Methods, systems and computer program products for providing a multimedia applications gateway

• US 7,941,528 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, III, John A., Ezrol, Gerald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US12/250,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-228, 370/242, 370/401, 370/252, 370/253, 370/230, 726/12, 725/35
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing application services to an end user domain are disclosed. A method includes providing a multimedia applications gateway that is connected to an access gateway for the end user domain of the application services or a multimedia applications gateway that includes an integrated access gateway function. The access gateway is communicatively coupled to end user devices at the end user domain. The method also includes configuring the multimedia applications gateway to convert network communications of a selected application service that is downloaded to the access gateway and transmitted from the access gateway to an end user device into communications having an open standards protocol recognized by each of the end user devices. The method further includes executing the selected application service via a virtual machine operating on an operating system of the multimedia applications gateway, and monitoring activities occurring in response to execution of the selected application service.

Claims

1. A method for providing application services to an end user domain, comprising:

providing, at an end user domain, a multimedia applications gateway that is connected to an access gateway for the end user domain of the application services, the access gateway communicatively coupled to end user devices and sensor and control devices at the end user domain, the multimedia applications gateway including a computer processor;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to distinguish open systems standards-based network communications at the end user domain from non-open systems standards-based network communications;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to convert network communications identified as the open systems standards-based network communications into network communications having an open standards protocol recognized by each of the end user devices, the open systems standards-based communications corresponding to a selected application service that is downloaded to the access gateway and transmitted from the access gateway to at least one of the end user devices;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to directly forward network communications identified as the non-open system standards-based communications from corresponding sensor and control devices at the end user domain to a designated remote communications device;

executing the selected application service via the multimedia applications gateway; and

monitoring activities occurring in response to execution of the selected application service, and monitoring feedback from the remote communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access gateway is communicatively coupled to the end user devices via the multimedia applications gateway using at least one of:

coaxial cable;

twisted pair wiring;

electrical or copper wiring;

wireless fidelity protocols; and

radio frequency band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the end user devices are enabled for communications having the open standards protocol, the end user devices including at least one of:

corded Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cordless Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cell phone;

dual mode handset;

personal digital assistant;

personal computer;

Internet Protocol-enabled set top box;

Internet Protocol-enabled television;

printer;

scanner; and

personal recording device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network communications identified as non-open systems standards-based network communications are transmitted directly to the sensor and control devices without conversion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensor and control devices include:

motion detector;

temperature sensor;

water sensor;

smoke detector;

carbon monoxide detector;

window or door contact sensor;

light switch;

security camera;

power module;

thermostat; and

control unit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the application services include a remote monitoring service, and the end user domain controls the sensor and control devices via a remote monitor web site of a service provider that offers the remote monitoring service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the remote monitor service includes at least one of:

sending an alert to the remote communications device associated with the end user domain in response to a triggering event defined by sensor activity identified by at least one of the sensor and control devices; and

providing, on the remote communications device, live streaming data of activity recorded by one of the sensor and control devices.

8. A system for providing application services to an end user domain, comprising:

a multimedia applications gateway at an end user domain connected to an access gateway for the end user domain of the application services, the access gateway communicatively coupled end user devices and sensor and control devices at the end user domain, the multimedia applications gateway including a computer processor;

an application executing on the multimedia applications gateway, the application implementing a method, comprising;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to distinguish open systems standards-based network communications at the end user domain from non-open systems standards-based network communications;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to convert network communications identified as the open systems standards-based network communications into network communications having an open standards protocol recognized by each of the end user devices, the open systems standards-based communications corresponding to a selected application service that is downloaded to the access gateway and transmitted from the access gateway to at least one of the end user devices;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to directly forward network communications identified as the non-open system standards-based communications from corresponding sensor and control devices at the end user domain to a designated remote communications device;

executing the selected application service via the multimedia applications gateway; and

monitoring activities occurring in response to execution of the selected application service, and monitoring feedback from the remote communications device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the access gateway is communicatively coupled to the end user devices via the multimedia applications gateway using at least one of:

coaxial cable;

twisted pair wiring;

electrical or copper wiring;

wireless fidelity protocols; and

radio frequency band.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the end user devices are enabled for communications having the open standards protocol, the end user devices including at least one of:

corded Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cordless Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cell phone;

dual mode handset;

personal digital assistant;

personal computer;

Internet Protocol-enabled set top box;

Internet Protocol-enabled television;

printer;

scanner; and

personal recording device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the network communications identified as non-open systems standards-based network communications are transmitted directly to the sensor and control devices without conversion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor and control devices include:

motion detector;

temperature sensor;

water sensor;

smoke detector;

carbon monoxide detector;

window or door contact sensor;

light switch;

security camera;

power module;

thermostat; and

control unit.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the application services include a monitoring service, and the end user domain controls the sensor and control devices through the multimedia applications gateway via a remote monitor web site of a service provider that offers the monitoring service;

and

wherein the monitoring service includes at least one of;

sending an alert to the remote communications device associated with the end user domain in response to a triggering event defined by sensor activity identified by at least one of the sensor and control devices; and

providing, on the remote communications device, live streaming data of activity recorded by one of the sensor and control devices.

14. A computer program product for providing application services to an end user domain, the computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, the program code executed by a computer and causing the computer to implement a method, comprising:

configuring a multimedia applications gateway, which is connected to an access gateway that is communicatively coupled to end user devices of an end user domain of the application services, to distinguish open systems standards-based network communications at the end user domain from non-open systems standards-based network communications, and to convert network communications identified as the open systems standards-based network communications into network communications having an open standards protocol recognized by each of the end user devices, the open systems standards-based communications corresponding to a selected application service that is downloaded to the access gateway and transmitted from the access gateway to at least one of the end user devices;

configuring the multimedia applications gateway to directly forward network communications identified as the non-open system standards-based communications from corresponding sensor and control devices at the end user domain to a designated remote communications device;

executing the selected application service via the multimedia applications gateway; and

monitoring activities occurring in response to execution of the selected application service, and monitoring feedback from the remote communications device.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the access gateway is communicatively coupled to the end user devices via the multimedia applications gateway using at least one of:

coaxial cable;

twisted pair wiring;

electrical or copper wiring;

wireless fidelity protocols; and

radio frequency band.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the end user devices are enabled for communications having the open standards protocol, the end user devices including at least one of:

corded Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cordless Internet Protocol-enabled phone;

cell phone;

dual mode handset;

personal digital assistant;

personal computer;

Internet Protocol-enabled set top box;

Internet Protocol-enabled television;

printer;

scanner; and

personal recording device.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the network communications identified as non-open systems standards-based network communications are transmitted directly to the sensor and control devices without conversion.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the sensor and control devices include:

motion detector;

temperature sensor;

water sensor;

smoke detector;

carbon monoxide detector;

window or door contact sensor;

light switch;

security camera;

power module;

thermostat; and

control unit.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the application services include a remote monitoring service, and the end user domain controls the sensor and control devices via a remote monitor web site of a service provider that offers the remote monitoring service.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the remote monitor service includes at least one of:

sending an alert to the remote communications device associated with the end user domain in response to a triggering event defined by sensor activity identified by at least one of the sensor and control devices; and

providing, on the remote communications device, live streaming data of activity recorded by one of the sensor and control devices.