Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
  • H04L67/564—Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
  • H04L67/567—Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1859—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/189—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast in combination with wireless systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
  • H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/02—Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/01—Protocols
  • H04L67/04—Protocols specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
  • H04L67/30—Profiles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/54—Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/55—Push-based network services

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to network communications systems, and more particularly, to a system and method for facilitating access to service functionality available on landline and/or wireless networks.
• WAP Wireless Application Protocol
• WAP is a set of protocols that accounts for characteristics and functionality of both Internet standards and standards for wireless services. It is independent of wireless network standards, and is designed as an open standard. WAP bridges the gap between the wireline Internet paradigm and the wireless domain, to allow wireless device users to enjoy the benefits of the Internet across both platforms.
• Second generation wireless service is a current wireless service based on circuit-switched technology.
• 2G systems such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Personal Communications Services (PCS), use digital radio technology for improved quality and a broader range of services over first generation mobile technologies.
• 3G, or third generation refers to a set of digital technologies that promises improvements in capacity, speed and efficiency by deploying new packet-based transmission methodologies between terminals and the network. Users of 3G devices and networks will have access to multimedia services such as video-on-demand, video conferencing, fast web access and file transfer. Existing and future services are, and will continue to be, provided by network service operators who make services and applications available to mobile device users via the network.
• These services/applications hosted by network servers often require certain information to enable a user to properly utilize the application. For example, the user may need to be authorized to use the application, and/or the user may need to be charged for use of the application. Further, the application may need to know the whereabouts of the terminal user, particularly in the case of a wireless terminal that can roam from location to location. These and other "added value" functions are often performed by other services available on the collaboration of networks.
• SPI service provision infrastructure
• the present invention is directed to a system and method for facilitating access to service functionality available on landline and/or wireless networks.
• a network system for facilitating access to functionality available on one or more networks.
• the network system includes one or more terminals operable in a network, and a network infrastructure comprising one or more network systems.
• Network applications operate within a service provision infrastructure for use by the terminals.
• At least one network service broker is provided, which includes a loosely-coupled interface exposed to the service provision infrastructure, for brokering added-value network services from the terminals and/or network systems to the service provision infrastructure.
• the loosely-coupled interface is a standardized interface, such as an Extensible Markup Language (XML) interface, or more particularly a Web Services interface.
• the network service broker may be network-coupled brokers, terminal-coupled brokers, or a hybrid.
• the network service brokers may take on a variety of forms and functions, including, but not limited to, an authentication broker to access authentication services for use by the network application, a charging broker to access a charging/billing service in connection with use of the network application, a location broker to access a terminal location service to allow a location of the terminal to be provided to the network application, a content ordering broker to store subscription information to a profile register and to verify subscription intentions of an end-user of the terminal, a presence broker to access a presence service to allow user presence information to be provided to the network application, a client provisioning broker to broker provisioning of mobile terminals, a notification broker to facilitate pushing content to the terminals, and a privacy broker to access end-user privacy information.
• an authentication broker to access authentication services for use by the network application
• a charging broker to access a charging/billing service in connection with use of the network application
• a location broker to access a terminal location service to allow a location of the terminal to be provided to the network application
• a content ordering broker to store subscription information
• a method for providing network applications access to service functionality available via one or more networks includes providing at least one network-coupled network service broker logically between one or more network infrastructures and a service provision infrastructure operating on top of the network infrastructures. A loosely- coupled interface of the network service broker is exposed to the service provision infrastructure. Access by the network applications to value-added services within the network infrastructures is facilitated via the loosely-coupled network service broker interface.
• a method for providing network applications access to service functionality available via one or more networks is provided, where a terminal-coupled network service broker is provided.
• the terminal-coupled network service broker is logically located between one or more terminals and a service provision infrastructure operating on top of a network infrastructure.
• a loosely-coupled interface of the network service broker is exposed to the service provision infrastructure, and access by the network applications to value-added services provided at least in part by the terminals is exposed to the service provision infrastructure via the loosely-coupled network service broker interface.
• the network service broker is a hybrid of the network-coupled and terminal- coupled network service brokers, such that access by the access by the network applications is facilitated via the loosely-coupled interface to the value-added services provided via one or both of the terminals and the network infrastructures.
• a method for providing network applications that operate within a service provision infrastructure access to service functionality available via a visited network in which a user of a terminal has roamed.
• the method includes providing a use authorization voucher to a visited network service broker associated with the visited network.
• the service provision infrastructure receives an address of the visited network service broker from a home network service broker associated with a home network.
• the home network service broker exposes a loosely- coupled interface to the service provision infrastructure to facilitate communication therebetween.
• the visited network service broker is accessed by the service provision infrastructure using the address of the visited network service broker.
• a method for providing network applications that operate within a service provision infrastructure access to service functionality available via a visited network in which a user of a terminal has roamed.
• a roaming agreement has been established between the visited network and a home network of the user of the terminal.
• the method includes communicating between the service provision infrastructure and a home network service broker associated with the home network via a loosely-coupled interface of the home network service broker exposed to the service provision infrastructure.
• the method further includes communicating between the home network service broker and a visited network service broker associated with the visited network, wherein the home network service broker serves as a proxy in accessing the service functionality available via the visited network.
• a method for providing network applications that operate within a service provision infrastructure access to service functionality available via a visited network in which a user of a terminal has roamed, wherein a roaming agreement has been established between the visited network and the service provision infrastructure.
• the method includes providing a visited network service broker logically between the visited network and the service provision infrastructure operating on top of a network infrastructure, and exposing a loosely-coupled interface of the visited network service broker to the service provision infrastructure. Access by the service provision infrastructure to the service functionality available from the visited network is facilitated via the loosely-coupled interface of the visited network service broker.
• a network service broker for facilitating access by a service provision infrastructure to service functionality available via one or more networks.
• the network service broker includes an interface to access the service functionality from a network infrastructure.
