SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING VIRTUAL UNIVERSAL PLUG-AND-PLAY SYSTEMS

• US 20100312851A1
• Filed: 12/20/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: GEACH, Steven R., CAUNTER, Mark L., JACKSON, Bruce K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2582 through control of the NAT server, e.g. using universal plug and play [UPnP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1059 Inter-group management mechanisms, e.g. splitting, merging or interconnection of groups
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

Methods and devices enable a device located on a source network to appear as a virtual device on a target network. Agent applications running on computers on the source and target networks communicate over a peer-to-peer network enabled by a super-peer networking server on the Internet. To share a device, the target network agent requests the source network agent to provide access to a device in the source network. The source network agent sends the device name, properties, and service template information to the target network agent. The target network agent uses the received information to announce itself as the device to the target network. Devices on the target network may request device services from the target network agent. Such requests are repackaged by the target network agent and sent to the source network agent. The source network agent redirects the service request to the actual device and redirects received responses to the target network agent. The target network agent receives the processes forwards service response to the requesting device. Thereafter, the requesting device on the first network can directly access services from the device on the second network as if the two devices were on the same network. Using such methods, devices on a local network may access services available on an Internet server as if the server was on the local network.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a first device located on a first network from a second device located on a second network, comprising:

linking the first network and the second network via a peer-to-peer network;

generating, on the second network, a device advertisement message of the first device;

receiving an access request message for the first device from the second device on the second network; and

communicating the access request message for the first device to the first network via the peer-to-peer network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the address, service template and property information regarding the first device in a first agent application operating on a computer in the first network; and

transmitting the address, service template and property information regarding the first device from the first agent application operating on a first computer in the first network to a second agent application operating on a second computer in the second network,

wherein;

the second agent application generates the device advertisement message on the second network based on the received address, service template and property information regarding the first device; and

the device advertisement message includes an address for the second agent application as the network address for the first device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating a service response message from the first device to the second device by:

receiving the service response message from the first device in the first agent application in the first network;

transmitting the service response message from the first agent application to the second agent application in the second network via the peer-to-peer network; and

providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the first network from the first agent application in the second agent application; and

mapping a universal resource locator (URL) in the service response message to a URL including the IP address for the first network prior to providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second network in the second agent application;

receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

converting the URL access message into a control message; and

transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein the control message includes the IP address for the second network and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the second agent application using the IP address for the second network without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

converting the URL access message into a control message; and

transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein;

the control message includes the IP address for a re-routing server located in the Internet and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the re-routing server using the IP address the control message without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network;

the re-routing server is configured to receive the media data in a buffer; and

the method further comprises;

accessing the buffer in the re-routing server to transmit media data to the second agent application; and

providing the media data from the second agent application to the second device.

7. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

storing the digital photograph data on the first device,

wherein the second device is a digital photo frame device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the digital photograph data format is JPEG format.

9. A method for displaying data, comprising:

accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

providing the digital photograph data to a digital photo frame for display.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing the digital photograph data on a device which can be accessed by a device on a second network.

11. A computer, comprising:

a processor;

a first network interface circuit coupled to the processor and configured to enable the processor to communicate via an Internet; and

a second network interface circuit coupled to the processor and configured to enable the processor to communicate with a first local network,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

communicating with a second network via a peer-to-peer network;

generating a device advertisement message on the first local network of a first device located on a second local network;

receiving an access request message for the first device from a second device on the first device located; and

communicating the access request message for the first device to the first second local network via the peer-to-peer network.

12. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving address, service template and property information regarding the first device from the second local network,

wherein;

the device advertisement message is based on the received address, service template and property information regarding the first device; and

the device advertisement message includes an address for the computer as the network address for the first device.

13. The computer of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving a service response message from the second local network via the peer-to-peer network, and

providing the service response message to the second device.

14. The computer of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second local network; and

mapping a universal resource locator (URL) in the service response message to a URL including the IP address for the second local network prior to providing the service response message to the second device.

15. The computer of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the first local network;

receiving a URL access message from the second device;

converting the URL access message into a control message including the IP address for the first local network;

transmitting the control message to the second local network; and

receiving media data from the second local network.

16. The computer of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

receiving a URL access message from the second device;

converting the URL access message into a control message including an IP address for a re-routing server located in the Internet;

transmitting the control message to the second local network; and

accessing media data from the re-routing server.

17. The computer of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising:

accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

providing the digital photograph data to the first device,

wherein the first device is a digital photo frame device.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the digital photograph data format is JPEG format.

19. A computer, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a network interface circuit coupled to the processor and configured to enable the processor to communicate via a network; and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps comprising;

accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

providing the digital photograph data to a digital photo frame for display.

20. The computer of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform steps further comprising storing the digital photograph data on a device which can be accessed by a device on a second network.

