Multi-path gateway communications device

• US 7,474,667 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IoT Innovations LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Jonathan M., Hodges, Donna K., Kreiner, Barrett Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi, Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US11/879,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/351, 370/389, 370/401, 370/402, 370/329, 370/342, 370/392, 370/410, 370/411, 370/428, 370/313, 455/462, 455/466, 725/77, 709/203, 709/218, 709/230, 709/238, 719/317, 379/265.09, 379/219
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a virtual personalized network. Communications are established with a personal digital gateway to control access, sharing, security, and/or management of up-to-date personalized data exchanged between or among a plurality of associated communications devices and/or communications networks. The associated communications devices are owned, operated, and/or accessed by a common user.

Claims

1. A method of processing data, comprising:

receiving a selection of a communications device from a plurality of communications devices associated with a common user;

receiving the data associated with the selected communications device;

accessing a database of rule-based profiles comprising configuration and presentation parameters for the plurality of communications devices;

querying the database of rule-based profiles for the selected communications device;

retrieving a profile associated with the selected communications device;

integrating the data into the profile; and

communicating the integrated data and the profile to the selected communications device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether an external network should be queried for remote data.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising triggering the communications device to query for the remote data.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether an external network should be queried for linked data.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising triggering the communications device to query for the linked data.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an updated profile from the communications device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing a collection of bookmarks in the profile, each bookmark having a date stamp and indicating a specific version of the data.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dynamically communicating with the plurality of communications devices based on a proximity of each communications device.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising automatically interfacing with an office computer when a user is at an office.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising automatically interfacing with a mobile phone when a user is within a certain distance of the mobile phone.

11. A system for processing data, comprising:

means for receiving a selection of a communications device from a plurality of communications devices associated with a common user;

means for receiving the data associated with the selected communications device;

means for accessing a database of rule-based profiles comprising configuration and presentation parameters for the plurality of communications devices;

means for querying the database of rule-based profiles for the selected communications device;

means for retrieving a profile associated with the selected communications device;

means for integrating the data into the profile; and

means for communicating the integrated data and the profile to the selected communications device.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for determining whether an external network should be queried for remote data.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising means for triggering the communications device to query for the remote data.

14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for determining whether an external network should be queried for linked data.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising means for triggering the communications device to query for the linked data.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving an updated profile from the communications device.

17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for storing a collection of bookmarks in the profile, each bookmark having a date stamp and indicating a specific version of the data.

18. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for dynamically communicating with the plurality of communications devices based on a proximity of each communications device.

19. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for automatically interfacing with an office computer when a user is at an office.

20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising means for automatically interfacing with a mobile phone when a user is within a certain distance of the mobile phone.