REMOTE ACCESS TO A NODE

• US 20160057197A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rezvani, Babak, Kalin, Edward B., Chen, Jack L., Jalili, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/02 Mechanical actuation of the alarm, e.g. by the breaking of a wire
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 : Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 : Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 : Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 : Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 : for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 : characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 : Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 : providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 : Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 : based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 : Registration or de-registration
• 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: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 : Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 : using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be used by the monitoring module and the remote site in generating the messages communicated during the registration process. The monitoring module may gather and generate various identification information to be included in the registration protocol messages. The registration information provided by the monitoring module maybe stored at the remote site in a database server having a database. A confirmation message may be communicated from the remote site to the monitoring module that may either acknowledge successful registration or report that an error occurred during the registration process.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing, by a node disposed at a location remote from a remote site, node information that enables registration of the node at the remote site, wherein registration of the node at the remote site enables a user to use a user device to remotely access the node, wherein the node information includes a node identifier that identifies the node, wherein the node information includes network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet; and

causing the node information to be communicated to the remote site that is located remote from the node, wherein the remote site is configured to;

use the node identifier that is included in the node information and that identifies the node to locate or create a registration record in a data store that is located remote from the location of the node; and

register the node at the remote site, wherein being configured to register the node at the remote site includes being configured to store in association with the node identifier that identifies the node (i) at least some of the network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet or (ii) a user device identifier that identifies the user device of the user;

wherein the remote site is located remote from the user device of the user, wherein the remote site is located remote from the node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the node information to be communicated to the remote site involves:

establishing, by the node, an Internet connection via a local area network at the location remote from the remote site; and

transmitting, by the node, the node information to the remote site via the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the node information to be communicated to the remote site involves:

establishing a connection between the node and the user device via a local area network at the location remote from the remote site;

transmitting, by the node, the node information to the user device via the local area network; and

transmitting, by the user device, the node information and the user device identifier that identifies the user device to the remote site via the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the node information that enables registration of the node at the remote site, includes:

outputting, by the node, a list of services that the node is configured to provide, wherein the list of services includes a remote access service that involves the node providing the node information that enables registration of the node at the remote site; and

receiving, by the node, a request for the remote access service, wherein the request for the remote access service is generated at the user device of the user, wherein the request for the remote access service includes the user device identifier that identifies the user device of the user, wherein responsive to the request for the remote access service the node provides the node information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an Internet connection that enables the node at the location remote from the remote site to communicate with the remote site, wherein the Internet connection is establish by;

outputting, by the node at the location remote from the remote site, a wireless signal that enables the user device of the user to connect to the node via a first local area network;

obtaining, by the node at the location remote from the remote site, network information for connecting to a second local area network, wherein the second local area network is connected to the Internet, wherein the user device of the user transmits the network information for connecting to the second local area network to the node via the first local area network; and

connecting, by the node at the location remote from the remote site, to the second local area network, wherein the node uses the network information for connecting to the second local area network to connect to the second local area network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein storing in association with the node identifier that identifies the node (i) at least some of the network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet or (ii) the user device identifier that identifies the user device of the user, includes:

generating a key that connects the node (i) at least some of the network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet or (ii) the user device identifier that identifies the user device of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device of the user is a cellular mobile telephone, a mobile computing device, or a desktop computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a hub or system controller provided in communication with a device disposed at the location remote from the remote site, wherein the hub or system controller intermediates communication between the device disposed at the location remote from the remote site and the user device of the user or the remote site.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the device disposed at the location remote from the remote site is a camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, a light, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the node is a camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, a light, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.

11. A node, comprising:

processing components;

communication components for outputting information;

memory components for storing node information that enables registration of the node at a remote site, wherein registration of the node at the remote site enables a user to use a user device to remotely access the node, wherein the node information includes a node identifier that identifies the node, wherein the node information includes network address information that enables communication with the node;

software being configured to be executable by the processing components of the node, the software being configured to cause the node information to be communicated to the remote site that is located remote from the node, wherein the software at least partially causes the node information to be communicated to the remote site by causing the communication components to output the node information, wherein the node information includes the node identifier that identifies the node and the network address information that enables communication with the node, wherein the remote site is configured to;

use the node identifier that is included in the node information and that identifies the node to locate or create a registration record in a data store that is located remote from the location of the node; and

register the node at the remote site, wherein being configured to register the node at the remote site includes being configured store in the registration record information that connects a user device identifier that identifies the user device of the user to the node identifier that identifies the node or the network address information that enables communication with the node at the location remote from the remote site;

wherein the remote site is located remote from the user device of the user, wherein the remote site is located remote from the node.

