# US 2018/0323993 A1 · System and method for providing network support services and premises gateway support infrastructure

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- Number: US 2018/0323993 A1
- Document ID: US20180323993A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/002,945
- Filed: 2018-06-07
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-29
- Assignees: Kip Prod P1 LP
- Applicants: Kip Prod P1 LP
- Inventors: Amir Ansari; George A. Cowgill; Leon E. Nicholls; Jude P. Ramayya; Ramprakash Masina; Alvin R. McQuarters; Atousa Raissyan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323993A1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/04: Billing or invoicing
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- G06F 16/64: Browsing; Visualisation therefor (generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638)
- G06F 16/68: Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
- G08B 13/19656: {Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet}
- G10L 15/22: Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
- H04L 12/2803: {Home automation networks}
- 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)}
- H04L 12/2812: {describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content (retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95)}
- H04L 12/2814: {Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network (arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08)}
- 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)}
- H04L 12/66: Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
- H04L 41/0803: Configuration setting
- H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- H04L 47/80: Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
- H04L 47/83: based on usage prediction
- H04L 49/25: Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
- H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
- H04L 51/046: Interoperability with other network applications or services
- H04L 61/4552: Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
- H04L 63/02: {for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls}
- H04L 63/06: {for supporting key management in a packet data network (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08)}
- H04L 63/08: {for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32)}
- H04L 63/0876: {based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint}
- H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources}
- H04L 63/20: {for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227)}
- H04L 65/102: Gateways (arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66)
- H04L 65/1108: Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
- H04L 67/104: Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- H04L 67/141: Setup of application sessions (admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70)
- H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
- H04L 67/53: using third party service providers
- H04W 12/033: of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
- H04W 12/0431: Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
- H04W 12/065: Continuous authentication
- H04W 12/35: {Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning}
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- G10L 2015/223: {Execution procedure of a spoken command}
- H04L 69/325: in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 (H04L69/16 takes precedence)
- H04L 2012/2849: {Audio/video appliances}
- H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources}
- H04N 21/00: Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] (real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 {; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18})
- H04N 21/40: Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- H04W 12/00: Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H04W 12/08: Access security
- Y10S 370/911: Bridge, e.g. brouter, bus extender
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-27. (canceled)

### Claim 28

An automation system for operation at a user premises to manage functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the automation system comprising:
one or more interfaces for enabling bi-directional communications including:
communications within the user premises, between the automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices; and
communications via a wide area network, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises;
one or more processors coupled to the one or more interfaces;
storage, storing programming, coupled to the one or more processors, wherein execution of the programming by the one or more processors causes the automation system to:
(1) manage (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices; and
(2) (a) determine and handle resources, (b) use the resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices, (c) perform analysis based on the sensor measurement from the sensor, wherein the analysis uses the resources, and (d) implement controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to prevent communications of the one or more other endpoint devices from negatively impacting each other;
wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of:
a sensor device,
an automatic window,
a window blind,
a lighting or lamp unit,
a digital picture frame,
a web cam,
a music player,
a media player,
a television, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the one or more interfaces enables communications via the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide a home security service at the user premises.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user premises.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of sensors located at the user premises.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the execution of the programming by the one or more processors further causes the automation system to provide management of medical devices at the user premises.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the bi-directional communications are performed in part using a communication channel between at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices and the remotely located system, wherein the communication channel comprises communications:
being received from the at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices, at the automation system via a first interface of the one or more interfaces, using the communications within the user premises; and
forwarded via a second interface, of the one or more interfaces, using the communication via the wide area network.

### Claim 35 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the management comprises establishing configuration settings, provided from a remote system, on at least one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 36 (depends on 28)

The automation system of claim 28, wherein the resources comprise one or more of:
CPU cycles,
memory space,
network bandwidth, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 37

A method of operating an automation system, at a user premises, to manage functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the method comprising:
enabling, via one or more interfaces, bi-directional communications including:
communications within the user premises, between the automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices; and
communications via a wide area network, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises;
managing (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices;
determination and handing of resources;
using the resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices;
performing analysis, using the resources, wherein the analysis is based on the sensor measurement from the sensor; and
implementing controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to modify a setting to limit impact on the sensor measurement;
wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of:
a sensor device,
an automatic window,
a window blind,
a lighting or lamp unit,
a digital picture frame,
a web cam,
a music player,
a media player,
a television, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the resources comprise CPU cycles.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the resources comprise memory space.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the resources comprise network bandwidth.

