Multi-services gateway device at user premises

1. A communication device for operation at a user premises, the communication device comprising:

a first interface configured for wireless communication between endpoint devices associated with the user premises;

a second interface configured for bi-directional communications, via a wide area network, with at least one of a service management center or an application service provider located externally to the user premises, wherein an application service enforcement manager is controlled by the application service provider through the service management center and configured to provide at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with an application service provided by the application service provider, and wherein the application service provider through the service management center provides the at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with the application service to the communication device;

a voice-based user interface enabling management and control of application services, executed by the communication device, via one or more voice commands from a user present at the user premises;

a graphical user interface rendered on a display associated with at least one of the communication device for enabling management and/or control of the application services executed by the communication device;

one or more processors coupled to the first and second interfaces;

storage coupled to the one or more processors, and

programming in the storage for execution, wherein the programming, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the communication device to process at least one voice command from the user to:

cause authentication and/or authorization to be performed by the application service provider and, upon successful authentication and/or authorization, to stream audible media from a server associated with the application service provider to at least one of the endpoint devices,

wherein, in response to the processed at least one voice command,

cause authentication and/or authorization to be performed by another application service provider from which the communication device is programmed to stream media upon successful authentication and/or authorization,

wherein the programming includes—

(a) the application service received from the application service provider; and

(b) a communication device program, managed by the application service provider and configured to execute the application service provided from the application service provider, wherein the communication device executes the application service at the user premises independent of any application service that is executing on a networm of the application service provider, wherein, upon receiving a voice command request from the user to execute the application service at the communication device, an application service logic manager communicates with the application service enforcement manager to verify that the request conforms with the at least one policy rule and/or usage rule associated with the application service in order to authorize execution of the application service by the communication device.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables management of at least one of: digital rights of media utilized by at least one of the endpoint devices at or within the user premises or context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on the at least one endpoint device at or within the user premises.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables automation of associated endpoint devices within the user premises including management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables home automation and/or control of at least one of: the associated endpoint devices located within the user premises or endpoint devices located remote from the user premises.

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables at least one of:

home automation of connected devices within the user premises;

home security of the user premises via connected devices within the user premises;

management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user premises;

management of sensors located at or within the user premises;

management of monitors at or within the user premises;

management, including monitoring, of medical devices within the user premises;

management of wired and wireless connections to endpoint devices at or within the user premises;

management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises; or

management of context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

6. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the service application executed at the communication device enables management including monitoring of medical devices within the user premises.

7. A method performed at user premises by a communication device, the method comprising:

providing, via a first interface, wireless communication between endpoint devices associated with the user premises;

providing, via a second interface, bi-directional communications via a wide area network with at least one of a service management center or an application service provider located externally to the user premises,

wherein an application service enforcement manager is controlled by the application service provider through the service management center and configured to provide at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with an application service provided by the application service provider, and

wherein the application service provider, through the service management center, provides, to the communication device, the at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with the application service;

enabling management and control of application services, executed by the communication device, via one or more voice commands from a user present at the user premises and via a graphical user interface rendered on a display associated with the communication device;

in response to processing at least one voice command from the user

causing authentication and/or authorization to be performed by the application service provider and, upon successful authentication and/or authorization, streaming audible media from a server associated with the application service provider to at least one endpoint device; and

causing authentication and/or authorization to be performed by another application service provider from which the communication device is programmed to stream media upon successful authentication and/or authorization,

wherein:

(a) the application service was received from the application service provider; and

(b) a communication device program is managed by the application service provider and is configured to execute the application service provided from the application service provider, wherein the communication device executes the application service at the user premises independent of an application service that is executing on a network of the application service provider, wherein, upon receiving a voice command request from the user to execute the application service at the communication device, an application service logic manager communicates with the application service enforcement manager to verify that the request conforms with the at least one policy rule and/or usage rule associated with the application service in order to authorize execution of the application service by the communication device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables management of at least one of: digital rights of media utilized by at least one of the endpoint devices at or within the user premises or context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on the at least one endpoint device at or within the user premises.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables automation of associated endpoint devices within the user premises including management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables home automation and/or control of at least one of: the associated endpoint devices located within the user premises or endpoint devices located remote from the user premises.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables at least one of:

home automation of connected devices within the user premises;

home security of the user premises via connected devices within the user premises;

management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user premises;

management of sensors located at or within the user premises;

management of monitors at or within the user premises;

management, including monitoring, of medical devices within the user premises;

management of wired and wireless connections to endpoint devices at or within the user premises;

management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises; or

management of context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables management including monitoring of medical devices within the user premises.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a communication device at a user premises, cause the communication device to perform operations comprising:

providing, via a first interface, wireless communication between endpoint devices associated with the user premises;

providing, via a second interface, bi-directional communications via a wide area network with at least one of a service management center or an application service provider located externally to the user premises,

wherein an application service enforcement manager is controlled by the application service provider through the service management center and configured to provide at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with an application service provided by the application service provider, and

wherein the application service provider, through the service management center, provides, to the communication device, the at least one policy rule or usage rule associated with the application service;

enabling management and control of application services, executed by the communication device, via one or more voice commands from a user present at the user premises and via a graphical user interface rendered on a display associated with the communication device;

in response to processing at least one voice command from the user:

causing authentication and/or authorization to be performed by the application service provider and, upon successful authentication and/or authorization, streaming audible media from a server associated with the application service provider to at least one endpoint device; and

causing authentication and/or authorization to be performed by another application service provider from which the communication device is programmed to stream media upon successful authentication and/or authorization,

wherein:

(a) the application service was received from the application service provider; and

(b) a communication device program is managed by the application service provider and is configured to execute the application service provided from the application service provider, wherein the communication device executes the application service at the user premises independent of an application service that is executing on a network of the application service provider, wherein, upon receiving a voice command request from the user to execute the application service at the communication device, an application service logic manager communicates with the application service enforcement manager to verify that the request conforms with the at least one policy rule and/or usage rule associated with the application service in order to authorize execution of the application service by the communication device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables management of at least one of: digital rights of media utilized by at least one of the endpoint devices at or within the user premises or context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on the at least one endpoint device at or within the user premises.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables automation of associated endpoint devices within the user premises including management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables home automation and/or control of at least one of: the associated endpoint devices located within the user premises or endpoint devices located remote from the user premises.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables at least one of:

home automation of connected devices within the user premises;

home security of the user premises via connected devices within the user premises;

management of video cameras and associated video data captured within the user premises;

management of sensors located at or within the user premises;

management of monitors at or within the user premises;

management, including monitoring, of medical devices within the user premises;

management of wired and wireless connections to endpoint devices at or within the user premises;

management of digital rights utilized by endpoint devices at or within the user premises; or

management of context sensitive advertising that is available for rendering on endpoint devices at or within the user premises.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the application service executed at the communication device enables management including monitoring of medical devices within the user premises.