• the network service broker further includes a loosely-coupled interface exposed to the service provision infrastructure, where the loosely-coupled interface comprises a Web Services-based interface having Extensible Markup Language (XML) schemata built on top of a Web Services platform to expose the service functionality available via the network.
• XML Extensible Markup Language
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the incorporation of a network service broker in accordance with one aspect of the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example of how a service application in the service provision infrastructure (SPI) can benefit from such loosely-coupled interfaces and the resulting added value exposed by the network service brokers to the SPI;
• SPI service provision infrastructure
• FIG. 3 illustrates a variety of representative network service brokers that may be implemented in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 4 illustrates a general network service broker architecture in accordance with the principles of the present invention
• FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing an authentication broker in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a charging broker in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a location broker in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a content ordering broker in accordance with the present invention
• FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a content delivery broker in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a presence broker in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a diagram of a representative profile register
• FIG. 12 is an exemplary embodiment of a network system which provides a Web Services notification broker in accordance with the principles of the present invention
• FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a Web Services push gateway architecture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a broker domain/Web Service logic interface
• FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a Web Service logic/API interface
• FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a terminal/broker domain interface
• FIG. 17 illustrates one embodiment of the use of multiple network service brokers for multiple network operators
• FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an interface broker in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary manner in which roaming issues can be managed using network service brokers in accordance with the present invention.
• the present invention is directed to a system and method for facilitating access to functionality available on landline and/or wireless networks.
• the present invention implements network service brokers which simplify access to functionality available on various networks, either fixed or wireless.
• the network service brokers expose a loosely-coupled standard Web Service interface (or other standardized interface) towards the service provision infrastructure, and implement a well-defined enabling service.
• the communication between terminals and the service provision infrastructure solutions takes place on top of the network infrastructure using standard connectivity methods.
• Creating service provision infrastructure solutions that are capable of accessing continuously provided "added value," such as location or presence information available in the network infrastructure is inherently challenging. Accessing functionality of wireless or wired networks is cumbersome due to the various standards, technologies, and vendor-specific functionality that is, and will continue to be, associated with network elements. Convergence further complicates the
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating the incorporation of a network service broker in accordance with one aspect of the invention.
• the network environment 100 includes various network infrastructures 102, which generally includes the various network technologies and solutions provided by various vendors.
• the environment 00 of FIG. 1 also includes Service Provision Infrastructure solutions 104, which represents the infrastructure from which application servers may provide applications and services on a particular network.
• the terminals 106 represent the various terminals that may be used on networks, including (for example), desktop and portable computers and terminals, cellular and other wireless telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), or any other type of terminal that can communicate via a network.
• PDA personal digital assistants
• one or more network service brokers 108 are provided in the network environment 100.
• the network service broker 108 may provide various functions.
• the network service broker 108 includes is to expose a loosely-coupled interface (e.g., Web Services interface) towards the SPI 104, while another is to implement or facade a well-defined enabling service.
• the network service broker 108 can expose the services through the agreed interfaces without disclosing the underlying end-to-end implementation.
• the service broker helps operators open their services to external applications, and provide access to a particular network domain's (e.g., mobile domain) added value.
• the service broker also enables the operator to charge the SPI for information that is provided to the SPI. If the information is provided from the broker to the terminal, then the end user may ultimately be charged for the service.
• roaming related charging can take place.
• the loosely-coupled interface to the SP1 104 is a "standardized" or otherwise agreed-upon Web Services interface, described more fully below.
• the "added value” may originate from a network, terminal, or distributed functionality between the network and terminal.
• the added value may be buried in today's mobile network infrastructure, in fixed networks, in networks utilizing unlicensed band wireless technologies, and the like.
• location information in company intranet and/or particular Internet hot spots with unlicensed band wireless technology, or location information in fixed company intranets is known to the system but there is not necessarily a way to access it.
• the brokers can thus be created for unlicensed band, or even for fixed Internet access.
• one embodiment of the network service broker includes a Web Service interface towards the SPI 104 which may be defined in Extensible Markup Language (XML).
• Web Services are network- based (particularly Internet-based) modular applications that perform a specific task and conform to a specific technical format. Web Services are represented by a stack of emerging standards that describe a service- oriented, component-based application architecture, collectively providing a distributed computing paradigm having a particular focus on delivering services across the Internet. Generally, Web Services are self-contained modular applications that can be published in a ready-to-use format, located, and invoked across the World Wide Web. When a Web Service is deployed, other applications and Web Services can locate and invoke the deployed service. They can perform a variety of functions, ranging from simple requests to complicated business processes. Advantageously, Web Services are accessed via ubiquitous
• Web protocols and data formats such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Extensible Markup Language (XML).
• HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
• XML Extensible Markup Language
• the basic Web Service platform is XML plus HTTP, and other protocols may be utilized in addition such as SOAP for RPC, WSDL for service interface description, UDDI for discovery of services, etc.
• XML is a text-based markup language that is currently used extensively for data interchange on the Web. As with HTML, data is identified using tags, which are collectively known as "markup". XML tags identify the data, and act as a field name in the program.
• XML is a language that allows complex interactions between clients and services, as well as between components of a composite service, to be expressed.
• HTTP is an application protocol, and more particularly is a set of rules for exchanging files (text, graphic images, sound, video, and other multimedia files) on a network such as the World Wide Web. While the examples set forth herein are generally described in connection with XML and HTTP, it should be recognized that this is for illustrative purposes, and current and future types of protocols and data formats may also be employed.
• Web Services represent a collection of several related technologies, and involve connections between at least two applications, such as a remote procedure call (RPC), in which queries and responses are exchanged in XML over HTTP.
• Web Service technologies may be defined in terms of various technology layers.
• the core layers include a transport layer, such as TCP/IP or HTTP as previously described, in which XML messages may be communicated.
• An XML messaging layer such as Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) also represents a core layer of Web Services.
