Automatic registration services provided through a home relationship established between a device and a local area network

• US 20050277412A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P., Anderson, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and network for automatic registration of a new device first establishes a “home” relationship between the new device and a network server, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the relationship is established. Next, registration information for the new device is automatically obtained, and can include information concerning the user of the new device, which can already be known to the network server, the new device itself obtainable directly from the new device, and the network server. The network server then establishes a connection with a registration server and sends the registration information to it. In this manner, the new device is automatically registered with very little, if any, input from the user. Other services can be provided to the new device by the registration server utilizing the “home” relationship.

Claims

1. A method for automatic registration of a new device with a network server, comprising:

establishing a home relationship between the new device and the network server, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the relationship is established;

automatically obtaining registration information for the new device;

establishing a connection between a registration server and the network server; and

sending the registration information from the network server to the registration server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the user of the new device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the network server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the new device, obtainable directly from the new device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the registration information concerning the new device comprises a unique device identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing of the connection between the registration server and the network server comprises:

obtaining connection information from the new device; and

establishing the connection between the registration server and the network server utilizing the connection information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the connection information comprises a public key of a public/private key pair for the registration server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the registration information from the network server to the registration server, wherein the registration information is encrypted using a public key of a public/private key pair for the registration server, wherein the registration server decrypts the registration information using a private key of the public/private key pair.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software or firmware updates are available for the new device;

transferring the updates to the network server, if software or firmware updates are available; and

installing the updates onto the new device by the network server.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software updates for the network server are available for support of the new device;

transferring the updates to the network server, if software updates are available; and

installing the updates onto the network server.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software for at least one device coupled to the network server for support of the new device is available;

transferring the software to the network server, if the software is available; and

installing the software onto the network server.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if special offers for the new device are available;

transferring the special offers to the network server, if the special offers are available; and

displaying the special offers to the user of the new device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining if the user has accepted at least one special offer; and

implementing the special offer at the network server or the new device, if the user has accepted at least one special offer.

15. A computer readable medium with program instructions for automatic registration of a new device with a network server, comprising:

establishing a home relationship between the new device and the network server, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the relationship is established;

automatically obtaining registration information for the new device;

establishing a connection between a registration server and the network server; and

sending the registration information from the network server to the registration server.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the user of the new device.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the network server.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the new device, obtainable directly from the new device.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the registration information concerning the new device comprises a unique device identifier.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the establishing of the connection between the registration server and the network server comprises:

obtaining connection information from the new device; and

establishing the connection between the registration server and the network server utilizing the connection information.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the connection information comprises a public key of a public/private key pair for the registration server.

23. The medium of claim 15, wherein the sending comprises:

sending the registration information from the network server to the registration server, wherein the registration information is encrypted using a public key of a public/private key pair for the registration server, wherein the registration server decrypts the registration information using a private key of the public/private key pair.

24. The medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software or firmware updates are available for the new device;

transferring the updates to the network server, if software or firmware updates are available; and

installing the updates onto the new device by the network server.

25. The medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software updates for the network server are available for support of the new device;

transferring the updates to the network server, if software updates are available; and

installing the updates onto the network server.

26. The medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if software for at least one device coupled to the network server for support of the new device is available;

transferring the software to the network server, if the software is available; and

installing the software onto the network server.

27. The medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining by the registration server if special offers for the new device are available;

transferring the special offers to the network server, if the special offers are available; and

displaying the special offers to the user of the new device.

28. The medium of claim 27, further comprising:

determining if the user has accepted at least one special offer; and

implementing the special offer at the network server or the new device, if the user has accepted at least one special offer.

29. A network, comprising:

a network server; and

a new device coupled to the network server, wherein the new device has a home relationship with the network server, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over the network once the relationship is established,

wherein registration information is automatically obtained for the new device, wherein a connection is established between the network server and a registration server, wherein the registration information is sent from the network server to the registration server.

30. The network of claim 29, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the user of the new device.

31. The network of claim 29, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the network server.

32. The network of claim 31, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

33. The network of claim 29, wherein the registration information comprises information concerning the new device, obtainable direction from the new device.

34. The network of claim 33, wherein the registration information concerning the new device comprises a unique device identifier.

35. A method for automatic registration of a new device with a network server, comprising:

establishing a relationship between the new device and the network server;

automatically obtaining registration information for the new device, including registration information automatically obtained from the network server;

establishing a connection between a registration server and the new device; and

sending the registration information from the new device to the registration server.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the relationship is a home relationship, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the home relationship is established.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning a user of the new device.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning the network server.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the registration information comprises a unique device identifier for the new device.

41. A computer readable medium with program instructions for automatic registration of a new device with a network server, comprising instructions for:

establishing a relationship between the new device and the network server;

automatically obtaining registration information for the new device, including registration information automatically obtained from the network server;

establishing a connection between a registration server and the new device; and

sending the registration information from the new device to the registration server.

42. The medium of claim 41, wherein the relationship is a home relationship, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the home relationship is established.

43. The medium of claim 41, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning a user of the new device.

44. The medium of claim 41, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning the network server.

45. The medium of claim 44, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

46. The medium of claim 41, wherein the registration information comprises a unique device identifier for the new device.

47. A network, comprising:

a network server; and

a new device coupled to the network server, wherein the new device has a relationship with the network server,

wherein registration information is automatically obtained for the new device, including registration information obtained from the network server, wherein a connection is established between the new device and a registration server, wherein the registration information is sent from the new device to the registration server.

48. The network of claim 47, wherein the relationship is a home relationship, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the new device to communicate over a network once the home relationship is established.

49. The network of claim 47, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning a user of the new device.

50. The network of claim 47, wherein the registration information obtained from the network server comprises information concerning the network server.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the registration information concerning the network server comprises an operating system type and configuration.

52. The network of claim 47, wherein the registration information comprises a unique device identifier for the new device.