Methods and devices for sharing content on a network

• US 20050108430A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howarth, Arthur, Lee, Pamela
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Method and devices are provided for to simplify, for the user of a home network, the sharing of content with remote users. Some such implementations allow remote users who have logged into the home network to have access to devices and services within the home network. Some implementations of the invention provide solutions for sharing multiple devices within the home network in a grouping to a particular remote user who logs into the home network in a secure fashion. Some methods of the present invention are implemented in part by controlling a gateway of the home network. As such, the necessary hardware and/or software for implementing the invention can be located in a gateway of the home network. In alternative implementations, aspects of the invention may be implemented via a portal service offered by a service provider who also controls the gateway, or by a device in the home network.

Claims

1. A computer program embodied in a machine-readable medium for providing controlled access to a home network, the computer program including instructions for causing one or more devices of the home network to perform steps comprising:

receiving a log-in attempt from a remote user, the log-in attempt originating from an Internet protocol address;

verifying that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network;

generating a network address translation rule associating the Internet protocol address with a port of a device on the home network;

displaying a graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select only content or services that the remote user is authorized to select;

receiving a selection request from the remote user; and

providing content or services to the remote user according to the selection request.

2. The computer program of claim 1, the computer program further comprising instructions for causing a gateway of the home network to transmit authentication information regarding the remote user to one or more devices of the home network after verifying that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network.

3. The computer program of claim 1, the computer program further comprising instructions for causing a gateway of the home network to communicate with the remote user according to a first protocol different from a second protocol used for communication between the gateway and one or more devices of the home network.

4. The computer program of claim 3, wherein the first protocol is HTTP.

5. The computer program of claim 3, wherein the second protocol is a content protocol.

6. A gateway configured to provide controlled access to a home network, the gateway comprising:

a first port configured to receive a log-in attempt from a remote user, the log-in attempt originating from an Internet protocol address;

a second port configured for attaching a network device of the home network; and

at least one processor configured to;

verify that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network;

generate a network address translation rule associating the Internet protocol address with the second port;

display a graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select only content or services that the remote user is authorized to select;

receive a selection request from the remote user; and

provide content or services to the remote user from a device attached to the second port according to the selection request.

7. A method of providing controlled access to a home network, the method comprising:

receiving a log-in request from a remote user;

capturing the remote user'"'"'s Internet protocol address;

authenticating the remote user;

automatically configuring a gateway to allow access to predetermined content, services or devices by the remote user; and

providing access to a portion of the predetermined content, services or devices according to a selection of the remote user.

8. A home network, comprising:

a first network device; and

a gateway comprising a first port and a second port, the gateway configured to

communicate with the first network device via the first port;

communicate with an external network via the second port;

receive a log-in attempt from a remote user, the log-in attempt originating from an address on the external network;

verify that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network;

generate a network address translation rule associating the address with the first port;

display a graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select only content that the remote user is authorized to select;

receive a first selection request from the remote user; and

provide content to the remote user from the first network device according to the first selection request.

9. The home network of claim 8, wherein the gateway communicates with the first network device via a first protocol different from a second protocol that the gateway uses for communication with the external network.

10. The home network of claim 8, wherein the first network device comprises a personal computer or a network attached storage device.

11. The home network of claim 8, further comprising a second network device, the gateway being further configured to:

display the graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select services from the second network device that the remote user is authorized to select;

receive a second selection request from the remote user; and

provide services to the remote user from the second network device according to the second selection request.

12. The home network of claim 11, wherein the second network device is a webcam or a device for streaming audio data.

13. A method for providing controlled access to a home network, the method comprising:

receiving a log-in attempt from a remote user, the log-in attempt originating from an Internet protocol address;

automatically verifying that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network;

automatically generating a network address translation rule associating the Internet protocol address with a port of a device on the home network;

automatically displaying a graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select only content or services that the remote user is authorized to select;

receiving a selection request from the remote user; and

automatically providing content or services to the remote user according to the selection request.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of automatically transmitting authentication information regarding the remote user to one or more devices of the home network after automatically verifying that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating with the remote user according to a first protocol different from a second protocol used for communication between the gateway and one or more devices of the home network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first protocol is HTTP.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second protocol is a content protocol.

18. A gateway for providing controlled access to a home network, the gateway comprising:

means for receiving a log-in attempt from a remote user, the log-in attempt originating from an Internet protocol address;

means for verifying that the remote user is an authorized user of the home network;

means for generating a network address translation rule associating the Internet protocol address with a port of a device on the home network;

means for displaying a graphical user interface to the remote user, the graphical user interface allowing the remote user to select only content or services that the remote user is authorized to select;

means for receiving a selection request from the remote user; and

means for providing content or services to the remote user according to the selection request.