Systems and Methods to Make a Resource Available Via A Local Network

• US 20100306394A1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, William A., Meuninck, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

Methods and systems for making a resource available are disclosed. In a particular method, identification information associated with a portable device within a particular coverage area is received. A resource associated with the portable device is determined based on the identification information. An authentication message identifying the resource to a device is sent. Access control information is received from the device. The access control information indicates that access to the resource should be enabled via a local network. The resource is made available via the local network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving identification information associated with a portable device when the portable device is within a coverage area of a local network;

determining a resource associated with the portable device based on the identification information;

sending an authentication message identifying the resource to a device;

receiving access control information from the device, the access control information indicating that access to the resource should be enabled at the local network; and

making the resource available via at the local network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a confirmation-request message to the portable device, wherein the confirmation-request message includes a request for confirmation that access to the resource should be enabled at the local network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the confirmation-request message identifies a plurality of resources associated with the portable device, and wherein determining the resource includes receiving information selecting the resource via a response message to the confirmation-request message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the resource associated with the portable device includes determining that the resource is included in a list of resources associated with the portable device that may be made available at the local network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the resource associated with the portable device includes determining that the resource is not included in a list of resources associated with the portable device that may not be made available at the local network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the resource associated with the portable device includes communicating with a service provider system associated with the portable device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating with the service provider system includes sending a confirmation-request message to the service provider system, wherein the confirmation-request message includes a request for the service provider system to obtain confirmation from the portable device that access to the resource should be enabled at the local network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the local network and the portable device are associated with a particular service provider system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the particular service provider system includes an Internet Protocol television (IPTV) system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is a subscription service and wherein making the resource available at the local network comprises enabling access to the subscription service at the local network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is an electronic file and wherein making the resource available at the local network comprises enabling access to the electronic file by a device coupled to the local network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the resource associated with the portable device includes identifying a plurality of resources associated with the portable device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of resources includes multimedia content stored at a storage device associated with the portable device.

14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive identification information associated with a portable device when the portable device is within a coverage area computing device coupled to of a local network;

determine a resource associated with the portable device based on the identification information;

send an authentication message identifying the resource to a device;

receive access control information from the device, the access control information indicating that access to the resource should be enabled at the computing device coupled to the local network; and

make the resource available to the computing device at the local network.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the local network and the portable device are associated with a particular service provider system, and wherein the resource is a subscription service provided by the particular service provider system.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is associated with a set-top box that includes the processor, and wherein the portable device is a mobile telephony device.

17. A computing device comprising:

a network interface to enable communication via a network;

a proximity detector to determine whether a portable device is located within a coverage area of the computing device; and

a gateway module coupled to the proximity detector to;

communicate with the portable device when the portable device is located within the coverage area to determine identification information associated with the portable device;

send the identification information associated with the portable device to a resource manager via the network;

receive an authentication message from the resource manager, wherein the authentication message identifies a resource associated with the portable device;

send access control information to the resource manager, wherein the access control information indicates that access to the resource should be enabled at the computing device; and

receive the resource at the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the computing device is designated by a user of the computing device to receive the authentication message.

19. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the computing device includes a set-top box configured to display the authentication message at a display coupled to the set-top box.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the gateway module is configured to make the resource unavailable at the computing device when the portable device leaves the coverage area of the computing device.