(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,671,731 Bi
Cain (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 30,2003
(54) GENERIC PROXY SERVICE FOR DOCSISENABLED SET TOP DEVICES
(75) Inventor: Michael E. Cain, Arvada, CO (US)
(73) Assignee: MediaOne Group, Inc., Englewood, CO (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 639 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/597,494
(22) Filed: Jun. 21, 2000
(51) Int. CI.7 G06F 15/16
(52) U.S. CI 709/230; 709/218; 709/219;
709/227; 709/228
(58) Field of Search 709/218, 219,
709/225, 228, 227, 230
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,586,260 A * 12/1996 Hu 713/201
5,805,803 A * 9/1998 Birrell et al 713/201
6,510,464 Bl * 1/2003 Grantges et al 709/225
6,516,316 Bl * 2/2003 Ramasubramani et al 707/9
2001/0011284 Al * 8/2001 Humpleman et al 707/511
2003/0005084 Al * 1/2003 Humphrey 709/218
A generic proxy server, set top device, and methods ol operation are described to enable communication with the set top device through the generic proxy server. The set top device is connected to the generic proxy server through a private network. A user wishing to communicate with the set top device is connected to the generic proxy server through a public network. The set top device prepares for communication by registering itself with the generic proxy server and then providing a gateway code to the generic proxy server. The user initiates communications by contacting the generic proxy server and identifying a particular set top device to be accessed. Communications between the user and a set top device through the generic proxy server are enabled by the generic proxy server executing the gateway code supplied by the set top device.
18 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
