Remote configuration and control of local devices via a broadband access gateway

• US 7,904,074 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Nambirajan, Abrams, Marc, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US11/093,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-420
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 : with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 : with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 : with one base station connected to a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 : with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 : using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8235 : Access based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 : including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 : including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 : logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 : Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 : for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 : Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 : Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 : Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 : Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for the remote configuration and control of a access devices via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. The broadband access gateway may comprise a wireless interface and a broadband network connection for exchanging information via, for example, a digital subscriber loop, a cable connection, a T1 connection, and T3 network connection. A user using any of a plurality of access devices may communicate with the broadband access gateway via the wireless interface or the broadband network connection to make remote requests of another of the access devices. Such requests may comprise, for example, accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating of multimedia information. The remote requests may include enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling of smart appliances and premise systems such as, for example, security, heating, and cooling systems.

Claims

1. A system supporting remote configuration and control of a plurality of access devices via a broadband access gateway, the system comprising:

a gateway communicatively coupled to a broadband network and at least one wireless interface, the gateway configured to selectively communicate multimedia information among the at least one wireless interface and the broadband network, and communicate with the plurality of access devices via the at least one wireless interface;

the gateway configured to collect, from at least a portion of the plurality of access devices, information identifying each access device and a corresponding set of services that may be remotely initiated;

the gateway configured to transmit at least a portion of the collected information to a first one of the plurality of access devices, when the first one of the plurality of access devices is detected to be communicatively coupled to the gateway;

the gateway configured to receive, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a user selection of a second one of the plurality of access devices;

the gateway configured to provide to the first one of the plurality of access devices, responsive to the user selection of the second one of the plurality of access devices, a set of instructions executed on the first one of the plurality of access devices to produce a user interface appropriate for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices, wherein aspects of the user interface for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices are subject to the privileges of the user of the first one of the plurality of access devices, as determined by the gateway using the information identifying the first one of the plurality of access devices collected by the gateway;

the gateway configured to receive, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a first message requesting that the second one of the plurality of access devices perform an identified service;

the gateway configured to adapt the first message to a second message compatible with the second one of the plurality of access devices based upon the first message and the collected information; and

the gateway configured to deliver the second message to the second one of the plurality of access devices.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein multimedia information comprises at least one of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and digitized music.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the information identifying each access device comprises at least one of:

an electronic serial number, an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, an International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI) address, a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) address, a manufacturer identifier, a model identifier, and a type identifier.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the set of services that may be remotely initiated comprises at least one of:

accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating, enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with the Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates using an unlicensed frequency band.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with at least one of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n standards.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the broadband network comprises at least one of:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cable network, a satellite network, a cellular network, and the Internet.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the cellular network comprises at least one of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

the gateway configured to receive information identifying at least one of;

an access device and a user from the at least a portion of the plurality of access devices; and

the gateway configured to authenticate the request from the first one of the plurality of access devices based upon the received information.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the information identifying a user comprises at least one of:

a member identifier, a user name, an administrative identifier, and a credit card number.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of access devices comprises at least one of:

a mobile multimedia handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a digital scanner, a digital camera, a security system, a heating system, and a cooling system.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein the request is received via the at least one wireless interface.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein the request is received via the broadband network.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the gateway delivers at least one of:

executable code, a script, and an applet to the first of the plurality of access devices to support one of remote configuration and remote control.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway is capable of downloading one or more of an applet, a script, or executable code to the first one of the plurality of access devices when providing the set of instructions to the first one of the plurality of access devices.

18. A method for supporting remote configuration and control of a plurality of access devices via a broadband access gateway, the method comprising:

collecting, from at least a portion of the plurality of access devices, information identifying each access device and a corresponding set of services that may be remotely initiated;

transmitting at least a portion of the collected information to a first one of the plurality of access devices, when the first one of the plurality of access devices is detected to be communicatively coupled to the broadband access gateway;

receiving, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a user selection of a second one of the plurality of access devices;

providing to the first one of the plurality of access devices, responsive to the user selection of the second one of the plurality of access devices, a set of instructions executed on the first one of the plurality of access devices to produce a user interface appropriate for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices, wherein aspects of the user interface for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices are subject to the privileges of the user of the first one of the plurality of access devices, as determined by using the information identifying the first one of the plurality of access devices;

receiving, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a first message requesting that the second one of the plurality of access devices perform an identified service;

adapting the first message to a second message compatible with the second one of the plurality of access devices based upon the first message and the collected information; and

delivering the second message to the second one of the plurality of access devices.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein multimedia information comprises at least one of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and digitized music.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein the information identifying each access device comprises at least one of:

an electronic serial number, an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, an International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI) address, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) address, a manufacturer identifier, a model identifier, and a type identifier.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein the set of services that may be remotely initiated comprises at least one of:

accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating, enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling.

22. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

communicating multimedia information among at least one wireless interface and a broadband network.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with the Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates using an unlicensed frequency band.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

26. The method according to claim 22 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with at least one of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n standards.

27. The method according to claim 22 wherein the broadband network comprises at least one of:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cable network, a satellite network, a cellular network, and the Internet.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the cellular network comprises at least one of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

29. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

the gateway configured to receive information identifying at least one of;

an access device and a user, from the at least a portion of the plurality of access devices; and

the gateway configured to authenticate the request from the first one of the plurality of access devices based upon the received information.

30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the information identifying a user comprises at least one of:

a member identifier, a user name, an administrative identifier, and a credit card number.

31. The method according to claim 18 wherein the plurality of access devices comprises at least one of:

a mobile multimedia handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a digital scanner, a digital camera, a security system, a heating system, and a cooling system.

32. The method according to claim 18 wherein the request is received via a wireless interface.

33. The method according to claim 18 wherein the request is received via a broadband network.

34. The method according to claim 18 wherein the gateway delivers at least one of:

executable code, a script, and an applet to the first of the plurality of access devices to support one of remote configuration and remote control.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein the providing the set of instructions to the first one of plurality of access devices comprises downloading one or more of an applet, a script, or executable code to the first one of the plurality of access devices.

36. A non-transitory machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections for operating a gateway supporting remote configuration and control of a plurality of access devices, the code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the operations comprising:

collecting, from at least a portion of the plurality of access devices, information identifying each access device and a corresponding set of services that may be remotely initiated;

transmitting at least a portion of the collected information to a first one of the plurality of access devices, when the first one of the plurality of access devices is detected to be communicatively coupled to the gateway;

receiving, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a user selection of a second one of the plurality of access devices;

providing to the first one of the plurality of access devices, responsive to the user selection of the second one of the plurality of access devices, a set of instructions executed on the first one of the plurality of access devices to produce a user interface appropriate for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices, wherein aspects of the user interface for configuration/control of the second one of the plurality of access devices are subject to the privileges of the user of the first one of the plurality of access devices, as determined using the information identifying the first one of the plurality of access devices;

receiving, from the first one of the plurality of access devices, a first message requesting that the second one of the plurality of access devices perform an identified service;

adapting the first message to a second message compatible with the second one of the plurality of access devices based upon the first message and the collected information; and

delivering the second message to the second one of the plurality of access devices.

37. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein multimedia information comprises at least one of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and digitized music.

38. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the information identifying each access device comprises at least one of:

an electronic serial number, an Internet protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC) address, an International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI) address, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN) address, a manufacturer identifier, a model identifier, and a type identifier.

39. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the set of services that may be remotely initiated comprises at least one of:

accessing, recording, playing, exchanging, transmitting, receiving, converting, translating, enabling, disabling, configuring, monitoring, administering, and scheduling.

40. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the code sections executable by a machine further causing the machine to perform the operations comprising:

communicating multimedia information among at least one wireless interface and a broadband network.

41. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 40 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with the Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification.

42. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 40 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates using an unlicensed frequency band.

43. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 40 wherein the at least one wireless interface communicates at a frequency of approximately 2.4 gigahertz.

44. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 40 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with at least one of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n standards.

45. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 40 wherein the broadband network comprises at least one of:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cable network, a satellite network, a cellular network, and the Internet.

46. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 45 wherein the cellular network comprises at least one of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

47. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36, wherein the code sections executable by a machine further causing the machine to perform the operations comprising:

receiving information identifying at least one of;

an access device and a user, from the at least a portion of the plurality of access devices; and

authenticating the request from the first one of the plurality of access devices based upon the received information.

48. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 47 wherein the information identifying a user comprises at least one of:

a member identifier, a user name, an administrative identifier, and a credit card number.

49. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the plurality of access devices comprises at least one of:

a mobile multimedia handset, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer (PC), a digital scanner, a digital camera, a security system, a heating system, and a cooling system.

50. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the request is received via a wireless interface.

51. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the request is received via a broadband network.

52. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36 wherein the gateway delivers at least one of:

executable code, a script, and an applet to the first of the plurality of access devices to support one of remote configuration and remote control.

53. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 36, wherein the providing the set of instructions to the first one of plurality of access devices comprises downloading one or more of an applet, a script, or executable code to the first one of the plurality of access devices.