REMOTE CONTROL OF DEVICES UTILIZING A MOBILE NETWORK

• US 20100099396A1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Brian K., Huq, Rana
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• 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 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Providing for remote control of electronic devices at least in part utilizing a mobile radio access network (RAN) is disclosed herein. A control server is provided that can initiate an OTA message requesting control of a client device. The OTA message can be transmitted via the RAN to the client device, which can initiate a data network call upon receipt of the message. A data network address can be forwarded to the control server to facilitate data exchange between the server and client. The client can act upon and respond to commands issued by the server. As described herein, remote control of a client that does not maintain a persistent data network link can be conducted. Furthermore, key-mapping applications, DLL-based middle-ware, and other interface modules traditionally required to implement control of a remote device can be limited or avoided.

Claims

1. A method for remote communication, comprising:

initiating a message sent at least in part over-the-air (OTA), the message configured for accessing a remote device;

receiving a response to the message via a computer network link, the response comprising a network address of the remote device; and

employing the network address to control a native user interface (UI) of the remote device over the computer network link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address is a dynamic network address associated with the remote device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a mobile network data call to establish the computer network link.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a network address of a control server in the message that is sent at least in part OTA to the remote device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the remote device based at least in part on data contained in the response.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing a secure connection for the computer network link.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising employing secure socket layer, session security or a virtual private network as the secure connection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing command data to the remote device to implement control of or input to the native UI; and

receive response data from the remote device to implement feedback from or output from the native UI.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising recording the command data sent to the remote device or the response data received from the remote device during control of the native UI of the remote device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising facilitating playback of the recording during or upon expiration of control of the native UI.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining control of a hardware device at least in part communicatively coupled with the remote device; and

controlling operation of the hardware device by submitting a command native to the hardware device via the computer network link to the remote device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing a command to the remote device that is native to a hardware media component coupled with the remote device; and

obtaining audio, video, or photographic media from the remote device or the hardware media component in response to the native command.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing control of the native UI of the remote device to a second device by providing the network address of the remote device to the second device.

14. An apparatus for remote communication, comprising:

a communication processor that initiates a message sent at least in part OTA, the message configured for accessing a remote device;

a computer network interface that receives a response to the message comprising a network address of the remote device; and

a server control module that employs the network address to control a native UI of the remote device over a computer network link coupled to the interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the network address is a dynamic network address.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the computer network interface comprises an OTA interface that establishes the computer network link via an OTA connection to a data-enabled mobile network.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, the communication processor provides a network address of a control server in the message sent to the remote device.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a security module that authenticates the remote device based at least in part on data contained in the response.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a secure interface that couples the computer network interface to a secure connection;

instructions for encrypting or decrypting data; and

secure memory for storing the instructions.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the secure connection comprises secure socket layer, session security or a virtual private network.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the server control module passes command data to the remote device via the computer network interface to implement control of or input to the native UI; and

the server control module receives response data from the remote device via the computer network interface to implement feedback from or output from the native UI.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a tracking module that records the command data sent to the remote device or the response data received from the remote device during control of the native UI of the remote device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a playback module that plays or outputs in a media readable format the recording during or upon expiration of control of the native UI.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the server control module obtains control of a hardware device at least in part communicatively coupled with the remote device; and

the server control module controls operation of the hardware device by submitting a command native to the hardware device via the computer network link to the remote device.

25. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the server control module issues a command to the remote device that is native to a hardware media component coupled with the remote device; and

the server control module obtains via the computer network interface audio, video, or photographic media in response to the native command.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a relay module that at least one of:

passes control of the native UI of the remote device to a second device by providing the network address of the remote device to the second device;

or

acts as a communication relay for data exchange between the remote device and the second device.

27. An apparatus for remote communication, comprising:

means for initiating a message sent at least in part OTA, the message configured for accessing a remote device;

means for receiving a response to the message via a computer network link, the response comprising a network address of the remote device; and

means for employing the network address to control a native UI of the remote device over the computer network link.

28. A processor configured for remote communication, comprising:

a first module that initiates a message sent at least in part OTA, the message configured for accessing a remote device;

a second module that receives a response to the message via a computer network link, the response comprising a network address of the remote device; and

a third module that employs the network address to control a native UI of the remote device over the computer network link.

