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

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.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method performed by a control system, the method comprising:
 communicating, via a local network, with a plurality of endpoint devices to receive sensor information from one or more of the plurality of endpoint devices;   communicating, via a wide area network, with a remotely located system;   using one or more types of resources of the control system based on the received sensor information, wherein the types of resources include at least one of a computing resource, a communication resource, or a combination thereof;   determining an amount of the resources of the control system for the control system to execute one or more applications or actions;   performing at least one corrective action to manage the resources of the control system, wherein the at least one corrective action includes at least one of:
 prioritizing packets of data, 
 controlling one or more communication bandwidths, 
 performing at least one operation to reduce noise in communications, 
 freeing up time slices on a Time Division Multiple Access (TOMA) interface; or p 2  any combination thereof; and 
   providing an automation settings control interface for the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes at least one end-user device configured for residential use.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control system is configured to communicate using the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control system locally stores the one or more applications, wherein at least one of the applications is executable to manage a respective one of the endpoint devices, wherein the control system has home security controls for managing at least one security device of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control system includes controls for setting configuration settings of at least one of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof includes at least one of central processing unit (CPU) cycles, memory space, network bandwidth, a message queue, a message buffer, a time period, a prioritization status, or a set of packets. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof includes the message queue or buffer used in receiving of the sensor information. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the communicating, via the local network, includes X10 communications, Z-Wave communications, or ZigBee communications. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control system includes controls for at least some of the plurality of endpoint devices based on received commands spoken by a user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes a first endpoint device and a second endpoint device, wherein the sensor information is from the first endpoint device and is used to manage the second endpoint device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the control system stores user-inputted settings for controlling at least some of the plurality of endpoint devices based on received sensor information. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the remotely located system provides one or more of: subscription controls; alarm management; remote diagnostic support; voice calling services; media streaming services; data backup services; or any combination thereof, wherein the one or more applications include a first software application associated with a first device of the plurality of endpoint devices and a second software application associated with a second device of the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the control system includes
 a first communication interface associated with the first software application, and   a second communication interface associated with the second software application.   
     
     
         39 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a control system, cause the control system to manage operations of a plurality of endpoint devices, the operations comprising:
 communicating, via a local network, with the plurality of endpoint devices to receive sensor information from the plurality of endpoint devices;   communicating, via a wide area network, with a remotely located system;   using one or more types of resources of the control system based on the received sensor information, wherein the types of resources include at least one of a computing resource, a communication resource, or a combination thereof;   determining an amount of the resources of the control system for the control system to execute one or more applications or actions;   performing at least one corrective action to manage the resources of the control system, wherein the at least one corrective action includes at least one of:
 prioritizing packets of data, 
 controlling one or more communication bandwidths, 
 performing at least one operation to reduce noise in communications, 
 freeing up time slices on a Time Division Multiple Access (TOMA) interface; or 
 any combination thereof; and 
   providing an automation settings control interface for the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes at least one end-user device configured for residential use.   
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the control system is configured to communicate using the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the control system is configured to communicate using the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the control system locally stores the one or more applications, wherein at least one of the one or more applications is executable to manage a respective one of the endpoint devices, wherein the control system has home security controls for managing at least one security device of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         43 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the control system at least some configuration controls for setting configuration settings of at least one of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         44 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof includes at least one of central processing unit (CPU) cycles, memory space, network bandwidth, a message queue, a message buffer, a time period, a prioritization status, or a set of packets. 
     
     
         45 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 44 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof includes the message queue or buffer used in receiving of the sensor information. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the communicating, via the local network, includes X10 communications, Z-Wave communications, or ZigBee communications. 
     
     
         47 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the control system includes controls for at least some of the plurality of endpoint devices based on received commands spoken by a user. 
     
     
         48 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes a first endpoint device and a second endpoint device, wherein the sensor information is from the first endpoint device and is used to manage the second endpoint device. 
     
     
         49 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more applications include a first software application associated with a first device of the plurality of endpoint devices and a second software application associated with a second device of the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the control system includes
 a first communication interface associated with the first software application, and   a second communication interface associated with the second software application.   
     
     
         50 . A control system for managing operations in relation to a plurality of endpoint devices, the control system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the control system to perform operations comprising:
 communicating, via a local network, with the plurality of endpoint devices to receive sensor information from the plurality of endpoint devices; 
 communicating, via a wide area network, with a remotely located system; 
   using one or more types of resources of the control system based on the received sensor information, wherein the types of resources include at least one of a computing resource, a communication resource, or a combination thereof;   determining an amount of the resources of the control system for the control system to execute one or more applications or actions;   performing at least one corrective action to manage the resources of the control system, wherein the at least one corrective action includes at least one of:
 prioritizing packets of data, 
 controlling one or more communication bandwidths, 
 performing at least one operation to reduce noise in communications, 
 freeing up time slices on a Time Division Multiple Access (TOMA) interface; or 
 any combination thereof; and 
   providing an automation settings control interface for the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes at least one end-user device configured for residential.   
     
     
         51 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the remotely located system provides one or more of: subscription controls; alarm management; remote diagnostic support; voice calling services; media streaming services; data backup services; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the operations include communicating using the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network. 
     
     
         53 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the operations include communicating using the wide area network by connecting to a local wireless network that is connected to the wide area network. 
     
     
         54 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the control system locally stores the one or more applications, wherein at least one of the one or more applications is executable to manage a respective one of the endpoint devices, wherein the control system has home security controls for managing at least one security device of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         55 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the control system includes at least some configuration controls for setting configuration settings of at least one of the plurality of endpoint devices. 
     
     
         56 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof includes at least one of central processing unit (CPU) cycles, memory space, network bandwidth, a message queue, a message buffer, a time period, a prioritization status, or a set of packets. 
     
     
         57 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the computing resource, the communication resource, or a combination thereof include a message queue or buffer used in receiving of the sensor information. 
     
     
         58 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the communicating, via the local network, includes X10 communications, Z-Wave communications, or ZigBee communications. 
     
     
         59 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the control system includes controls for at least some of the plurality of endpoint devices based on received commands spoken by a user. 
     
     
         60 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the plurality of endpoint devices includes a first endpoint device and a second endpoint device, wherein the sensor information is from the first endpoint device and is used to manage the second endpoint device. 
     
     
         61 . The control system of  claim 50 , wherein the one or more applications include a first software application associated with a first device of the plurality of endpoint devices and a second software application associated with a second device of the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the control system includes
 a first communication interface associated with the first software application, and   a second communication interface associated with the second software application.