Interoperability using a local proxy server
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for managing communications, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a local-networking gateway, a request from a requesting device located in a local network for performance of a particular function;
accessing, at the local-networking gateway, a stored indication of a function capable of being performed by another device located in the local network;
determining, based on having accessed the indication of the function capable of being performed by the device, that the particular function cannot be completed by the device;
retrieving, in response to determining that the particular function cannot be completed by the device, device capability information stored by the home networking gateway, the device capability information including a device identifier a device identifier associated with each of a plurality of external devices and associating a capability and a priority level for performing the capability with each device identifier;
selecting a first external device from among the plurality of external devices, the first external device identified by the device capability information as being capable of performing the particular function, having a highest priority for performing the particular function, and available to perform the particular function, wherein the first external device is distinct from the local-networking gateway, external to the local network, and accessible to the local-networking gateway;
forwarding, from the local-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device;
receiving, at the local-networking gateway, an indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the local network; and
sending to the requesting device, form the local-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the particular function requested has been performed.
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Abstract
A home-networking gateway may automatically provide a function based on data identified on a device on a home network. The home-networking gateway may perform the function using another device that is capable of performing the function and is accessible to the home-networking gateway.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing communications, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a local-networking gateway, a request from a requesting device located in a local network for performance of a particular function; accessing, at the local-networking gateway, a stored indication of a function capable of being performed by another device located in the local network; determining, based on having accessed the indication of the function capable of being performed by the device, that the particular function cannot be completed by the device; retrieving, in response to determining that the particular function cannot be completed by the device, device capability information stored by the home networking gateway, the device capability information including a device identifier a device identifier associated with each of a plurality of external devices and associating a capability and a priority level for performing the capability with each device identifier; selecting a first external device from among the plurality of external devices, the first external device identified by the device capability information as being capable of performing the particular function, having a highest priority for performing the particular function, and available to perform the particular function, wherein the first external device is distinct from the local-networking gateway, external to the local network, and accessible to the local-networking gateway; forwarding, from the local-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device; receiving, at the local-networking gateway, an indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the local network; and sending to the requesting device, form the local-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the particular function requested has been performed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for managing communications, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a local-networking gateway, a request from a requesting device located in a local network for storage of a file; accessing, at the local-networking gateway, a stored indication of a function capable of being performed by another device located on the local network; determining, based on having accessed the indication of the function capable of being performed by the device, that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed by the device; retrieving, in response to determining that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed by the device and without user intervention, device capability information stored by the local networking gateway, the device capability information including a device identifier a device identifier associated with each of a plurality of external devices and associating a capability and a priority level for performing the capability with each device identifier; selecting a storage device from among the plurality of external devices, the storage device identified by the device capability information as having characteristics of being;
capable of storage of the file, having a highest priority for performing the storage of the file, and available to perform the storage of the file, wherein the storage device is distinct from the local-networking gateway, external to the local network, and accessible to the local-networking gateway;forwarding, from the local-networking gateway, the request for storage of the file to the storage device; receiving, at the local-networking gateway, an indication that the storage device has stored the file and an identifier of the location where the file has been stored; and sending to the requesting device, from the local-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the local-networking gateway has stored the file.
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19. A method for managing communications, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a local-networking gateway, a request from a requesting device located in a local network for retrieval of a media file; accessing, at the local-networking gateway, a stored indication of a function capable of being performed by another device located on the local network; determining, based on having accessed the indication of the function capable of being performed by the device, that the retrieval of the media file is not capable of being performed by the device; retrieving, in response to determining that the retrieval of the media file is not capable of being performed by the device and without user intervention, device capability information stored by the local networking gateway, the device capability information including a device identifier a device identifier associated with each of a plurality of external devices and associating a capability and a priority level for performing the capability with each device identifier; selecting a media file storage device from among a plurality of external devices, the media file storage device identified by the device capability information as having characteristics of being;
capable of performing the retrieval of the media file and having a highest priority for performing the storage of the file, wherein the media file storage device is distinct from the local-networking gateway, external to the local network, and accessible to the local-networking gateway;forwarding, from the local-networking gateway, the request for retrieval of the media file to the media file storage device; receiving, at the local-networking gateway, the media file; and sending to the requesting device, from the local-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the local-networking gateway has retrieved the media file even though the media file storage device retrieved the media file.
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Specification