Automatic remote services provided by a home relationship between a device and a server

• US 20060013197A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Anderson, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/102 Route integrity, e.g. using trusted paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method is provided for automatically providing remote services for a mobile device having an established relationship with a server of a home network. After the relationship between the mobile device and the server has been set-up and the device detects a local network that is separate and remote from the home network, a connection is automatically established between the mobile device and a local network. The device then automatically establishes an Internet connection with the server through the local network, and transmits to the server information that was stored in the mobile device when the relationship was established. In response to the server recognizing the device through the transmitted information, the server automatically activates at least one service to initiate a transfer data, such as uploading images between the device and the server through the local network.

Claims

1. A method for automatically providing remote services for a mobile device having an established relationship with a server of a home network, comprising:

automatically establishing a connection between the mobile device and a local network, wherein the local network is separate and remote from the home network;

automatically establishing, by the mobile device, an Internet connection with the server through the local network;

transmitting to the server information that was stored in the mobile device when the relationship was established; and

in response to the server recognizing the device through the transmitted information, automatically activating at least one function within the server to initiate a transfer data between the device and the server through the local network.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

prior to using the device to establish a connection with the local network, establishing a home relationship between the mobile device and the server of the home network, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the mobile device to communicate over the home network once the relationship is established.

3. The method of claim 2 further including:

establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

4. The method of claim 3 further including:

establishing the home relationship by loading information identifying the device into the server to allow the server to recognize the device, and loading information identifying the server into the device to enable the device to interact with the server.

5. The method of claim 2 further including:

requiring user authorization to create the home relationship.

6. The method of claim 5 further including:

after the user authorizes the creation of the home relationship, allowing the user to set preferences that identify a set of services that are automatically performed between the mobile device and the server when a connection is made.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the automatic services may include any combination of:

uploading and downloading data, automated software or firmware updates, automatic system software selection and installation, automatic software installation for other network devices to support the mobile device, and special offerings.

8. The method of claim 7 further including:

utilizing partial data transfers when transferring data between the device and the server, such when the connection with the local network is lost during a data transfer, the data transfer may resume when connection is established with another local network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the automatic services include uploading images stored on the device to the server, and downloading images from the server.

10. The method of claim 9 further including:

offering any combination of the following automatic services when an image is completely transferred;

deleting the transferred image completely, deleting a full-size image and leaving a thumbnail image for display, and marking the transfer image has transferred.

11. The method of claim 9 further including:

displaying on the device'"'"'s display an icon or other mark to indicate that the image has been transferred.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stored in the device when the relationship established includes a name, IP address of the server, or VPN information, and unique identification information, wherein the name, IP address of the server, or VPN information are used to establish communication with the home server, and the device transmits the device identifying information to the server to establish automatic access to the home network.

13. The method of claim 12 further including:

transmitting from the server to the device network identifying information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the device stores a first key of private/public key pair and the server stores a second key of the pair for encrypting/decrypting data exchanges between the device and the server.

15. A system for automatically providing remote services for a mobile device having an established relationship with a server of a home network, comprising:

means for automatically establishing a connection between the mobile device and a local network, wherein the local network is separate and remote from the home network;

means for automatically establishing, by the mobile device, an Internet connection with the server through the local network;

means for transmitting to the server information that was stored in the mobile device when the relationship was established; and

means responsive to the server recognizing the device through the transmitted information for automatically activating at least one function within the server to initiate a transfer data between the device and the server through the local network.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein prior to using the device to establish a connection with the local network, establishing a home relationship between the mobile device and the server of the home network, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the mobile device to communicate over the home network once the relationship is established.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the home relationship is established by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the home relationship is established by loading information identifying the device into the server to allow the server to recognize the device, and loading information identifying the server into the device to enable the device to interact with the server.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein user authorization is required to create the home relationship.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein after the user authorizes the creation of the home relationship, the user is prompted to set preferences that identify a set of services that are automatically performed between the mobile device and the server when a connection is made.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the automatic services include any combination of:

uploading and downloading data, automated software or firmware updates, automatic system software selection and installation, automatic software installation for other network devices to support the mobile device, and special offerings.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein partial data transfers are utilized when transferring data between the device and the server, such when the connection with the local network is lost during a data transfer, the data transfer may resume when connection is established with another local network.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the automatic services include uploading images stored on the device to the server, and downloading images from the server.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein any combination of the following automatic services are offered when an image is completely transferred;

deleting the transferred image completely, deleting a full-size image and leaving a thumbnail image for display, and marking the transfer image has transferred.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein an icon or other mark is displayed on the device'"'"'s display to indicate that the image has been transferred.

26. The system of claim 15 wherein the information stored in the device when the relationship established includes a name, IP address of the server, or VPN information, and unique identification information, wherein the name, IP address of the server, or VPN information are used to establish communication with the home server, and the device transmits the device identifying information to the server to establish automatic access to the home network.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the server transmits to the device network identifying information.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the device stores a first key of private/public key pair and the server stores a second key of the pair for encrypting/decrypting data exchanges between the device and the server.

29. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions for automatically providing remote services for a mobile device having an established relationship with a server of a home network, the program instructions for:

automatically establishing a connection between the mobile device and a local network, wherein the local network is separate and remote from the home network;

automatically establishing, by the mobile device, an Internet connection with the server through the local network;

transmitting to the server information that was stored in the mobile device when the relationship was established; and

in response to the server recognizing the device through the transmitted information, automatically activating at least one function within the server to initiate a transfer data between the device and the server through the local network.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 further including instructions for:

prior to using the device to establish a connection with the local network, establishing a home relationship between the mobile device and the server of the home network, such that no additional configuration is required by a user of the mobile device to communicate over the home network once the relationship is established.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 further including instructions for:

establishing the home relationship by identifying the network as home in the mobile device, and identifying the device as owned to the server.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 further including instructions for:

establishing the home relationship by loading information identifying the device into the server to allow the server to recognize the device, and loading information identifying the server into the device to enable the device to interact with the server.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32 further including instructions for:

requiring user authorization to create the home relationship.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 further including instructions for:

after the user authorizes the creation of the home relationship, allowing the user to set preferences that identify a set of services that are automatically performed between the mobile device and the server when a connection is made.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the automatic services may include any combination of:

uploading and downloading data, automated software or firmware updates, automatic system software selection and installation, automatic software installation for other network devices to support the mobile device, and special offerings.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35 further including instructions for:

utilizing partial data transfers when transferring data between the device and the server, such when the connection with the local network is lost during a data transfer, the data transfer may resume when connection is established with another local network.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 35 wherein the automatic services include uploading images stored on the device to the server, and downloading images from the server.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 further including instructions for:

offering any combination of the following automatic services when an image is completely transferred;

deleting the transferred image completely, deleting a full-size image and leaving a thumbnail image for display, and marking the transfer image has transferred.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 further including instructions for:

displaying on the device'"'"'s display an icon or other mark to indicate that the image has been transferred.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the information stored in the device when the relationship established includes a name, IP address of the server, or VPN information, and unique identification information, wherein the name, IP address of the server, or VPN information are used to establish communication with the home server, and the device transmits the device identifying information to the server to establish automatic access to the home network.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40 further including instructions for:

transmitting from the server to the device network identifying information.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41 wherein the device stores a first key of private/public key pair and the server stores a second key of the pair for encrypting/decrypting data exchanges between the device and the server.