• SOAP is a protocol specification that defines a uniform manner of passing XML-encoded data, as well as defines a manner to perform RPCs using HTTP as the underlying communication protocol.
• WSDL Web Services Description Language
• UDDI Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration
• UDDI provides a manner for Web service providers to register themselves, and provides a manner for an application to find, connect to, and interact with a particular Web Service.
• Other higher level layers of the Web Services stack may include a workflow layer.
• a workflow layer may include a technology such as the Web Services Flow Language (WSFL).
• WSFL is an XML language for the description of Web Services compositions, and allows for recursive compositions of Web Services within others to create more complex features built upon existing Web Services.
• WSFL is an XML language for the description of Web Services compositions, and allows for recursive compositions of Web Services within others to create more complex features built upon existing Web Services.
• the aforementioned, and other, technologies, protocols, data formats, etc. may be used in employing Web Services.
• these known technologies are referenced in order to provide exemplary technologies currently available in the development and use of Web Services.
• the invention thus may utilize these known technologies, but is also applicable to other existing and/or future technologies, as will be readily apparent to those skilled
• the network service broker 108 may include network-coupled brokers that communicate with network elements in the network infrastructures 102, as represented by line 110.
• This allows complexities caused by differences in network elements from multiple vendors or sources, and caused by differences between network infrastructures in general, to be hidden.
• One embodiment of a network-coupled broker includes a Web Service interface towards the SPI 104, where the Web Service interface is defined in XML.
• Such an exemplary XML interface enables hiding network type and network element differences. For example, differences between various types of networks, such as fixed/wired and wireless (e.g., wireless LAN, Bluetooth, mobile/cellular, etc.) networks, can be hidden.
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• WCDMA Wideband Code- Division Multiple Access
• the specific protocols to utilize the added value of the network can be hidden.
• CIMD Computer Interface to Message Distribution
• SMSC Short Message Service Center
• the network service broker 108 may include terminal-coupled brokers that communicate with devices represented by the terminals 106, as represented by line 112.
• the terminal-coupled brokers communicate with the terminal 106 and expose the service(s) or functionality(s) available as the cooperation of the broker and the terminal.
• this interface is defined in XML.
• the XML interface enables the identification of the terminal type in a common or standard way, regardless of the protocol used between the terminal and the broker for the identification. It also enables configuration of the terminal in a common way, independent of the specific protocol utilized by terminal vendors for configuring the terminal.
• the terminal-coupled broker(s) can also hide differences in the protocol set utilized by the terminals, such as differences in protocol sets for communicating presence information with the network.
• Brokers may be contemporaneously serving as network-coupled and terminal-coupled brokers.
• the functionality is distributed between the network and the terminals, and the broker provides the added value as the sum of functionality in both.
• the terminal may communicate with the network service broker to access added value of the network through the same interface as which the SPI 104 utilizes.
• the various brokers associated with the network service broker in accordance with the present invention also include a management interface for one or more Management Systems or other Operations Support Systems (OSS) (not shown).
• This management interface may provide various interfaces and services, including broker surveillance, broker statistics, broker configuration tool, and Customer Care & Billing (CCB) or other charging/billing system interface.
• the broker surveillance refers to the monitoring of broker process status and functioning.
• Broker statistics refers to the statistics offered by brokers regarding their usage, transaction quantity, response times, etc.
• the broker configuration tool may preferably be a Web interface for the broker to be used by system administrators to carry out configuration activities. With respect to the CCB system interface, it would be desirable that all subscriber-related information reside in a profile register.
• the broker can include a CCB system interface to obtain this information.
• the network service broker can further hide complexities surrounding roaming issues.
• the services in the visited network may need to be accessed.
• the user does not have a business relationship with the visited network to which the user has roamed within. Rather, the home network operator has a business relationship (e.g., roaming agreement) with the visited network.
• the same approach can be extended to services provided by brokers in the home network, in accordance with the present invention. An example of such a roaming case is provided below.
• the network service broker provides the network operator with a controlled way of exposing the functionality or information available in the network.
• Brokers enable the owner of the network to protect the privacy of the end user to whom the information or functionality is associated (e.g., location information, identity, etc.) based on the end user preferences.
• Brokers further enable the owner of the network to charge the service provider, end user, or other party receiving the added value.
• the brokers allow complexities caused by differences in network elements from multiple vendors or sources, and caused by differences between network infrastructures in general, to be hidden.
• the network service brokers in accordance with the present invention provide access to a mobile domain's added value.
• This added value may originate from network, terminal, or distributed functionality between the network and terminal.
• Network service brokers in accordance with the present invention do not disrupt the communication between terminals and the SPI, as these brokers enable access to the mobile domain's added value through open, loosely-coupled interfaces.
• Conventional application design depends upon a tight interconnection of all subsidiary elements. In such a case, developers must thoroughly understand and have control over both ends of the connection. In a loosely coupled system, the implementation at either end of a connection can be changed and the application will continue working.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example of how a service application in the SPI can benefit from such loosely-coupled interfaces and the resulting added value exposed by the network service brokers to the SPI.
• a terminal employing standard technology 200 connects with the service/application 202 provided by the SPI 204, as shown by line 206.
• the service 202 requests identity associated with the terminal from the SPI 204 as shown on line segment 208, and the SPI 204 in turn contacts an authentication broker 210 in the intelligent edge of the network that the terminal is located in, as shown by line segment 212.
• the authentication broker 210 provides the service application 202 with the means to uniquely identify the terminal for the current session.
• the application 202 requests location of the terminal by providing the location broker 214 with the unique identifier received from the authentication broker 210. This request is illustrated via line 216.
• the location broker 214 communicates with the privacy broker 218 as shown by line segment 220, requesting permission to provide the location of the terminal to the service application 202.
• the privacy broker 218 may function in one of many possible ways, such as deny the request as default, accept the request as default, accept if the application 202 can be uniquely identified and has been granted access to the location information, prompt the end user for permission to release the information, etc.
