Method and apparatus for third party control of a device

• US 9,443,235 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• 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): Goldberg, Ivan R
• Application Number:
  US11/981,104
• Time in Patent Office: 3,240 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39
• 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 in order (a) through (u) as noted below:

(a) emitting a unidirectional beacon from a kiosk, said unidirectional beacon having an identification of said kiosk and data about a current state of said kiosk;

(b) receiving on a personal digital assistant said unidirectional beacon containing said kiosk identification and said data about said current state of said kiosk;

(c) sending from said personal digital assistant a first wireless communication to a network, said first wireless communication containing a first message based on said received identification and said data about said current state of said kiosk and a user identification from said personal digital assistant;

(d) receiving on a kiosk user interface said first message from said network;

(e) sending from said kiosk user interface a second message to said network, said second message based on said identification and containing a selection of movie choices;

(f) sending from said network a second wireless communication, said second wireless communication containing said second message;

(g) receiving on said personal digital assistant said second wireless communication;

(h) displaying on said personal digital assistant said selection of movie choices;

(i) receiving on said personal digital assistant a user selection chosen from said selection of movie choices;

(j) sending from said personal digital assistant a third wireless communication to said network, said third wireless communication containing a third message based on said user selection;

(k) receiving on a movie on demand server said third message from said network;

(l) sending from said movie on demand server a fourth message to said network, said fourth message based on said third message and containing pricing information;

(m) sending from said network a fourth wireless communication, said fourth wireless communication containing said fourth message;

(n) receiving on said personal digital assistant said fourth wireless communication;

(o) displaying on said personal digital assistant said pricing information;

(p) receiving on said personal digital assistant a user response chosen from the group consisting of yes, and no;

(q) when yes then sending from said personal digital assistant a fifth wireless communication to said network, said fifth wireless communication containing a fifth message based on said user response;

(r) receiving on said movie on demand server said fifth message from said network; and

(s) determining on said personal digital assistant if said personal digital assistant is in a local proximity to said kiosk;

(t) when said personal digital assistant is in the local proximity to said kiosk then sending from said movie on demand server to said kiosk through said network for displaying on said kiosk a movie corresponding to said user selection; and

(u) when said personal digital assistant is not in the local proximity to said kiosk then sending from said personal digital assistant a sixth message based on said personal digital assistant no longer in the local proximity to said kiosk, said sixth message being received on said movie on demand server from said network and said movie on demand server ceasing sending from said movie on demand server to said kiosk through said network for displaying on said kiosk said movie corresponding to said user selection.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining on said personal digital assistant if said personal digital assistant is in the local proximity to said kiosk is based upon said personal digital assistant receiving said unidirectional beacon containing said identification.