Structure and operating principles of a device avatar

A method for implementing at least one of a plurality of electronic services logically and substantially permanently associated with a first remote electronic device wherein the at least one of the plurality of electronic services is operated on behalf of the first remote electronic device using a logical channel of communication, comprising the steps of:

• connecting to a device avatar, by an apparent owner, via a Controller Listener;
• issuing, by the apparent owner, a challenge to the device avatar;
• accessing, by the device avatar, from a Controller Key Storage via a Controller State Machine, an owner key and using a Challenge Generator to generate a challenge of the apparent owner;
• issuing a successful response, by the apparent owner, to the challenge by the device avatar;
• and
• issuing, by the device avatar, a response to the challenge of the apparent owner by the Controller State Machine using a Response Generator and a device key in the Controller Key Storage to indicate that the connection is approved for a correct device avatar.

A method for implementing at least one of a plurality of electronic services logically and substantially permanently associated with a first remote apparent electronic device wherein the at least one of the plurality of electronic services is operated on behalf of the first remote apparent electronic device using a logical channel of communication, comprising the steps of:

• connecting to a device avatar, by an apparent electronic device, via a Device Listener;
• issuing, by the apparent electronic device, a challenge to the device avatar;
• accessing, by the device avatar, from a Device Key Storage via a Device-specific State Machine, a device key and using a Challenge Generator to generate a challenge of the apparent electronic device,
• issuing a successful response, by the apparent electronic device, to the challenge by the device avatar;
• and
• issuing, by the device avatar, a response to the challenge of the apparent electronic device by the Device-specific State Machine using a Response Generator and a device key in the Device Key Storage to indicate that the connection is approved for a correct device avatar.

A method for implementing, via a second device avatar in fulfillment of

• a contract for services previously issued by a first device avatar, at least one of a plurality of electronic services logically and substantially permanently associated with a first remote electronic device wherein the at least one of the plurality of electronic services is operated on behalf of the first remote electronic device using a logical channel of communication, comprising the steps of:
• connecting to the first device avatar, by a remote entity, via a Service Listener in preparation for fulfilling the contract for services previously issued by the first device avatar;
• issuing, by the remote entity, a challenge to the first device avatar based on an issuer's key included in the contract;
• examining, by a Contract Interpreter, the contract to verify the contract's applicability by comparing at least an expiration time with a current time referring to a Clock and a number of valid invocations remaining;
• providing a response, by the Contract Interpreter, to the challenge to the first device avatar;
• and
• carrying out terms of the contract, by the Contract Interpreter, by invoking acquired behaviors in a number, order and manner specified by the contract and as resident in a Store of Acquired Behaviors.

A method for implementing, via a recipient device avatar in fulfillment of a contract for services previously issued by an issuer device avatar, at least one of a plurality of electronic services logically and substantially permanently associated with a first remote electronic device wherein the at least one of the plurality of electronic services is operated on behalf of the first remote electronic device using a logical channel of communication, comprising the steps of:

• initiating, by the recipient device avatar, communications to a Services Listener of the issuer device avatar specified in the contract;
• issuing, to the recipient device avatar, a challenge by the issuer device avatar based on an issuer device avatar key included in the contract;
• responding, by the recipient device avatar, to the challenge of the issuer device avatar based on a recipient device avatar key included in the contract;
• and
• implementing, by the recipient device avatar, at least one electronic service in accordance with the contract.