Method and apparatus for third party control of a device

• US 20070027696A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Embrace Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Burger, Michel
• Application Number:
  US10/290,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• 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: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

A method and apparatus for third party control of a device have been disclosed. By utilizing a third party to control a device, view and control of a device may be separated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device; and

sending a second communication from the second device to a third device to control the first device.

2. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 1.

3. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 1.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

5. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device; and

means for sending a second communication from the second device to a third device to control the first device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for communicating a payment and/or credit.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device;

receiving a second communication from the second device on a third device; and

receiving a third communication from the third device on the first device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the third communication controls the first device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the third communication controlling the first device is based upon the second communication from the second device.

10. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 7.

11. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 7.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

13. A method comprising:

communicating via a first communication link a first communication between a first device and a second device;

communicating via a second communication link a second communication between the second device and a third device;

communicating via a third communication link a third communication between the third device and the first device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first communication link is unidirectional from the first device to the second device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the third communication controls the first device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the third communication controlling the first device is based upon the second communication from the second device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second communication is based upon input received from a human input interface.

18. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 13.

19. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 13.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a second communication from a second device on a third device; and

sending a third communication from the third device to control a first device based upon a first communication between the first device and the second device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the first communication is unidirectional from the first device to the second device.

23. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 21.

24. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 21.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

26. A method comprising:

sending a first communication from a first device to a second device; and

receiving a third communication from a third device on the first device to control the first device based upon a second communication from the second device to the third device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first communication is unidirectional from the first device to the second device.

28. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 26.

29. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 26.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

31. A apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device;

means for receiving a second communication from the second device on a third device; and

means for receiving a third communication from the third device on the first device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the third communication further comprises means for controlling the first device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the third communication means for controlling the first device is based upon the second communication from the second device.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein means for receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device further comprises means for receiving a unidirectional first communication from the first device on the second device

35. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 31.

36. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising means for communicating a payment and/or credit.

37. An apparatus for controlling a first device, comprising:

an input coupled to receive a signal from said first device;

an output coupled to send a signal to a second device for controlling said first device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising a second input coupled to receive a signal from the second device.

39. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 37.

40. An apparatus for controlling a first device, comprising:

means for receiving a signal from the first device;

means for sending a signal to a second device for controlling the first device.

41. An apparatus for controlling a first device, comprising:

means for receiving a signal from a second device;

means for sending a signal to the first device for controlling the first device.

42. An apparatus being controlled as a first device, said first device comprising:

means for sending a signal to a second device; and

means for receiving a signal from a third device for controlling said first device.

43. An apparatus for controlling a first device, comprising:

an input coupled to receive a signal from a second device;

an output coupled to send a signal to the first device for controlling the first device.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the signal from the second device is based upon a signal from the first device to the second device.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a second input coupled to receive a signal from the first device.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 further comprising a second output coupled to send a signal to the second device.

47. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 43.

48. An apparatus being controlled as a first device, said first device comprising:

an output coupled to send a signal to a second device; and

an input coupled to receive a signal from a third device for controlling said first device.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the signal from the third device is based upon a signal from the second device to the third device.

50. The apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a second output coupled to send a signal from the first device to the third device.

51. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the output coupled to send the signal to the second device comprises the output coupled to send a unidirectional signal to the second device.

52. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 48.

53. A method comprising:

receiving on a second device an identification related to a first device;

inputting information into the second device; and

sending a communication based on the identification related to the first device and the inputted information to a third device for controlling the first device.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the receiving on the second device an identification related to the first device comprises receiving input into the second device an identification based upon a user action.

55. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions, performs the following:

receives a second communication from a second device, said second communication being based on a first communication from a first device to the second device; and

transmits a third communication to the first device, said third communication for controlling the first device.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the communication from the first device to the second device is unidirectional.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the second device is capable of accepting a user input.

58. A method for controlling a device comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device;

receiving a second communication from the second device on a third device;

receiving a third communication from the third device on the device.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the third communication directly controls the device.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the third communication directly controlling the device is based upon the second communication from the second device.

