Apparatus and method for managing software applications of a mobile device server

• US 8,504,449 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• 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: Brown, William A., Meuninck, Troy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): OBAID, FATEH M
• Application Number:
  US12/896,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which operates in a mobile device server and which has computer instructions to obtain a software application, store a first pairing key in a memory of the mobile device server where the first pairing key is generated by a device of a service provider in response to a review of the software application for compliance with at least one policy of the service provider, and execute a web server application at the mobile device server that is operable to detect a media resource center operably coupled with at least one media device, establish communications with the media resource center and transmit the first pairing key to the media resource center to enable at least a portion of services that are associated with the software application and that utilize the at least one media device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a memory comprising computer instructions; and

a controller coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions, the controller performs operations comprising;

receiving a software application and a first pairing key, the software application downloadable from a remote server, wherein the first pairing key is generated by a device of a service provider in response to a review of the software application for compliance with a policy of the service provider; and

executing a web server application in the portable communication device, wherein in accordance with executing the web server application, the operations further comprise;

detecting a media resource center when roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, wherein the media resource center is operably coupled with one of a plurality of media devices including a media processor, or a gaming console;

facilitating communications with the media resource center; and

transmitting the first pairing key to the media resource center to enable a subset of a plurality of services associated with the software application to be used with a subset of the plurality of media devices and disable the subset of the plurality of services associated with the software application for a remainder of the plurality of media devices.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein voice communications are enabled on the portable communication device by equipment of the service provider, and wherein the review of the software application is performed by personnel of the service provider.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a second pairing key associated with the software application, and wherein a plurality of services associated with the software application are enabled based on the second pairing key.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a third pairing key to the media resource center, wherein the media resource center authenticates the portable communication device based on the third pairing key.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the third pairing key identifies a billing scheme, and wherein a charge is applied to a subscriber account associated with the portable communication device according to the billing scheme.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising removable hardware configured to communicate with the controller, wherein the removable hardware processes a portion of the software application.

7. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein in the receiving of the software application and the first pairing key, the controller receives the first pairing key prior to receiving the software application, and wherein the first pairing key is received by one of using removable hardware, or during manufacture of the portable communication device.

8. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage device in a mobile device server, the tangible computer-readable storage device comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a software application;

storing a first pairing key in a memory of the mobile device server, wherein the first pairing key is generated by a device of a service provider in response to a review of the software application for compliance with a policy of the service provider;

executing a web server application at the mobile device server, wherein in accordance with executing the web server application, the operations further comprise;

detecting a media resource center when roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, wherein the media resource center is operably coupled with one of a plurality of media devices including a media processor, or a gaming console;

facilitating communications with the media resource center; and

transmitting the first pairing key to the media resource center to enable a subset of a plurality of services associated with the software application to be used with a subset of the plurality of media devices and disable the subset of the plurality of services associated with the software application for a remainder of the plurality of media devices.

9. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise enabling voice communications on the mobile device server, wherein the media resource center is detected when the mobile device server is roaming in a communication zone of an internet protocol television system gateway of the media resource center.

10. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise storing the first pairing key in a removable memory device of the mobile device server.

11. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting a second pairing key to the media resource center, wherein the media resource center authenticates the mobile device server based on the second pairing key, and wherein a charge is applied to a subscriber account associated with one of the mobile device server, or the media resource center based on a service plan determined from one of the first pairing key, or the second pairing key.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, by a portable communication device comprising a processor, a software application from a third party vendor, the software application being executable by the portable communication device, wherein the portable communication device comprises an executable web server application to provide a media service to a media device, wherein the software application implements the service to be used with the media device comprising one of a media processor, or a gaming console;

reviewing, by the portable communication device, the software application for compliance with a policy associated with a service provider; and

generating, by the portable communication device, a pairing key based on the reviewing of the software application, wherein the pairing key is utilized to authenticate the software application to be used with the media device, wherein the pairing key is generated by a server; and

providing, by the portable communication device, the pairing key to the portable communication device and to a media resource center when the portable communication device is detected as roaming within a communication zone of the media resource center,

wherein the media resource center is operably coupled with a plurality of media devices, and wherein the pairing key enables a subset of a plurality of services associated with the software application to be used with a subset of a plurality of media devices and disables the subset of the plurality of services associated with the software application for a remainder of the plurality of media devices.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reviewing of the software application is performed by a compliance processor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reviewing of the software application is based on information provided by an entity different from the service provider and the third party vendor, and wherein the information comprises an analysis of the software application.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the reviewing of the software application is only performed after a pre-determined number of portable communication devices have selected to download the software application.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein the media resource center is operably coupled with the media device, and wherein the media resource center is configured to authenticate the software application using the pairing key and to provide services via the media device.