21. A system for enabling a first device located on a first network to be accessed by a second device located on a second network, comprising:

means for linking the first network and the second network via a peer-to-peer network;

means for generating a device advertisement message on the second network of the first device;

means for receiving an access request message for the first device from the second device on the second network; and

means for communicating the access request message for the first device to the first network via the peer-to-peer network.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for obtaining the address, service template and property information regarding the first device in a first agent application operating on a computer in the first network; and

means for transmitting the address, service template and property information regarding the first device from the first agent application operating on a first computer in the first network to a second agent application operating on a second computer in the second network,

wherein;

the second agent application comprises means for generating the device advertisement message on the second network based on the received address, service template and property information regarding the first device; and

the device advertisement message includes an address for the second agent application as the network address for the first device.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for communicating a service response message from the first device to the second device, comprising:

means for receiving the service response message from the first device in the first agent application in the first network;

means for transmitting the service response message from the first agent application to the second agent application in the second network via the peer-to-peer network; and

means for providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the first network from the first agent application in the second agent application; and

means for mapping a universal resource locator (URL) in the service response message to a URL including the IP address for the first network prior to providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

means for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second network in the second agent application;

means for receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

means for converting the URL access message into a control message; and

means for transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein the control message includes the IP address for the second network and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the second agent application using the IP address for the second network without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

means for converting the URL access message into a control message; and

means for transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein;

the control message includes the IP address for a re-routing server located in the Internet and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the re-routing server using the IP address the control message without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network;

the re-routing server is configured to receive the media data in a buffer; and

the system further comprises;

means for accessing the buffer in the re-routing server to transmit media data to the second agent application; and

means for providing the media data from the second agent application to the second device.

27. A system of claim 22, further comprising:

means for accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

means for formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

means for rendering the formatted obtained data file as a bitmap;

means for transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

means for storing the digital photograph data on the first device,

wherein the second device is a digital photo frame device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the digital photograph data format is JPEG format.

29. A computer, comprising:

means for accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

means for formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

means for rendering the formatted obtained data file as a bitmap;

means for transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

means for providing the digital photograph data to a digital photo frame for display.

30. The computer of claim 29, further comprising means for storing the digital photograph data on a device which can be accessed by a device on a second network.

31. A computer program product comprising:

a processor-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for linking the first network and the second network via a peer-to-peer network;

at least one instruction for generating a device advertisement message on the second network of the first device;

at least one instruction for receiving an access request message for the first device from the second device on the second network; and

at least one instruction for communicating the access request message for the first device to the first network via the peer-to-peer network.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for obtaining the address, service template and property information regarding the first device in a first agent application operating on a computer in the first network; and

at least one instruction for transmitting the address, service template and property information regarding the first device from the first agent application operating on a first computer in the first network to a second agent application operating on a second computer in the second network,

wherein;

the second agent application generates the device advertisement message on the second network based on the received address, service template and property information regarding the first device; and

the device advertisement message includes an address for the second agent application as the network address for the first device.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for communicating a service response message from the first device to the second device comprising

at least one instruction for receiving the service response message from the first device in the first agent application in the first network,

at least one instruction for transmitting the service response message from the first agent application to the second agent application in the second network via the peer-to-peer network, and

at least one instruction for providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the first network from the first agent application in the second agent application; and

at least one instruction for mapping a universal resource locator (URL) in the service response message to a URL including the IP address for the first network prior to providing the service response message from the second agent application to the second device.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for obtaining an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the second network in the second agent application;

at least one instruction for receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

at least one instruction for converting the URL access message into a control message; and

at least one instruction for transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein the control message includes the IP address for the second network and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the second agent application using the IP address for the second network without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network.

36. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for receiving a URL access message from the second device in the second agent application;

at least one instruction for converting the URL access message into a control message; and

at least one instruction for transmitting the control message from the second agent application to the first agent application,

wherein;

the control message includes the IP address for a re-routing server located in the Internet and is formatted to cause the first agent application to;

access a media file in the first device associated with the URL;

receive media data from the first device; and

push the media data to the re-routing server using the IP address the control message without passing media data through the peer-to-peer network;

the re-routing server is configured to receive the media data in a buffer; and

the method further comprises;

accessing the buffer in the re-routing server to transmit media data to the second agent application; and

providing the media data from the second agent application to the second device.

37. A computer program product of claim 32, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

at least one instruction for formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

at least one instruction for rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

at least one instruction for transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

at least one instruction for storing the digital photograph data on the first device,

wherein the second device is a digital photo frame device.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the digital photograph data format is JPEG format.

39. A computer program product, comprising:

a processor-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for accessing a source of data to obtain a data file;

at least one instruction for formatting the obtained data file into a format suitable for display;

at least one instruction for rendering the formatted obtained data file as an in-memory bitmap;

at least one instruction for transforming the bitmap into a digital photograph data format; and

at least one instruction for providing the digital photograph data to a digital photo frame for display.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein in the processor-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for storing the digital photograph data on a device which can be accessed by a device on a second network.