Systems and methods for centralized custodial control

• US 20070143479A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Joy, Joseph Paonessa, Michael Putnam, Philip Bleistine, Wilton Pyle
• Original Assignee: James Joy, Joseph Paonessa, Michael Putnam, Philip Bleistine, Wilton Pyle
• Inventors: Pyle, Wilton, Joy, James, Bleistine, Philip, Paonessa, Joseph, Putnam, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/303,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20070143479A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

Systems and methods for centralized custodial control are desribed. One described custodial control system includes a primary controller having a first network adapter, the primary controller configured to receive a custodial control parameter and generate and transmit a custodial control command, and a plurality of remote nodes each having a network adapter configured to receive the custodial control command and to implement a custodial control process based at least in part on the custodial control command. Various methods for administering a custodial control system are also described.

Claims

1. A custodial control system comprising:

a primary controller having a first network adapter, the primary controller configured to receive a custodial control parameter and generate and transmit a custodial control command; and

a plurality of remote nodes each having a network adapter configured to receive the custodial control command and to implement a custodial control process based at least in part on the custodial control command.

2. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein the first network adapter comprises a wireless network adapter.

3. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote nodes comprises at least one of a television module, a computer module, a game console module, a computer module, an AC (alternating current) module, a direct current (DC) module, a remote portable module, or a telephone module.

4. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote nodes comprises a remote secondary controller.

5. The custodial control system of claim 4, wherein the remote secondary controller comprises a real-time clock.

6. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein the primary controller transmits the custodial control command over a wireless mesh network.

7. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein the primary controller comprises a handheld device.

8. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote nodes comprises:

a first housing portion and a second housing portion; and

a locking mechanism configured to seal the first housing portion to the second housing portion when the locking mechanism is locked.

9. The custodial control system of claim 8, wherein a first end of the first housing portion defines a hole configured to accept a cable and further configured to lock the cable in the housing when the locking mechanism is locked.

10. The custodial control system of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electromagnetic lock.

11. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a keyed lock.

12. The custodial control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of remote nodes comprises a tamper detection sensor.

13. The custodial control system of claim 12, wherein the tamper detection sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the primary controller.

14. The custodial control system of claim 12, wherein the tamper detection sensor a motion detector.

15. The custodial control system of claim 12, wherein the tamper detection sensor a housing open detector.

16. A method for adding a device to a custodial control system comprising:

recieving a signal indicating the presence of a newly added node;

generating a request for a synchronization signal;

receiving the synchronization signal; and

adding the newly added node to a list of nodes available for configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an instruction related to control or scheduling of the newly added node;

generating a command associated with the instruction; and

transmitting the command to the newly added node.

18. A method for implementing a custodial control instruction in a custodial control system comprising:

receiving a command indicating that a device associated with a remote node in the custodial control system is to be disconnected from a signal source, the signal source configured to generate a signal, which is one of a video signal, an audio signal, or a control signal; and

disrupting the signal.

19. A custodial control system comprising:

a remote node having a network adapter,

wherein the remote node is configured to receive a custodial control command from a primary controller and to implement a custodial control process based at least in part on the custodial control command.

20. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the network adapter comprises a wireless network adapter.

21. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the remote node comprises a remote node selected from the list consiting of a television module, a computer module, a game console module, a computer module, an AC (alternating current) module, a direct current (DC) module, a remote portable module, or a telephone module.

22. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the remote nodes comprises a remote secondary controller.

23. The custodial control system of claim 22, wherein the remote secondary controller comprises a real-time clock.

24. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the primary controller transmits the custodial control command over a wireless mesh network.

25. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the primary controller comprises a handheld device.

26. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the remote node comprises:

a first housing portion and a second housing portion; and

a locking mechanism configured to seal the first housing portion to the second housing portion when the locking mechanism is locked.

27. The custodial control system of claim 26, wherein a first end of the first housing portion defines a hole configured to accept a cable and further configured to lock the cable in the housing when the locking mechanism is locked.

28. The custodial control system of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an electromagnetic lock.

29. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a keyed lock.

30. The custodial control system of claim 19, wherein the remote node comprises a tamper detection sensor.

31. The custodial control system of claim 30, wherein the tamper detection sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the primary controller.

32. The custodial control system of claim 30, wherein the tamper detection sensor a motion detector.

33. The custodial control system of claim 30, wherein the tamper detection sensor a housing open detector.