer user via the computer network; and

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide concurrent first access to the first device for the first and second user computers.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system between with a second device to provide concurrent second access to the second device for the first and second user computers.

54. The method of claim 52, further comprising establishing a user communication link between the first and second computer users.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the user communication link is a pair of telephones coupled by a voice grade telephone line of the telephone system.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein the first device is a camera.

57. The method of claim 52 wherein the first device is a smoke detector.

58. The method of claim 52 wherein the first device is an alarm panel.

59. A method comprising:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide first access to the first device for the first user computer; and

establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system with a second device to provide second access to the second device for the user computer concurrent, the second access being concurrent with the first access.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the first device is a remotely controlled air flow damper.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the first device is an elevator evacuation system panel.

62. A method of fire-fighting associated with a building having a fire therein, the method comprising:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a fire-fighter via a computer network;

establishing a second user-host communication link with a second user computer used by a building expert possessing certain knowledge of the building desired by the fire-fighter via the computer network; and

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device in the building to provide concurrent first access to the first device in the building for the fire-fighter and the building expert.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system between with a second device in the building to provide concurrent second access to the second device for the fire-fighter and the building expert.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising establishing a user communication link between the fire-fighter and the building expert.

65. A method of fire-fighting associated with a building having a fire therein, the method comprising:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a user computer used by a fire-fighter via a computer network;

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device in the building to provide first access to the first device for the user computer; and

establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system with a second device in the building to provide second access to the second device for the user computer concurrent with the first access.

66. A method of obtaining information regarding a construction site, the method comprising:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a user computer used by one desiring the construction site information via a computer network;

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device at the construction site to provide first access to the first device for the user computer; and

establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system with a second device to provide second access to the second device for the user computer concurrent with the first access.

67. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication between a plurality of user computers and a plurality of devices, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, by:

receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

determining a first set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the first computer user is authorized to access;

establishing first host-device communication links via the telephone system with the first set of the devices, with the first host-device communication links being concurrent with the first user-host communication link and providing access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

determining a second set of the devices and being a plurality, if not all, of those devices that the second computer user is authorized to access; and

establishing second host-device communication links via the telephone system with the second set of the devices, with the second host-device communication links being concurrent with the second user-host communication link and providing access for the second user computer to the second set of devices via the second user-host communication link.

68. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication between a plurality of user computers and a device, the plurality of user computers being communicatively linked to a computer network, the device being communicatively linked to a telephone system, by:

receiving a user identification of a first computer user who is using a first user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the first computer user, that the first computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a first user-host communication link between the first user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

establishing a host-device communication link via the telephone system with the device, the host-device communication link providing access for the first user computer to the first set of devices via the first user-host communication link;

receiving a user identification of a second computer user who is using a second user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the second computer user, that the second computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a second user-host communication link between the second user computer and the host computer via the computer network;

sending a first communication between the first user computer and the device via the first user-host communication link and the host-device communication link; and

sending a second communication between the second user computer and the device via the second user-host communication link and the host-device communication link.

69. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication between a user computer and a plurality of devices, the user computer being communicatively linked to a computer network, the plurality of devices being communicatively linked to a telephone system, by:

receiving a user identification of the computer user who is using a user computer that is communicatively linked to the computer network;

verifying, from the provided user identification for the computer user, that the computer user is authorized and if so, establishing a user-host communication link with the user computer via the computer network;

determining a first device and a second device that the computer user is authorized to access;

establishing a first host-device communication link with the first device and a second host-device communication link with the second device, the first and second communication links being concurrent with one another;

sending a first communication between the user computer and the first device via the user-host communication link and the first host-device communication link; and

sending a second communication between the user computer and the second device via the user-host communication link and the second host-device communication link.

70. A computer readable-medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication by:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

establishing a second user-host communication link with a second user computer used by a second computer user via the computer network; and

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide concurrent first access to the first device for the first and second user computers.

71. A computer readable-medium whose contents cause a host computer to support communication by:

establishing a first user-host communication link with a first user computer used by a first computer user via a computer network;

establishing a first host-device communication link via a telephone system with a first device to provide first access to the first device for the first user computer; and

establishing a second host-device communication link via the telephone system with a second device to provide second access to the second device for second user computer concurrent, the second access being concurrent with the first access.