Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8,914,526, I will examine the patent's own citations as well as any other relevant prior art mentioned. I will focus on the cited references that predate the filing date of US 8,914,526, which is December 17, 1999.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8,914,526

Based on the information available in the patent document, the following prior art references are explicitly discussed as being relevant to the invention.

1. PCT Patent Publication Number WO 94/24803

• Full Citation: WO 94/24803.
• Publication/Filing Date: The abstract and description do not provide a specific filing or publication date, but the "94" in the publication number indicates a publication year of 1994, which predates the filing date of US 8,914,526.
• Brief Description: This PCT publication discloses a communication node that enables communication between users utilizing different types of terminals, such as telephones and computers, across data and telecommunication networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While not explicitly stated to anticipate specific claims, this reference broadly relates to the concept of interconnecting different networks and terminals for communication, which forms a foundational aspect of US 8,914,526. The novelty of 8,914,526 likely lies in the specific architecture for remote monitoring and control using a web browser and extranet, rather than just general network intercommunication.

2. PCT Patent Publication Number WO 98/19445

• Full Citation: WO 98/19445.
• Publication/Filing Date: The "98" in the publication number indicates a publication year of 1998, which predates the filing date of US 8,914,526.
• Brief Description: This document describes a service node that connects Internet networks and a telecommunications network. It is used to order telephony services via HTML pages from a computer with a WWW browser. It also describes a method for initiating a call where the order is placed by computer, but the connection is established between two telephones. The service node communicates with computers using HTTP protocol and stores subscriber data for telephony services.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is more directly relevant as it involves using a web browser and HTTP to interact with a service node connected to a telecommunications network for ordering services. This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 57, 58, and 59 that involve a user initiating actions via a web browser on an external network to interact with a service node/communications server in an extranet. However, US 8,914,526 distinguishes itself by focusing on remote monitoring and control of home networks and security devices, and the on-demand connection establishment to a gateway within the home. The described system in WO 98/19445 is primarily for ordering telephony services.

3. "Browser-style interfaces to a home automation network" by Corcoran, D. and Desbonnet, J.

• Full Citation: Corcoran, D. and Desbonnet, J., "Browser-style interfaces to a home automation network", IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics Volume 43 4.
• Publication/Filing Date: Volume 43 4 suggests a publication in 1997 or 1998, as IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics is a periodical. The patent explicitly states Corcoran describes the use of a web browser and the WWW for a standard interface, both local and remote.
• Brief Description: This paper describes the use of a web browser and the World Wide Web (WWW) to provide a standard interface for both local and remote monitoring and control of a home automation network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant to the core concept of US 8,914,526, as it directly addresses web browser-based interfaces for home automation. The patent itself identifies problems with Corcoran's system, specifically that it assumes the site to be controlled is actively connected to the Internet for remote operation, and that initiating a direct connection manually requires special knowledge and can be expensive for geographically remote users. This suggests that claims in US 8,914,526, particularly claims 1, 57, 58, and 59, which emphasize the "on-demand" connection by a communications server in the extranet to a periodically unconnected home gateway, and the system for handling alarm and surveillance data, aim to overcome the limitations of Corcoran's work. Claims that detail the extranet initiating the connection to the gateway rather than the home being continuously connected, or those regarding the secure storage and handling of alarm data, would likely be distinguished from Corcoran.To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 8,914,526, I will examine the patent's own citations as well as any other relevant prior art mentioned in the patent text. I will focus on the cited references that predate the filing date of US 8,914,526, which is December 17, 1999.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8,914,526

Based on the information available in the patent document, the following prior art references are explicitly discussed as being relevant to the invention:

1. PCT Patent Publication Number WO 94/24803

• Full Citation: PCT Patent Publication Number WO 94/24803.
• Publication/Filing Date: The "94" in the publication number indicates a publication year of 1994, which predates the December 17, 1999, filing date of US 8,914,526.
• Brief Description: This PCT publication describes a communication node between data and telecommunication networks that enables communication between users employing different types of terminals, such as telephones and computers.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference broadly covers the concept of interconnecting different networks and terminals for communication. While fundamental, the specific architecture for remote monitoring and control of home environments using a standard web browser and an extranet, as detailed in the independent claims of US 8,914,526 (Claims 1, 57, 58, 59), would likely be considered distinct from the general inter-network communication described in WO 94/24803.

2. PCT Patent Publication Number WO 98/19445

• Full Citation: PCT Patent Publication Number WO 98/19445.
• Publication/Filing Date: The "98" in the publication number indicates a publication year of 1998, which predates the December 17, 1999, filing date of US 8,914,526.
• Brief Description: This document describes a service node situated between Internet networks and a telecommunications network. It is used to order telephony services through HTML pages from a computer with a WWW browser. It also outlines a method for calling a subscriber where the call is initiated by a computer, but the connection is established between the telephones of a first and second subscriber. The service node communicates with computers using the HTTP protocol and stores data related to a subscriber for telephony service requests.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is more closely aligned with US 8,914,526 than WO 94/24803 because it involves using a web browser and HTTP to interact with a service node on a telecommunications network for service ordering. This could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 57, 58, and 59 that describe a user initiating actions via a web browser on an external network to interact with a communications server in an extranet. However, US 8,914,526 primarily focuses on remote monitoring and control of home networks and security devices, with an "on-demand" connection established by the communications server to a home gateway that is normally in an unconnected state. The described system in WO 98/19445 is centered on ordering telephony services.

3. "Browser-style interfaces to a home automation network" by D. Corcoran and J. Desbonnet

• Full Citation: Corcoran, D., and Desbonnet, J., "Browser-style interfaces to a home automation network," IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics Volume 43 4.
• Publication/Filing Date: As this is cited as "Volume 43 4" of a periodical, it indicates a publication in 1997 or 1998, predating the filing date of US 8,914,526.
• Brief Description: This paper details the use of a web browser and the World Wide Web (WWW) to provide a standard interface for both local and remote interaction with a home automation network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it directly addresses the use of web browser-based interfaces for home automation, encompassing both local and remote control. The US 8,914,526 patent itself explicitly identifies a problem with Corcoran's system: for remote monitoring and control, it is assumed that the site to be controlled is actively connected to the Internet. Additionally, initiating a manual connection from a remote location is noted as requiring special knowledge and telecommunications access facilities, and being potentially expensive for geographically remote users. Therefore, aspects of US 8,914,526, particularly within claims 1, 57, 58, and 59, which describe the communications server establishing an "on-demand" connection to a typically unconnected gateway in the home network, and mechanisms for secure handling of alarm and surveillance data, aim to address these limitations of Corcoran's disclosed system.