Gateway registry methods and systems

• US 8,478,871 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icon Acquisitions LLC
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutt, Gerald, Wood, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/637,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-225
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A gateway device for managing a set of two or more local management devices at a location. A system for networks at a plurality of locations. A method of operating a gateway device in a control network. A method for storing information to operate a gateway device in a control network. A method for storing information to operate a replacement gateway device in a control network.

Claims

1. A gateway device for managing a set of local management devices at a location, the gateway device comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory;

a first interface coupled to the processor, wherein the first interface couples via a remote network to remote systems that are remote to the location;

a second interface coupled to the processor, wherein the second interface communicates with a local network including the set of local management devices; and

logic that sends via the remote network a request to a gateway registry, the request specifying a serial number of the gateway device, receives an address of a gateway server that has an account associated with the gateway device and an identification of the account, sends to the gateway server the identification of the account, and manages the set of local management devices using account information received in response to the identification.

2. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the account includes historical data for the local network.

3. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the account includes settings for devices associated with the account.

4. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic communicates with the gateway server using authentication information derived based on a key.

5. The gateway device of claim 4, wherein the authentication information is derived by applying a hash function to the key.

6. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the serial number comprises the media access control (MAC) address of the gateway device.

7. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic comprises a computer readable medium.

8. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic comprises computer program code stored in the memory.

9. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic comprises electronic circuitry coupled to the processor.

10. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic comprises electronic circuitry and computer program code.

11. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic initiates actions with respect to the set of local management devices in response to at least one condition.

12. The gateway device of claim 11, wherein the logic is configured based on account information received from the gateway server.

13. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the logic initiates an action depending on a mode.

14. The gateway device of claim 1, wherein the gateway registry and the gateway server comprise a single processing device.

15. A system for networks at a plurality of locations, the system comprising:

a plurality of control networks, wherein each control network includes a gateway device and management devices at a location, wherein the gateway device of each control network manages the management devices using account information of an account that corresponds to the gateway device;

a gateway registry including logic that determines an identification of the account using a serial number of the gateway device, and communicates to the gateway device the identification and a server address of a server that includes the account information; and

a server including logic that provides the account information to the gateway device based on the identification received from the gateway device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each gateway device includes a first interface that connects to a remote network over which the gateway device communicates to remote systems that are remote to the location.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein each gateway device includes a second interface that communicates with a local network, wherein the local network includes the management devices.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway registry includes a plurality of serial numbers of a plurality of gateway devices corresponding to the plurality of control networks.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway registry includes a plurality of identifications of a plurality of accounts corresponding to the plurality of control networks.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway registry includes the server address of the server that includes the account.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the server comprises the account information corresponding to a plurality of accounts of the plurality of control networks.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the server comprises the identification of each account corresponding to each gateway device.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the server comprises a key of the gateway device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the logic of the server authenticates communication from the gateway device using the key and authentication information received from the gateway device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the logic of the server applies a hash function to the key.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the authentication information is derived by applying the hash function to the key stored in the gateway device.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the account information comprises settings for devices associated with the account.

28. The system of claim 15, including a plurality of servers, wherein the gateway registry includes a set of addresses to respective servers and an association between a respective gateway device and respective server.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway registry includes a table having an association between each serial number of each gateway and an account number and server corresponding to the gateway.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the server includes a table having an association between each account identification of each gateway and a corresponding key.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein the serial number of the gateway device comprises the media access control (MAC) address of the gateway device.

32. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway registry and the server comprise a single processing device.

33. A method of operating a gateway device in a control network, the method comprising:

establishing communication between the gateway device at a location and a gateway registry using an address of the gateway registry;

sending a request to the gateway registry specifying a serial number of the gateway device;

receiving from the gateway registry an address of a gateway server that includes an account comprising account information that corresponds to the gateway device;

receiving an identification of the account;

sending to the gateway server the identification and receiving in response the account information; and

managing a set of local management devices coupled to a local network and located at the location using the account information.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising storing the address of the gateway registry on the gateway device.

35. The method of claim 33, comprising storing the serial number on the gateway device.

36. The method of claim 33, comprising communicating between the gateway device and the gateway server using authentication information derived based on a key.

37. The method of claim 36, comprising storing the key on the gateway device.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the authentication information is derived based on the key by applying a hash function to the key.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the serial number of the gateway device comprises the media access control (MAC) address of the gateway device.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the gateway registry and the gateway server comprise a single processing device.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the gateway registry is included on a first server.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the gateway server is included on a second server located physically separate from the first server.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the gateway device includes the identification of the account and the address of the gateway server.