Abstract:
A system and method for reporting, either automatically or manually, a dynamic IP address of an internet connection, which system and method involves a dedicated hardware device or circuit card/subsection, which is not a general purpose PC that generates and communicates over the internet such dynamic IP addresses.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    In recent years, there has been a proliferation of internet users. Each of these users (i.e., a computer or other internet appliance which is communicating over the internet) must have, at the time of such communication, an IP address associated with it. The term “internet appliance” is used herein to refer to any type of device which is capable of and configured to communicate over the internet. This can, of course, include PCs, but it can also refer to a much smaller device with relatively limited applications. Since there are a finite number of IP addresses available on the internet, it is common for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to not assign each user with a permanent IP address. Instead, IP addresses often are dynamic.  
           [0002]    As is with the case of dial-up (phone) connections, the use of dynamic IP addresses has shortcomings. For example, if a home has numerous internet appliances, each coupled to an in-home network, which is then coupled to the internet via a cable modem, DSL modem, dial-up modem, etc., the homeowner could interrogate internet appliances, such as security cameras, heating and air conditioning systems, etc. However, before the absent homeowner can interrogate his security camera, he must know the IP address associated with that modem and camera. But if the homeowner&#39;s ISP uses dynamic IP addresses, and the address to the modem to be interrogated has changed, then the absent homeowner will be unable to remotely utilize his security system.  
           [0003]    In view of this situation, it is very desirable to provide remote users with a current IP address for their internet appliances. One method for providing this information been to have a dedicated general purpose PC at the unattended location to report to a website the current dynamic IP address for that unattended dedicated PC. Then the remote user must query the website to obtain the information. While this approach is helpful in certain situations, it does not meet all the needs for information caused by dynamic IP addresses. For example, if the internet appliance to be interrogated remotely is not connected to a dedicated general purpose PC running a particular software program, the above-described website would be unable to provide the necessary information.  
           [0004]    Consequently, there exists a need for an improved method and system for providing dynamic IP addresses to remote users of internet appliances.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing dynamic IP addresses in an efficient manner.  
           [0006]    It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a device other than a dedicated general purpose PC to report IP addresses.  
           [0007]    It is another feature of the present invention to include a dongle or embedded circuitry into a modem, router, or other device which reports changes in dynamic IP addresses.  
           [0008]    It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in reporting changes in dynamic IP addresses which does not require the expense of a dedicated general purpose personal computer and special purpose software to do the monitoring and/or reporting.  
           [0009]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a more reliable monitoring and/or reporting device which avoids some of the potential faults which are commonly associated with general purpose PCs.  
           [0010]    The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing dynamic IP addresses of remote internet connections, designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “wasted resource-less” manner in a sense that the resources wasted when a dedicated general purpose PC is used and maintained in operation to monitor and report changes in dynamic IP addresses, have been eliminated.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including an electronic hardware device which reports a dynamic IP address for an internet connection, where the electronic hardware device is not a general purpose PC. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram view of a system of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an alternate embodiment of a dynamic IP address-reporting device of the present invention which utilizes an automated reporting procedure.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram view of an alternate dynamic IP address-reporting device of the present invention which utilizes a manual process for the initiation of a dynamic IP address-reporting procedure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a security camera  102 , or other internet appliance or internet aware system, which is coupled through a modem  104  to the internet  110 . (In this case, a security camera is shown, but any TCPIP or internet aware device can be substituted.) Modem  104  is representative of any type of modem or communication device, such as a cable modem, DSL modem, network interface card for coupling to a local area network, or wide area network, a dial-up modem or other telephony connection, satellite service interface, wireless network interface, spread spectrum type modem, etc. Disposed between or in series with modem  104  or the like, and internet  110  is dynamic IP relay hardware  106 , which may be combined with a router  105  or other network components.  
         [0017]    Coupled to internet  110  is remote user PC  120 . Remote user PC  120  can be any type of device which is capable of communicating via the internet and is capable of communicating with dynamic IP relay hardware  106  and security camera  102 . Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  may be referred to as a dongle because in one preferred embodiment, it is a separate electronic device disposed in a path of a communication system. In other applications, it may be a circuit card within a PC, a card in a router, or integrated into any device coupled to the network.  
