Systems and methods to make a resource available via a local network

• US 8,838,815 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Tauqir
• Assistant Examiner(s): WIDHALM, ANGELA M
• Application Number:
  US12/474,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/213, 709217-219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/229, 709/231
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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

Methods and systems for making a resource available are disclosed. In a particular method, identification information associated with a portable device within a particular coverage area is received. A resource associated with the portable device is determined based on the identification information. An authentication message identifying the resource to a device is sent. Access control information is received from the device. The access control information indicates that access to the resource should be enabled via a local network. The resource is made available via the local network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving identification information from a portable device when the portable device is within a coverage area of a local network;

determining whether a first condition is satisfied based on the identification information, wherein the first condition is satisfied when a resource associated with the portable device is permitted by a service provider system to be made available via the local network, wherein the resource is unavailable to a plurality of first computing devices within the coverage area of the local network prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, wherein the resource is available to the portable device prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, and wherein the resource is remote to the portable device and remote to the local network;

determining whether a second condition is satisfied, wherein the second condition is satisfied when the resource is permitted by the portable device to be made available via the local network;

determining whether a third condition is satisfied, wherein the third condition is satisfied when access control information is received from an authentication device in the local network, the access control information indicating that access to the resource is permitted via the local network;

in response to the first, second, and third conditions being satisfied, making the resource available to the plurality of first computing devices while the plurality of first computing devices are within the coverage area of the local network; and

in response to at least one of the first, second, and third conditions not being satisfied, restricting access to the resource by the plurality of first computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a confirmation-request message to the portable device, wherein the confirmation-request message includes a request for a confirmation that the resource is permitted by the portable device to be made available via the local network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the confirmation-request message identifies a plurality of resources associated with the portable device, and wherein the confirmation includes information selecting the resource.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the resource associated with the portable device is permitted by the service provider system to be made available via the local network includes determining that the resource is included in a first list of resources that are permitted by the service provider system to be made available via the local network, that the resource is excluded from a second list of resources that are not permitted by the service provider system to be made available via the local network, or both.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the resources on the second list of resources are available to the portable device via one or more external networks prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider system is accessible to the portable device prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the local network and the portable device are associated with the service provider system, wherein the service provider system is accessible to plurality of first computing devices within the coverage area of the local network prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the service provider system includes an Internet Protocol television system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is a subscription service and wherein making the resource available via the local network comprises enabling access to the subscription service via the local network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource is an electronic file and wherein making the resource available via the local network comprises enabling access to the electronic file by the plurality of first computing devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a plurality of resources associated with the portable device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of resources includes multimedia content stored at a storage device associated with the portable device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource comprises a gaming device, a camera, or any combination thereof.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions to cause a processor to:

receive identification information from a portable device when the portable device is within a coverage area of a local network;

determine whether a first condition is satisfied based on the identification information, wherein the first condition is satisfied when a resource associated with the portable device is permitted by a service provider system to be made available via the local network, wherein the resource is unavailable to a plurality of first computing devices within the coverage area of the local network prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, wherein the resource is available to the portable device prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, and wherein the resource is remote to the portable device and remote to the local network;

determine whether a second condition is satisfied, wherein the second condition is satisfied when the resource is permitted by the portable device to be made available via the local network;

determine whether a third condition is satisfied, wherein the third condition is satisfied when access control information is received from an authentication device in the local network, the access control information indicating that access to the resource is permitted via the local network;

in response to the first, second, and third conditions being satisfied, make the resource available to the plurality computing devices while the plurality of first computing devices are within the coverage area of the local network; and

in response to at least one of the first, second, and third conditions not being satisfied, restricting access to the resource by the plurality of first computing devices.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the local network and the portable device are associated with the service provider system, and wherein the resource is a subscription service provided by the service provider system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is associated with a set-top box that includes the processor, and wherein the portable device is a mobile telephony device.

16. A computing device comprising:

a network interface to enable communication via a local network;

a proximity detector to determine whether a portable device is located within a coverage area of the local network; and

a gateway module coupled to the proximity detector to;

communicate with the portable device when the portable device is located within the coverage area of the local network to determine identification information associated with the portable device;

receive an authentication message from a resource manager based on the identification information, wherein the authentication message indicates whether a first condition, a second condition, and a third condition are satisfied, wherein the first condition is satisfied when a resource associated with the portable device is permitted by a service provider system to be made available via the local network, wherein the second condition is satisfied when the resource is permitted by the portable device to be made available via the local network, wherein the third condition is satisfied when an authentication device in the local network indicates that access to the resource is permitted via the local network, wherein the resource is unavailable to a plurality of computing devices within the coverage area of the local network prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, wherein the resource is available to the portable device prior to the portable device entering the coverage area of the local network, and wherein the resource is remote to the portable device and remote to the local network;

in response to determining that the first, second, and third conditions are satisfied, send access control information to the resource manager, wherein the access control information indicates that access to the resource is permitted via the local network; and

in response to determining that at least one of the first, second, and third conditions are not satisfied, send the access control information to the resource manager, wherein the access control information indicates that access to the resource is not permitted via the local network.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the computing device is designated by a user of the computing device to receive the authentication message.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the computing device includes a set-top box configured to display the authentication message at a display coupled to the set-top box.

19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the gateway module is configured to make the resource unavailable at the computing device when the portable device leaves the coverage area of the local network.