Method and system for booting, provisioning and activating hardware and software clients

• US 20070058792A1
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Chaudhari, Manoj, Woundy, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2564 for a higher-layer protocol, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0081 Network operation, administration, maintenance, or provisioning

Abstract

Automated booting of a client for a subscriber is provided for clients that are for use in interactive user sessions that involve multimedia. A subscribe message is sent from the client to a proxy server. The proxy server authenticates the subscribe message, and sends the subscribe message to the configuration server. A notify message is sent to the client from the configuration server. The notify message is sent through the proxy server, and contains a location of a profile for the client. The profile is downloaded to the clients. This arrangement allows the persistence of profiles in a centralized place.

Claims

1. A method for automated booting of a client for a subscriber, the client being for use in interactive user sessions that involve multimedia and being connected to a network, the network including a configuration server and a proxy server, the method comprising:

sending a subscribe message from the client to the proxy server;

authenticating the subscribe message at the proxy server, and sending the subscribe message from the proxy server to the configuration server;

sending a notify message to the client from the configuration server, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of a profile for the client; and

downloading the profile to the client from its location, thereby allowing the persistence of profiles in a centralized place.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the client with the proxy server to allow interactive user sessions that involve multimedia.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining and resolving the proxy server prior to sending the subscribe message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the notify message further contains a location of a software update for the client, the method further comprising:

downloading the software update to the client from its location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding a service to the profile for the client;

sending a notify message to the client from the configuration server, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of an updated profile for the client; and

downloading at least a portion of the updated profile to the client from its location.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deleting a service from the profile of the client;

sending a notify message to the client from the configuration server, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of an updated profile for the client; and

downloading the updated profile to the client from its location.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

modifying a service in the profile of the client;

sending a notify message to the client from the configuration server, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of an updated profile for the client; and

downloading the updated profile to the client from its location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the client is a hardware client.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the client is a software client executing on customer premise equipment.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the client operates using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile includes an address book.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the profile from a local administration interface at the client; and

sending the updated profile to the configuration server.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating the profile at a portal to the network;

sending the updated profile to the configuration server;

sending a notify message to the client from the configuration server, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of an updated profile for the client; and

downloading the updated profile to the client from its location.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

discovering NAT traversal services; and

enabling NAT traversal during sending the subscribe message, authenticating, sending the notify message, and downloading the profile.

15. A system for automated booting of a client for a subscriber, the client being for use in interactive user sessions that involve multimedia and being connected to a network, the system comprising:

a configuration server connected to the network;

a proxy server connected to the network;

the proxy server being configured to, upon receiving a subscribe message from the client, authenticate the subscribe message, and send the subscribe message to the configuration server; and

the configuration server being configured to send a notify message to the client, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of a profile for the client to allow the client to download the profile, thereby allowing the persistence of profiles in a centralized place.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the configuration server is configured to, upon a change being made to the profile, send a notify message to the client, the notify message being sent through the proxy server, and the notify message containing a location of an updated profile for the client to allow the client;

to download the updated profile.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the client operates using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the profile includes an address book.