         [0018]    In operation, remote user PC  120  is able to remotely interrogate security camera  102  despite a change of a dynamic IP address for said modem  104  and security camera  102  or the like. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  can be any hardware-based circuitry which monitors communication between modem  104  and internet  110  to determine a current dynamic IP address. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  preferably comprises a printed circuit board or a portion thereof. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  also preferably contains a configuration utility built therein which would permit a user to configure the dynamic IP relay hardware  106 , using a separate device, such as a PC with a standard browser, to notify others about changes in the dynamic IP address. The dynamic IP relay hardware  106  could be configurable to provide notices in various ways, such as e-mail, pages, telephone calls, data transferred to a website, etc. Once the dynamic IP relay hardware  106  is configured, the configuration data is preferably stored in non-volatile memory therein, so that the dynamic IP relay hardware  106  needs no further attention until the user desires a change in the configuration.  
         [0019]    It should be understood that modem  104  or router  105  or the like could be integrated with dynamic IP relay hardware  106  to form a single unit, such as embedded on a single printed circuit card. It should also be understood that the dynamic IP relay hardware need not monitor for changes in IP addresses. In some cases, it is sufficient to merely report recent IP addresses; but in any case, if the IP address changes, the dynamic IP relay hardware  106  will report it if it is so programmed by the user.  
         [0020]    Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a simplified block diagram of the dynamic IP relay hardware  106  of FIG. 1. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  includes a printed circuit board  200  or the like, which has an input  202  for a broadband or other internet connection, such as cable, DSL, satellite, etc. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  may, in addition or alternatively, include a telephone input  204  which is coupled to hardware/software for a dial-up connection  212 . Input  202  and dial-up connection  212  are coupled to a microprocessor  216  which is coupled to an EPROM  214 , or the like. Monitor software  210  is coupled to microprocessor  216 . Port  206  for local devices is shown, but is not essential for all implementations. Monitor software could be an independent EPROM or the like, or it could be disposed within EPROM  214 . Microprocessor  216 , together with monitor software  210 , can monitor the current IP address associated with either input  202  or  204 . With input  202 , the monitoring for IP addresses may be done periodically or in response to an occurrence of an event. Monitor software  210  could detect an IP address whenever a dial-up connection is made. The information about the current IP address for a particular connection could then be communicated back out that particular connection and on to the internet. Configuration software  218  which can be configured via a port  208  can determine the nature of the report of the IP address. For example, configuration software  218  might be configured to send e-mails to a list of recipients, go to a website and provide the IP address there, or any type of communication capable of disseminating the IP address information. Dynamic IP relay hardware  106  may also have an independent internet or network output port  206  for conveying such IP address information.  
         [0021]    In operation, the dial-up connection  212  of the present invention could function as follows: a remote user  120  wishing to access a security camera  102  makes a telephone call to the dynamic IP relay hardware  106 . Dial-up connection  212  answers the incoming call and in response to the call, initiates a dial-up connection to the internet via telephone input  204  (after incoming call has been terminated). As discussed above, the IP address would automatically be sent out via the internet. For enhanced security, the dial-up connection is established only after confirmation of the caller&#39;s authority to cause such actions. Dial-up connection  212  could listen for DTMF tones which correspond to a predetermined code; it can match caller ID information to pre-approved caller ID information; or it could activate upon answering, but only after a large number of rings, e.g. 20 rings. A typical web browser could be used as an interface in this application.  
         [0022]    Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the dynamic IP relay hardware  106  of FIGS. 1 and 2, generally designated  300 . The dynamic IP address relay  306  includes an exterior contact closure  310  which can be actuated by a security device to produce a report of the then current dynamic IP address. This embodiment of the present invention is especially useful for security systems where it might be important to have the IP address available when the contact is closed, such as during a robbery, or at the time of a burglary when a door or window is opened, or when some environment sensor in a home is actuated, such as when a flood occurs and a float is raised. Many other uses for a mechanical or contact closure or electrical switch  310  are envisioned as well. e.g. A push button could be connected and used to test the system before leaving the home.  
         [0023]    Throughout this description, reference is made to stand-alone electronic hardware because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with a stand-alone electronic hardware device disposed in a communication path of a communication network. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to stand-alone independent hardware devices and should be hereby construed to include other embedded hardware and software designs as well.  
         [0024]    It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.