System for managing resources accessible to a mobile device server

• US 9,609,655 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• 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): Zong, Ruolei
• Application Number:
  US15/084,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/223, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/231, 455/410, 455/412, 455/414
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a resource control manager while roaming in a communication zone of the resource control manager, and to transmit a pairing key to the resource control manager. The web server application can also be operable to receive from the resource control manager authorization to pair with one or more resources selected by the resource control manager according to the pairing key, and to establish communications with the one or more resources selected by the resource control manager. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

facilitating establishing, by a first resource control manager operating from a processing system including a processor, communications with a mobile communication device responsive to the mobile communication device moving into a communication zone associated with the processing system, wherein the first resource control manager manages usage of a plurality of resources, and wherein the mobile communication device has voice services capability;

receiving, by the first resource control manager, a pairing key from the mobile communication device;

according to the pairing key, authorizing, by the first resource control manager, a delegation of management of a subset of the plurality of resources to the mobile communication device; and

transmitting, by the first resource control manager to the mobile communication device, delegation information associated with services, wherein the services are accessible via the subset of the plurality of resources, and wherein the delegation information is utilized by the mobile communication device in providing the services via the subset of the plurality of resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one resource of the subset of the plurality of resources is managed by a second resource control manager, and wherein the first and second resource control managers are in a master-slave arrangement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation information comprises digital rights management policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation information comprises quality of services policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation information comprises bandwidth management policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the delegation information comprises time-based usage policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pairing key enables the first resource control manager to identify a service grade, and wherein the subset of the plurality of resources is selected according to the service grade.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing system is another mobile communication device having voice services capability.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of resources includes a set top box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications between the first resource control manager and the mobile communication device conform in part to a markup language.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the markup language corresponds to an extensible markup language.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of resources comprises a set-top box, wherein the plurality of resources are located at a first premises, and wherein the mobile communication device manages usage of a plurality of second resources that are located at a second premises that is different from the first premises.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of resources is selected by the first resource control manager based on the first resource control manager arbitrating an assignment of the plurality of resources between the mobile communication device and another mobile communication device.

14. A system operating as a first resource control manager, the system comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

managing usage of a plurality of resources;

facilitating establishing communications with a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device has voice services capability;

accessing a pairing key;

according to the pairing key, authorizing a delegation of management of a subset of the plurality of resources to the mobile communication device; and

transmitting, to the mobile communication device, delegation information associated with services, wherein the services are accessible via the subset of the plurality of resources, and wherein the delegation information is utilized by the mobile communication device in providing the services via the subset of the plurality of resources.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the facilitating of the establishing of the communications with the mobile communication device is responsive to the mobile communication device moving into a communication zone associated with the first resource control manager, and wherein the pairing key is received from the mobile communication device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the subset of the plurality of resources comprises a set-top box, wherein the plurality of resources are located at a first premises, and wherein the mobile communication device manages usage of a plurality of second resources that are located at a second premises that is different from the first premises.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the subset of the plurality of resources is selected by the first resource control manager based on the first resource control manager arbitrating an assignment of the plurality of resources between the mobile communication device and another mobile communication device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the delegation information comprises digital rights management policies to be enforced by mobile communication device during the delegation of management, quality of services policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, bandwidth management policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, time-based usage policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, or any combination thereof.

19. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processing system including a processor of a mobile communication device, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

facilitating establishing communications with a first resource control manager that manages usage of a plurality of resources;

transmitting a pairing key to the first resource control manager;

according to the pairing key, receiving, from the first resource control manager, an authorization of a delegation of management of a subset of the plurality of resources;

receiving, from the first resource control manager, delegation information associated with services that are accessible via the subset of the plurality of resources; and

providing the services via the subset of the plurality of resources according to the delegation information.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the delegation information comprises digital rights management policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, quality of services policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, bandwidth management policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, time-based usage policies to be enforced by the mobile communication device during the delegation of management, or any combination thereof.