• the privacy broker 218 and/or associated privacy service provider can have a role where information and functionality that various other brokers expose from the network in question to service provision infrastructures is automatically "privacy protected," such that, for example, the location broker requests from the privacy broker/privacy service provider associated with the user whether the user has approved or needs to approve releasing the privacy information.
• the location broker 214 can obtain the positioning information from a location client 222, as shown on line 224.
• the positioning information provided by the location broker 214 may be based on the capability in the network, such as Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) location technology.
• E-OTD Enhanced Observed Time Difference
• the positioning information may be based on capability provided in the terminal, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) location technology.
• GPS Global Positioning System
• the service application 202 that has received location information through the SPI 204 can now provide location aware/based service to the terminal utilizing the standard technology 200, as shown on line 226.
• Another example includes the use of a payment broker 228, which may be invoked where the terminal user requests a chargeable service from the service application. In such a case, the service application 202 has possession of the previously provided unique identifier for the terminal.
• the SPI 204 further communicates with the payment broker 228 as shown on line segment 232, requesting creation of a billing record that matches the requested payment. Communication utilizing the standard technologies 200 can then continue, as illustrated by line 234. As illustrated in the example of FIG.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a number of representative network service brokers 300.
• the authentication broker 302 offers authentication services, and the charging/payment broker 304 facilitates the charging of services to the subscriber.
• the location broker 306 facilitates determination of the subscribers' location.
• Notification 308 and content delivery 310 brokers offers services for applications to push content, such as multimedia messages, to subscribers.
• the content ordering broker 312 offers a means for service providers to offer digital content subscribing.
• the presence broker 314 maintains subscriber dynamic status information, and the client provisioning broker 316 facilitates the provisioning of mobile clients.
• the profile register 318 includes information regarding the subscriber service, and the type of rights that the subscriber has granted to service providers.
• the context broker 320 can be used to provide context information to the service provision infrastructure for creation of applications that are aware of the context of the end user, where context refers to the context in which the end user is with his/her terminal. Other 322 brokers may also be utilized.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a general network service broker architecture 400 in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• the various network service brokers 402, 404, 406 form part of the intelligent network edge 408 surrounding a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) 410 or other wireless communication network.
• GPRS General Packet Radio Service
• the network service brokers 402, 404, 406 offer enabling services to either the operator's 412 own applications 414, or external service/content providers' applications 416 via the Internet 418 or other public network.
• the applications 414, 416 run on top of the SPI 420, 422 respectively, where the SPIs 420, 422 offer local services to applications, as well as provide Application Programming Interfaces (API) to the network service brokers.
• API Application Programming Interfaces
• network service brokers may be implemented in accordance with the present invention.
• a number of different exemplary network service broker architectures are described below.
• FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing an authentication broker 500.
• the authentication broker solution involves client authentication based on terminal Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
• Client authentication may also be provided based on other technologies and protocols, such as SSL/TSL (Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer).
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• SSL Secure Socket Layer/Transport Socket Layer
• TSL also ensures secure communications, and includes advanced methods of controlling privacy and security.
• the description associated with FIG. 5 assumes client authentication based on terminal IP addresses.
• a GPRS attach procedure is a mobility management function that establishes a connection between the terminal 502 and the network 504.
• the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) 506 is a support node that acts as a gateway between the GPRS network 504 and a packet-switched public network such as the Internet 508.
• GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
• the IP address/MSISDN number pair is stored into the authentication broker 500.
• the MSISDN Mobile Station ISDN/PSTN Number
• GSM/DCS networks that contains information such as the country code, national destination code, Home Location Register (HLR) identifier and a subscriber identifier (ID).
• HLR Home Location Register
• ID subscriber identifier
• the WAP gateway 510 requests the subscriber ID from the authentication broker 500 using, for example, the source IP address as a key.
• the authentication broker 500 queries the profile register 512 to determine the proper form in which the subscriber ID is to be provided to the particular service in which the subscriber is attempting to access.
• the subscriber ID may be provided in a variety of formats, including an MSISDN number, a virtual subscriber ID (VSi), etc.
• VSI formats may also include alternate formats, including a VSI that remains valid over several sessions, over a certain period of time, or over a particular WAP session.
• the subscriber ID returned from the profile register 512 is provided to the application server 514 via the WAP gateway 510.
• the subscriber ID may be provided in an HTTP header.
• the application server 514 may request additional authentication-related information or services from the authentication broker 500 as illustrated by communication path 516.
• the application server 514 may utilize the VSI that it obtained via the HTTP header.
• a request may be, for example, a request for the MSISDN number, a user name or address, a request to obtain a permanent VSI for subsequent push service use, a request to lengthen the time period in which the VSI is valid, etc.
• the authentication broker 500 queries the profile register 512 to determine whether the application server 514 is authorized to request that particular information or service.
• the client authentication may be based on the source IP address. This provides sufficient security, as the user traffic between the terminal 502 and the GGSN 506 is communicated via a tunnel, i.e., a secure communication path. This makes it possible in the
• GGSN 506 to filter IP packets that do not have the IP address allocated to the terminal 502. Furthermore, as there is a virtual private network (VPN) between the WAP gateway 510 and the application server 514, the subscriber ID remains untouched.
• VPN virtual private network
• FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a charging broker 600.
• the general charging and billing system may include a GPRS charging gateway 602 that collects charging records, such as call-detail records (CDRs), from Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (GGSN) or other support nodes, and forwards them to a billing system after consolidating the CDRs and converting them to a suitable format.
• CDRs call-detail records
• GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Nodes
• the charging records may be provided to the postpaid billing system 604 via the mediation device 606, which is used to interconnect such operations support systems (OSS).
• OSS operations support systems
• the application server 608 makes a request for a billing service via the charging broker 600.
• This request may be made from the SPI 608 to the charging broker 600 using the virtual subscriber ID received via the authentication broker 610, as was described in connection with FIG. 5.
