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 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A computing system for performing operations for managing voice-controlled services at a user premises, the computing system comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory storing instructions corresponding to an application that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising—
 receiving, via gateway device connected to a wide area network, configuration data for at least a portion of the voice-controlled services; 
 storing the configuration data; 
 sending, via the wide area network, a request for a streaming service to stream media, at the user premises, wherein the request corresponds to the at least a portion of the voice-controlled services; 
 communicating with one or more endpoint devices over a communication interface for implementing a user interface for the streaming service; and 
 after a verification that the request conforms with policy and/or usage rules associated with the streaming service based on subscription information, providing media, from the streaming service, at the user premises, wherein the streaming service is independent of other streaming services accessible from the user premises. 
   
     
     
         21 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface rendered on a display screen of one of the one or more endpoint devices via a signal over the communication interface, wherein the graphical user interface enables controls for the streaming service. 
     
     
         22 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one memory includes instructions for:
 communicating with a remote server over the wide area network to authenticate the gateway device; and   establishing a communication link over the wide area network with the remote server based on the authentication of the gateway device, wherein the configuration data, the request, the media, or a combination thereof is communicated using the established communication link.   
     
     
         23 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one memory includes instructions for receiving a service request from the gateway device, wherein the service request represents a request to update information involving one or more service components associated with (1) the gateway device and/or (2) any of the one or more endpoint devices communicatively coupled to the gateway device. 
     
     
         24 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the gateway device is one of at least two gateway devices that are configured to provide server functionality for the one or more endpoint devices in place of a remote server;   the at least one memory includes instructions for receiving service requests that each correspond to one of the at least two gateway devices, wherein each of the service requests represents the request associated with the corresponding one of the at least two gateway devices and/or one or more instances of the one or more endpoint devices communicatively coupled to the corresponding one of the at least two gateway devices.   
     
     
         25 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one memory includes instructions for sending an update request from the gateway device, wherein the update request represents the request to update the information involving the one or more service components. 
     
     
         26 . The computing system of  claim 23 , wherein the service components comprise components for one or more of: home automation of connected devices at the user premises; home security of the user premises via connected devices at the user premises; management of video cameras and associated video data captured at the user premises; management of sensors located at the user premises;
 management of monitors at the user premises; home automation of connected devices at the user premises; medical devices at the user premises; wired and wireless connections to endpoint devices at the user premises; digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at the user premises; and context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on endpoint devices at or within the user premises.   
     
     
         27 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the streaming service is one of a plurality of independent streaming services on at least one remote application service provider network. 
     
     
         28 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the streaming service is provided for a first user different than a second user associated with one or more of the other streaming services. 
     
     
         29 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein the configuration data is stored locally at the user premises to provide voice control of the one or more endpoint devices, the gateway device, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The computing system of  claim 20 , wherein communications to and/or from the wide area network is facilitated using a local router. 
     
     
         31 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for managing voice-controlled services at a user premises, the operations comprising:
 receiving, via a gateway device connected to a wide area network, configuration data for at least a portion of the voice-controlled services, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide connectivity to the wide area network and at least some server functionality to one or more endpoint devices;   storing the configuration data;   sending, via the wide area network, a request for a streaming service to stream media, at the user premises, wherein the request corresponds to the at least a portion of the voice-controlled services;   communicating with the one or more endpoint devices over a communication interface for implementing a user interface for the streaming service; and   after a verification that the request conforms with policy and/or usage rules associated with the streaming service based on subscription information, providing media at the user premises, wherein the media is received from the streaming service.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise sending at least part of one or more voice automation protocols to at least one of the endpoint devices to enable interactive voice-enabled control of the at least one of the endpoint devices. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the operations further comprise managing:
 in-premise protocol messaging with at least one of the endpoint devices,   retrieval of presence and/or a status information from the at least one endpoint device, and/or   remote monitoring and control of vendor diverse devices located within the user premises.   
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 31 , wherein the configuration data is stored in a message queue, RAM, or non-volatile memory. 
     
     
         35 . A method for managing voice-controlled services, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a gateway device connected to a wide area network, configuration data for at least a portion of the voice-controlled services, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide connectivity to the wide area network and at least some server functionality to one or more endpoint devices;   storing the configuration data;   sending, via the wide area network, a request for a streaming service to stream media, at the user premises, wherein the request corresponds to the at least a portion of the voice-controlled services;   communicating with the one or more endpoint devices over a communication interface for implementing a user interface for the streaming service; and   after a verification that the request conforms with policy and/or usage rules associated with the streaming service based on subscription information, providing media at the user premises, wherein the media is received from the streaming service that is independent of other streaming services.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface rendered on a display screen of one of the one or more endpoint devices via a signal over the communication interface, wherein the graphical user interface enables controls for the streaming service. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising receiving a service request from the gateway device, wherein the service request represents a request to update information involving one or more service components associated with ( 1 ) the gateway device and/or ( 2 ) any of the one or more endpoint devices communicatively coupled to the gateway device. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 communicating with a remote server over the wide area network to authenticate the gateway device; and   establishing a communication link over the wide area network with the remote server based on the authentication of the gateway device, wherein the configuration data, the request, the media, or a combination thereof is communicated using the established communication link.