Remote telephony receiver

• US 7,092,500 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas E., Moore, Victor S., Katz, Neil A., Jaiswal, Peeyush
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/325,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.04, 379/102.06, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.08
• US Class Current: 379/102.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

A method for implementing a remote receiver connected to a telephony network can include a call authorizer that can access remote receiver specific information, wherein the remote receiver specific information can include an authorization requirement. The call authorizer can receive a digitally encoded signal specifying an authorization code. Prior to a telephony connection being established between the remote receiver and an originating device, the call authorizer can determine whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement. Responsive to this determination, the call authorizer can send a ringing signal via the telephone line to the remote receiver. The remote receiver can power an actuator within the remote receiver with a voltage from the ringing signal. The actuator can activate a device controlled by the remote receiver.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a remote receiver connected to a telephony network comprising the steps of:

accessing remote receiver specific information, wherein the remote receiver specific information includes an authorization requirement;

receiving a digitally encoded signal specifying an authorization code;

prior to a telephony connection being established between the remote receiver and an originating device, determining whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement;

responsive to said determining step, sending a ringing signal via a telephone line to the remote receiver;

powering an actuator within the remote receiver with a voltage from the ringing signal to activate a device controlled by the remote receiver

acquiring from the remote receiver a digital signal; and

modifying the remote receiver specific information responsive to said acquiring step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

powering circuitry within the remote receiver other than the actuator with span power from the telephone line.

3. The method of claim 1, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering a lock state of the device, wherein the lock state is selected from the group consisting of locked and unlocked.

4. The method of claim 1, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering an access state of the device, wherein the access state is selected from the group consisting of opened and closed.

5. The method of claim 1, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering an operational state of the device, wherein the operational state is selected from the group consisting of started and stopped.

6. The method of claim 1, said receiving step further comprising the step of:

receiving said authorization code via a CNG channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the CNG channel is within the frequency range of 900–

1,300 Hz.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an authorization request to the originating device responsive to a connectivity request, wherein said receiving step is responsive to said transmitting step.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting step further comprises the step of:

including an encrypted key within the authorization request.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting step further comprises the step of:

transmitting the authorization request via a ringback channel.

11. A method of utilizing a remote receiver comprising the steps of:

receiving a digitally encoded signal via a telephone line specifying data for the remote receiver;

decoding the digitally encoded signal;

acquiring a ringing signal via the telephone line;

powering an actuator with a voltage from the ringing signal to perform a predefined function upon a controlled device.

acquiring from the remote receiver a digital signal; and

,

updating remote receiver specific information in the remote receiver responsive to acquiring the digital signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined function of said powering step is selected from the group consisting of a locking function, an unlocking function, an opening function, a closing function, a starting function, and a stopping function.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said digitally encoded signal specifies an authorization code, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

authorizing access to the remote receiver based on the authorization code.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said digitally encoded signal specifies a remote receiver command, and wherein said method further comprises the step of:

executing the remote receiver command resulting in a functional change within the remote receiver.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the digitally encoded signal is a pre-connection telephony signal.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

powering circuitry within the remote receiver other than the actuator with span power from the telephone line.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

digitally encoding information specifying remote receiver data into a receiver signal; and

,

transmitting the receiver signal via the telephone line.

21. The system of claim 17, said remote receiver further comprising:

a receiver power generator configured to power circuitry within said remote receiver utilizing span power from the telephone line.

22. The system of claim 17, said remote receiver further comprising:

a command processor configured to alter at least one function performed by said remote receiver whenever said remote receiver is activated.

23. The system of claim 17, said remote receiver further comprising:

a security manager comprising security information about accessing said remote receiver, said security manager configured to convey a digitally encoded signal specifying at least a portion of the security information to said call authorizer.

18. A system for remote controlling a device through telephony signals comprising:

a call authorizer communicatively linked to a telephony network, configured to send and receive digitally encoded pre-connection telephony signals specifying authentication information; and

,

a remote receiver communicatively linked to said call authorizer via a telephone line, said remote receiver containing a switching mechanism which is powered by a ring voltage received through the telephone line

wherein said call authorizer is further configured to generate a digitally encoded signal specifying an encrypted key that must be decrypted by an originating device before a telephony connection is established between the originating device and said remote receiver.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said call authorizer is a network element within a telephony network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said call authorizer is a switch independent application.

