Method and Apparatus for Binding Multiple Profiles and Applications to a Single Device Through Network Control

• US 20080056476A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broadsoft Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadsoft Casabi, LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koverman, Chris, Pounds, Greg, Kusumi, Timothy, Kwo, Stephen, Maxwell, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 : adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 : by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 : by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 : for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 : with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 : including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/08 : home cordless telephone systems using the DECT standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.

Claims

1. A method for binding multiple user profiles and applications to a single device through network control, comprising the steps of:

providing a telephone base station;

providing a plurality of handsets in communication with said telephone base station, each handset comprising a screen for browser-like rendering;

providing a network based control for said telephone base station and said handsets, said network comprising a plurality of users;

associating a profile with each user, wherein said profile indicates features, functionality, and content to which a user has subscribed;

providing a network based data model which lists said users and their profiles, and which associates each user with one or more handsets and each handset with one or more users; and

based upon said data model, binding each said handset to a particular user when said user logs-in to said telephone base station via said handset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

associating each handset to at least one different user, wherein each handset can be behave differently simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

either or both of said telephone base station and each of said handsets taking on multiple user profiles.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

said telephone base station taking on multiple user profiles simultaneously, each user profile associated with a different handset.

5. The method of claim 1, said binding step further comprising the step of:

registering a handset by creating a user profile for said handset;

wherein for each handset there can be more than one different registration and more than one different user profile.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

registering subsequent users to a previously registered handset.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

implementing said method in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point.

8. The method of claim 7, said step of providing at least one telephone base station further comprising the steps of providing:

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets.

9. The method of claim 8, said step of providing a plurality of handsets further comprising the step of providing for each handset:

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said telephone base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

said base station acting as a proxy for said handsets; and

said base station storing said profile information;

wherein each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said handsets via said telephone base station in accordance with profile information contained on said telephone base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.

12. An apparatus for binding multiple user profiles and applications to a single device through network control, comprising:

a telephone base station;

a plurality of handsets in communication with said telephone base station, each handset comprising a screen for browser-like rendering;

a network based control for said telephone base station and said handsets, said network comprising a plurality of users;

a profile associated with each user, wherein said profile indicates features, functionality, and content to which a user has subscribed;

a network based data model which lists said users and their profiles, and which associates each user with one or more handsets and each handset with one or more users; and

means for binding each said handset to a particular user when said user logs-in to said telephone base station via said handset, based upon said data model.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for associating each handset to at least one different user, wherein each handset can be behave differently simultaneously.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for either or both of said telephone base station and each of said handsets taking on multiple user profiles.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

means for said telephone base station taking on multiple user profiles simultaneously, each user profile associated with a different handset.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, said means for binding further comprising:

means for registering a handset by creating a user profile for said handset;

wherein for each handset there can be more than one different registration and more than one different user profile.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for registering subsequent users to a previously registered handset.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said apparatus is implemented in a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, said at least one telephone base station further comprising:

a first communications facility;

a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to a network via said first communications facility; and

a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, each said handset further comprising:

means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;

client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said telephone base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for said base station acting as a proxy for said handsets; and

means for said base station storing said profile information;

wherein each handset can be dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection of a particular handset profile stored in said base station via said client means.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said handsets via said telephone base station in accordance with profile information contained on said telephone base station for said handsets;

wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.