Patent Publication Number: US-8538404-B2

Title: Centrally managing user-specified configuration data for a configurable device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates in general to managing user preferences or user-specified configuration data, and more particularly, to a method, computer system and computer program product for centralized management of user-specified configuration data for one or more configurable devices for a plurality of users. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     While today&#39;s media services and devices are becoming increasingly complex, the implementation of personalization technologies has lagged. Mobile phones, computers, digital media players and other service-ready media devices are currently access points to an increasingly diverse set of services. The assignment of personal identity and preferences for these devices, however, is conventionally performed via, and stored on a chip within, each device. In the example of a GSM mobile phone, these chips may be removable, but only by disassembling the phone. In many other devices, the identity or preferences as stored within the device are unavailable to the user except through the device. This means that the device has information about the user that is associated only with that device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly summarized, provided herein therefore, in one aspect, is a method of providing user-specified configuration data for a configurable device. The method includes: receiving by a configuration server a user identification and device information from a configurable device to be configured, the configuration server being separate from the configurable device and servicing a plurality of users; accessing by the configuration server an account database and using the user identification to retrieve, for the identified user, user-specified configuration data for the configurable device; and forwarding by the configuration server the user-specified configuration data from the account database to the configurable device for automatically configuring the configurable device pursuant to the user-specified configuration data. 
     In another aspect, a computer system is provided for facilitating providing of user-specified configuration data to a configurable device. The computer system includes a configuration server which is separate from the configurable device and which services a plurality of users. The configuration server, which accesses an account database comprising user-specified configuration data for the configurable device, includes a processor in communication with the account database. The computer system provides user-specified configuration data to the configurable device by: obtaining by the configuration server a user identification and device information from the configurable device to be configured; accessing by the configuration server the account database and using the user identification to retrieve for an identified user user-specified configuration data for the configurable device; and forwarding by the configuration server the user-specified configuration data from the account database to the configurable device for use in automatically configuring the configurable device pursuant to the user-specified configuration data. 
     In a further aspect, a computer program product is provided for facilitating providing user-specified configuration data to a configurable device. The computer program product includes a storage medium readable by a processing unit of a configuration server and storing instructions for execution by the processing unit for performing a method of providing user-specified configuration data for a configurable device, which is separate from the configuration server. The method includes: receiving by the configuration server the user identification and device information from the configurable device to be configured, the configuration server servicing a plurality of users; accessing by the configuration server an account database and using the user identification to retrieve, for the identified user, user-specified configuration data for the configurable device; and forwarding by the configuration server the user-specified configuration data from the account database to the configurable device for automatically configuring the configurable device pursuant to the user-specified configuration data. 
     Further, additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a networked computer system and user-specified configuration data flow, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a flowchart of one embodiment of logic for a configuration server&#39;s centralized management of user-specified configuration data within a networked computer system such as depicted in  FIG. 1A , in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a networked computer system for user&#39;s specifying of configuration data (or preferences) for centralized storage in a user account database, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a flowchart of one embodiment of logic for a configuration server for facilitating a user&#39;s specification of configuration data for storage in a user account database, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram of one embodiment of a networked computer system wherein a mobile phone interacts with a central configuration server for automatically configuring the mobile phone with user-specified configuration data, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a flowchart of one embodiment of logic for automatically configuring a mobile phone employing a networked computer system such as depicted in  FIG. 3A , in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts one embodiment of a computer program product or article of manufacture incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As noted briefly above, in most configurable devices, the identity (or preferences) are stored within the device itself and are unavailable to the user except through the device. This has certain limitations. For example, since the configured device may have a relatively short life span, each new device has to be programmed with the user&#39;s preferences. This data tends to be repetitious and requires a certain amount of re-work by the user. Also, since device preferences are often stored within memory that may be lost when power is lost, the user may need to re-enter preferences after a power failure. In addition, while such devices provide a rich set of functions, the user interfaces are often limited by the available controls. Usability is typically limited by the capabilities of the device. Further, downloaded content is often licensed to the hardware, rather than to the user. Since the lifespan of certain hardware devices tends to be short, it makes transfer of media from one device to another device problematic. Since the user&#39;s identity and preferences are associated with a specific piece of hardware (or device), the user&#39;s ability to utilize services is diminished when separated from the device. For example, a user can only use a mobile phone service with a specific mobile phone today, or a video preference is only available to a user on a specific television channel controller or set top box, which was previously programmed by the user. As services converge, it would be desirable to be able to route configuration information automatically from one device to another device for a user. To accomplish this, described herein is a centralized system or server housing user-specified preferences or configuration data for one or more configurable devices. 
