Interoperability using a local proxy server

• US 7,756,928 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Damick, Jeffrey J., Chiles, David Clyde, Meenan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISTENSEN, SCOTT B
• Application Number:
  US10/330,541
• Time in Patent Office: 2,752 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/214, 709/246, 709/229, 709/228, 709/220, 709/217, 709/218, 718/105, 713/100, 719/219, 719/204, 719/205, 719/213, 719/217, 719/220, 719/221, 719/227, 719/238
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine

Abstract

A home-networking gateway may automatically provide a function based on data identified on a device on a home network. The home-networking gateway may perform the function using another device that is capable of performing the function and is accessible to the home-networking gateway.

Claims

1. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of the devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and in response to forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for performance of a particular function;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for performance of the particular function, that the particular function is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the particular function is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the particular function is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the particular function is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a first external device based on the first external device having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the particular function, and

available to perform the particular function,

wherein the first external device is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, an indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway performed the particular function requested even though the first external device performed the particular function.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing, at the home-networking gateway located in a home network, a set of rules, wherein each rule in the set of rules associates a function with an identified capability.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed based on the accessed set of rules.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the first external device from among the external devices comprises selecting the first external device as capable of performing the particular function based on the accessed set of rules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device comprises establishing a communication session between the home-networking gateway and the first external device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein forwarding the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device comprises rerouting the request from the home-networking gateway to the first external device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a printing function capable of being by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for printing of a file,

the first external device comprises a printer, and

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication that the printer has printed the file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a printing function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for printing of a file,

the first external device comprises a printing service website, and

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the printing service website that the file printing requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a photograph printing function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for printing of a photograph,

the first external device comprises a photograph printing service website, and

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the photograph printing service website that the photograph printing requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device comprises forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the photograph printing function and at least one photograph to the photograph printing service website.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a storage function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for storage of a file,

the first external device comprises a storage device,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication that the storage device has stored the file and an identifier of the location where the file has been stored.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device comprises forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the storage function and the file to the storage device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a storage function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for storage of a file,

the first external device comprises a storage service website,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the storage service website that the file storing requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed and a Uniform Resource Locator of the location where the file has been stored.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a photograph storage function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for storage of a photograph,

the first external device comprises a photograph storage service website,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the photograph storage service website that the photograph storing requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed and a Uniform Resource Locator of the location where the photograph has been stored.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for performance of the particular function to the first external device comprises forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for storing the photograph and the photograph to the photograph storage service website.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a sound recording retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a sound recording,

the first external device comprises a sound recording storage device,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication that the sound recording storage device has retrieved the sound recording requested by the requesting device located in the home network and the retrieved sound recording, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking gateway performed the particular function requested comprises sending the retrieved sound recording.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a movie retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a movie,

the first external device comprises a movie storage device,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication that the movie storage device has retrieved the movie requested by the requesting device located in the home network and the retrieved movie, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking device performed the particular function requested comprises sending the retrieved movie.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a sound recording retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a sound recording,

the first external device comprises a sound recording retrieval service website,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the sound recording retrieval service website that retrieval of the sound recording requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed and the retrieved sound recording, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking gateway performed the particular function requested comprises sending the retrieved sound recording.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a movie retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a movie,

the first external device comprises a movie retrieval service website,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the movie retrieval service website that retrieval of the movie requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed and the retrieved movie, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking gateway performed the particular function requested comprises sending the retrieved movie.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a photograph retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a photograph,

the first external device comprises a photograph storage device,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication that the photograph storage device has retrieved the photograph requested by the requesting device located in the home network and the retrieved photograph, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking gateway performed the function requested comprises sending the retrieved photograph.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices comprises receiving an indication of a photograph retrieval function capable of being performed by one of the multiple devices,

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for performance of the particular function comprises receiving a request from the requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a photograph,

the first external device comprises a photograph retrieval service website,

receiving the indication that the first external device has performed the particular function requested by the requesting device located in the home network comprises receiving an indication from the photograph retrieval service website that retrieval of the photograph requested by the requesting device located in the home network has been performed and the retrieved photograph, and

spoofing the requesting device by sending the indication that the home-networking gateway performed the function requested comprises sending the retrieved photograph.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first external device from among the external devices comprises:

identifying two or more external devices capable of performing the particular function requested by the requesting device,

receiving a priority indication for each of the two or more external devices, the priority indication indicating the priority of each external device to perform the particular function relative to others of the two or more external devices, and

selecting one of the two or more external devices having the highest priority.

23. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and after forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for printing of a file;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for printing of the file, that the printing of the file is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the printing of the file is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the printing of the file is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the printing of the file is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a printer having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the printing of the file, and

available to perform the printing of the file,

wherein the printer is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for printing of the file to the printer;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, an indication that the printer has printed the file; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway performed the printing of the file even though the printer performed the printing of the file.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for printing of the file comprises receiving both the request for printing of the file and the file; and

forwarding the request for printing of the file to the printer comprises forwarding both the request for printing of the file and the file to the printer.

25. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and after forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for storage of a file;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for storage of the file, that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the storage of the file is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a storage device having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the function, storage of the file, and

available to perform the function, storage of the file,

wherein the storage device is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for storage of the file to the storage device;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, an indication that the storage device has stored the file and an identifier of the location where the file has been stored; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway has stored the file even though the storage device stored the file.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for storage of the file comprises receiving both the request for storage of the file and the file; and

forwarding the request for storage of the file to the storage device comprises forwarding both the request for storage of the file and the file to the storage device.

27. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and after forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for storage of a photograph;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for storage of the photograph, that the storage of the photograph is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the storage of the photograph is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the storage of the photograph is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the storage of the photograph is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a photograph storage service website having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the storage of the photograph, and

available to perform the storage of the photograph,

wherein the photograph storage service website is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for storage of the photograph to the photograph storage service website;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, an indication that the photograph storage service website has stored the photograph and a Uniform Resource Locator of the location where the photograph was stored; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway has stored the photograph even though the photograph storage service website stored the photograph.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

receiving the request from the requesting device located in the home network for storage of the photograph comprises receiving both the request for storage of the photograph and the photograph; and

forwarding the request for storage of the photograph to the photograph storage service website comprises forwarding both the request for storage of the photograph and the photograph to the photograph storage service website.

29. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and after forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a sound recording;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for retrieval of the sound recording, that the retrieval of the sound recording is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the retrieval of the sound recording is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the retrieval of the sound recording is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the retrieval of the sound recording is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a sound recording storage device having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the retrieval of the sound recording, and

available to perform the retrieval of the sound recording,

wherein the sound recording storage device is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for retrieval of the sound recording to the sound recording storage device;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, the sound recording; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway has retrieved the sound recording even though the sound recording storage device retrieved the sound recording.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein spoofing the requesting device comprises sending the sound recording.

31. A method for providing interoperability in a home network using a home-networking gateway, the method comprising:

receiving, at a home-networking gateway located in a home network and from each of multiple devices located in the home network, an indication of a function capable of being performed by the device;

storing, at the home-networking gateway, the received indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway to a plurality of devices located in the home network, the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway and after forwarding the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, a request from a requesting device located in the home network for retrieval of a movie;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and in response to receiving the request from the requesting device for retrieval of the movie, that the retrieval of the movie is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway;

accessing, at the home networking gateway and in response to determining that the retrieval of the movie is not capable of being performed natively by the home-networking gateway, the stored indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices;

determining, at the home-networking gateway and based on having accessed the indications of the functions capable of being performed by each of the multiple devices, that the retrieval of the movie is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices;

selecting, at the home-networking gateway, in response to determining that the retrieval of the movie is not capable of being performed by any of the multiple devices and without user intervention, from among a plurality of external devices, a movie storage device having characteristics of being;

capable of performing the retrieval of the movie, and

available to perform the retrieval of the movie,

wherein the movie storage device is distinct from the home-networking gateway, external to the home network, and accessible to the home-networking gateway;

forwarding, from the home-networking gateway, the request for retrieval of the movie to the movie storage device;

receiving, at the home-networking gateway, the movie; and

spoofing the requesting device by sending, from the home-networking gateway to the requesting device, an indication that the home-networking gateway has retrieved the movie even though the movie storage device retrieved the movie.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein spoofing the requesting device comprises sending the movie.