Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for enabling mediated access to information controlled by one or more information repositories by one or more application service providers. The information controlled by the one or more information repositories is associated with one or more subscribers of information-based services offered by the one or more application service providers.

Abstract: In a network of devices having a plurality of local domains, each local domain is likely to comprise a plurality of networks or communities of devices that communicate using a shared native protocol such as Jini, UPnP, Bluetooth, HAVi, WiFi, WiMAX or other standard architectures and protocols. The Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) created a platform and method for various networks to communicate with one another in a local domain. OSGi does not, however, solve the problems associated with communication across local domains. An instant messaging protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a remote services register are used to provide a means for communication between local devices in a plurality of local OSGi domains using native communications protocols.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for enabling mediated access to information controlled by one or more information repositories by one or more application service providers. The information controlled by the one or more information repositories is associated with one or more subscribers of information-based services offered by the one or more application service providers.

Abstract: This invention uses the ability to generate consumer relational marketing information from a database of transaction for digital content using a digital content mediator (“DCM”) to track the distribution of digital content. By using information from the transaction log, which can be either generated directly by the DCM server (typically sent to the payment engine for billing purposes) or can be output by the payment engine and combining with information from the content description database, a customer-content history database is created. Data Mining techniques can then be used to dervie the desired consumer relational marketing information from the customer-content history database. However, it is also possible to use data mining techniques across the databases (transaction log, content description database, and (optionally) the customer/client info DB) to obtain the desired consumer relational marketing data without first combining information into the customer-content history database.

Abstract: A digital content mediator (“DCM”) communicates with a network resource controller/manager (NRM) to allocate the appropriate network resources for a digital content transfer. A DCM client provides a signal to the DCM requesting the desired digital content transaction. The DCM checks a content information database to see if the content transfer is allowed. If the transfer is allowed, the DCM then extracts content transfer information from the content information database that describes network resource characteristics for transfer of that content. The DCM then formulates a request to the Network Resorce Manager containing the source and destination endpoint information in addition to the network resource characteristics of the content to be transferred. The Network Resource Manager (NRM) then makes the appropriate resource allocations. If the request succeeds, the DCM “approves” the request and signals to the client that the transfer process can continue.

Abstract: This invention uses the ability of a digital content mediator (“DCM”) to track the distribution of digital content—i.e., authenticate the source and destination users/devices, and authorize the transfer based on the specified policies for the identified content. This tracking creates an undisputable audit trail that can be used for authorization and billing purposes. In addition, content that is moved within one home or between devices owned by the same person can be done for “free” as per the fair use provision of the copyright act—the DCM will verify that the devices are in the same home and/or owned by the same person and allow the transfer.

Abstract: In a network of devices having a plurality of local domains, each local domain is likely to comprise a plurality of networks or communities of devices that communicate using a shared native protocol such as Jini, UPnP, Bluetooth, HAVi, WiFi, WiMAX or other standard architectures and protocols. The Open Services Gateway initiative (OSGi) created a platform and method for various networks to communicate with one another in a local domain. OSGi does not, however, solve the problems associated with communication across local domains. An instant messaging protocol such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a remote services register are used to provide a means for communication between local devices in a plurality of local OSGi domains using native communications protocols.

Abstract: Access to private devices that are separated from the public network by firewalls and NATs is provided without reconfiguring the firewalls and NATs. A private device wishing to provide access to external devices establishes a virtual private pipe to a secure hub, which includes functionality to terminate virtual pipes and to switch communications between these pipes and the public network. The secure hub assigns a secondary IP address to the private device/pipe and thereby provides the private device with a network appearance that is now beyond the firewall/NAT. External devices access the private device by addressing communications to the secondary IP address, which communications are routed to the secure hub and tunneled through the pipe to the private device. The private device can also restrict access through an access control list that is enforced by the secure hub.