Modular interface framework for network devices

• US 9,531,601 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Ryan Yong, Pathuri, Venkata Subba Rao
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US14/254,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20150304157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/223, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• 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

Abstract

Techniques for providing interface modules for controlling network devices are provided. For example, a method may include receiving, at a computing device, a communication including a unique identifier for a network device connected to a network. The method may further include using the unique identifier to determine an interface module for the network device and transmitting the interface module, wherein when the interface module is received, the interface module displays one or more interface elements usable to control the network device connected to the network.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, communications including unique device identifiers for network devices connected to a network, wherein one of the network devices includes a function different from another one of the network devices;

associating, by the computing device, a unique device identifier with each network device, wherein the unique device identifier is used to determine a customized interface module for the associated network device, wherein a customized interface module is associated with an interface element, and wherein a customized interface element is usable to control a specific function performable by a network device connected to a network; and

transmitting, by the computing device, the customized interface modules, wherein when the customized interface modules are received by a single automation application on a mobile device, the customized interface modules are concurrently executable by the single automation application in a single interface of the single automation application that concurrently displays the customized interface elements on a display of the mobile device, and wherein the customized interface elements are usable to remotely control the specific functions performable by the network devices connected to the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of the customized interface elements correspond to one or more primary settings of the network devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein customized interface elements are configured to display a state of the network devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a customized interface module defines a contextual menu for a network device, the contextual menu corresponding to a secondary setting of the network device, and wherein the secondary setting is associated with a primary setting of the network device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the customized interface elements is selectable to display a menu, the menu including one or more changeable settings of a network device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the customized interface modules includes transmitting the customized interface modules to a local area network gateway.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the customized interface modules display customized interface elements using a single browser-based automation application.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining registration information for the network devices, wherein the network devices include one or more home automation network devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the customized interface modules at a mobile device facilitates monitoring and controlling the network devices, and wherein monitoring and controlling are enabled on the mobile device without receiving input corresponding to login credentials.

10. A system, comprising:

a computing device including one or more data processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which when executed on the one or more data processors, cause the computing device to perform operations including;

receiving communications including unique device identifiers for network devices connected to a network, wherein one of the network devices includes a function different from another one of the network devices;

associating a unique device identifier with each network device, wherein the unique device identifier is used to determine a customized interface module for the associated network device, wherein a customized interface module is associated with an interface element, and wherein a customized interface element is usable to control a specific function performable by a network device connected to a network; and

transmitting the customized interface modules, wherein when the customized interface modules are received by a single automation application on a mobile device, the customized interface modules are concurrently executable by the single automation application in a single interface of the single automation application that concurrently displays the customized interface elements on a display of the mobile device, and

wherein the customized interface elements are usable to remotely control the specific functions performable by the network devices connected to the network.

11. The system of claim 10, the operations further comprising:

obtaining registration information for the network devices, the registration information including the unique device identifiers for the network devices;

using the registration information to register the network devices; and

storing the interface modules in the computer-readable storage medium.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is a cloud computing system, and wherein the instructions further comprise instructions, which when executed by the one or more data processors, cause the one or more processors to implement a cloud based service configured to provide a plurality of customized interface modules usable to monitor and control respective ones of a plurality of network devices, the cloud based service storing a unique module identifier for each of the plurality of customized interface modules.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the customized interface elements correspond to one or more primary settings of the network devices, and wherein customized interface elements are configured to display a state of the network devices.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a customized interface module defines a contextual menu for a network device, the contextual menu corresponding to a secondary setting of the network device, and wherein the secondary setting is associated with a primary setting of the network device.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein one of the customized interface elements is selectable to display a menu, the menu including one or more changeable settings of a network device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein receiving the customized interface modules at a mobile device facilitates monitoring and controlling the network devices, and wherein monitoring and controlling are enabled on the mobile device without receiving input corresponding to login credentials.

17. A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

receive communications including unique device identifiers for network devices connected to a network, wherein one of the network devices includes a function different from another one of the network devices;

associating a unique device identifier with each network device, wherein the unique device identifier is used to determine a customized interface module for the associated network device, wherein a customized interface module is associated with an interface element, and wherein a customized interface element is usable to control a specific function performable by a network device connected to a network; and

transmit the customized interface modules, wherein when the customized interface modules are received by a single automation application on a mobile device, the customized interface modules are concurrently executable by the single automation application in a single interface of the single automation application that concurrently displays the customized interface elements on a display of the mobile device, and wherein the customized interface elements are usable to remotely control the specific functions performable by the network devices connected to the network.

18. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein one or more of the customized interface elements correspond to one or more primary settings of the network device, and wherein customized interface elements are configured to display a state of the network devices.

19. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein an customized interface module defines a contextual menu for a network device, the contextual menu corresponding to a secondary setting of the network device, and wherein the secondary setting is associated with a primary setting of the network device.

20. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein one or more of the customized interface elements correspond to one or more primary settings associated with at least one specific function performable by the one of the network devices, and wherein the at least one specific function is different from functions performable by another one of the network devices.

21. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein customized interface elements are configured to display a state of the network devices.

22. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein one of the customized interface elements is selectable to display a menu, the menu including one or more changeable settings of a network device.

23. The computer-program product of claim 17, wherein receiving the customized interface modules at a mobile device facilitates monitoring and controlling the network devices, and wherein monitoring and controlling are enabled on the mobile device without receiving input corresponding to login credentials.