Christopher Joseph Dixon

US Patent:

20120011233, Jan 12, 2012

Filed:

Jul 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/831600

Inventors:

Christopher Dixon - Merion Station PA, US
James Poder - Cheltenham PA, US

Assignee:

COMCAST INTERACTIVE MEDIA, LLC - Philadelphia PA

International Classification:

G06F 15/177
G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709221, 709223

Abstract:

A communication interface and a device control, management and monitoring system are provided to enable the networking of and communication between a multiple devices operating under different protocols. The communication interface may act as a translator or protocol converter that reformats transmissions from one protocol to another based on protocol compatibility between the recipient and transmitting devices. The device control and monitoring system may store predefined rules that are triggered when specified conditions associated with the networked devices are detected. The rules may specify an action to take such as transmitting a discount offer to a user or turning off a light. According to one or more arrangements, the communication interface may act as an intermediary between the networked devices and the device control system so that the device control system is not required to understand or be compatible with the various other protocols used by the networked devices.

US Patent:

20120162538, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/979555

Inventors:

Christopher Dixon - Merion Station PA, US
James Poder - Cheltenham PA, US

Assignee:

COMCAST INTERACTIVE MEDIA, LLC - Philadelphia PA

International Classification:

H04N 5/44
G08C 19/16

US Classification:

348734, 340 1226, 348E05096

Abstract:

A communication network device facilitates communication between devices and/or applications in a network without requiring each device to register with every other device or application. The communication network device may generate and assign a unique identifier to each device or application upon registration and store a role of the device or application (e.g., sender or receiver or both) in addition to capability and compatibility information. The communication network device may then dynamically broker and manage communications from each of the devices or applications to other devices and applications in real-time. Using a communication network device, communications may be directed to devices or applications without requiring a sending device to know of the recipient's network address. Additionally, the communication network device allows for the direct targeting of communications to specific applications. Accordingly, in some arrangements, two applications running on the same device may receive different communications from another device or application.