Method and system for providing alternate network access

• US 10,672,254 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohn, Alan Wade, Battles, Ronald E., Proft, David, Shumate, Scott William
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US16/156,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20190147732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods and systems for configuring communication at a premises are described. A network device at a premises may be in communication with a first network and a second network. The network device may receive data from a communication device located at the premises. The network device may transmit the data via the first network or the second network based on configuration data, which may be received from a computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device located at a premises and from a computing device located external to the premises, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the network device, wherein the network device is configured to communicate with a first network and a second network different from the first network, and wherein the network device is configured to communicate with a premises device located at the premises;

receiving, by the network device and from a communication device located at the premises, communication data for a remote device located external to the premises;

determining, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send the communication data; and

sending, via the first network, the communication data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a broadband network and the second network comprises one or more of a cellular network or a public switched telephone network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network comprises a cellular network and the second network comprises one or more of a broadband network or a public switched telephone network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data indicates to use the first network instead of the second network for a communication service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration data indicates to prioritize using the first network above using the second network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining to use the first network to send the communication data comprises determining a connection status of the first network and determining to use the first network based on the connection status.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device located at a premises and from a computing device located external to the premises, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the network device, wherein the network device is configured to communicate with a first network and a second network different from the first network, and wherein the network device is configured to communicate with a communication device located at the premises;

receiving, by the network device and from a security device located at the premises, security data;

determining, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send the security data; and

sending, via the first network, the security data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first network comprises a broadband network and the second network comprises one or more of a cellular network or a public switched telephone network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first network comprises a cellular network and the second network comprises one or more of a broadband network or a public switched telephone network.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration data indicates to use the first network instead of the second network for a communication service.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the configuration data indicates to prioritize using the first network above using the second network.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein determining to use the first network to send the security data comprises determining a connection status of the first network and determining to use the first network based on the connection status.

13. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive, at a premises and from a computing device located external to the premises, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a first network and a second network different from the first network, and wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a premises device located at the premises;

receive, from a communication device located at the premises, communication data for a remote device located external to the premises;

determine, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send the communication data; and

send, via the first network, the communication data.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first network comprises a broadband network and the second network comprises one or more of a cellular network or a public switched telephone network.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first network comprises a cellular network and the second network comprises one or more of a broadband network or a public switched telephone network.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the configuration data indicates to use the first network instead of the second network for a communication service.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the configuration data indicates to prioritize using the first network above using the second network.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine to use the first network to send the communication data comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine a connection status of the first network and determine to use the first network based on the connection status.

19. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive, at a premises and from a computing device located external to the premises, configuration data associated with a communication configuration of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a first network and a second network different from the first network, and wherein the apparatus is in communication with a communication device located at the premises;

receive, from a security device located at the premises, security data;

determine, based on at least the configuration data, to use the first network to send the security data; and

send, via the first network, the security data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first network comprises a broadband network and the second network comprises one or more of a cellular network or a public switched telephone network.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first network comprises a cellular network and the second network comprises one or more of a broadband network or a public switched telephone network.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the configuration data indicates to one or more of:

use the first network instead of the second network for a communication service or prioritize using the first network above using the second network.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine to use the first network to send the security data comprises instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine a connection status of the first network and determine to use the first network based on the connection status.