29. A device-readable medium comprising:

device-readable instructions configured for remote communication, the instructions are executable by at least one device to;

initiate a message sent at least in part OTA, the message configured for accessing a remote device;

receive a response to the message via a computer network link, the response comprising a network address of the remote device; and

employ the network address to control a native UI of the remote device over the computer network link.

30. A method for remote communication, comprising:

establishing a data session link via a mobile access network interface;

providing a data network address to a remote control server at least in part via the data session link; and

passing control of a native UI to the remote control server.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

obtaining a dynamic network address in conjunction with establishing the data session link; and

employing the dynamic network address as the data network address.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising obtaining the data network address in connection with establishing the data session link.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising obtaining an OTA message requesting the passing control of the native UI, wherein establishing the data session link or providing the data network address are in response to obtaining the OTA message.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising outputting a remote control request query and conditioning providing the data network address or passing control of the native UI on a response to the query.

35. The method of claim 30, providing the data network address further comprises, at least in part, employing a secure link for data exchange with the remote control server.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising authenticating the remote control server and conditioning providing the data network address on the authentication.

37. The method of claim 30, providing the data network address further comprises encrypting the data network address.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising communicatively coupling to a hardware device that can be operationally controlled, at least in part, via the coupling.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising facilitating control of the hardware device at the remote control server via the data session link.

40. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

receiving control commands consistent with the native UI from the remote control server; and

performing actions or providing data in response to the control commands.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising at least one of:

tracking the control commands or actions and data in response to the control commands and saving the tracked information to memory;

or

obtaining from the remote control server a recording of the control commands or actions and data in response to the control commands in a playable format.

42. An apparatus for remote communication, comprising:

an OTA interface that establishes a data session link via a mobile access network interface;

a client control module that provides a data network address to a remote control server at least in part via the data session link; and

a routing module that passes control of a native UI of the apparatus to the remote control server.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, the data network address is a dynamic address associated with the apparatus for the data session link.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a device interface that facilitates operational data exchange with one or more hardware devices communicatively coupled with the apparatus.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a media controller that facilitates exchange of media information between the hardware devices or the apparatus and the remote control server.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the hardware device(s) comprises at least one of:

a web cam;

a video camera;

a mobile phone;

a traffic light;

a surveillance camera;

a night vision camera;

a lighting fixture;

a sprinkler system;

a television set;

a radio;

an electronic hardware device;

an appliance meter comprising an electronic controller;

a water meter;

a gas meter;

an oil meter, or a combination thereof.

47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the apparatus is at least one of:

a personal computer;

a laptop computer;

a personal digital assistant (PDA);

a mobile phone;

or

a wireless communication device.

48. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a security module that facilitates secure communication between the apparatus and the remote control server.

49. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

a secure communication link at least in part coupling the apparatus and the remote control server;

a secure interface that mitigates unauthorized access to data exchanged with the remote control server via the OTA interface;

instructions for encrypting or decrypting data exchanged with the remote control server; and

secure memory for storing the instructions.

50. The apparatus of claim 42, the OTA interface comprises a cellular modem.

51. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a query module that outputs a remote control request query and conditions providing the data network address or passing control of the native UI on obtaining a response to the query.

52. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein:

the OTA interface receives control commands consistent with the native UI from the remote control server; and

the client control module performs actions or provides data in response to the control commands.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, further comprising a tracking module that at least one of:

monitors the control commands or actions and data in response to the control commands and saves the tracked information to memory;

or

obtains from the remote control server a recording of the control commands or actions and data in response to the control commands in a playable format.

54. An apparatus for remote communication, comprising:

means for establishing a data session link via a mobile access network interface;

means for providing a data network address to a remote control server at least in part via the data session link; and

means for passing control of a native UI to the remote control server.

55. A processor for remote communication, comprising:

a first module that establishes a data session link via a mobile access network interface;

a second module that provides a data network address to a remote control server at least in part via the data session link; and

a third module that passes control of a native UI to the remote control server.

56. A device-readable medium, comprising:

device-readable instructions configured for remote communication, the instructions are executable by at least one device to;

establish a data session link via a mobile access network interface;

provide a data network address to a remote control server at least in part via the data session link; and

pass control of a native UI to the remote control server.