12. The node of claim 11, wherein causing the communication components to output the node information includes:

establishing an Internet connection via a local area network at the location remote from the remote site; and

transmitting the node information and the user device identifier that identifies the user device to the remote site via the Internet;

wherein the node previously obtained from the user device the user device identifier that identifies the user device.

13. The node of claim 11, wherein causing the communication components to output the node information includes:

establishing a connection with the user device via a local area network at the location remote from the remote site;

transmitting the node information to the user device via the local area network, wherein the user device transmits the node information and the user device identifier that identifies the user device to the remote site via the Internet.

14. The node of claim 11, further comprising:

establishing an Internet connection that enables the node at the location remote from the remote site to communicate with the remote site, wherein the Internet connection is establish by;

outputting, via the communications components of the node at the location remote from the remote site, a wireless signal that enables the user device of the user to connect to the node via a first local area network;

obtaining, via the communications components of the node at the location remote from the remote site, connection information for a second local area network, wherein the second local area network is connected to the Internet, wherein the user device of the user transmits the connection information for the second local area network to the node via the first communications network; and

connecting, by the node at the location remote from the remote site, to the second local area network, wherein the node uses the information obtained from the user device to connect to the second wireless communication network.

15. The node of claim 11, wherein the node is a hub, a system controller, camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, a light, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.

16. A system, comprising:

a node for performing a function at a location, wherein the node is programmed with node information that enables remote access to the node via the Internet, wherein the node information that enables remote access to the node via the Internet includes a node identifier that identifies the node, wherein the node information that enables remote access to the node via the Internet includes network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet;

a user application for facilitating remote access to the node via the Internet, wherein the user application is configured to execute on a user device, wherein the user application is configured to be capable of;

displaying, via the user device, one or more graphical components that indicate a current state of the node and that enable user input for changing the current state of the node;

receiving, via the user device, the user input for changing the current state of the node; and

outputting, via the user device, information that corresponds to the user input for changing the current state of the node;

a remote site for facilitating remote access to the node via the Internet, wherein the remote site is configured to route between the user device and the node one or more messages having information that corresponds to the state of the node or the user input for changing the current state of the node, wherein the node is registered at the remote site, wherein registering the node at the remote site includes storing in a data store the node identifier that identifies the node, wherein registering the node at the remote site includes storing in association with the node identifier that identifies the node (i) at least some of the network address information that enables communication with the node via the Internet or (ii) an identifier that identifies the user device or application, wherein the remote site is located remote from the user device, wherein the remote site is located remote from the node.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein registering the node at the remote site further includes the node sending the node information to the remote site by:

connecting to a local area network at the location, wherein the local area network connects the node to the Internet; and

transmitting the node information to the remote site via the Internet.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein registering the node at the remote site further includes the node sending the node information to the remote site by:

connecting to a local area network at the location, wherein the user device is also connected to the local area network at the location; and

transmitting the node information to the user device via the local area network, wherein the user device transmits the node information to the remote site via the Internet.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein registering the node at the remote site further includes the node establishing an Internet connection that enables the node to communicate with the remote site, wherein the node is configured to establish the Internet connection by:

outputting a wireless signal that enables the user device to connect to the node via a first local area network;

obtaining network information for a second local area network, wherein the second local area network is connected to the Internet, wherein the user device transmits the network information for the second local area network to the node via the first local area network; and

using the network information for the second local area network to connect to the second local area network, wherein the second local area network connects the node to the Internet.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the node is a hub, a system controller, camera, a radio, a smoke or fire detector, a contact sensor, a light switch, a light, an audio device, a video device, a display device, a washer, a dryer, a microwave oven, a cooking range, a car alarm, a plant watering device, a sprinkler, a carbon monoxide detector, a humidistat, or a rain gauge.