MODULAR DEVICE AND DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND GATEWAY FOR A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• US 20170257229A1
• Filed: 05/17/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eyecam LLC
• Original Assignee: Eyecam LLC
• Inventors: FISHER, Ronald Eugene, DAVIS, Bryan Jonathan, MEYER, Mark Joseph, BUSHARD, Bradley Brian, PATIL, Nitin, FISHER, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,425,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0809 Plug-and-play configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A gateway provides duplex-directional, multimedia ad hoc mesh networking, peer-to-peer direct communications, power optimization, dynamic configuration, and data management, while operating within various devices and network topologies. A multitasking virtual machine monitor for mobile networked devices, that is capable of functional expandability and portability to various operating environments, interoperability with a variety of operating systems, the Gateway Control System (GCS) performs functional capabilities in both a local and a networked topology using local and remote hardware and software. Software within the GCS is partitioned into sequentially, autonomous code, referred to herein as “modules,” each module being configured to communicate with hardware and other gateway modules. Collectively, all gateway modules are referred to herein as the gateway stack (GS). Each member of the GS can be turned on or off, downloaded from a remote site, and dynamically configured.

Claims

1. A computer implemented communications gateway, comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein program instructions which comprise a multitasking operating system which is partitioned into a module core layer, a module OS interface layer, and an operating environment;

wherein said module core layer is configured to perform high level, coordinated functionality and comprises core gateway software that is compiled and linked only;

wherein said module OS interface layer is configured to directly allow a module applications layer within said operating environment to map a module core layer I/O with a given device'"'"'s resident operating system;

wherein said module OS interface layer is configured to be customized, compiled, and linked with said module core layer to a plurality of sequentially, autonomous modules, each module being configured to communicate with hardware and other gateway modules;

wherein said gateway modules collectively comprise a gateway stack (GS);

wherein each module within said GS is independently operable to be turned on or off, downloaded from a remote site, and dynamically configured;

wherein each of the modules in said GS is configured to implement one, and collectively all, of the following functions;

duplex-directional audio/video/data communications;

simultaneous communications over wired and wireless based networks;

audio/video capture and processing;

data management storage and retrieval;

global positioning system oriented functionality;

user interface functionality;

remote network and local access and control of both gateway and non-gateway devices;

plug-and-play capabilities;

local and remote device power management;

voice recognition;

local and remote security; and

dynamic hardware and software configurability; and

wherein said GS is configured to allow functional capabilities within said gateway to be performed in both a local and a networked topology using any of local and remote hardware and software.

2. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said GS is configured to effect any of duplex-directional multimedia networking, power optimization, dynamic configuration, communications, and data management.

3. The gateway of claim 1, wherein said GS is configured to effect any of device automation, modular system and data management, data channeling, paired, grouped and/or networked device optimization, and hands-free and remote systems control,

4. The gateway of claim 1, said GS further comprising:

a virtual machine monitor that is configured to run in an embedded system as either a downloadable program or as a networked application.

5. A multitasking system that provides functional expandability and portability to various operating environments, and interoperability with existing operating systems, comprising:

a gateway control system comprising a processor configured for managing device optimization in an intelligent semi-autonomous modular architecture;

said architecture comprising a plurality of task-specific modules in which each module is configured to select a most effective method for accomplishing its specific task based on user configurations for power, data, device, network, security, and communications;

wherein said tasks comprise any of power management, data management, voice command and communications, audio-video systems, and location and contextual systems; and

wherein all module related hardware, programs, and components are integrated into said architecture by said gateway control system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said processor is configured to implement a capability-based security function that provides dynamic customizable user, device, and network authorization settings and both channel and module data level encryption;

wherein said security function is configured to allow a user to select to encrypt both a real-time data feed or uploaded file for access by a specific user or group of users on a specific device, group of devices, or network, or create different access settings for different data feeds, wherein different channels are broadcast to specific targeted users and devices and/or a single data stream is sent out to multiple users, and each user only has access to feeds for which they have authorization.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said processor is configured to allow two or more autonomous networked computing devices to pair or join a gateway unified, federated, or managed group connection;

said system comprising a module that is configured to expand sets of each of a plurality of autonomous gateway devices to include components of all unified networked gateway devices, wherein said module comprises a single gateway module stack that is mirrored by each grouped device.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a unified group of gateway devices in which an individual module stack in each device acknowledges and adopts related components and systems of all other networked devices, and groups said adopted related components and systems into a networked component set; and

a resulting unified module stack that is configured to determine a most efficient distribution of system priorities, tasks, and responsibilities collectively for an entire group of said devices.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each device has its own module stack and priority settings with which either a user either selects a preferred primary device or a collective group module stack automatically selects a primary device based on optimum computing power, data storage, networking capabilities, available power, security settings, or other device capabilities to insure cooperation between devices and modules.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein all data collected and managed by each module operates as an independent channel with all modules and data coordinated with other modules;

wherein said data is either grouped with other module data and sent out collectively over a single wired or wireless network, or it is broadcasted independently via a unique data channel over multiple available networks;

wherein a gateway device having a cellular device can communicate with a WiFi device by mesh networking with one or more gateway cellular and WiFi enabled devices and wireless routers, which then relay a data stream securely to and from a targeted user.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein said gateway control system operates as an individual or collective group and ad hoc network of devices, said gateway control system comprising a platform for dynamic formation and management of peer-to-peer communications via multiple wired and wireless network connections and network configurations.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said gateway control system comprises an organized data and network management platform and dynamic source routing system comprising attributes from a plurality of routing methods;

