Subscription management of applications and services provided through user premises gateway devices

• US 8,856,289 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prodea Automation LLC (f/k/a Kip Prod P1) (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Prodea Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Ansari, Amir, Cowgill, George A., Nicholls, Leon E., Ramayya, Jude P., Masina, Ramprakash, McQuarters, Alvin R., Raissyan, Atousa
• Primary Examiner(s): RECEK, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US12/521,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-221, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• 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 47/80 : Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 : based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 : Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 : Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 : Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 : for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 : Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 : Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 : Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 : Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 : Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/911 : Bridge, e.g. brouter, bus extender

Abstract

A disclosed service management system communicates via wide area network (WAN) (99) with gateway devices (10) at various user premises, to remotely manage delivery of application services and/or features thereof by the gateway device(s), based on service subscriptions of customers associated with the gateway devices. In the examples, a subscription manager (73) provides information through the WAN identifying the applications services or features to be enabled, to each respective gateway device. Also, a service manager (75), controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to logic implementing server functionality for the application services in the gateway devices, responsive to requests from the gateway devices. The system also includes a gateway device updater (51), responsive to requests received from the gateway devices, for downloading service logic modules for implementing application services or service features to the gateway devices, via the wide area network, for application services or features identified by the service manager.

Claims

1. A method of managing one or more subscription application services provided for use by endpoint devices associated with gateway devices located at a plurality of respective user premises, each gateway device at a respective user premises being connected between a respective local area network at the premises and a wide area network, the method comprising steps of:

providing a service management system, said service management system enabling service providers to manage services through at least one of the gateway device, enabling automatic authentication, configuration, and management of gateway devices and automatic discovery, authentication, configuration, and management of endpoint devices via said gateway devices for access to services, managing application service subscriptions accessible by gateway devices and endpoint devices, and providing service updates to gateway devices, wherein the gateway devices provide gateway access to the service management system over a wide area network and at least some server functionality for service delivery to one or more endpoint devices, including client devices at respective customer premises, over the local area networks within the customer premises;

based on a service subscription of a customer associated with one of the gateway devices, sending information to the one gateway device indicating configuration data or software currently needed for the one gateway device to implement server functionality for an application service or a feature of an application service subscribed to by the associated customer, through the wide area network for communication to the one gateway device;

receiving a request from the one gateway device, indicating that the one gateway device needs the configuration data or software to implement the application service or feature thereof; and

responsive to the received request, sending configuration data or software, through the wide area network for communication to the one gateway device, to carry out at least one of;

enable the one gateway device to deliver the server functionality for the application service or the feature of the application service to one or more endpoint devices implementing client functions related to the application service;

manage endpoint and user access to third party application services;

enable, control and manage diverse endpoint device-to-endpoint device access and sharing of services within the customer premises; and

allow third party service provider access to endpoint devices to provide additional services including at least one of content, troubleshooting assistance, repairs and updates.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a query from the one gateway device requesting a check of the service subscription of the customer associated with the one gateway device, through the wide area network;

wherein the step of sending information is responsive to the receipt of the query from the one gateway device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an update of configuration data or software needed to implement server functionality for an application service or a feature of an application service;

identifying a plurality of the gateway devices subscribing to an update notification service with regard to the application service for which there has been an update of the configuration data or software, including the one gateway device; and

sending update notifications through the wide area network to the identified gateway devices;

wherein the step of sending information to the one gateway device is implemented by the sending of one of the update notifications through the wide area network to the one gateway device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving the request from the one gateway device and sending configuration data or software are facilitated through a web services interface coupled to the wide area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending configuration data or software comprises sending configuration data for the application service or the feature of the application service subscribed to by the associated customer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending configuration data or software comprises sending gateway device programming logic for the application service or the feature of the application service subscribed to by the associated customer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the gateway device programming logic comprises a logic module for one of a plurality of available application services.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the logic module for the one application service enables the gateway device to provide functions in relation to the one application service for one or more endpoint devices, the functions including:

(1) application server communication with a client functionality of one or more endpoint devices, for the one application service; and

(2) enforcement regarding authorization, authentication, configuration, or use of the one application service via the one or more endpoint devices through the one gateway device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

determining whether or not the one gateway device is an authentic one of the gateway devices;

wherein the step of sending information is performed upon successfully determining that the one gateway device is an authentic one of the gateway devices.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

establishing a secure signaling link through the wide area network to the one authenticated gateway device;

wherein the step of sending information comprises sending the information to the one gateway device through the secure signaling link.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of sending configuration data or software uses a communication through the wide area network other than the secure signaling link.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the information indicating configuration data or software currently needed to implement server functionality for an application service or a feature of an application service comprises a service descriptor; and

the service descriptor comprises an identification of the application service or the feature of an application service subscribed to by the associated customer, and an identifier of a version of current configuration data for implementing the identified application service or feature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the service descriptor comprises a link for accessing the current configuration data.