• There are multiple types of services available via this interface including an "advance-of-charge" functionality, where the application server 608 inquires whether the particular charge amount can be debited from a pre-paid subscriber account.
• Another service available is a post-paid functionality, where the charge amount is added to a subscriber's bill.
• the charging broker 600 requests the actual subscriber ID from the authentication broker 610 using the virtual subscriber ID included in the charging request.
• the charging broker 600 queries the profile register 612 to determine whether the application is authorized to bill the subscriber. If so, the charge is sent to the prepaid balance database 614 to be debited. If the prepaid balance is exhausted, a message indicated a denial of service is sent to the authorization broker 610. Alternatively, the charge may be stored in the charging database 616 to be subsequently provided to the post-paid billing system 604.
• FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a location broker 700.
• the location solution may be based on, for example, the Location Services (LCS) standard where the external interface to positioning infrastructure is offered by a standard Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 702.
• LCS Location Services
• GMLC Gateway Mobile Location Center
• the GMLC 702 is a gateway that receives requests from location-based applications, requests mobile positioning information, and forwards mobile positioning information to location-based applications.
• the GMLC 702 does not offer the conceptual model used by the network service brokers, and a separate location broker 700 is required in this embodiment.
• the subscriber is identified by the MSISDN number, whereas the location broker 700 may use virtual subscriber IDs as described in connection with FIG. 5.
• the broker may hide the differences of various network types that are not handled by GMLC 702.
• the broker can handle extracting location information, for example, from a company intranet extended with unlicensed technologies such as wireless Local Area Network (LAN), Bluetooth radio technologies, etc.
• the application server 704 requests the subscriber location via the Internet 706 (or other network) using the virtual subscriber ID (VSI) as a key.
• the location broker 700 queries the profile register 708 to determine whether the application server 704 is authorized to request the subscriber's location information.
• the location broker 700 requests the subscriber location from the GMLC 702, and returns the location information to the application server 704.
• the location broker 700 may send a charging ticket to the charging broker 710 to be added to the subscriber's or application's mobile service bill.
• FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a content ordering broker 800.
• the content ordering broker's 800 role includes offering an interface for content/service providers to store subscription information to the profile register 802, as well as carrying out the communication with the end-user of the terminal 804 to verify that the end- user is actually willing to subscribe.
• One manner in which a subscriber may initiate the subscription processing is for the subscriber to send a message, such as using a Short Message Service (SMS) via the SMSC 806, along with a key word to a particular MSISDN number.
• SMSC 806 Short Message Service
• the message is routed from the SMSC 806 to the application server 808 so that the subscriber's MSISDN number is replaced by a virtual subscriber ID.
• SMSC 806 Short Message Service
• Another representative manner in which a subscriber may initiate the subscription processing is for the subscriber to browse to a WAP/Web site and place an order via the WAP gateway 810 to the SPI 808.
• the content/service provider receives the subscriber's virtual subscriber ID in the HTTP (or other) header.
• the application 808 sends the subscription information to the content ordering broker 800.
• the content ordering broker 800 queries the profile register 802 to determine whether the subscriber is allowed to subscribe to this kind of content. If so, the content ordering broker 800 requests the subscriber to verify whether the subscriber is actually willing to effect the transaction.
• the content ordering broker 800 stores the subscription information into the profile register 802, and may send a charging ticket to the charging broker 812.
• FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a content delivery broker 900.
• the content broker's 900 functionality includes at least screening unwanted content, selecting the delivery mechanism (e.g., SMS via the SMSC 902, MMS via the MMSC 904, or other depending on the subscriber's terminal 906 capabilities), and sending charging tickets to the charging broker 908.
• the delivery mechanism e.g., SMS via the SMSC 902, MMS via the MMSC 904, or other depending on the subscriber's terminal 906 capabilities
• the application server 910 sends digital content to the content broker 900.
• the application 910 may optionally inquire as to the terminal 906 capabilities and the subscriber's current status from the profile register 912 and presence broker (not shown) respectively.
• the content broker 900 queries the profile register 912 to determine at least: 1) whether the application server 910 is authorized to send that particular content to the subscriber; 2) whether the subscriber is allowed to receive the content (e.g., whether sufficient prepaid balance exists); and 3) what the subscriber's terminal capabilities are.
• the content broker then carries out the required content adaptations and sends the content using the bearer corresponding to the preferred delivery mechanism 902, 904.
• FIG. 10 is an exemplary embodiment of a network environment implementing a presence broker 1000.
• the presence broker solution includes an industry standard server (standard presence server 1002) that offers a standard external interface, but does not follow the conceptual model offered by the network service brokers.
• standard presence server 1002 that offers a standard external interface, but does not follow the conceptual model offered by the network service brokers.
• a presence broker 1000 may be utilized even where a standard presence server 1002 is available in the network environment.
• the application server 1004 requests the subscriber's presence status, or current "context," from the presence broker 1000 using the virtual subscriber ID as a key.
• the presence broker 1000 queries the profile register 1006 to determine whether the application server 1004 is authorized to request the subscriber's presence information. If so, the presence broker 1000 requests the subscriber presence information from the standard presence server 1002 and returns the presence information to the application server 1004.
• the presence information includes information such as whether the subscriber is online, and information regarding the characteristics of the terminal being used by the subscriber at that time.
• the presence broker 1000 may send a charging ticket to the charging broker 1008 to be added to either the subscriber's or applications bill.
• exemplary network service brokers and associated exemplary architectures described above are not limited to the network environments in which they are described. Rather, the examples provided above are illustrative of particular embodiments of broker implementations.
• the brokers may be used to simplify access to all functionality available on the networks, whether the networks are fixed or wireless, including mobile networks and networks such as wireless Local Area Networks (LANs).
• LANs wireless Local Area Networks
• FIG. 11 is a diagram of a representative profile register 1100.
• the profile register 1100 stores information regarding subscribers' services 1102, preferences 1104, terminal capabilities 1106, and other 1108 information.