and further comprising;

a plurality of gateway stacks of two or more gateway devices that recognize each other based on security settings, wherein each gateway device is configured to join into a unified group that combines the modules of both devices and in which each device adopts the capabilities of the other device and then generates a new priority setting for both networked devices.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising;

a user or user group joined to a federated network of gateway devices in which all devices maintain their autonomy and share data and network channeling, device coordination, and optimized communications, but have no device, data, or system management and no remote systems control.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising;

a hierarchal managed network comprising a server-based managed gateway network set up by an enterprise or agency in which all issued gateway enabled wireless devices are authorized as a managed device and then either permanently assigned to a specific user or temporarily assigned to a specific user or group of users with all user, device, data and network authorization set up via a network based hierarchy.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising;

a managed network comprising a standard smart phone device operating as a gateway managed network device, wherein all systems and security settings are localized to said device but can only be altered either remotely or locally via a network by an authorized network manager.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein all gateway devices automatically select a most efficient method for transferring data and communicating amongst other connected devices and for transferring data using all available wired and wireless networks, based on coordinated networking and computing power of each individual device and of the collective group.

17. A computer implemented communications gateway, comprising:

at least one processor for executing gateway software that partitioned into a plurality of modules, each module comprising sequentially, autonomous code, each module being configured to communicate with hardware and other gateway modules, all gateway modules collectively comprising a gateway stack, wherein each member of said gateway stack can be turned on or off, downloaded from a remote site, and dynamically configured.

18. The gateway of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of targeted environments, said targeted environments comprising;

a gateway control environment comprising core functionality software that is partitioned from targeted system dependent software and that is configured to run the gateway in either an embedded environment or as a downloadable image, said gateway control system configured for multitasking capability and to dynamically download, install, and execute new tasks, and to control task execution characteristics remotely;

a power management environment configured to perform power management functionality dynamically by constantly monitoring, managing, and optimizing power use for all device systems, components, and applications based on any of component characteristics, power use history, time since last used, priority settings, security level, network topology, and user preferences;

a data environment wherein data that is collected and managed by each module operates as an independent channel with all modules and wherein data coordinated with other modules is either grouped with other module data and sent out collectively over a single wired or wireless network or broadcast independently via a unique data channel over multiple available networks;

a user environment in which an authorized and verified user, user group, and/or network manager can customize core functionality of any gateway enabled device, group, or network by defining use preferences for each gateway module and security and networking preferences for all related modular systems control and modular data management, access, channeling, and communications; and

a network environment.

19. The gateway of claim 17, further comprising:

a module core layer configured to perform high level, coordinated functionality; and

a module OS interface layer configured to allow a module applications layer to map a module core layer I/O with a given device'"'"'s resident operating system.

a module network interface configured for device-to-device, device-to-group, and device-to-network data, systems, and module core Layer interface coordination, data channeling, and systems optimization, over one or many network topologies, based on optimum efficiency and security settings of each device and of an entire group.

20. The gateway of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of targeted environments for the gateway focused within any of the following areas;

hands-free wireless devices;

cameras, cell phones, smart phones, and PDA'"'"'s;

tablets, PC'"'"'s, networked televisions, and video gaming systems;

vehicle media systems, dashboard consoles, telematics, and other vehicular computing systems, fleet management and transportations systems supporting an ad-hoc networking platform;

home security, entertainment, and command centers; and

enterprise, private security, government departments, agencies, and networks;

consumer, enterprise and government cellular and satellite Wireless Carrier Networks, VPN'"'"'s, VOIP and wired Internet Service Providers.

21. A computer implemented communications gateway, comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein program instructions which comprise a multitasking operating system which is partitioned into a module core layer, a module OS interface layer, and an operating environment;

wherein said module core layer is configured to perform high level, coordinated functionality and comprises core gateway software that is compiled and linked;

wherein said module OS interface layer is configured to directly allow a module applications layer within said operating environment to map a module core layer I/O with a given device'"'"'s resident operating system;

wherein said module OS interface layer is configured to be customized, compiled, and linked with said module core layer to a plurality of sequentially, autonomous modules, each module being configured to communicate with hardware and other gateway modules;

wherein said gateway modules collectively comprise a gateway stack (GS);

wherein each module within said GS is independently operable to be turned on or off, downloaded from a remote site, and dynamically configured;

wherein each of the modules in said GS is configured to implement at least one of the following functions;

duplex-directional audio/video/data communications;

simultaneous communications over wired and wireless based networks;

audio/video capture and processing;

data management storage and retrieval;

global positioning system oriented functionality;

user interface functionality;

remote network and local access and control of both gateway and non-gateway devices;

plug-and-play capabilities;

local and remote device power management;

voice recognition;

local and remote security; and

dynamic hardware and software configurability; and

wherein said GS is configured to allow functional capabilities within said gateway to be performed in local and/or a networked topology.

22. The computer implemented communications gateway of claim 21,

wherein gateway software is compiled and linked only;

wherein each of the modules in said GS is further configured to implement one, and collectively all, of the following functions;

duplex-directional audio/video/data communications;

simultaneous communications over wired and wireless based networks;

audio/video capture and processing;

data management storage and retrieval;

global positioning system oriented functionality;

user interface functionality;

remote network and local access and control of both gateway and non-gateway devices;

plug-and-play capabilities;

local and remote device power management;

voice recognition;

local and remote security; and

dynamic hardware and software configurability; and

wherein said GS is further configured to allow functional capabilities within said gateway to be performed in both a local and a networked topology using any of local and remote hardware and software.