14. A service management center configured to implement the steps of the method of claim 1.

15. A product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable programming embodied in the medium for causing a system of one or more computers to implement the method of claim 1.

16. A method of managing one of a plurality of subscription application services provided for endpoint devices associated with gateway devices located at a plurality of respective user premises, each gateway device at a respective user premises being connected between a respective local area network at the premises and a wide area network, the method comprising steps of:

providing a service management system, said service management system enabling service providers to manage services through at least one of the gateway device, enabling automatic authentication, configuration, and management of gateway devices and automatic discovery, authentication, configuration, and management of endpoint devices via said gateway devices for access to services, managing application service subscriptions accessible by gateway devices and endpoint devices, and providing service updates to gateway devices, wherein the gateway devices provide gateway access to the service management system over a wide area network and at least some server functionality for service delivery to one or more endpoint devices, including client devices at respective customer premises, over the local area networks within the customer premises;

detecting an update, with regard to the one subscription application service, of configuration data or software needed to implement server functionality for the one subscription application service or a feature of the one subscription application service;

identifying a plurality of the gateway devices subscribing to an update notification service with regard to the one subscription application service for which there has been an update;

sending update notifications through the wide area network to the identified plurality of the gateway devices, indicating availability of the update with regard to the one subscription application service;

receiving a request from one of the identified gateway devices, indicating that the one gateway device needs the available update;

responsive to the received request, sending the update of the configuration data or software through the wide area network for communication to the one gateway device, to enable the one gateway device to deliver the one subscription application service or feature of the one subscription application service to one or more endpoint devices implementing client functions related to the subscription application service, based on the updated configuration data or software; and

providing additional updates as needed to carry out at least one of;

managing endpoint and user access to third party application services;

enabling, controlling and managing diverse endpoint device-to-endpoint device access and sharing of services within the customer premises; and

allowing third party service provider access to endpoint devices to provide additional services including at least one of content, troubleshooting assistance, repairs and updates.

17. A method of managing one or more subscription application services provided for endpoint devices associated with a gateway device, the gateway device being located at a user premises and connected between a local area network at the user premises and a wide area network, the method comprising steps of:

receiving information via the wide area network from a service management center managing application services provided through the gateway device and through a plurality of other gateway devices at other premises, the received information indicating configuration data or software currently needed for the gateway device to implement server functionality for an application service or a feature of an application service subscribed to by a customer associated with the gateway device;

responsive to the received information, automatically discovering and authenticating endpoint devices and determining whether or not the gateway device and endpoint devices associated with the gateway device have has the configuration data or software currently needed for the gateway device to implement a server functionality for the application service or feature subscribed to by the associated customer, and automatically configuring the endpoint devices via the gateway device if it is determined that they need updating;

upon determining that the gateway device does not have the currently needed configuration data or software, sending a request for the currently needed configuration data or software through the wide area network;

receiving configuration data or software through the wide area network;

loading the received configuration data or software, to enable the gateway device to deliver the server functionality for the application service or the feature of the application service to one or more endpoint devices implementing client functions related to the application service; and

receiving additional updates as needed to carry out at least one of;

managing endpoint and user access to third party application services;

enabling, controlling and managing diverse endpoint device-to-endpoint device access and sharing of services within the customer premises; and

allowing third party service provider access to endpoint devices to provide additional services including at least one of content, troubleshooting assistance, repairs and updates.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving configuration data or software comprises receiving configuration data for the application service or the feature of the application service subscribed to by the associated customer.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving configuration data or software comprises receiving gateway device programming logic for the application service or the feature of the application service subscribed to by the associated customer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein gateway device programming logic comprises a logic module for one of a plurality of available application services.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the logic module for the one application service enables the gateway device to provide functions in relation to the one application service for one or more endpoint devices, the functions including:

(1) application server communication with a client functionality of one or more endpoint devices, for the one application service; and

(2) enforcement regarding authorization, authentication, configuration, or use of the one application service via the one or more endpoint devices through the one gateway device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the information indicating configuration data or software currently needed to implement server functionality for an application service or a feature of an application service comprises a service descriptor; and

the service descriptor comprises an identification of the application service or the feature of an application service subscribed to by the associated customer, and an identifier of a version of current configuration data for implementing the identified application service or feature.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the service descriptor comprises a link for accessing the current configuration data.

