Apparatus and method for managing mobile device servers

• US 8,516,039 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• 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): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US12/896,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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

Abstract

A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a media resource center a first pairing key from a first mobile device server and enabling the first mobile device to access at least one media device based on the first pairing key, where the at least one media device is operably coupled with the media resource center, where the first mobile devices provides media services by executing a web server application that utilizes the at least one media device, and where the first mobile device communicates with a second mobile device server to provide the media services. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A first portable communication device, comprising:

a memory to store computer instructions; and

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

establishing communications with a second portable communication device;

detecting a media resource center when the first portable communication device is roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, wherein the media resource center is operably coupled with a first media device;

establishing communications with the media resource center;

transmitting a first pairing key to the media resource center to enable access by the second portable communication device to media services that utilize the first media device;

controlling access by the second portable communication device to the first media device for presenting the media services via the first media device;

determining a second media device with a capability that is similar to the first media device; and

arbitrating utilization of the first media device by selectively providing one of the second portable communication device or a third communication device with access to the second media device.

2. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein a second pairing key enables access by the third communication device to the second media device.

3. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first pairing key identifies a master device among the first and second portable communication devices.

4. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first pairing key identifies a billing plan to be applied to the media services.

5. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising:

detecting a software application of the second portable communication device; and

adjusting the media services based on execution of the software application by the second portable communication device.

6. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the first media device is a plurality of media devices, wherein the first portable communication device and the second portable communication device have access to a group of the plurality of media devices that is less than all of the plurality of media devices, and wherein the first pairing key is utilized to identify the group of the plurality of media devices.

7. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising executing a software application, wherein the software application is configured for providing a plurality of services utilizing a web server application, and wherein only a group of services of a plurality of services that is less than all of the plurality of services is enabled based on the first pairing key.

8. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising executing a software application associated with the media services, and wherein the first portable communication device assigns tasks to the second portable communication device to execute the software application.

9. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising accessing the first media device for presenting media services.

10. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising transmitting a second pairing key associated with the first portable communication device to enable the first portable communication device to access the first media device.

11. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising receiving the first pairing key from the second portable communication device.

12. The first portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller further performs operations comprising providing voice communication services with other communication devices.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor of a first mobile device server, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

executing a web server application in the first mobile device server, wherein the web server application causes the processor to perform operations comprising;

detecting a media resource center that is operably coupled with a first media device;

establishing communications with the media resource center and a second portable communication device;

transmitting a first pairing key associated with the first mobile device server to the media resource center to enable access to media services by the second portable communication device;

controlling access by the second portable communication device to the first media device for presenting media services at the first media device; and

arbitrating utilization of the first media device for providing the media services to the second portable communication device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, comprising computer instructions that cause the processor to further perform operations comprising determining a second media device with a similar capability to the first media device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the arbitrating utilization comprises selectively providing access to the first media device or the second media device.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, by a media resource center comprising a processor, a first pairing key from a first mobile device server;

enabling, by the media resource center, the first mobile device server to access a first media device based on the first pairing key associated with the first mobile device server, wherein the first media device is operably coupled with the media resource center, wherein the first mobile device server provides media services by executing a web server application that utilizes the first media device;

presenting, by the media resource center, the media services through the first media device via access by a second mobile device as directed by the first mobile device server;

enabling, by the media resource center, the second mobile device to access the first media device based on the first pairing key associated with the first mobile device server;

providing, by the media resource center, the media services from the first media device to the second mobile device, wherein the first mobile server device arbitrates utilization of the first media device for providing the media services to the second mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first mobile device server and the second mobile device are in a master-slave arrangement for providing the media services.