Method, system, and computer program product for managing controlled residential or non-residential environments

• US 7,933,945 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: OpenPeak Inc.
• Inventors: Gittleman, Daniel J, Trotter, John A, Krzyzanowski, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Barbara N
• Application Number:
  US10/180,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,225 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/208, 709/209, 709/217, 709/220, 709/227, 709/231, 709/237, 700/19, 700/83
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A control server, or similar central processor, manages the distribution of data (including audio and video), voice, and control signals among a plurality of devices connected via a wired and/or wireless communications network. The devices include audio/visual devices (such as, televisions, monitors, PDAs, notepads, notebooks, MP3, portable stereo, etc.) as well as household appliances (such as, lighting, ovens, alarm clocks, etc.). The control server supports video/audio serving, telephony, messaging, file sharing, internetworking, and security. A portable controller allows a user to access and control the network devices from any location within a controlled residential and/or non-residential environment, including its surrounding areas. The controllers are enhanced to support location-awareness and user-awareness functionality.

Claims

1. A method for providing follow-me control of devices or applications in a controlled environment having one or more regions, comprising:

accessing a locator code corresponding to a location of a portable device within the controlled environment;

obtaining a user identity code corresponding to a user of the portable device;

matching the locator code to a first region of the controlled environment, wherein the first region includes one or more devices or applications, wherein said devices or applications are controlled via customizable settings;

using the user identity code to access a profile associated with said user, wherein the profile includes one or more default settings for said one or more devices or applications in the first region;

automatically applying said default settings to said customizable settings corresponding to said first region and said profile to provide customized control of said one or more devices or applications;

allowing the user to alter at least one of the customizable settings for said one or more devices or applications in the first region; and

automatically applying said customizable settings to one or more of the devices or applications within a second region as said portable device is moved from the first region to the second region within said controlled environment,

wherein said allowing step comprises presenting media corresponding to a request comprising presenting media from a home security system comprising at least one of a camera and a microphone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting media further comprises opening an FTP document.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein said accessing further comprises accessing the locator code from a bar code.

4. A network controller, comprising:

interfacing means for communicating with a control center and responsive to exchanging data and/or control signals with said control center, wherein said data and/or said control signals allow control of one or more network components positioned in a spatial location of the network controller, wherein said one or more network components are controlled via customizable settings;

positioning means for determining the spatial location of the network controller;

identification means for determining user awareness;

profiling means for accessing a user-specific profile of default settings for said one or more network components;

control means for automatically applying said default settings to said customizable settings based on said spatial location and said profile to provide customized control of said one or more network components and allowing a user to alter at least one customizable setting for said one or more network components;

means for automatically applying said customizable settings to the one or more network components as the network controller is moved from one location to another location within a controlled environment;

display means for presenting media corresponding to exchanges with said control center; and

authentication means for determining said user awareness.

5. A system for managing a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, wherein the plurality of network components are controlled via customizable settings, comprising:

a network control center configured to control the operations and/or functions of the plurality of network components;

positioning means for tracking and/or monitoring a location or movement of at least one of the plurality of network components;

profiling means for accessing a user-specific profile of default settings for said one or more network components, wherein said default settings are automatically applied to the customizable settings based on the location of said one or more network components; and

altering means for allowing a user to alter at least one of the customizable settings for the plurality of network components, wherein the customizable settings are applied as the network control center is moved from one location to another location within said controlled environment;

wherein the plurality of network components includes a controller means for interacting with said network control center and said positioning means,

wherein said controller means sends a control request to one or more of the plurality of network components located within a vicinity of said controller means, and

wherein said network control center comprises security means for interacting with a security system.

6. A tangible computer program readable medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a computer to manage a plurality of network components within a controlled environment, the instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving or determining a location of a portable controller within the controlled environment, wherein said portable controller is one of the plurality of network components, wherein said plurality of network components are controlled via customizable settings;

instructions for specifying one or more of the plurality of network components located within a vicinity of said portable controller;

instructions for accessing a user-specific profile of default settings for said one or more network components;

instructions for applying said default settings to said customizable settings based on said location and said profile to provide customized control of said one or more of the plurality of network components and to allow a user to alter one customizable setting for said one or more of the plurality of network components, wherein said fourth computer readable program code means accesses a user-specific profile of customizable settings for said one or more network components is accessed;

instructions for applying said customizable settings as said portable controller is moved from one location to another location within said controlled environment; and

instructions for allowing the execution of the user-specific profile to block access to at least one of a telephone number, a web site, a television channel, an audio recording, a video recording, and a secured area.