System and method for providing network support services and premises gateway support infrastructure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11489689-B2
Application number	US-202117190855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Dec 29, 2006
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A management device for operation at a user premises to provide local application services for a plurality of endpoint devices, the management device comprising:
at least one processor device;
application service logic comprising hardware and/or software configured to execute, via the at least one processor device, at least one local application to manage operation of at least one of the plurality of endpoint devices;
at least two communication interfaces including at least: one or more first communication interfaces, wherein the one or more first communication interfaces enable local, bi-directional communication with the plurality of endpoint devices; and one or more second communication interfaces that enable bi-directional communication with a remote service management center via a wide area network; and
storage coupled to the at least one processor device, the storage storing instructions that, when executed, configure the at least one processor device to:
establish, via the at least two communication interfaces, a communication channel with a second management device;
communicate with the second management device regarding the availability of resources at the management device;
receive, from the second management device, home automation information for a first endpoint device of the plurality of endpoint devices;
locally process the home automation information for the first endpoint device to obtain one or more results; and
transmit, via the communication channel, the one or more results to the second management device for transmission to the first endpoint device.

2. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the management device interfaces with the remote service management center to enable one or more of: subscription controls; alarm management; remote diagnostic support; billing collection and management; voice calling services; or any combination thereof.

3. The management device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to authenticate the management device for subscription-based media streaming to at least one of the plurality of endpoint devices.

4. The management device of claim 3 ,
wherein a software and/or firmware update for one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices is received based on a registry at the remote service management center that records endpoint devices and/or services registered in relation to the management device; and
wherein the software and/or firmware update is selected for delivery to the management device based on the registry.

5. The management device of claim 2 ,
wherein the interfacing with the remote service management center is accomplished using an always on control channel between the management device and the remote service management center; and
wherein the always on control channel is established in response to authentication of the management device with the remote service management center.

6. The management device of claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to establish a secure channel with the remote service management center using public-key cryptography.

7. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to implement internet-based calling services that enable the management device to receive or deliver voice calls over the internet.

8. The management device of claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to provide voice-responsive control of voicemail.

9. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the storage further stores a library of application support service modules that provide local control functionality for multiple of the plurality of endpoint devices, and wherein the library of application support service modules includes the at least one local application.

10. The management device of claim 9 , wherein establishing the communication channel with the home automation networking device is based on information provided from the remote service management center.

11. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor to:
detect a newly available endpoint device and, in response, obtain the at least one local application to provide server functionality by the management device and to the newly available endpoint device.

12. The management device of claim 11 , wherein the obtained at least one local application is configured to be updated by the remote service management center.

13. The management device of claim 11 , wherein the newly available endpoint device is one of: a switch controller, a sensor device, a window blind controller, a television, a personal music or media player, audio equipment, a camera, a phone, or a lighting or lamp unit.

14. The management device of claim 1 ,
wherein at least some functions of the management device are divided according to a demarcation that defines functions controlled locally on one side of the demarcation and functions controlled remotely on the other side of the demarcation; and
wherein functions defined on the locally controlled side of the demarcation include:
the communicating with the second management device regarding the availability of resources at the management device;
the receiving home automation information for the first endpoint device;
the locally processing the home automation information; and
the transmitting the one or more results to the second management device.

15. The management device of claim 14 , wherein the local, bi-directional communication enabled by the one or more first communication interfaces includes encrypted communication between the management device and a second of the plurality of endpoint devices.

16. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to:
receive, via the one or more second communication interfaces, a software and/or firmware update for one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; and
send, via the first communication interface, the software and/or firmware update to the one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices.

17. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to cause one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices to obtain and install a software and/or firmware update.

18. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to:
determine resource utilization in relation to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; and
based on the determined resource utilization, adjust the resource utilization to maintain a required functioning state of the management device that permits the management device to establish the communication channel.

19. The management device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the at least one processor device to:
determine resource utilization in relation to one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices; and
based on the determined resource utilization, take corrective resource utilization measures including one or more of: prioritizing packets, throttling bandwidth, restricting input/output operations, reducing use of memory or storage space; or any combination thereo

Assignees

• Kip Prod P1 Lp
• Kip Prod Pi Lp

Inventors

• Ansari Amir
• Cowgill George A
• Nicholls Leon E
• Ramayya Jude P
• Masina Ramprakash
• Mcquarters Alvin R
• Raissyan Atousa

Classifications

• H04L63/0876

  based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint · CPC title

• G06Q30/04 Primary

  Billing or invoicing · CPC title

• H04W12/033

  of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic · CPC title

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04L67/51

  Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services · CPC title