SYSTEM COMPRISING A PUBLISH/SUBSCRIBE BROKER FOR A REMOTE MANAGEMENT OF END-USER DEVICES, AND RESPECTIVE END-USER DEVICE

• US 20140286354A1
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Van De Poel, Dirk, Goemaere, Patrick, Jonckheer, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,614,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0273 using web services for network management, e.g. simple object access protocol [SOAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for sending a message to a network device with a specific MAC address, in an IP network implementing a internet group management protocol IGMP, comprising: sending, by a network terminal, to the network device, a multicast group management status message including a destination address set as the specific MAC address A system comprises a multitude of end-user devices coupled via a broadband connection with a service provider network, a publish/subscribe broker adapted to communicate with the multitude of end-user devices and at least a first back-end entity coupled with the service provider network. The first back-end entity includes a first client software application for connecting to the publish/subscribe broker and publishes control data via a control data channel for a device management of the end-user devices. The end-user devices include a second client software application for connecting to the publish/subscribe broker for subscribing to the control data channel and for receiving the control data, and for publishing device data and action data as instructed by the control data. The backend entity authorization is validated in particular by using a control data signature.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. System comprising a multitude of end-user devices coupled via a broadband connection with a service provider network, wherein the system comprises further

a publish/subscribe broker adapted to communicate with the multitude of end-user devices and

at least a first back-end entity coupled with the service provider network, the first back-end entity including a first client software application for connecting to the publish/subscribe broker and for publishing control data via a control data channel for a device management of the end-user devices, and wherein

the end-user devices include a second client software application for connecting to the publish/subscribe broker for subscribing to said control data channel and for receiving the control data, and for publishing device data and action data as instructed by the control data.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the second client software application is started on each end-user device on startup of the respective end-user device and establishes a connection to the publish/subscribe broker for the end-user device by using a preconfigured uniform resource locator.

16. System according to claim 14, wherein the service provider network is a network service provider network for providing Internet services and which provides the device management of the end-user devices.

17. System according to claim 16, wherein the publish/subscribe broker is provided by a network service provider operating the network service provider network.

18. System according to claim 16, wherein the publish/subscribe broker is provided by an Internet service provider.

19. System according to claim 14, wherein each end-user device subscribes to at least one control data channel for receiving execute commands for its device management and wherein each end-user device publishes the device data via a device data channel and action data via an action data channel.

20. System according to claim 14, comprising a second backend entity including a third client software application for connecting to the publish/subscribe broker, which second backend entity subscribes to device data, control data and action data of the end-user devices to maintain an inventory of the multitude of end-user devices, but does not publish control data for the end-user devices.

21. System according to claim 20, wherein the second back-end entity is a server provided by a manufacturer or a vendor of the end-user devices.

22. System according to claim 17, wherein the first back-end entity is a server provided by the network service provider.

23. System according to claim 14, wherein the end-user device management includes upgrading to a new firmware or middleware version, installing, updating or uninstalling of a software application, execute a program or script file, executing a structured query on the end-user device configuration or on status data, or resetting or rebooting the end-user devices.

24. System according to claim 14, wherein the end-user devices validate a back-end entity authorization through a control data signature.

25. End-user device adapted for an operation with a system according to claim 14.

26. The end-user device of claim 25, wherein the end-user device is a residential gateway, a set-top box, a smart phone or a cell phone, a tablet PC, a smart TV or any other network or Internet connected appliance.