System and method for device management using a social network

• US 9,894,177 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sng, Swee Huat, Sojian, Lena, Shih, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABIPI, DIXON F
• Application Number:
  US14/231,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20150281393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A method is provided for managing a social network of devices. The method provides a non-transitory memory, a network interface, and a social network application. Network-connected local devices create user accounts in the social network and populate a user profile listing device characteristics. Some examples of device characteristics include model and serial number. A central server is then able to access the user profiles in the social network, and cross-reference user profiles to a first device characteristic. The central server sends queries via the social network to selected local devices matching the first device characteristic and receives responses to the queries via the social network from the selected local devices. Further, the central server may maintain a database, stored in a central non-transitory memory, of queries and responses cross-referenced to the local devices. A system is also provided for managing devices using a social networking application.

Claims

1. A method for managing a social network of devices, the method comprising:

providing a non-transitory memory, a network interface, and a social network with a bulletin board enabled as a software application with a sequence of processor instructions stored in the memory;

at least two local devices, network-connected with the memory, creating device user accounts in the social network;

in response to creating the device user accounts, each local device populating a device user profile listing device characteristics, where the device user profile is not associated with a human user profile;

a central server accessing the device user profiles in the social network;

the central server cross-referencing device user profiles to a first device characteristic;

the central server sending instructions to perform a device function via the social network to selected local devices matching the first device characteristic, where the instructions are sent without human interaction, and in a natural human language;

the central server receiving responses to the instructions in the natural human language via the social network from the selected local devices,

a user interface (UI), associated with a first local device and a human user account, accepting a command, formatted in the natural human language, for functions to be performed; and

,

a second local device having a device user account performing the functions in response to a scenario selected from a group consisting of;

the first local device posting the task on the social network bulletin board in the natural human language, and the second local device accessing the social network bulletin board;

the first local device accessing a social network database of local devices cross-referenced to device characteristics, determining that the second local device is capable of performing the functions, and sending instructions in the natural human language via the social network to second local device for the functions to be performed;

or,

the first local device posting the instructions on the social network bulletin board in the natural human language, the central server accessing the posted instructions and then accessing the social network database of local devices cross-referenced to device characteristics, determining that the second local device is capable of performing the functions, and sending the instructions via the social network to second local device.

2. A social network device management system comprising:

a central server comprising;

a processor;

a non-transitory memory;

a network interface;

a social network with a bulletin board module, enabled as a software application with a sequence of processor instructions stored in the memory, with at least two device user accounts associated with local devices that are network-connected, where each device user account includes a device user profile listing device characteristics, and where the device user account is not associated with a human user account;

wherein the central server accesses the device user profiles in the social network, cross-references the device user profiles to a first device characteristic, sends instructions to perform a machine function, without human intervention, in a natural human language via the social network to selected local devices matching the first device characteristic, and receives responses to the instructions in the natural human language via the social network from the selected local devices;

the system further comprising;

a user interface (UI), associated with a first local device and a human user account, accepting a command formatted in a natural human language, for functions to be performed; and

,

a second local device having a device user account performing the functions in response to a scenario selected from a group consisting of;

the first local device posting the instructions in the natural human language with the bulletin board module, and the second local device accessing the bulletin board module;

the first local device accessing a social network database of local devices cross-referenced to device characteristics, determining that the second local device is capable of performing the functions, and sending instructions in the natural human language to second local device via the social network application for the functions to be performed;

or,

the first local device posting the instructions in the natural human language with the bulletin board module, the central server accessing the posted instruction and then accessing the database of local devices cross-referenced to device characteristics, determining that the second local device is capable of performing the functions, and sending the instructions via the social network application to second local device.