• the profile register 1100 is routinely accessed by different network service brokers, but it also offers an external interface for content/service providers. Such an interface is used, for example, to carry various operations, such as inquire as to the subscriber terminal capabilities, inquire as to the various other services the subscriber has subscribed to, and to grant the user access to the particular service.
• Applications may use the profile register 1100 information for a variety of additional uses.
• Push technology generally refers to a means to transmit information to one or more devices without a previous user action. Thus, there is no explicit request from the client before the server transmits its information, and therefore push technology essentially includes server- initiated transactions.
• Push technologies can be used in connection with various protocols and communication technologies, such as SMS, MMS, WAP, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), as well as others.
• a notification (i.e., push) broker in accordance with the present invention provides a solution to these problems.
• An exemplary Web Services notification broker is described below in connection with FIGs. 12-13.
• the notification broker serving as a Web Services push gateway in the following examples, abstracts the mobile technologies in such a way that a network (e.g., Internet) application developer can build applications without specific knowledge of the mobile domain.
• Many of the implementation details described below in connection with the notification broker may similarly be applied to Web Service-based embodiments of the various brokers described above.
• FIG. 12 is an exemplary embodiment of a network system 1200 which provides a Web Services notification broker 1202 (also referred to herein as a Web Services push gateway) in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• a primary function of the notification broker 1202 is to convert from one protocol set to another.
• the protocol conversion is from the Web Services protocols 1204 (e.g., UDDI, WSDL, SOAP, etc.) to the Mobile Domain Push protocols 1206 (e.g., SMS, WAP Push, SIP, MMS, etc.).
• the Web Services protocols 1204 e.g., UDDI, WSDL, SOAP, etc.
• Mobile Domain Push protocols 1206 e.g., SMS, WAP Push, SIP, MMS, etc.
• the notification broker 1202 provides a gateway between the Web Services domain 1208 and the Mobile Push technologies domain 1210.
• the notification broker 1202 abstracts the mobile technologies in such a way that an Internet application developer can build applications without specific knowledge of the mobile domain. More particularly, the present invention abstracts the core push service behind a single Internet paradigm, namely Web Services in this illustrated embodiment. This advantageously frees the Internet application developer from requiring mobile technology-specific knowledge. Further, the illustrated embodiment of the invention abstracts the entire range of mobile push technologies behind a single gateway. This frees the Internet developer from having to assess the advantages and disadvantages of particular push technologies.
• the notification broker 1202 assumes the responsibility for deciding the most appropriate push technology to deliver the message to a particular user.
• the notification broker 1202 may be implemented as a network element in the network 1200.
• the precise location of the network element is not particularly significant, except that it is logically positioned between the Web Service applications 1212 that push messages and the terminals 1214 to which the messages are to be pushed. While various environments may be employed to host these technologies, exemplary environments include a JavaTM 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) Application Server, or a .NET Application environment.
• J2EE JavaTM 2 Enterprise Edition
• .NET Application environment a JavaTM 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) Application Server
• FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a Web Services push gateway (i.e., notification broker) architecture 1300 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
• a Web Services push gateway i.e., notification broker
• One primary function of the Web Services push gateway is to convert from one protocol set to another. For example, considering current Web Services protocols and Mobile Push protocols, such conversion may be from the Web Services protocols (e.g., UDDI, WSDL, SOAP, etc.) to the Mobile Push protocols (e.g., SMS, WAP, SIP, etc.).
• the Web Services push gateway architecture 1300 shown in FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary architecture for performing such functions.
• the Web Services push gateway architecture 1300 includes a Web Services endpoint module 1302. This is the endpoint that terminates the Web Services protocols.
• a Web Services endpoint 1302 includes, for example, at least a server, such as HTTP server, for the transport layer. However, other transport layers may be included, such as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), or other known or future transport layers.
• the Web Services endpoint 1302 includes an XML messaging engine to parse incoming requests and generate appropriate responses.
• the XML messaging engine can be implemented using, for example, a SOAP engine.
• the XML messaging engine parses various parameters from data fields within the request.
• the Web Services endpoint 1302 can also interface with a service registry in order to advertise it's notification/push service. This capability can be implemented using, for example, the UDDI protocol and the WSDL definition language.
• the exemplary Web Services push gateway architecture 1300 also includes a push adaptation layer 1304.
• the push adaptation layer 1304 provides a mobile technology-independent layer for the push router 1306 (described below).
• the push adaptation layer 1304 provides various functions, including two primary functions in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The first of these primary functions is to provide a capability registry for the various mobile push bearers, such as the SMS bearer 1308, WAP bearer 1310, and any other bearers designated by bearer "X" 1312 (described below). This registry allows the bearers to advertise their push capacity in various terms, such as bandwidth, content capability, availability, latency, assured delivery, quality of service, and the like.
• a second primary function of the push adaptation layer 1304 is to forward the push message delivered by the push router 1306 to the appropriate bearer 1308, 1310, 1312.
• the mobile push bearers 1308, 1310, 1312 comprise a set of pluggable components in one embodiment of the invention.
• a "bearer” is the name of the virtual bit pipe carrying the particular end user service, and generally refers to the technology that is used to broadcast or "bear" the signal to the user device.
• Each bearer has a specific function to connect to a specific mobile push technology. There are an indeterminate number of push technologies, particularly in view of future push technologies. For purposes of illustration, an SMS bearer 1308 and WAP bearer 1310 are specifically identified, while the bearer X 1312 represents any number and type of current and/or future push technologies.
• the SMS bearer 1308 is used to connect to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) to manage text messages.
• SMSC Short Message Service Center
• An SMSC is a network element through which short messages (e.g., via Short Messaging Service) may be transmitted, and stored for later transmission in the event that the message recipient is not reached.
• There are various protocols for such a connection including, for example, the Computer Interface to Message Distribution (CIMD).
