System, method and computer program product for identifying, configuring and accessing a device on a network

• US 8,447,843 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: remot3.it, Inc.
• Original Assignee: remot3.it, Inc.
• Inventors: Koyama, Ryo, Johnson, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/860,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/12 characterised by the materials of which they are formed
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying, configuring, and accessing a device connected to a network. In operation, a device connected to a network is automatically identified. Additionally, the device is automatically configured. Strictly as an option, the device may be accessed on the network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

automatically identifying a first device connected to a network;

automatically configuring the first device;

detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device, wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device;

determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device;

comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address; and

associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is permitted to grant varying degrees of permission to access the first device to at least one other user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is permitted to grant varying degrees of permission to configure the first device to at least one other user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is permitted to transfer an association of the first device to at least one other user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device includes an un-configured device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device includes a configured device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first internet protocol (IP) address associated with the first device is unknown.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising linking the first device to an account.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the account is associated with a service.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising re-configuring the configured first device utilizing the service.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the service allows a connection to the configured first device without the knowledge of the internet protocol (IP) address associated with the configured first device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein communication between the service and first device includes a protocol that updates configuration information of the configured first device at the request of the user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the configured first device is re-configured utilizing an interface associated with the service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a website associated with the service includes the interface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the interface associated with the service is populated with configurable information of the configured first device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first device is updated, based on the configurable information.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying includes identifying the first device connected to the network utilizing a unique identifier associated with the first device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically identified first device is displayed on a service homepage.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein in addition to the automatic configuration, the first device is further configured, updated or controlled.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device signifies to the user via an indicator that it has connected to a service.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein upon the first device being automatically configured, the first device is moved from the network to another network while maintaining an association with the user.

22. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable memory, comprising:

computer code for automatically identifying a first device connected to a network;

computer code for automatically configuring the first device;

computer code for detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device,

wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device;

computer code for determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device;

computer code for comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address; and

computer code for associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

23. A system, comprising:

a processor in communication with non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor operable for automatically identifying a first device connected to a network, automatically configuring the first device, detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device, wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device, determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device, comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address, and associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

24. A method, comprising:

automatically identifying a first device connected to a network utilizing a unique identifier associated with the device;

detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device, wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device;

determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device;

comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address; and

associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising automatically configuring the first device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the unique identifier includes one of a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a Universal Product Code (UPC).

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising associating the first device with at least one universal device locator.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising accessing the first device on the network utilizing the at least one universal device locator.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the association of the first device with the at least one universal device locator is utilized to establish a direct peer-to-peer network between the first device and a remote device associated with the at least one universal device locator.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the unique identifier is associated with the at least one universal device locator.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one universal device locator corresponds to a service provider.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the user associated with the at least one universal device locator has access to the first device over the network.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the access to the first device is provided utilizing a service corresponding to the service provider.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein an association between the unique identifier and the at least one universal device locator is utilized to establish ownership of a product.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the association between the unique identifier and the at least one universal device locator is utilized to establish device capabilities of a product.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the device capabilities are disabled when the association is broken.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the device capabilities are limited when the association is broken.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein a transfer of the association between the unique identifier and the user is used for triggering a transaction.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein a transfer of the association between the at least one universal device locator and the user is used for triggering a commercial transaction.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein a plurality of universal device locators are associated with the first device.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein a master universal device locator, identified from the plurality of universal device locators, designates permissions for the plurality of universal device locators.

42. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable memory, comprising:

computer code for automatically identifying a first device connected to a network utilizing a unique identifier associated with the first device;

computer code for detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device, wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device;

computer code for determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device;

computer code for comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address; and

computer code for associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

43. A system, comprising:

a processor in communication with non-transitory computer readable memory, the processor operable for automatically identifying a first device connected to a network utilizing a unique identifier associated with the first device, detecting a first internet protocol address of the first device, wherein the first internet protocol address is acquired by the first device via a dynamic host configuration protocol and the first internet protocol address is detected based on a network connection between the first device and a server device, determining a second internet protocol address of a second device utilized by a user to logon to the server device, comparing the first internet protocol address to the second internet protocol address, and associating the user with the first device in response to a determination that the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

44. A method of automatically identifying, configuring and registering an unconfigured device, comprising:

connecting an unconfigured first device to a server via a network connection;

storing a first internet protocol (IP) address of the unconfigured first device in a database;

connecting a user or an already configured second device associated with the user to the server via a network;

storing a second IP address of the user or the already configured second device in the database;

searching the database for the unconfigured first device at the stored second IP address of the user or the already configured second device; and

creating an association between the unconfigured first device and the user if the unconfigured first device is found at the stored second IP address of the user or the already configured second device in the database.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the connecting of the user or the already configured second device occurs before the connecting of the unconfigured first device.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the connecting of the unconfigured first device occurs before the connecting of the user or the already configured first device.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the unconfigured first device is displayed on a service homepage.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein after the unconfigured first device is automatically identified, configured and registered, the unconfigured first device is then further modified, updated or controlled.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein while the unconfigured first device is automatically identified, configured and registered, the unconfigured first device signifies to the user via an indicator that the unconfigured first device is connected to a service.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein after the unconfigured first device is automatically identified, configured and registered, the network connection is changed while maintaining the association.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein while the unconfigured first device is automatically identified, configured and registered, a presence of the unconfigured first device is displayed to the user.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein while the unconfigured first device is being automatically identified, configured and registered, the user is presented with one or more of the following options:

an option for manually identifying the unconfigured first device;

an option for manually configuring the unconfigured first device;

an option for manually registering the unconfigured first device; and

an option for manually creating the association between the unconfigured first device and the user.