     Many of today&#39;s digital devices, such as a digital media device, have a network connection to a provider. The limitations of such devices are not in the ability to move the required data in and out of the device, but rather the limitation is in the thought that user data (such as preferences or user configuration data) should be tied to the device, rather than available at a centralized location. Likewise, the ability to manage user information across multiple devices is also possible, and the technology to secure the data and label it for correct usage and security exists. The present invention links these technologies. 
     In accordance with the present invention, when initially activated, a media device, such as a mobile phone or a channel controller, is provided with a user&#39;s identity. The device, which is assumed to be configurable, connects to a central configuration server, which in one embodiment comprises or can access a central account database, in order to retrieve user-specified configuration data (or preferences) appropriate to that configurable device. Once loaded, the configuration data can reside within the configurable device for a user-specified period of time, or until a predefined condition occurs. This time (or condition) could be defined by the user as part of the preferences or configuration data. The user&#39;s identity could be in the form of a user identification and password, or a more secure form of authentication, such as digital certificates, could be available via a secure media, such as a smart card, that connects to the configurable device. Since each user could have a different set of preferences (or configuration data), the cached identity could be replaced by another user&#39;s authenticating to the device. Thus, the same device could be serially, automatically configured for each different user, with each approved user overriding the preferences or configuration data of a prior user. As described further below, in the case of a mobile phone, this may also include reconfiguring the phone number service connection to that of the current user&#39;s number. 
     In one embodiment, the central account database (or user account database) has a wide range of preferences (or configuration data) for one or more configurable devices for a plurality of users. The database may be expandable to accommodate newer technologies, and provide the opportunity to copy configuration data from one device to another device of the same configurable device type. This allows an ability to abstract the user&#39;s preferences (or configuration data) beyond the specific device implementation. Thus, user and configuration data management services surround the central account database and provide the user with an ability to manage the user&#39;s identity and user-specified configuration data out of band with the configurable device (as described below with reference to  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B ). 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B , which depict one embodiment of a networked computer system and user-specified configuration data flow, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , a configurable (user) device  110  receives or identifies a user identity or change in user identity or setup indicative of a new user. The configurable device initiates (STEP  150  in  FIG. 1B ) contact  141  with a central configuration (or contact) server  120  and provides user identification/authentication information and device information to the configuration server (STEP  155  in  FIG. 1B ). Authentication of a user&#39;s identity could be implemented using a number of different approaches. For example, a user could authenticate the user&#39;s identity on a configurable device by:
         Supplying a user identification number and password, which would follow normal conventions that exist today for authentication.   Establishing a certificate based authentication. Network connected devices, whether wired or wireless, have the ability to store certificates. There are a number of technologies that currently exist that would facilitate the management of certificates to configurable devices. For example, secure digital cards or universal serial bus access could be employed. These digital certificates could then be unlocked by the appropriate user as an authentication mechanism.   Employing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to identify the user or device. Providing devices that are keyed to specific RFID tags would facilitate identifying a particular user.       

     The above-noted examples of identification approaches allow a particular user to identify himself/herself to the configurable device. This identity could then be authenticated by the configuration server, with the configurable device being responsible for identifying the user forwarding the authentication credentials onto the configuration server, which then authenticates the identified user to access the relevant user-specified configuration data. 
     Central configuration server accesses  142  a user account database  121  associated with or in communication with the central configuration server in order to retrieve the user-specified configuration data for the configurable device. Access to the account database may employ the user identification (and optionally, the device information if more than one device type is recorded in the account database) (STEP  160  in  FIG. 1B ). The user account database  121  returns  143  the user-specified configuration data to the configuration server  120 , which then forwards  144  the retrieved, user-specified configuration data to the configurable device  110 , for use in automatically configuring itself using the user-specified configuration data (STEP  165  in  FIG. 1B ). Upon receipt, the configurable device  110  caches  145  the user-specified configuration data in a local cache  111  of the configurable device. The central configuration server optionally contacts  146  a third party service provider  130  providing service to the user&#39;s configurable device  110  in order to provide the third party service provider with any change required by the user-specified configuration data (STEP  170  in  FIG. 1B ). Assuming that the configurable device functions via the third party service provider  130 , then an interaction  147  takes place as required by the user, utilizing normal device-to-service provider protocols, which completes the configuration data transfer flow (STEP  175  in  FIG. 1B ). 
     By way of specific example, the configurable user device may be any configurable device, such as a mobile phone, cable controller, automobile navigation system, or other automobile preference set apparatus, such as seating and wheel adjustments, radio settings and/or MP3 music, etc. Communication between the user device and the configuration server may be via RFID technology, Bluetooth technology or WIFI technology, etc. The Configuration Server could be implemented using an IBM WebSphere® Application Server with an application that recognizes the device request using one of multiple technologies like Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Hypertext Transmission Protocol (HTTP) or a message queuing protocol. This software stack could be served on any IBM server hardware (System x®, System i®, System p®, or System z®) and could use Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC) to connect to a database server like DB2® running on any IBM server hardware. (IBM®, WebSphere®, System x®, System i®, System p®, System z® and DB2® are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., USA. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trade names or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.) Further, the user account database may be associated directly with the configuration server, or may be accessed through a separate file system server, independent of the configuration server, but accessible by the configuration server. 
