METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPECIFYING MACHINE IDENTIFIERS FOR MACHINE-TO-MACHINE PLATFORM SUPPORT

• US 20150341241A1
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: ROBERTSON, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US14/286,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341241A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

An approach is provided for determining, specifying, or associating a unique identifier with a machine in a machine-to-machine communications network. The approach includes specifying a unique identifier for a machine attached to a sub-network of an aggregator, wherein the machine and the aggregator comprise at least a portion of a machine-to-machine deployment. The approach also includes associating the unique identifier with a message directed to or originating from the machine via the aggregator, wherein the unique identifier is exposed beyond the sub-network for determining a connectivity status of the machine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

specifying a unique identifier for a machine attached to a sub-network of an aggregator, wherein the machine and the aggregator comprise at least a portion of a machine-to-machine deployment; and

associating the unique identifier with a message directed to or originating from the machine via the aggregator,

wherein the unique identifier is exposed beyond the sub-network for determining a connectivity status of the machine.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a register of the machine, the unique identifier, one or more other machines, one or more other unique identifiers, or a combination thereof associated with the sub-network; and

updating the register based on network traffic associated with the sub-network or with an entity.

3. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

processing the network traffic to determine geographic location information, description information, service history information, or a combination thereof associated with the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a query based on the unique identifier, the one or more other unique identifiers, or a combination thereof to determine the connectivity status of the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining predictive analytics or diagnostics information based on register data; and

initiating a process for managing a parameter or an operation at the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof based on the predictive analytics or the diagnostics information.

6. A method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining an unauthorized status associated with the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof based on the predictive analytics or the diagnostics information; and

updating the process or the register based on the unauthorized status.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a request for attaching a new machine to the sub-network;

authenticating an association of the new machine with the sub-network or with an entity associated with the sub-network; and

specifying a unique identifier for the new machine to attach to the sub-network.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is based on one or more information items associated with the machine, the sub-network, an entity associated with the machine, a service associated with the machine, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

specify a unique identifier for a machine attached to a sub-network of an aggregator, wherein the machine and the aggregator comprise at least a portion of a machine-to-machine deployment; and

associate the unique identifier with a message directed to or originating from the machine via the aggregator,

wherein the unique identifier is exposed beyond the sub-network for determining a connectivity status of the machine.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a register of the machine, the unique identifier, one or more other machines, one or more other unique identifiers, or a combination thereof associated with the sub-network; and

update the register based on network traffic associated with the sub-network or with an entity.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process the network traffic to determine geographic location information, description information, service history information, or a combination thereof associated with the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate a query based on the unique identifier, the one or more other unique identifiers, or a combination thereof to determine the connectivity status of the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine predictive analytics or diagnostics information based on register data; and

initiate a process for managing a parameter or an operation at the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof based on the predictive analytics or the diagnostics information.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine an unauthorized status associated with the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof based on the predictive analytics or the diagnostics information; and

update the process or the register based on the unauthorized status.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a request for attaching a new machine to the sub-network;

authenticate an association of the new machine with the sub-network or with an entity associated with the sub-network; and

specify a unique identifier for the new machine to attach to the sub-network.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the unique identifier is based on one or more information items associated with the machine, the sub-network, an entity associated with the machine, a service associated with the machine, or a combination thereof.

17. A system comprising:

a machine-to-machine platform configured to specify a unique identifier for a machine attached to a sub-network of an aggregator, wherein the machine and the aggregator comprise at least a portion of a machine-to-machine deployment; and

associate the unique identifier with a message directed to or originating from the machine via the aggregator, wherein the unique identifier is exposed beyond the sub-network for determining a connectivity status of the machine.

18. A system of claim 17, wherein the machine-to-machine platform is further configured to:

generate a register of the machine, the unique identifier, one or more other machines, one or more other unique identifiers, or a combination thereof associated with the sub-network; and

update the register based on network traffic associated with the sub-network or with an entity.

19. A system of claim 18, wherein the machine-to-machine platform is further configured to:

process the network traffic to determine geographic location information, description information, service history information, or a combination thereof associated with the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof.

20. A system of claim 18, wherein the machine-to-machine platform is further configured to:

determine predictive analytics or diagnostics information based on register data; and

initiate a process for managing a parameter or an operation at the machine, the one or more other machines, or a combination thereof based on the predictive analytics or the diagnostics information.