• CIMD Short Message Entity
• a Short Message Entity (SME) commonly referred to as an application, is interconnected through the CIMD connection to a Message Center.
• the CIMD protocol is supported by various types of Message Centers, including the SMSC.
• a primary purpose of this interconnection is to transfer messages from the applications (i.e., SMEs) to the mobile stations, and from the mobile stations to the applications.
• the CIMD protocol is identified herein merely as a representative protocol in which the SMS bearer 1308 can connect to an SMSC, however any appropriate protocol
• An exemplary embodiment of the WAP bearer 1310 complies with WAP Push Specifications.
• the bearer may connect to an existing WAP Push Proxy Gateway (PPG) using the WAP Push Access Protocol (PAP).
• PPG WAP Push Proxy Gateway
• PAP WAP Push Access Protocol
• the pushing of messages to a mobile client device is facilitated by the PPG between the wired and wireless networks.
• the PAP is a protocol used for conveying content to be pushed to a client, and related control information, between a Push Initiator (e.g., application/service) and the PPG.
• the PPG subsequently delivers the content to narrowband devices, such as wireless telephones, pagers, PDAs, laptop computers, etc.
• the WAP bearer 1310 is to communicate directly to terminals using the WAP Push Over-the-Air (POTA) protocol.
• the WAP POTA is an over-the-air protocol for delivery of content to a WAP terminal from a WAP server such as a PPG.
• the Web Services push gateway of the present invention also serves as the WAP PPG.
• Other connection possibilities for the WAP bearer 1310, and the invention is not limited to the foregoing representative examples.
• the bearer X 1312 represents any other current and/or future pluggable components.
• Other examples include an MMS bearer that can be used for multimedia content.
• An MMS bearer can, for example, be based on the WAP MMS Specifications.
• Another example includes a SIP bearer that is able to send push messages using the SIP protocol.
• the architecture 1300 supports any current or future pluggable components.
• the presence agent 1314 is an agent that supplies information to the push router 1306.
• the presence agent 1314 informs the push router 1306 if and when a particular user is online. If the user is online, the presence agent 1314 also supplies information regarding the characteristics of the terminal being used by the user at that moment. For example, if the user is using a first type of mobile device, then the only push messages that the user is capable of receiving might be text messages. On the other hand, a user using a second, more sophisticated type of mobile device may be able to receive additional types of content, such as multimedia messages. The presence agent 1314 supplies this type of information to the push router 1306 to identify the particular terminal characteristics.
• the presence agent 1314 may be accessible by another network service broker, namely, a presence broker such as that described in connection with FIG. 10.
• the presence agent 1314 may also inform the push router 1306 of other details.
• the presence agent 1314 may notify the push router 1306 of the capabilities of the underlying network under which the user is currently operating. These network capabilities may be in the form of network characteristics such as a second generation (2G) low bandwidth, third generation (3G) high bandwidth, etc.
• the presence agent 1314 may provide many other types of details as well.
• the presence agent 1314 may provide status indicators, such as if the user is currently in a meeting, and does not want to receive messages that have audio content.
• the user preferences agent 1316 is another agent that supplies information to the push router 1306.
• a primary purpose of the presence agent 1316 is to inform the push router 1306 of particular preferences of a user when receiving a push message, in this manner, a user can designate one or more user preferences that affect the transmission, presentation, or other characteristics associated with the push message.
• the user preferences agent 1316 includes a repository of preferences associated with each user. When a push message is being communicated, this repository is accessed for that particular user to which the push message is directed, and the user preferences can be applied accordingly.
• the user preferences agent 1316 may include an interface to allow the user to enter and/or edit those preferences. Such an interface may be implemented using a server, such as an HTTP server, which would allow users to edit their preferences via a web browser. Other interface implementations may also be used in accordance with the invention.
• the user may identify terminal preferences that identify the range of terminals that the user possesses.
• the user can also designate the type of content to be received on each of these various terminals.
• a user preference includes network preferences. This type of preference designation relates to the type of network the user is connected to at a given time. For example, the user can designate that high bandwidth messages are sent only while the user is connected to 3G networks, or that messages are not to be sent while roaming, etc.
• a presence preference is another example of a user preference. These are preferences relating to the users activity at a particular time. For example, the user may designate that audio messages are not to be sent while in a meeting, when sleeping, or at any time in which an audio message would be disruptive or otherwise undesirable.
• the presence preferences may also be used to forward messages to another terminal, person, etc. when the particular terminal is offline. Further, unsolicited messages from certain message origins may be ignored, messages with large attachments may be deferred, etc.
• the number and type of user preferences that can be implemented in this fashion is virtually endless.
• the push router 1306 receives the push messages from the Web Services endpoint 1302, processes information received from one or more of the push adaptation layer 1304, presence agent 1314, and user preference agent 1316, forwards the push message to the appropriate bearer based on the collected information, and provides delivery reports to the push message initiators.
• FIGs. 14-16 provide more general examples of exemplary interfaces between the various network elements in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a broker domain/Web Service logic interface 1400. This represents the interface between each of the brokers and the service provision infrastructure. This is based on loosely-coupled technology, as the broker domain/Web Service logic interface is a set of loosely-coupled interfaces with each broker having its own set in a stand-alone manner.
• the XML schemata 1402 is provided at the broker domain/Web Service interface. A separate interface (i.e., schema for communication between a broker and SPI) is utilized for each of the brokers.
• the XML schemata is built on top of XML/SOAP/HTTP(S) 1404.
• the XML schemata 1402 is a schema specification for XML documents, where a schema is a method for specifying constraints on XML documents using an XML-based language. Schemata serve for describing the structure and constraining the contents of XML documents and associating datatypes with XML element types and attributes.
• a schema is a method for specifying constraints on XML documents using an XML-based language.
• Schemata serve for describing the structure and constraining the contents of XML documents and associating datatypes with XML element types and attributes.