     Since configuration data is maintained in the example of  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  in a user account database and accessible through a central configuration server, the configuration data (or preferences) reside external to the device at issue, and the data can therefore be managed without using the configurable device directly. This is illustrated in the example of  FIGS. 2A &amp; 2B , which depict one embodiment of the interaction between a user and the central configuration server in order to manage user-specified configuration data for a configurable device. The pre-specifying data flow begins (STEP  250  in  FIG. 2B ) with a user employing a standard interface  210  ( FIG. 2A ), such as a standard browser interface, to log into  231  the central configuration (or contact) server  120 . The login process may include the user forwarding identification and/or authentication information and information identifying the specific configurable device(s) for which preferences or user-specified configuration data are to be stored (STEP  255  in  FIG. 2B ). In the embodiment illustrated, the central contact server  120  contacts  232  a third party device provider  220  to retrieve a list of configurable items for the configurable device  233 . More generally, as noted in  FIG. 2B , the central contact server could identify configurable items for the device at issue by retrieving a pre-stored list of configurable items for the particular configurable device. Thus, STEP  260  in  FIG. 2B  generally states that the configuration server identifies configurable items for the device at issue. 
     Continuing with  FIG. 2A , once the central configuration server has allowed (STEP  265  in  FIG. 2B ) the identified user to manipulate the configuration settings or items (provided, for example, by the third party device provider  220 ) the preferences (or user-specified configuration data) are stored  234  in a user account database  121 , which as noted above, may contain preferences for a plurality of users for either a single device type, or a plurality of device types (STEP  270  in  FIG. 2B ). The central configuration server  120  is informed  235  once the user-specified configuration data has been stored in user account database  121 , which returns the stored status  236  back to the user via the standard interface  210 , which completes the pre-specifying configuration data flow (STEP  270  in  FIG. 2B ). 
     From the above discussion, it will be observed that once the initial information has been provided to the user account database, the user can manipulate settings for the configurable device without interaction with the third party device provider, which in this example, is assumed to be a different entity than the central configuration server. Specifically, in one implementation, the third party device provider is a separate, independent entity from the central configuration server, or service provider maintaining the central configuration server. The central configuration server may be in communication with a third party device provider in order to obtain periodic updates on the configurable items for particular types or classes of configurable devices for which user-specified configuration data is to be maintained. In the examples provided herein the configurable server may be part of a configuration service provider, which is independent from both the third party service provider and the third party device provider. With some intelligence, the central configuration server could be able to migrate performance settings from device to device. Standardized protocols that define such interaction would be advantageous to all providers. Today, many computer devices have LDAP-based models for manipulating configuration data. Thus, configurations for such devices could benefit from such a model. 
     While many device settings and interactions could be straightforward, others may be more complex. The inventive concepts disclosed herein also support a more complex relationship between the configurable device and the service provider(s). Consider, for example, the mobile phone embodiment of  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B . As illustrated by  FIG. 3A , a mobile phone starts (STEP  350  in  FIG. 3B ) the configuration process by forwarding  331  user identification and mobile phone data from the mobile phone to a central configuration server  120  (STEP  355  in  FIG. 3B ) maintained by a configuration service provider. In the case of a user identity owning more than one phone number, the user must also specify the phone number that this particular mobile phone is using or is to use. User preferences will determine whether the mobile phone can or cannot override an existing phone configuration for the phone number at issue (STEP  360  in  FIG. 3B ). The central configuration server  120  informs  322  a third party phone service provider  320  to initiate a new or updated service connection for the user using the mobile phone with the currently provided phone number (STEP  365  in  FIG. 3B ). The third party phone service provider  320  updates  333  service connection information in the phone service routing table or database  321  to associate the current user&#39;s phone number with the mobile phone (STEP  370  in  FIG. 3B ). The assumption here is that the mobile phone device has a unique identifier, such as the MAC address used by computers, or an LDAP distinguished name, which identifies the mobile phone separate from the phone number associated with the device. Once the phone service routing table  321  has been successfully updated, the phone service provider  320  is informed  334  of the change. The third party phone service provider  320  then returns any specific phone service data information that the mobile phone will need back to the central configuration server  120  (STEP  375  in  FIG. 3B ). Central configuration server  120  then returns  336  the phone service provided data, as well as any user-specific settings for that mobile phone device (for example, phone numbers, calendar entries, etc.) to mobile phone  310  for use in automatically configuring the mobile phone for the user (STEP  380  in  FIG. 3B ). A service connection  338  is then established between mobile phone  310  and third party service provider  320 , and the mobile phone service connection stays in force until occurrence of a predefined condition (STEP  385  in  FIG. 3B ), which completes the mobile phone configuration data flow (STEP  390  in  FIG. 3B ). 