61. A method comprising:

receiving on a user operable device information from a device to be controlled;

inputting information into the user operable device;

sending a communication based on the information received from the device to be controlled and the inputted information to a networked device which based on said communication controls said device to be controlled.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein inputting information into the user operable device consists of inputting information from a user originated input source selected from the group consisting of voice input, manual input, magnetic input, electrical input, optical input, and biometric input.

63. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 61.

64. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 61.

65. A method comprising:

receiving a request on a user operable device to validate a session key building operation; and

receiving on the user operable device a user input; and

transmitting from the user operable device a communication based on the user input.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation request and the communication based on the user input indicates such.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising:

receiving the communication based on the user input; and

generating a session key.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein generating the session key is done on other than the user operable device.

69. The method of claim 65 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation which is then performed on the user operable device generating a session key.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the communication based on the user input includes the session key.

71. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 65.

72. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 65.

73. The method of claim 65 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

74. A method comprising:

receiving on a second device a session key request from a third device;

receiving on a first device a request for a session key validation from the second device;

receiving on the second device a proper session key validation from the first device;

generating a session key on the second device; and

receiving on the third device the generated session key.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising receiving on the first device the generated session key.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein the first device is a user operable device.

77. The method of claim 74 being performed in response to receiving a communication on the third device.

78. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed performs the method of claim 74.

79. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions performs the method of claim 74.

80. The method of claim 74 further comprising communicating a payment and/or credit.

81. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a request on a user operable device to validate a session key building operation; and

means for receiving on the user operable device a user input; and

means for transmitting from the user operable device a communication based on the user input.

82. The apparatus of claim 81 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation request and the communication based on the user input indicates such.

83. The apparatus of claim 82 further comprising:

means for receiving the communication based on the user input; and

means for generating a session key.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 wherein means for generating the session key is done on other than the user operable device.

85. The apparatus of claim 81 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation which is then performed on the user operable device generating a session key.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the communication based on the user input includes the session key.

87. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 81.

88. The apparatus of claim 81 further comprising means for communicating a payment and/or credit.

89. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving on a second device a session key request from a third device;

means for receiving on a first device a request for a session key validation from the second device;

means for receiving on the second device a proper session key validation from the first device;

means for generating a session key on the second device; and

means for receiving on the third device the generated session key.

90. The apparatus of claim 89 further comprising means for receiving on the first device the generated session key.

91. The apparatus of claim 89 wherein the first device is a user operable device.

92. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 89.

93. The apparatus of claim 89 further comprising means for communicating a payment and/or credit.

94. An apparatus for validating a session key building operation, comprising:

a user operable device having a first input, a second input, and an output, the first input coupled to receive a request to validate the session key building operation, the second input coupled to receive a user input, and an output coupled to transmit a signal. based on the user input.

95. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein the signal is based upon an input selected from the group consisting of the request to validate the session key building operation, the user input, a combination of the request to validate the session key building operation and the user input, a user based identification, and a user entry.

96. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 94.

97. An apparatus comprising:

a third device having an input and an output, the output coupled to transmit a session key request;

a second device having a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output, the first input coupled to receive the session key request, and the first output coupled to transmit a session key validation request;

a first device having an input and an output, the input coupled to receive the session key validation request, and the output coupled to transmit a proper session key validation, wherein the second device'"'"'s second input is coupled to receive the proper session key validation, the second device'"'"'s second output is coupled to transmit a session key, and the third device input is coupled to receive the session key.

98. The apparatus of claim 97 wherein the first device input is coupled to receive the session key.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 further comprising:

a second output on the third device, the output coupled to transmit an identification; and

a second input on the first device, the input coupled to receive the identification.

100. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon information representing the apparatus of claim 97.

101. A system comprising a processor, which when executing a set of instructions, performs the following:

receives a request on a user operable device to validate a session key building operation; and

receives on the user operable device a user input; and

transmits from the user operable device a communication based on the user input.

102. The system of claim 101 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation request and the communication based on the user input indicates such.

103. The system of claim 102 further performs:

receives the communication based on the user input; and

generates a session key.

104. The system of claim 103 wherein generating the session key is done on other than the user operable device.

105. The system of claim 101 wherein the user input validates the session key building operation which is then performed on the user operable device generating a session key.

106. The system of claim 105 wherein the communication based on the user input includes the session key.