Method, Device, System and Network Architecture for Handling a Service Request

• US 20130275540A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke KPN NV, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Stokking, Hans Maarten, Cramer, Eelco, den Hartog, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for handling a service request within a local area network. First a service request is received from a user device. The service request comprising information regarding one or more requirements needed to perform the service. Then a download location is localized by means of a localization service within a public network to obtain computer executable information on the basis of the information in the service request. The computer executable information is then retrieved for performing the service from the download location and installed on a networked device within the local area network. Finally, a message is sent to the user device regarding the availability of the service within the local area network.

Claims

1. A method for handling a service request within a local area network, the method comprising:

receiving a service request from a user device, the service request comprising information regarding one or more requirements needed to perform the service;

localizing a download location by means of a localization service within a public network to obtain computer executable information on the basis of the information in the service request;

retrieving computer executable information from the download location for performing the service and arranging installment of the computer executable information on a networked device within the local area network; and

sending a message to the user device regarding the availability of the service within the local area network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after receiving the service request, checking if the service is available within the local area network, wherein the localizing, downloading, and installing are executed if the service is unavailable, and these actions are omitted if the service is available.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein checking comprises forwarding the service request to devices within the local area network, and waiting, for a predetermined period of time, for a response message from one of the devices confirming that the service is available, and wherein the service is considered to be unavailable if no confirmation response message has been received within the predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the local area network comprises a service registry comprising a list of services available within the network, and checking comprises consulting the service registry.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein localizing a download location comprises:

receiving multiple locations suitable for downloading the requested service from the localization service; and

selecting the download location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the download location is based on predetermined criteria.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting the download location comprises:

forwarding to the user device the multiple locations suitable for downloading the requested service; and

receiving a selected download location from the user device in response.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method, after receiving the service request, further comprises adding additional information to the service request relating to the capabilities of the gateway system, and the localizing is further based on the additional information.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium for performing, when executed by a processor, the method of claim 1.

10. A device for handling a service request within a local area network, the device being arranged for communicatively coupling to:

an interface device providing a communication interface between a local area network and a wide area network; and

a networked device for enabling installment of computer executable information within the local area network;

wherein the device is arranged for performing the method of claim 1.

11. A system for handling a service request, the system comprising:

an interface device for providing a communication interface between a local area network and a wide area network;

a networked device for enabling installment of computer executable information within the local area network; and

the service request handling device of claim 10.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a service registry for registering the available services within the local area network.

13. Network architecture for handling a service request, the network architecture comprising:

a local area network comprising at least one user device;

a wide area network comprising a service locator system for locating a service location, and a service repository for storing computer executable information for performing a service; and

the system of claim 11.