Methods, Systems, and Products for Managing Access to Applications

• US 20090138476A1
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zimler, Randy, Hicks, Al
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24

Abstract

Different communications devices, different communications networks, and/or different users are used to generate, enable, and/or manage an API tool set for providing services through a residential communications gateway. The actual physical location of the service and the manner in which it operates are transparent to the user.

Claims

1. A method for managing network-based access to computer applications, comprising:

storing a portal webpage in memory having a link to a first application on a residential network and another link to a single second application on a service provider network;

receiving a request for service at a processor received from a residential user;

searching a services database for services that a primary account subscriber has authorized the residential user to access;

executing an application programming interface by the processor that associates multiple users of a communications device in the residential network with at least one available application on the residential network and with at least one available application on the service provider network;

identifying the residential user from the multiple users and differentiating service offerings for the residential user; and

creating an entry in the service database that links the requested service to the residential user when the residential user is authorized to access the requested service, and creating a website link on the portal webpage that provides access to the first application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with a residential communications gateway from the portal webpage.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising accessing other communications devices from the residential communications gateway.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising accessing other communications devices from the portal webpage.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing a service application.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for communicating with the residential network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for communicating with the service provider network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a first access address of the first application from the services database.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising associating the first access address to the website link on the portal webpage.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising redirecting the request for service to the first access address.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor communicating with memory storing code causing the processor to;

store a portal webpage in memory comprising a link to a first application on a residential network and another link to a single second application on a service provider network;

communicate with a residential communications gateway from the portal webpage;

receive a request for service from a residential user;

search a services database for services that a primary account subscriber has authorized the residential user to access;

execute an application programming interface that associates multiple users of a communications device in the residential network with at least one available application on the residential network and with at least one available application on the service provider network;

identify the residential user from the multiple users and differentiating service offerings for the residential user;

retrieve a destination web page specified by the primary account subscriber when the residential user is not authorized to access the requested service and redirect the request for service to the destination web page to deny the requested service; and

create an entry in the service database that links the requested service to the residential user when the residential user is authorized to access the requested service and create a website link on the portal webpage associated with the primary account subscriber that provides access to the first application that provides the requested service.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to access other communications devices from the residential communications gateway.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to access other communications devices from the portal webpage.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to communicate with the residential network.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to communicate with the service provider network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the code further causes the processor to retrieve a first access address of the first application from the services database and to associate the first access address to the website link on the portal webpage.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the code further causes the processor to redirect the request for service to the first access address.

18. A computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method of managing network-based access to computer applications, the method comprising:

communicating with a residential communications gateway executed from a portal webpage;

storing registration information that associates a device to a service;

including a plurality of links in the portal webpage comprising a link to a first application stored on a residential address and another link to second application on a service provider network;

receiving a request for service from a residential user;

associating the user to a primary account subscriber;

searching a services database for services that the primary account subscriber has authorized the residential user to access;

executing an application programming interface that associates multiple users of a communications device in the residential network with at least one available application on the residential network and with at least one available application on the service provider network;

identifying the residential user from the multiple users and differentiating service offerings for the residential user;

when the residential user is not authorized to access the requested service, retrieving a destination web page specified by the primary account subscriber, and redirecting the request for service to the destination web page to deny the requested service;

when the residential user is authorized to access the requested service, creating an entry in the service database that links the requested service to the residential user and creating a website link on the portal webpage associated with the primary account subscriber, the link accessing a first application that provides the requested service;

associating the first application with the residential user;

associating a second application with the residential user;

determining a first access address of the first application;

determining a second access address of the second application; and

providing access to the second access address via a second website link on the portal webpage.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions for retrieving a first access address of the first application from the services database and associating the first access address to the website link on the portal webpage.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for redirecting the request for service to the first access address.