System for monetizing resources accessible to a mobile device server

• US 10,536,737 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2018
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• 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:
  US15/905,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 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 first portable 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, wherein the authenticating of the first portable communication device facilitates a remote server to direct a media resource center to cause a software application to be executed at a second portable communication device;

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

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

detecting that the second portable communication device is requesting use of the resource managed by the media resource center, wherein the media resource center causes the software application to be executed at the second portable communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application;

arbitrating an assignment of the resource between the first portable communication device and the second portable communication device; and

responsive to the arbitrating, transmitting information to the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device to facilitate management of the resource by the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a message is transmitted to the remote server via equipment assigned to a first internet protocol address.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the message facilitates the remote server to identify the media resource center according to the first internet protocol address.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the message comprises an identifier of the software application.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the authenticating of the first portable communication device enables the first portable communication device to transmit a message to the remote server.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the media resource center is at a premises.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first portable communication device is at or in proximity to the premises.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the media resource center is coupled to the device via a wireless network.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise receiving from the first portable communication device a wireless broadcast message requesting identification of resource devices coupled to the wireless network.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a web server application at the first portable communication device facilitates detecting of the device and managing of the resource by the first portable communication device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the arbitrating is based on respective service grades associated with the first portable communication device and the second portable communication device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the resource is selected by the device from among a plurality of media and computing resources according to the pairing key.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of media and computing resources comprises a set-top box, a memory storage device, a gaming console, or a combination thereof.

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

15. 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 first portable 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, wherein the authenticating of the first portable communication device facilitates a remote server to direct a media resource center to cause a software application to be executed at a second portable communication device;

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

detecting that the second portable communication device is requesting use of the resource managed by the media resource center, wherein the media resource center causes the software application to be executed at the second portable communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application;

arbitrating an assignment of the resource between the first portable communication device and the second portable communication device; and

responsive to the arbitrating, transmitting information to the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device to enable management of the resource by the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the media resource center comprises a plurality of media resources and computing resources at a premises.

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

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request to delegate management of the resource to the first portable communication device.

19. A method, comprising:

authenticating, by resource control manager including a processor, a first portable 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, wherein the authenticating of the first portable communication device facilitates a remote server to direct a media resource center to cause a software application to be executed at a second portable communication device;

determining, by the resource control manager, that the pairing key authorizes the first portable communication device to manage the resource according to the service grade identified by the pairing key;

arbitrating, by the resource control manager, an assignment of the resource between the first portable communication device and the second portable communication device, wherein a media resource center causes the software application to be executed at the second portable communication device according to a second internet protocol address associated with the software application; and

responsive to the arbitrating, transmitting, by the resource control manager, information to the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device to facilitate management of the resource by the first portable communication device or the second portable communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the resource control manager, a request to delegate management of the resource to the first portable communication device; and

detecting, by the resource control manager, that the second portable communication device is requesting use of the resource managed by a media resource center.