Broadband home applications gateway/residential gateway systems, methods and computer program products

• US 20060209857A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Application Number:
  US11/368,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/2871 Implementation details of single intermediate entities
• 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 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A home applications gateway includes a residential gateway interface that is configured to connect to a residential gateway, and a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that includes an Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) framework configured to execute OSGi Java applications that are downloaded and life cycle managed from a Web server through the residential gateway interface. The OSGi Java applications can include a video monitoring application that is configured to provide in-home and out-of-home access to Internet Protocol (IP)-based home video cameras and video files captured by the IP-based home video cameras, at a Web page. The OSGi Java applications can further include a lighting control application that is configured to control activation and deactivation of home lighting from the Web page. The OSGi Java applications can also include a home monitoring and control application that is configured to monitor home sensors and take action upon their activation.

Claims

1. A home applications gateway, comprising:

a residential gateway interface that is configured to connect to a residential gateway; and

a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that includes an Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) framework configured to execute OSGi Java applications that are downloaded and life cycle managed by a service provider through the residential gateway interface.

2. A home applications gateway according to claim 1 wherein the OSGi Java applications include a video monitoring application that is configured to provide in-home and out-of-home access, at a Web page, to Internet Protocol (IP)-based home video cameras and video files captured by the IP-based home video cameras.

3. A home applications gateway according to claim 2 wherein the OSGi Java applications further include a lighting control application that is configured to control activation and deactivation of home lighting from the Web page.

4. A home applications gateway according to claim 3 wherein the OSGi Java applications further include a home monitoring and control application that is configured to monitor home sensors and take action upon activation thereof.

5. A home applications gateway according to claim 1 in combination with the residential gateway, wherein the residential gateway comprises:

a broadband modem that is configured to communicate with an Internet Protocol (IP) network over a broadband line;

a home applications gateway interface that is configured to communicate with the home applications gateway;

a twisted pair modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home twisted pair cable;

a power line communications modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home power lines; and

a coaxial cable modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home coaxial cable.

6. A home applications gateway according to claim 5 wherein the home applications gateway and the residential gateway are contained in a common cabinet.

7. A home applications gateway according to claim 5 in combination with a broadband home security system that is responsive to home security sensors to provide signals to a home security monitoring center through the residential gateway via IP protocol.

8. A home applications gateway according to claim 7 wherein the broadband home security system is further configured to allow a phone call to be conducted through the residential gateway simultaneous with the signals that are provided to the home security monitoring center.

9. A home applications gateway according to claim 8 wherein the broadband home security system includes wireless communications backup via IP protocol and battery backup.

10. A home applications gateway according to claim 7 wherein the home applications gateway, the residential gateway and the broadband home security system are contained in a common cabinet.

11. A residential gateway comprising:

a broadband modem that is configured to communicate with an external network over a broadband line;

a twisted pair modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home twisted pair cable;

a power line communications modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home power lines;

a coaxial cable modem that is configured to communicate with home devices over home coaxial cable; and

a controller that is configured to coordinate communications between the external network and the home devices over the modems.

12. A residential gateway according to claim 11 further comprising:

an Ethernet switch that is configured to communicate with home devices over home Ethernet cable; and

an analog voice interface that is configured to provide voice communications with home devices;

wherein the controller is further configured to coordinate communications between the external network and the home devices over the Ethernet switch and the analog voice interface.

13. A residential gateway according to claim 11 in combination with a home applications gateway, the home applications gateway comprising:

a residential gateway interface that is configured to connect to the residential gateway; and

a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that includes an Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) framework configured to execute OSGi Java applications that are downloaded and life cycle managed from a Web server through the residential gateway interface.

14. A residential gateway according to claim 13 wherein the OSGi Java applications include a video monitoring application that is configured to provide in-home and out-of-home access to home video cameras and video files captured by the home video cameras, at a Web page, wherein the home video cameras are connected to the twisted pair modem over home twisted pair cable, to the power line communications modem over the home power lines and/or to the coaxial cable modem over home coaxial cable.

15. A home security method comprising:

specifying home security parameters at a network provider Web page;

downloading a home security application package to a home applications gateway in the home through a residential gateway in the home that is connected to a Web server by an external network, in response to the specifying of home security parameters;

receiving notification of a security-triggering event from a home device that is connected to the residential gateway by a twisted pair, coaxial and/or power line cable and/or wirelessly;

storing security multimedia content from a home video camera that is connected to the residential gateway by a twisted pair, coaxial and/or power line cable and/or wirelessly at the application services gateway in response to the triggering event; and

enabling transmission of at least some of the stored multimedia content to an external home security monitoring center through the residential gateway and the external network, while simultaneously enabling voice communication over the external network through the residential gateway.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

transmitting messages to at least one device that is external to the home in response to the security-triggering event, through the residential gateway and the external network.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein specifying home security parameters, downloading a home security application package, enabling transmission of at least some of the stored multimedia content, enabling voice communication and transmitting messages are performed through a broadband modem that is connected to the residential gateway.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein downloading a home security application package comprises downloading an OSGi home security application to an OSGi framework that runs on a Java virtual Machine (JVM) in the application services gateway.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein the home security parameters identify cameras for video capture and time parameters for video capture relative to a triggering event.

20. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

automatically transmitting a notification message to at least one device connected to the external network through the residential gateway, in response to the triggering event.