Methods and apparatuses for selectively controlling a remote device

• US 20070002367A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuan, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/171,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1226 Discovery of devices having required properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• 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 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses display a list representing a plurality of devices; view a status of each of the plurality of devices; select one of the plurality of devices and forming a selected device; and access the selected device based on an assigned right associated with the selected device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a list representing a plurality of devices;

viewing a status of each of the plurality of devices;

selecting one of the plurality of devices and forming a selected device; and

accessing the selected device based on an assigned right associated with the selected device.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device is one of a computer, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a pager.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein viewing the status occurs on a viewing device.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising authorizing access to the selected device through the viewing device based on checking the selected device with an authorized viewing device associated with the selected device.

5. The method according to claim 3 further comprising authenticating an identity of a user of the viewing device.

6. The method according to claim 1 where the assigned right includes one of viewing content stored on the selected device, downloading content stored on the selected device, modifying content stored on the selected device, deleting content stored on the selected device, and adding content onto the selected device.

7. The method according to claim 1 where the assigned right includes one of utilizing applications stored on the selected device, downloading applications stored on the selected device, modifying applications stored on the selected device, deleting applications stored on the selected device, and adding applications onto the selected device.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein displaying the list further comprises identifying a profile associated with a user viewing the list.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising retrieving the assigned right based on a profile associated with the selected device.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising authorizing access to the selected device based on a predetermined amount of time that the selected device is open for access.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising authorizing access to the selected device based on a predetermined number of times the selected device is accessed.

12. A system, comprising:

a profile manager module configured to track a device profile wherein the device profile includes an assigned right for a corresponding device;

an access module configured to selectively control access to the device based on the assigned right; and

an interface module configured to display a representation of the device.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the device is one of a computer, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a pager.

14. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a storage module configured to store the device profile.

15. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a device detection module configured for detecting a status of the device.

16. The system according to claim 12 where the assigned right includes one of viewing content stored on the selected device, downloading content stored on the selected device, modifying content stored on the selected device, deleting content stored on the selected device, and adding content onto the selected device.

17. The system according to claim 12 where the assigned right includes one of utilizing applications stored on the selected device, downloading applications stored on the selected device, modifying applications stored on the selected device, deleting applications stored on the selected device, and adding applications onto the selected device.

19. The system according to claim 16 wherein the means for access further comprises an access module configured to limit access based on a predetermined amount of elapsed time.

20. The system according to claim 16 wherein the means for access further comprises an access module configured to limit access based on a predetermined number of time the selected device is accessed.

18. A system comprising:

means for displaying a list representing a plurality of devices;

means for viewing a status of each of the plurality of devices;

means for selecting one of the plurality of devices and forming a selected device; and

means for accessing the selected device based on an assigned right associated with the selected device.