• firewall traversal is possible, such that communication through the HTTP port (e.g., port 80) can enter through companies' firewalls.
• Web Services are independent of the platform on top of which they are utilized, meaning that the existing base of servers in the Internet need not be disregarded - a server operating on an operating system can be made to communicate with Web Services without the need to change the operating system to obtain the benefits of interoperability through Web Services. While the illustrated embodiments in FIGs. 14-16 are described in terms of XML schemata, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other alternative current or future technologies facilitating the loosely-coupled attributes provided by XML may be employed in accordance with the invention.
• the XML schemata 1502 is provided at the Web Service logic/API interface to interface to the service application(s) 1504.
• the XML schemata 1502 is built on top of XML/SOAP/HTTP(S) 1506.
• FIG. 16 An exemplary embodiment of a terminal/broker domain interface 1600 is illustrated in FIG. 16. This is the interface between a terminal and each of the brokers.
• the XML schemata 1602 is designed independent of the underlying communication stack 1604. Thus, the same XML schemata 1602 may be used for Web domain terminals that have the capability to support, for example, SOAP/XML/HTTP(S), as well as for mobile domain terminals that have the capability to support SyncML/XML (extended with RPC functionality) on top of either WSP of a WAP stack or on top of HTTP(S).
• Service/content providers would generally like to offer the same, consistent service for all of their customers, regardless of which network operator the customers are connected to. Therefore, service/content providers would have to interface with several network operators' brokers.
• FIG. 17 This is depicted in FIG. 17, where the SPI 1700 is coupled through the Internet 1702 to network service brokers associated with multiple operators. More particularly, the SPI 1700 is coupled to one or more network service brokers 1704 associated with operator-A 1706, and is further coupled to one or more network service brokers 1708 associated with operator-B 1710.
• FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary implementation of such an interface broker in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• the service/content provider 1800 is relieved from having to understand the operator-specific differences in operators' network service broker interfaces. Rather, these differences are abstracted into the interface broker 1802, which then interfaces with each of the various operators 1804, 1806, etc.
• the SPI is relieved from the task of selecting where to connect to obtain, for example, location information, and the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 18 simplifies how the SPI obtains the services.
• a wholesale location information company makes business agreements with the operators, includes an appropriate sale markup, and sells the location service to SPIs.
• the SPIs pay the markup for the convenience of not needing to make business agreements with all of the operators individually.
• the interface between the interface broker 1802 and the SPI 1800 can be standardized.
• the benefits of network service brokers in accordance with the present invention extends to other networking issues, such as roaming.
• the present invention allows for the hiding of roaming issues.
• the services in the visited network may need to be accessed by the user.
• the user likely does not have a business relationship with the network to which the user has roamed. Rather, the home network owner (e.g., operator) has a business relationship with the visited network.
• the home network owner e.g., operator
• FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary manner in which roaming issues can be managed using network service brokers in accordance with the present invention.
• the SPI 1902 When the user is in the home network (e.g., network-B 1900), the SPI 1902 is capable of accessing a specific service related to the functionality in Network Element (NE) 1904 in the home network 1900 via the broker 1906 as shown by arrow 1908.
• NE Network Element
• the issue becomes how the SPI 1902 can benefit from the specific service in network-A 1910 if such service can only be provided when the network-A 1910 resources (e.g., NE 1912) are accessed.
• the operator of the home network 1900 of the user has a business relationship, such as a roaming agreement, with the operator of the visited network-A 1910 for broker service roaming.
• the SPI 1902 normally connects to the broker 1906 in the home network 1900.
• the broker 1906 provides the address of the corresponding broker 1914 in network-A 1910 along with a voucher to the SPI 1902.
• the voucher enables the SPI 1902 to utilize the broker roaming agreement between the operators of the home network-B 1900 and the visited network-A 1910.
• the broker 1906 in the home network-B 1900 sends a voucher directly to the broker 1914 in network-A 1910, and gives the address of that broker 1914 to the SPI 1902 to allow the SPI 1902 to directly communicate with the broker 1914 as shown by arrow 1916.
• the broker 1906 communicates with the visited network-A's broker 1914, and serves as a proxy in accessing the service of that network, as illustrated by arrow 1918.
• the SPI 1902 finds the address of the broker 1922 in network-C 1920 from the broker 1906 in the home network-B 1900 (or from the terminal 1924 itself).
• the SPI 1902 will communicate directly with the broker 1922 in the visited network-C 1920.
• the SPI 1902 has established a business relationship with the operator of network-C 1920, whereby the operator of network-C 1920 allows the SPI 1902 to contact the specific broker 1922 as shown by arrow 1926.
• the invention may be implemented as a machine, process, or article of manufacture by using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce programming software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof.
• Any resulting program(s), having computer-readable program code, may be embodied within one or more computer-usable media such as memory devices or transmitting devices, thereby making a computer program product or article of manufacture according to the invention.
• the terms "article of manufacture” and “computer program product” as used herein are intended to encompass a computer program existent (permanently, temporarily, or transitorily) on any computer-usable medium such as on any memory device or in any transmitting device.
• Executing program code directly from one medium, storing program code onto a medium, copying the code from one medium to another medium, transmitting the code using a transmitting device, or other equivalent acts, may involve the use of a memory or transmitting device which only embodies program code transitorily as a preliminary or final step in making, using, or selling the invention.
• Memory devices include, but are not limited to, hard disk drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as RAM, ROM, PROMS, etc.
• Transmitting devices include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, telephone/modem-based network communication, hard-wired/cabled communication network, cellular communication, radio wave communication, satellite communication, and other stationary or mobile network systems/communication links.
• a machine embodying the invention may involve one or more processing systems including, but not limited to, CPU, memory/storage devices, communication links, communication/transmitting devices, servers, I/O devices, or any subcomponents or individual parts of one or more processing systems, including software, firmware, hardware, or any combination or subcombination thereof, which embody the invention as set forth in the claims.

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• 2002
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