### Claim 41 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the communications within the user premises utilizes X10, Z-Wave, or ZigBee communications.

### Claim 42 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the implementing controls comprises automation of networked home devices.

### Claim 43 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a signaling channel between the one or more digital endpoint devices and the remotely located system.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein the signaling channel is activated in response to authentication of the automation system with the remotely located system.

### Claim 45 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the handling of resources include utilizing a message queue or buffer.

### Claim 46 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising implementing a plurality of different user interfaces for different digital endpoint devices, with respect to one or more services provided via the automation system.

### Claim 47 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more interfaces comprises one or more of:
a component video interface,
an S-video interface,
an HDMI interface,
a composite video interface, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 48 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising implementing logic including two or more of:
a service for providing notifications based on a set of user-configurable rules;
a scheduler for managing user-configurable schedules of services by the one or more digital endpoint devices;
a display manager for managing at least one display; or
a logger for tracking user activities.

### Claim 49 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the remotely located system external to the user premises is an application service management center that provides content, support, and administration services for multiple automation systems.

### Claim 50 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising establishing peer-to-peer type communications with another automation system by signaling through the remotely located system external to the user premises.

### Claim 51 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising providing an auditory interface for controlling the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 52 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a control interface for receiving options for configuring home automation settings of at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices, wherein the control interface uses a first API to implement the automation settings for a first of the at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices and uses a second API, different from the first API, to implement the automation settings for a second of the at least two of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, wherein the control interface includes an auditory component for receiving voice commands that are recognized to determine the options for configuring the home automation settings.

### Claim 54 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, wherein the control interface is implemented as a graphical user interface, which is provided for visual display on one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 55 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, wherein programming specific to at least one of the digital endpoint devices is obtained from the remotely located system and is configurable, by a user, via the control interface.

### Claim 56 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the one or more interfaces comprise at least three interfaces including each of: a wired network interface, a USB interface, and a wireless interface.

### Claim 57

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for managing functioning in relation to one or more digital endpoint devices, the operations comprising:
enabling, via one or more interfaces, bi-directional communications including:
communications within the user premises, between the automation system and the one or more digital endpoint devices; and
communications via a wide area network, between the automation system and a remotely located system external to the user premises;
managing (a) at least one of authorization functions or authentication functions and (b) configuration parameters of the one or more digital endpoint devices;
determination and handing of resources;
using the resources to receive a sensor measurement from a sensor of one of the digital endpoint devices;
performing analysis, using the resources, wherein the analysis is based on the sensor measurement from the sensor; and
implementing controls for at least some of the one or more digital endpoint devices to modify a setting to limit impact on the sensor measurement;
wherein the one or more digital endpoint devices include at least one of:
a sensor device,
an automatic window,
a window blind,
a lighting or lamp unit,
a digital picture frame,
a web cam,
a music player,
a media player,
a television, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the computing system provides voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone services for at least some of the digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 59 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the operations are performed, in part, using multiple logic modules, wherein the multiple logic modules can be activated or deactivated by the remotely located system.

### Claim 60 (depends on 59)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein at least two of the multiple logic modules are voice controlled application services, wherein each of the voice controlled application services provide multiple functions in relation to a respective service for one of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 61 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the operations further comprise providing a control interface, through a graphical user interface of the computing system or of one of the one or more digital endpoint devices, wherein the control interface provides weather information.

### Claim 62 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein one or more services provided in relation to the operations are for automation of the one or more digital endpoint devices.

### Claim 63 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the implementing controls is based on a resource allocation instruction from a remotely located application service management center.

### Claim 64 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the enabling via the one or more interfaces comprises providing for peer-to-peer type communications between the computing system and an automation system.

### Claim 65 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the implementing controls comprises monitoring for excessive resource utilization by at least one endpoint device.

### Claim 66 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the resources comprise one or more of:
CPU cycles,
memory space,
network bandwidth, or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 67 (depends on 57)

The computer-readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the handling of the resources comprises:
determining an amount of required resources for one or more applications to execute properly; and
taking corrective measures to free up the amount of required resources, wherein the corrective measures comprise one or more of:
prioritizing packets;
throttling bandwidth;
performing operations to reduce noise on an RF interface;
freeing up time slices on a TDMA interface; or
any combination thereof.