System and method for automatically managing a network of user-selectable devices

• US 8,812,656 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaogoz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Kyung H
• Application Number:
  US13/042,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20110252131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 370/331, 370/352, 370/401, 379/93.02, 379/93.17, 382/103, 348/143
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A system and method for automatically forming and/or maintaining a network of user-selectable devices, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for managing a network of user-selectable devices, the method comprising:

at a network controller device configured for data communication with remotely located user-selectable devices of the network of user-selectable devices, automatically without user interaction during execution of the method;

analyzing an image to detect a change in the network, the detected change associated with a device;

upon detection of a change associated with the device, initiating a communication link with the device;

receiving from the device over the communication link device identity information for the device;

receiving device location information for the device; and

maintaining a database describing the network of user-selectable devices, the database comprising the received device identity information and the received device location information for each respective device of the network of user-selectable devices which are selectable by a user accessing the database for monitoring and controlling respective devices of the network of user-selectable devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a change comprises detecting devices within an area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a change comprises detecting that the device is a new device in a geographical area and wherein initiating a communication link with the device comprises transmitting one or more beacon messages corresponding to one or more communication protocols.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a change comprises detecting that the device has moved within a geographical area and wherein initiating a communication link with the device comprises transmitting to the geographical area one or more beacon messages corresponding to one or more communication protocols to initiate radio communication with the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a change comprises detecting that the device is no longer active within a geographical area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting a change comprises monitoring for RF transmissions indicative of a change in the network and wherein initiating a communication link with the device comprises transmitting one or more beacon messages corresponding to one or more communication protocols.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving device identity information comprises receiving information from the device describing radio frequency emissions from the device that may be utilized to identify device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identity information comprises image information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identity information comprises information indicating a type of the device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving device location information comprises receiving the device location information from the device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving device location information comprises receiving the device location information from a location-determining system different from the device.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving user interface information from the device over the communication link.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving communication information describing how to communicate with the user-selectable device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said maintaining a database comprises maintaining a data structure in which information of a user-selectable device is retrievable by device location, the method further comprising providing a database interface by which another process may access information maintained in the database including the received device identity information and the received device location information for monitoring and controlling the respective devices of the network of user-selectable devices.

15. A system for managing a network of user-selectable devices, the system comprising:

at least one module at a network controller device configured for data communication with the user-selectable devices of the network of user selectable devices, the at least one module operable to, at least;

automatically, without direct user interaction;

detect a change in the network by monitoring the network of user-selectable devices to determine whether a device environment corresponding to a monitored area has changed, the detected change associated with a device;

upon detecting a change in the network associated with the device, initiate communication with the device;

receive from the device over the communication link device identity information for the device;

receive device location information for the device; and

maintain a database in data communication with the network controller device, the database storing data describing the network of user-selectable devices, the data stored in the database comprising the received device identity information and the received device location information for each respective device of the network of user-selectable devices which are selectable by a user accessing the database for monitoring and controlling respective devices of the network of user-selectable devices.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to detect devices within an area.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to detect that the device is a new device in a geographical area.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to detect that the device has moved within a geographical area.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to detect that the device is no longer active within a geographical area.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to monitor for RF transmissions indicative of a change in the network.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to detect a change in the network by, at least in part, operating to analyze an image to detect a change in the network.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive device identity information by, at least in part, operating to receive radio frequency emissions suitable to identify the device.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the device identity information comprises image information.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the device identity information comprises information indicating a type of the device.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive device location information by, at least in part, operating to receive the device location information from the device.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive device location information by, at least in part, operating to receive the device location information from a location-determining system different from the device.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive user interface information from the device.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to receive communication information describing how to communicate with the user-selectable device.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module is operable to maintain the database describing the network of user-selectable devices by, at least in part, operating to maintain a data structure in which information of a user-selectable device is retrievable by device location and wherein said at least one module is further operable to provide a database interface by which another process may access information maintained in the database including the received device identity information and the received device location information for monitoring and controlling the respective devices of the network of user-selectable devices.