Method and apparatus for third party control of a device

• US 9,195,767 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Burger, Michel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt, II, Calvin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERR, MARIA CRISTI OWEN
• Application Number:
  US11/981,326
• Time in Patent Office: 2,946 Days
• Field of Search: 705 50- 79
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3829 involving key management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/08 Key distribution or management, e.g. generation, sharing or updating, of cryptographic keys or passwords network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting key management in a packet data network H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand

Abstract

A method and apparatus for third party control of a device have been disclosed. By utilizing a third party to control a device, view and control of a device may be separated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating via a first communication link a first communication between a first device and a second device, said first communication having an identification associated with said first device;

communicating via a second communication link a second communication between said second device and a third device, said second communication based on said identification associated with said first device;

receiving on said second device via said second communication link a third communication from said third device, said third communication communicating a menu of items available from said first device;

receiving on said third device via said second communication link a fourth communication from said second device, said fourth communication communicating one or more user selected items from said menu of items available from said first device;

communicating via a third communication link a fifth communication between said third device and said first device, said fifth communication communicating one or more of said one or more user selected items from said menu of items available from said first device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first communication link is unidirectional from said first device to said second device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said fifth communication controls said first device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said fifth communication controlling said first device is based upon said fourth communication from said second device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said fourth communication is based upon input received from a human input interface.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating a transaction selected from the group consisting of a payment, a credit, and a payment and a credit.

7. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device, said first communication having an identification associated with said first device;

means for receiving a second communication from the second device on a third device, said second communication based on said identification associated with said first device;

means for receiving a third communication from said third device on said second device, said third communication communicating a menu of items available from said first device;

means for receiving a fourth communication from said second device on said third device, said fourth communication communicating one or more user selected items from said menu of items available from said first device; and

means for receiving a fifth communication from the third device on the first device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fifth communication further comprises means for controlling the first device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fifth communication means for controlling the first device is based upon the fourth communication from the second device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means for receiving a first communication from a first device on a second device further comprises means for receiving a unidirectional first communication from the first device on the second device.