24. A system programmed to implement the steps of the method of claim 17 and thereby function as the gateway device.

25. A product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable programming embodied in the medium for causing a system to implement the method of claim 17.

26. A service management system, comprising:

at least one computer platform coupled to a wide area network for communications with gateway devices at a plurality of respective user premises, for managing services provided through the gateway devices, enabling automatic authentication, configuration, and management of gateway devices and automatic discovery, authentication, configuration, and management of endpoint devices via said gateway devices, each respective gateway device at a respective user premises providing gateway connectivity to the wide area network and at least some server functionality for service delivery for one or more associated digital endpoint client devices including at least some service delivery via a network within the respective user premises, wherein the at least one computer platform is configured for implementing;

(a) a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features of the server functionality, to be enabled on each respective gateway device, based on a service subscription associated with the respective gateway device, and for providing information through the wide area network identifying the applications services and/or features of the server functionality, to be enabled on each respective gateway device;

(b) a service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, for distributing service specific configuration data to logic implementing the server functionality in the gateway devices via the wide area network, responsive to requests received from the gateway devices; and

(c) a gateway device updater, responsive to requests received from the gateway devices, for automatically downloading service logic modules for implementing application services and/or service features at respective gateway devices to the gateway devices via the wide area network, for enabling application services and/or service features identified by the service manager and for providing additional updates as needed to carry out at least one of;

managing endpoint and user access to third party application services;

enabling, controlling and managing diverse endpoint device-to-endpoint device access and sharing of services within the customer premises; and

allowing third party service provider access to endpoint devices to provide additional services including at least one of content, troubleshooting assistance, repairs and updates.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a web services interface implemented on the at least one computer platform;

wherein the web services interface is configured for providing gateway device access to service specific configuration data from the service manager.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

a publication/subscription (Pub/Sub) server implemented on the at least one computer platform;

wherein the Pub/Sub server is configured for publishing notification of availability of an updated service logic module for implementing one of the application services, through the wide area network to a plurality of the gateway devices subscribing to update notification service with respect to the one application service.

29. A service management system, for managing services provided through gateway devices at user premises, each respective gateway device at a respective user premises providing gateway connectivity to a wide area network and server functionality for service delivery for one or more associated digital endpoint client devices including service delivery via a network within the respective user premises, the service management system comprising:

a router for connection to the wide area network for communications with the gateway devices;

a subscription manager coupled to the router, for managing applications services and/or features of the server functionality, to be enabled on each respective gateway device, based on a service subscription associated with the respective gateway device, and for providing information through the router and the wide area network identifying the applications services and/or features of the server functionality, to be enabled on each respective gateway device;

a service manager coupled to the router, controlled by the subscription manager, for distributing service specific configuration data to logic implementing the server functionality in the gateway devices via the router and the wide area network, responsive to requests received from the gateway devices, and enabling automatic authentication, configuration, and management of gateway devices and automatic discovery, authentication, configuration, and management of endpoint devices via said gateway devices; and

a gateway device updater coupled to the router, responsive to requests received from the gateway devices, for downloading service logic modules for implementing application services and/or service features at respective gateway devices to the gateway devices via the router and the wide area network, for enabling application services and/or service features identified by the service manager and for providing additional updates as needed to carry out at least one of;

managing endpoint and user access to third party application services;

enabling, controlling and managing diverse endpoint device-to-endpoint device access and sharing of services within the customer premises; and

allowing third party service provider access to endpoint devices to provide additional services including at least one of content, troubleshooting assistance, repairs and updates.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a web services interface coupled to the router;

wherein the web services interface is configured for providing gateway device access to service specific configuration data from the service manager.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a publication/subscription (Pub/Sub) server coupled to the router;

wherein the Pub/Sub server is configured for publishing notification of availability of an updated service logic module for implementing one of the application services, through the wide area network to a plurality of the gateway devices subscribing to update notification service with respect to the one application service.