System for managing resources accessible to a mobile device server

• US 9,338,169 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• 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: Brown, William A., Meuninck, Troy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zong, Ruolei
• Application Number:
  US14/516,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 709/226, 709/223, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/231, 455/410, 455/412, 455/414
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/781 Centralised allocation of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2405 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the server, e.g. server load allocation of resources in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/50; performance measurement of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties

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 having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a resource control manager while roaming in a communication zone of the resource control manager, and to transmit a pairing key to the resource control manager. The web server application can also be operable to receive from the resource control manager authorization to pair with one or more resources selected by the resource control manager according to the pairing key, and to establish communications with the one or more resources selected by the resource control manager. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a system including a processor, a first resource control manager, wherein the first resource control manager operates from a first mobile communication device having voice communication capability, wherein the first resource control manager is communicatively coupled to a plurality of first resources accessible to the system and is communicatively coupled to a second resource control manager operating from a second mobile communication device, wherein the first resource control manager manages usage of the plurality of first resources, and wherein the second resource control manager manages usage of a plurality of second resources;

facilitating, by the system, establishing communications with the first resource control manager;

transmitting, by the system, a pairing key to the first resource control manager;

receiving, by the system, authorization from the first resource control manager to pair with a target resource selected by the first resource control manager from the plurality of second resources according to the pairing key, wherein the transmitting of the pairing key enables the first resource manager to identify a service grade, and wherein the target resource is selected according to the service grade; and

facilitating, by the system, establishing communications with the target resource for usage that is being managed by the second resource control manager operating from the second mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the system corresponds to a portable communication device that enables voice communications, wherein the detecting of the first resource control manager is during a roaming mode of the system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system corresponds to a portable communication device, and further comprising:

transmitting a message to a server by way of a gateway assigned to a first IP address responsive to detecting the first resource control manager, wherein the message comprises an identifier of a software application in the portable communication device and a second IP address associated with the software application, wherein the message causes the server to identify the first resource control manager from the first IP address of the gateway, and wherein the message causes the server to direct the first resource control manager to invoke the software application in the portable communication device utilizing the second IP address;

receiving a request from the first resource control manager to execute the software application utilizing the second IP address; and

executing the software application to establish communications with the first resource control manager.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the message transmitted to the server comprises a uniform resource locator with a plurality of descriptors that identify the software application and the second IP address, and wherein the gateway inserts the first IP address into a hypertext transfer protocol header of the message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second resource managers are in a master-slave arrangement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of resources includes a set top box.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communications between the system and the first resource control manager conform in part to a markup language.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the markup language corresponds to an extensible markup language.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the target resource comprises a set-top box, wherein the plurality of first resources are located at a first premises, and wherein the plurality of second resources are located at a second premises that is different from the first premises.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the system receives the authorization from the first resource control manager to pair with the target resource based on the first resource control manager arbitrating an assignment of the target resource between the system and another portable communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

submitting to the first resource control manager a request to delegate management of a subset of resources under control of the first resource control manager to the system;

receiving from the first resource control manager an acceptance to the request in response to the first resource control manager determining that the pairing key authorizes the system to manage the subset of resources; and

receiving from the first resource control manager information relating to the subset of resources managed by the first resource control manager for purposes of managing the subset of resources.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the pairing key enables the first resource control manager to select the subset of resources according to the pairing key and according to a policy for managing the subset of resources, and wherein the policy is defined by a service provider of the first resource control manager.

13. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a system including a processor, a pairing key to a first resource control manager;

receiving, by the system, authorization from the first resource control manager to pair with a target resource selected by the first resource control manager from among a group of resource devices according to the pairing key, wherein usage of the group of resource devices including the target resource is managed by a second resource control manager, and wherein the target resource provides memory and processing functions; and

facilitating, by the system, establishing communications with the target resource selected by the first resource control manager, wherein the system is authenticated by a remote server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the target resource is selected from among the group of resource devices according to a service grade associated with the pairing key, wherein the first resource control manager operates from a first mobile device, wherein the first resource control manager is detected by the system while the system is roaming in a communication zone associated with the first resource control manager, and further comprising:

receiving a usage policy from the first resource control manager; and

utilizing the target resource according to the usage policy.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting a message by way of a gateway assigned to a first IP address responsive to detecting the first resource control manager, wherein the message comprises an identifier of a software application being executed by the system and a second IP address associated with the software application;

wherein the message causes identification of the first resource control manager according to the first IP address of the gateway, and

wherein the message causes instructions to be provided to the first resource control manager to invoke the software application.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second resource control manager operates from a second mobile device, and further comprising sending a request to the first resource control manager to delegate management of a subset of resources to the second resource control manager of the second mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pairing key enables the first resource control manager to select the subset of resources according to the pairing key and according to a policy for managing the subset of resources, and wherein the policy is defined by a service provider of the first resource control manager.

18. A computer-readable storage device comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor of a resource control manager device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

managing a plurality of first resources communicatively coupled to the resource control manager device;

receiving a pairing key from a first mobile device that provides voice communication services;

identifying a service grade from the pairing key;

communicating with a second mobile device that manages a plurality of second resources, wherein the second mobile device provides voice communication services;

selecting a target resource from the plurality of second resources according to the service grade; and

transmitting to the first mobile device an authorization to pair with the target resource managed by the second mobile device.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving from a remote server instructions to invoke a software application identified by the first mobile device; and

establishing communications with the first mobile device responsive to invoking the software application, wherein communications between the resource control manager device and the first mobile device conform to a mark-up language.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise establishing a master-slave arrangement between the resource control manager device and the first mobile device.