System for monetizing resources accessible to a mobile device server

• US 9,942,588 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• 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: Christopher, David A., Hill, Nicholas Peter, Weber, Jeffrey G., Brown, William A., Meuninck, Troy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chae, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US15/363,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26225 involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4518 involving characteristics of one or more peripherals, e.g. peripheral type, software version, amount of memory available or display capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

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. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium can include computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable cause the mobile device server to detect a media resource center while roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, transmit a pairing key to the media resource center, and receive from the media resource center authorization to pair with one or more resources selected by the media resource center according to the pairing key. In one embodiment a billing system can be operable to determine whether to apply a monetary charge to a subscriber account based on the pairing key. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device 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;

authenticating a communication device according to a pairing key, wherein the pairing key identifies a service grade associated with a type of subscriber service for authorizing access to a resource of a media resource center, wherein the media resource center is at a premises, and wherein the communication device is at or in proximity to the premises;

receiving a request to delegate management of the resource to the communication device;

determining that the pairing key authorizes the communication device to manage the resource according to the service grade identified by the pairing key; and

transmitting, to the communication device, information to enable management of the resource,

wherein the authenticating the communication device enables the communication device to transmit a message to a remote server via equipment assigned to a first internet protocol address, the message comprising an identifier of a software application, thereby causing the remote server to identify the media resource center according to the first internet protocol address and to direct the media resource center to cause the software application to be executed at the communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a resource control manager coupled to a wireless network at the media resource center, wherein the media resource center comprises a plurality of media resources and computing resources at the premises.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise receiving from the communication device a wireless broadcast message requesting identification of resource devices coupled to the wireless network.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting that the communication device and a second communication device are requesting a common resource managed by the media resource center; and

arbitrating, between the communication device and the second communication device, an assignment of the common resource.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the arbitrating is based on the respective service grades associated with the communication device and the second communication device.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the resource is selected by the resource control manager from among the plurality of media and computing resources according to the pairing key.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of media and computing resources comprises a set-top box, a memory storage device, a gaming console or a combination thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the pairing key identifies a monetization model whereby a monetary charge is applied to a subscriber account.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the equipment assigned to the first internet protocol address comprises customer premises equipment.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the customer premises equipment comprises a gateway, and wherein the software application is received from the remote server.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

authenticating a communication device according to a pairing key, wherein the pairing key identifies a service grade associated with a type of subscriber service for authorizing access to a resource of a media resource center, wherein the processing system comprises a resource control manager coupled to a wireless network at the media resource center, wherein the media resource center is at a premises, and wherein the communication device is at or in proximity to the premises;

receiving a request to delegate management of the resource to the communication device;

determining that the pairing key authorizes the communication device to manage the resource according to the service grade identified by the pairing key; and

transmitting, to the communication device, information to enable management of the resource,

wherein the authenticating the communication device enables the communication device to transmit a message to a remote server via equipment assigned to a first internet protocol address, the message comprising an identifier of a software application, thereby causing the remote server to identify the media resource center according to the first internet protocol address and to direct the media resource center to cause the software application to be executed at the communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the media resource center comprises a plurality of media resources and computing resources at the premises, and wherein the operations further comprise receiving from the communication device a wireless broadcast message requesting identification of resource devices coupled to the wireless network.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting that the communication device and a second communication device are requesting a common resource managed by the media resource center; and

arbitrating, between the communication device and the second communication device, an assignment of the common resource.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the arbitrating is based on the respective service grades associated with the communication device and the second communication device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the pairing key identifies a monetization model whereby a monetary charge is applied to a subscriber account.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise providing the pairing key, the service grade, an indication of a type of service or a combination thereof to a billing system to apply the monetary charge.

17. A method comprising:

authenticating, by a processing system including a processor, a communication device according to a pairing key, wherein the pairing key identifies a service grade associated with a type of subscriber service for authorizing access to a resource of a media resource center, and wherein the pairing key identifies a monetization model whereby a monetary charge is applied to a subscriber account, wherein the media resource center is at a premises, and wherein the communication device is at or in proximity to the premises;

receiving, by the processing system, a request to delegate management of the resource to the communication device;

determining, by the processing system, that the pairing key authorizes the communication device to manage the resource according to the service grade identified by the pairing key; and

transmitting, by the processing system to the communication device, information to enable management of the resource,

wherein the authenticating the communication device enables the communication device to transmit a message to a remote server via equipment assigned to a first internet protocol address, the message comprising an identifier of a software application, thereby causing the remote server to identify the media resource center according to the first internet protocol address and to direct the media resource center to cause the software application to be executed at the communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing, by the processing system, the pairing key, the service grade, an indication of a type of service or a combination thereof to a billing system to apply the monetary charge.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting, by the processing system, that the communication device and a second communication device are requesting a common resource managed by the media resource center; and

arbitrating, by the processing system, between the communication device and the second communication device, an assignment of the common resource.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the arbitrating is based on the respective service grades associated with the communication device and the second communication device.