Centralized resource management and un-managed device support

• US 20060031888A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ucentric Systems, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ucentric Systems, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sparrell, Carlton J.
• Application Number:
  US10/835,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031888A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811

Abstract

The present invention in embodiments provides a centralized resource manager and resources that are responsive to the centralized resource manager in a Home Area Network that may additionally include resources that are not responsive to the centralized resource manager. In embodiments, the centralized resource manager may control and regulate demands made by the non-responsive resources for access and use of the responsive resources. In other embodiments, the responsive resources may communicate with the centralized resource manager in cases where they are accessed or queried for access by the non-responsive resources. In yet other embodiments, the centralized resource manager may implement differing control protocols for controlling both types of resources.

Claims

1. In a Home Area Network comprising a centralized resource manager and a plurality of resources including at least one CRM-aware resource and at least one non-CRM aware resource, a method for supporting the at least one non-CRM aware resource comprising:

detecting a request made by the non-CRM aware resource to the at least one CRM-aware resource for use of the at least one CRM-aware resource;

determining to grant permission to fulfill the request; and

transmitting a permission message to the at least one CRM-aware resource granting permission for the use, wherein the centralized resource manager comprises a reservations database and is configured to carry out instructions, the instructions comprising;

receiving a user request and a time-usage indication associated with the user request for processing of media content;

identifying, responsive to the user request, the time-usage indication associated with the user request, and pre-existing entries in the reservations database, a subset of the plurality of resources for fulfilling the user request; and

storing in the reservations database;

a representation of the identified subset of the plurality of resources, and

a representation of the time-usage indication associated with the user request.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting, determining and transmitting steps are carried out by the centralized resource manager.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

detecting a presence of the at least one CRM-aware resource in the Home Area Network; and

registering the at least one CRM-aware resources in an active-devices list.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one non-CRM aware resource is not responsive to the centralized resource manager.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining step is responsive to the request made by the at least one non-CRM aware resource, including timing requirement information of the request made by the at least one non-CRM aware resource, and the pre-existing entries in the reservations database.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one CRM-aware resource implements a first control protocol shared with the at least one non-CRM aware resource and a second control protocol shared with the centralized resource manager that is not compatible with the first control protocol.

7. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising transmitting a revocation message to the at least one CRM-aware resource revoking the permission for the use.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one non-CRM aware resource is a UPnP resource.

9. In a Home Area Network comprising a centralized resource manager and a plurality of resources including at least one CRM-aware resource and at least one non-CRM aware resource, a method for supporting the at least one non-CRM aware resource comprising:

detecting a request made by the at least one non-CRM aware resource to the at least one CRM-aware resource for use of the at least one CRM-aware resource;

determining the presence of a conflict with the requested use; and

transmitting a termination message to the at least one CRM-aware resource relating to the requested use,

wherein the centralized resource manager comprises a reservations database and is configured to carry out instructions, the instructions comprising;

receiving a user request and a time-usage indication associated with the user request for processing of media content;

identifying, responsive to the user request, the time-usage indication associated with the user request, and pre-existing entries in the reservations database, a subset of the plurality of resources for fulfilling the user request; and

storing in the reservations database;

a representation of the identified subset of the plurality of resources, and

a representation of the time-usage indication associated with the user request.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the detecting, determining and transmitting steps are carried out by the centralized resource manager.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting a presence of the at least one CRM-aware resource in the Home Area Network; and

registering the at least one CRM-aware resources in an active-devices list.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the determining step is carried out responsive to the pre-existing entries in the reservations database.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one non-CRM aware resource is not responsive to the centralized resource manager.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one CRM-aware resource implements a first control protocol shared with the at least one non-CRM aware resource and a second control protocol shared with the centralized resource manager that is not compatible with the first control protocol.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one non-CRM aware resource is a UPnP resource.

16. In a Home Area Network comprising a centralized resource manager and a plurality of resources including at least one CRM-aware resource and at least one non-CRM aware resource, a method for supporting the at least one non-CRM aware resource comprising:

receiving a request from the at least one non-CRM aware resource for use of the at least one CRM-aware resource;

transmitting a notification message to the centralized resource manager relating to the requested use; and

providing the requested use to the at least one non-CRM aware resource, wherein the centralized resource manager comprises a reservations database and is configured to carry out instructions, the instructions comprising;

receiving a user request and a time-usage indication associated with the user request for processing of media content;

identifying, responsive to the user request, the time-usage indication associated with the user request, and pre-existing entries in the reservations database, a subset of the plurality of resources for fulfilling the user request; and

storing in the reservations database;

a representation of the identified subset of the plurality of resources, and

a representation of the time-usage indication associated with the user request.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the steps of receiving the request from the at least one non-CRM aware resource, transmitting and providing are carried out by the at least one CRM-aware resource.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a permission message from the centralized resource manager granting permission to fulfill the requested use, wherein the providing step is carried out only after the step of receiving the permission message.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving a revocation message from the centralized resource manager revoking the permission to fulfill the requested use; and

terminating provision of the requested use.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a termination message from the centralized resource manager relating to the requested use; and

terminating the requested use.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the non-CRM aware resource is a UPnP resource.

22. In a Home Area Network comprising a centralized resource manager and a plurality of resources including at least one CRM-aware resource and at least one non-CRM aware resource, a method for supporting the at least one non-CRM aware resource comprising:

receiving a first request from the at least one non-CRM aware resource for use of the at least one CRM-aware resource;

initiating provision of the first requested use to the at least one non-CRM aware resource;

receiving a second request from the centralized resource manager for provision of a service to at least one other CRM-aware resource of the HAN;

terminating provision of the first requested use; and

initiating provision of the second requested use to the at least one other CRM-aware resource,

wherein the centralized resource manager comprises a reservations database and is configured to carry out instructions, the instructions comprising;

receiving a user request and a time-usage indication associated with the user request for processing of media content;

identifying, responsive to the user request, the time-usage indication associated with the user request, and pre-existing entries in the reservations database, a subset of the plurality of resources for fulfilling the user request; and

storing in the reservations database;

a representation of the identified subset of the plurality of resources, and

a representation of the time-usage indication associated with the user request.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the receiving steps and the initiating steps are carried out by the at least one CRM-aware resource.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the non-CRM resource is a UPnP resource.

25. In a Home Area Network comprising a plurality of resources including at least one CRM-aware resource and at least one non-CRM aware resource, a centralized control manager comprising programmed logic configured to implement a first control protocol for providing centralized control of the at least one CRM-aware resource and a second control protocol for communicating with the at least one non-CRM aware resource.