24. A remote receiver comprising:

a signal processor communicatively linked to a telephony network, configured to send and receive digitally encoded telephony signals specifying remote receiver information;

an actuator powered by a ring voltage received via a telephone line, configured to trigger a change within a controlled device when the remote receiver receives a ring signal;

a security manager configured to perform authorization tasks within the remote receiver, wherein at least one function within the remote receiver cannot be accessed without prior authorization being granted by said security manager.

25. The remote receiver of claim 24, wherein at least one of the digitally encoded telephony signals is a pre-connection telephony signal.

26. The remote receiver of claim 24, further comprising:

a receiver power generator configured to power the remote receiver utilizing span power from the telephone line.

27. The remote receiver of claim 24, further comprising:

a command processor configured to alter at least one function performed by the remote receiver whenever the remote receiver is activated.

28. A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

accessing remote receiver specific information, wherein the remote receiver specific information includes an authorization requirement;

receiving a digitally encoded signal specifying an authorization code;

via a CNG channel;

prior to a telephony connection being established between the remote receiver and an originating device, determining whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement;

responsive to said determining step, sending a ringing signal via a telephone line to the remote receiver; and

,

powering an actuator within the remote receiver with a voltage from the ringing signal to activate a device controlled by the remote receiver.

29. The machine readable storage of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

powering circuitry within the remote receiver other than the actuator with span power from the telephone line.

30. The machine readable storage of claim 28, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering a lock state of the device, wherein the lock state is selected from the group consisting of locked and unlocked.

31. The machine readable storage of claim 28, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering an access state of the device, wherein the access state is selected from the group consisting of opened and closed.

32. The machine readable storage of claim 28, said activating step further comprising the step of:

altering an operational state of the device, wherein the operational state is selected from the group consisting of started and stopped.

33. The machine readable storage of claim 28, wherein the CNG channel is within the frequency range of 900–

1,300 Hz.

34. The machine readable storage of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an authorization request to the originating device responsive to a connectivity request, wherein said receiving step is responsive to said transmitting step.

35. The machine readable storage of claim 34, wherein said transmitting step further comprises the step of:

including an encrypted key within the authorization request.

36. The machine readable storage of claim 34, wherein said transmitting step further comprises the step of:

transmitting the authorization request via a ringback channel.

37. The machine readable storage of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

acquiring from the remote receiver a digital signal; and

,

modifying the remote receiver specific information responsive to said acquiring step.

38. A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving a digitally encoded signal via a telephone line specifying data for a remote receiver;

decoding the digitally encoded signal;

acquiring a ringing signal via the telephone line;

powering an actuator with a voltage from the ringing signal to perform a predefined function upon a controlled device

acquiring from the remote receiver a digital signal; and

,

modifying the remote receiver specific information responsive to said acquiring the digital signal.

39. The machine readable storage of claim 38, wherein the predefined function of said powering step is selected from the group consisting of a locking function, an unlocking function, an opening function, a closing function, a starting function, and a stopping function.

40. The machine readable storage of claim 38, wherein said digitally encoded signal specifies an authorization code, the machine readable storage further causing the machine to perform the step of:

authorizing access to the remote receiver based on the authorization code.

41. The machine readable storage of claim 38, wherein said digitally encoded signal specifies a remote receiver command, and wherein the machine readable storage causes the machine to perform the step of:

executing the remote receiver command resulting in a functional change within the remote receiver.

42. The machine readable storage of claim 38, wherein the digitally encoded signal is a pre-connection telephony signal.

43. The machine readable storage of claim 38, further comprising the step of:

powering circuitry within the remote receiver other than the actuator with span power from the telephone line.

44. The machine readable storage of claim 38, further comprising the steps of:

digitally encoding information specifying remote receiver data into a receiver signal; and

,

transmitting the receiver signal via the telephone line.