Abstract:
A product ordering device provided at a digital home system at a use premises is disclosed. The digital home system comprises a user terminal and a gatewa device within the premises. Occupants at the premises enjoy the product ordering service on an interactive user interface displayed via the user terminal. The gateway device is coupled for communication with the user terminal via a local area network, and for communication with a wide area network outside the premises; and the gateway device is configured for obtaining product data via the wide area network and providing the product data to the terminal for display on the display device. Upon placement of a product order by a user input through the terminal, the gateway device sends an order message outside of the integrated multimedia service system to request a corresponding vendor for the ordered product to deliver the ordered product at the premises. The product ordering service and the product data are provided and updated by a management server located outside of the premises.
Abstract:
The disclosed examples of a multi-services gateway device comprise application service programming logically positioned on a user premises side of a logical network demarcation forming an edge of the wide area network at the user premises. The programming also defines a logical service provider-user demarcation between the user premises and the application service provider. The application service programming resides on the service provider side of the service provider-user demarcation and only provides a logical application service interface across that demarcation to deliver an application service to an endpoint device. The logical service provider-user demarcation also provides a demarcation in accessibility to hardware resources of the gateway device, whereby some hardware resources of the gateway device are on the service provider side of the logical service provider-user demarcation and are inaccessible to an endpoint device from the user side of he logical service provider-user demarcation.
Abstract:
A method of establishing a voice communication session with a multimedia access device (618, 657) employable in a multimedia communication system. In one embodiment, the method includes initiating a session request from a first endpoint communication device (660) employing an instant messaging client and coupled to a packet based communication network (603). The method also includes processing the session request including emulating the instant messaging client for a second endpoint communication device (624) coupled to said packet based communication network (603). The second endpoint communication device (624) is a non-instant messaging based communication device. The method still further includes establishing a voice communication session between the first and second endpoint communication devices (624, 660) in response to the session request.
Abstract:
A gateway device at a user premises edge of a wide area network implements a method for rapidly routing a media session, for an application layer service. The gateway device receivers a request from a first endpoint device to create the media session with a second device. The request includes an application layer identifier for the second device. The method involves accessing a routing table within the gateway device using the application layer identifier and obtaining, from the internal routing table a network layer address for communication with the second device. The gateway device then creates a route for the media session for the application layer service via bi-directional network layer communications through at least one of its interfaces using the network layer address.
Abstract:
A gateway device is disclosed for deployment at user premises, which offers applications services similar to those of a server from the premises, albeit managed by a service management center via the network. For each application service, gateway programming provides application server communication with a client functionality of an endpoint device, for the respective service, communicated on top of network layer communications within the premises and through the wide area network. The application service logic in the gateway device also enforces authorization, authentication, configuration, or use of the service via the endpoint device. Management of the application service is responsive to communications with the service management center via the wide area network. A gateway device of this type, for example, may offer PC or TV type user interfaces. The gateway also may establish peer-to-peer communications with other similar devices.
Abstract:
A method of putting a first gateway device into service, the first gateway device having an application service module and a network module enabling communications between the first gateway device and the activation manager, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation. The method comprises identifying, at the first gateway device disposed at a user premises, an activation manager in communication with the first gateway device, transmitting, from the first gateway device, an activation certificate to the activation manager for verification and authentication, generating a service authentication key associated with the first gateway device, storing the service authentication key and an indication that the associated gateway device status is activated in a database, determining the services available to the first gateway device, and transmitting the service authentication key and an identification of the available services to the first gateway device.
Abstract:
A gateway device for operation at a user premises having at least one endpoint device associated with the gateway device, the gateway device being in communication with a remote service manager comprises an application service module having at least one application, the application service module bemg remotely managed by a remote service manager via a connection, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation, a user module having a user interface that is associated with the at least one application, wherein the user module enables bi-directional communications with the at least one endpomt device, a network module having the connection that enables bi-directional communications with the remote service manager, a processor coupled to the user module, application service module, and network module, and a storage device coupled to the processor operable to store operational information generated by and related to the gateway device, and having a management module operable to generate, collect, process, and provide access to the operational information under the control of the remote service manager.
Abstract:
An intelligent gateway device provided at a premises (home or business) for providing and managing application services associated with use and support of a plurality of digital endpoint devices associated with the premises. The device implements includes a communications and processing infrastructure integrated with a peer and presence messaging based communications protocol for enabling communications between the device and an external support network and between the device and connected digital endpoint devices. A services framework at the gateway device implements the communications and processing infrastructure for enabling service management, service configuration and authentication of user of services at the intelligent gateway. The framework providing a storage and execution environment for supporting and executing received service logic modules relating to use, management and support of the digital endpoint devices. Thus, the gateway devices provides a network-based services point of presence for a plurality of digital endpoint devices at the premises.
Abstract:
A media content manager residing at a user premises having a tuner coupled to at least one media source operable to selectively receive at least one media stream of at least one type of media content. The media content manager also including a media processor coupled to the tuner and operable to receive the at least one media stream and convert the media stream to a predetermined data format, the at least one media stream comprising metadata. Additionally, the media content manages has a media manager coupled to the media processor and operable to receive the at least one media stream in the predetermined data format and direct the media stream to a selected media player device coupled to the media processor. Furthermore, the media content manager includes a storage device coupled to the media manager and operable to receive and store the at least one media stream in the predetermined data format.
Abstract:
A system for providing and managing file sharing services of one or more endpoint devices comprise a first interface for enabling bi-directional communications with one or more of the endpoint devices associated with the gateway device, and a second interface for enabling bi-directional communications via a wide-area network, for the one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device. A processor is coupled to the interfaces and is configured to manage file sharing through presence and networking messaging communication between the one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device and at least another endpoint device (associated with the gateway device or not), to access a file to share received from the one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device or from endpoint devices not associated with the gateway device. The processor selectively makes the accessed file available to the one or more endpoint devices.