     The predefined condition for terminating the service connection between the mobile phone and the third party service provider, or terminating the user-specified configuration data on the mobile phone, can vary. For example, the predefined condition might comprise:
         Expiration of a session limit imposed by the central configuration server. Under this scenario, the third party phone service provider ceases to recognize the communications session or service connection after expiration of the time limit.   An inactivity limit between the third party service provider and the mobile phone being reached. Again, this could be based on settings provided by the central configuration server at setup time. Inactivity could be based on a lack of communication between the mobile phone and the phone service provider, as in the case of a lost signal, or if communication has not been lost, where the phone has not been used.   Logging off of the identified user of the mobile phone from the communications session or from the service provider, which clears the user-specified configuration settings from the mobile phone cache, and removes the user&#39;s service connection entry in the routing table for the service provider.   The mobile phone authenticating with another user. If the mobile phone is powered off and its cache has been cleared, the mobile phone may go through the authentication process again, or if the phone is provided to another user, the log-on event may clear the phone&#39;s cache and initiate a new session with the phone service provider, or another service provider.       

     Although described principally above with reference to the configurable device being a mobile phone, those skilled in the art will note that the concepts presented herein are applicable to many different configurable devices. For example, the configurable device might be a set top box, such as a cable box. In this case, a customer could be at another&#39;s house or at a hotel room and automatically have their cable and pay-per-view preferences available there, as well as have any pay-per-view charges automatically billed to their account. In another implementation, an automobile with WiFi capability could be the configurable device. For example, if the automobile has the ability to recognize a user (such as by RFID or some other technology), preferences such as seat, wheel and pedal adjustments could be made for the user, even it if is the first time that the driver has used the car. Additionally, readouts (MPH vs KMPH, driving statistics, MPG, etc.), favorite locations on the automobile&#39;s GPS, or other settings that match the driver&#39;s preferences, could be automatically configured. 
     To summarize, service providers today typically dictate hardware for users to use. The concepts presented herein separate the devices from the service providers, allowing the device to access multiple providers, with multiple personalities or user-specified configuration data. This provides the device with independence and allows users to buy devices based on their own merit, with service providers no longer being able to dictate which devices are used or what limitations could be assigned to them. Additionally, with the concepts presented herein, user preferences transcend a particular device and are universally supportable across different hardware platforms. 
     One or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has therein, for instance, computer readable program code means or logic (e.g., instructions, code, commands, etc.) to provide and facilitate the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. 
     One example of an article of manufacture or a computer program product incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention is described with reference to  FIG. 4 . A computer program product  400  includes, for instance, one or more computer-readable media  410  to store computer readable program code means or logic  420  thereon to provide and facilitate one or more aspects of the present invention. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD. 
     A sequence of program instructions or a logical assembly of one or more interrelated modules defined by one or more computer readable program code means or logic direct the performance of one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     Although various embodiments are described above, these are only examples. 
     Moreover, an environment may include an emulator (e.g., software or other emulation mechanisms), in which a particular architecture or subset thereof is emulated. In such an environment, one or more emulation functions of the emulator can implement one or more aspects of the present invention, even though a computer executing the emulator may have a different architecture than the capabilities being emulated. As one example, in emulation mode, the specific instruction or operation being emulated is decoded, and an appropriate emulation function is built to implement the individual instruction or operation. 
     In an emulation environment, a host computer includes, for instance, a memory to store instructions and data; an instruction fetch unit to fetch instructions from memory and to optionally, provide local buffering for the fetched instruction; an instruction decode unit to receive the fetched instructions and to determine the type of instructions that have been fetched; and an instruction execution unit to execute the instructions. Execution may include loading data into a register from memory; storing data back to memory from a register; or performing some type of arithmetic or logical operation, as determined by the decode unit. In one example, each unit is implemented in software. For instance, the operations being performed by the units are implemented as one or more subroutines within emulator software. 
     Further, a data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code can be used, which includes at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements include, for instance, local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memory which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. 
     Input/Output or I/O devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays, pointing devices, DASD, tape, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives and other memory media, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the available types of network adapters. 
     As used herein, the term “obtaining” includes, but is not limited to, receiving, fetching, having, providing, being provided, etc. 
     The capabilities of one or more aspects of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof. At least one program storage device readable by a machine embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
     The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
     Although embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.