US 11,856,395 B2
Grouping of network devices
Ryan Yong Kim, Rolling Hills Estates, CA (US); Jon Plummer, Los Angeles, CA (US); Matt Glidden, Manhattan Beach, CA (US); and Douglas Edward McLaughlin, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to BELKIN INTERNATIONAL, INC., Playa Vista, CA (US)
Filed by Belkin International, Inc., Playa Vista, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/407,054.
Application 17/407,054 is a continuation of application No. 15/881,306, filed on Jan. 26, 2018, granted, now 11,122,635.
Application 15/881,306 is a continuation of application No. 15/363,051, filed on Nov. 29, 2016, granted, now 9,918,351, issued on Mar. 13, 2018.
Application 15/363,051 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/217,118, filed on Jul. 22, 2016, abandoned.
Application 15/217,118 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/947,001, filed on Nov. 20, 2015, granted, now 9,686,682, issued on Jun. 20, 2017.
Application 14/947,001 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/947,697, filed on Nov. 20, 2015, granted, now 9,713,003, issued on Jul. 18, 2017.
Application 14/947,697 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/946,308, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/946,308 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/946,290, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, granted, now 9,820,314, issued on Nov. 14, 2017.
Application 14/946,290 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/946,348, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, abandoned.
Application 15/217,118 is a continuation of application No. 14/529,745, filed on Oct. 31, 2014, granted, now 9,426,153, issued on Aug. 23, 2016.
Application 14/529,745 is a continuation of application No. 14/479,545, filed on Sep. 8, 2014, granted, now 9,210,192, issued on Dec. 8, 2015.
Application 14/946,308 is a continuation of application No. 14/462,725, filed on Aug. 19, 2014, abandoned.
Application 14/947,697 is a continuation of application No. 14/455,940, filed on Aug. 10, 2014, granted, now 9,451,462, issued on Sep. 20, 2016.
Application 15/363,051 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/455,938, filed on Aug. 10, 2014, granted, now 9,661,058, issued on May 23, 2017.
Application 14/947,001 is a continuation of application No. 14/455,940.
Application 14/946,290 is a continuation of application No. 14/454,163, filed on Aug. 7, 2014, granted, now 9,814,084, issued on Nov. 7, 2017.
Application 15/363,051 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/242,806, filed on Apr. 1, 2014, granted, now 9,706,582, issued on Jul. 11, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0225446 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. H04W 76/14 (2018.01); H04L 67/303 (2022.01); H04W 4/08 (2009.01); H04W 4/70 (2018.01); H04W 76/15 (2018.01); H04L 67/141 (2022.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04W 8/00 (2009.01); H04L 41/0893 (2022.01); H04W 48/18 (2009.01); H04W 76/11 (2018.01); H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 12/08 (2021.01); H04W 4/60 (2018.01); H04W 48/20 (2009.01); H04W 12/50 (2021.01); H04W 88/16 (2009.01); H04W 12/04 (2021.01)
CPC H04W 76/14 (2018.02) [H04L 41/0893 (2013.01); H04L 63/0876 (2013.01); H04L 63/102 (2013.01); H04L 67/141 (2013.01); H04L 67/303 (2013.01); H04W 4/08 (2013.01); H04W 4/60 (2018.02); H04W 4/70 (2018.02); H04W 8/005 (2013.01); H04W 12/06 (2013.01); H04W 12/08 (2013.01); H04W 12/50 (2021.01); H04W 48/18 (2013.01); H04W 48/20 (2013.01); H04W 76/15 (2018.02); H04W 12/04 (2013.01); H04W 76/11 (2018.02); H04W 88/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A network device comprising:
one or more processing devices; and
memory having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the network device to perform operations comprising:
receiving identification information for each network device of a plurality of other network devices associated with a network, where the identification information identifies each network device of the plurality of other network devices;
detecting operations of each network device of the plurality of other network devices;
based at least in part on the detecting, collecting data corresponding to observations of the operations of each network device of the plurality of other network devices;
analyzing the data corresponding to the observations of the operations of each network device of the plurality of other network devices;
based at least in part on the analyzing the data corresponding to the observations of the operations, automatically generating a grouping of network devices that comprises two or more network devices of the plurality of other network devices; and
transmitting grouping data to at least the two or more network devices of the plurality of other network devices;
where the two or more network devices of the grouping of network devices are treated within the network as a single virtual device that is controlled to perform functions together based at least in part on determining a least common denominator of functions shared by the two or more network devices.