WO2001056251A9 - Method and apparatus for sending and receiving client-server messages over multiple wireless and wireline networks - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for sending and receiving client-server messages over multiple wireless and wireline networksInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001056251A9 WO2001056251A9 PCT/US2000/035478 US0035478W WO0156251A9 WO 2001056251 A9 WO2001056251 A9 WO 2001056251A9 US 0035478 W US0035478 W US 0035478W WO 0156251 A9 WO0156251 A9 WO 0156251A9
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- message
- server
- client
- protocol
- chent
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- 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
- H04L63/02—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
- H04L63/0281—Proxies
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L1/12—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel
- H04L1/16—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
- H04L1/1607—Details of the supervisory signal
- H04L1/1635—Cumulative acknowledgement, i.e. the acknowledgement message applying to all previous messages
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- 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
- H04L63/10—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for controlling access to devices or network resources
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- 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
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- 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
- H04L67/10—Protocols in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/18—Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L1/00—Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received
- H04L2001/0092—Error control systems characterised by the topology of the transmission link
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
- H04L69/32—Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
- H04L69/322—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
- H04L69/329—Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W80/00—Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/02—Terminal devices
- H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/16—Gateway arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to the field of communications and more particularly to messaging between client devices and servers over multiple wireless networks that use different access protocols.
- the client-generated messages may be transported over networks having various access protocols, such as, e.g., Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Mobitex, dial-up Internet connections, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and ReFlex.
- CDPD Cellular Digital Packet Data
- Mobitex Mobitex
- dial-up Internet connections Code Division Multiple Access
- CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
- GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
- ReFlex ReFlex
- client computing solutions must have intimate knowledge of specific network characteristics including, e.g., wireless network characteristics, protocol environments, and wireless links channel characteristics. Therefore, there exists a need to simplify wireless client and server application development environments to support the wide variety of device and network dependent architectures.
- Messaging Application Programming Interface is a messaging architecture and an interface component for applications such as electronic mail, scheduling, calendaring and document management.
- MAPI provides a consistent interface for multiple application programs to interact with multiple messaging systems across a variety of hardware platforms.
- MAPI provides cross platform support through such industry standards as Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), X.400 and common messaging calls.
- SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
- X.400 X.400
- common messaging calls X.400
- MAPI is also the messaging component of Windows Open Services Architecture (WOSA).
- WOSA Windows Open Services Architecture
- MAPI is built into such operating systems as, e.g., Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT and Windows 2000, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, U.S.A. and can be used by 16-bit and 32-bit Windows applications.
- a word processor can send documents and a workgroup application can share and store different types of data using MAPI.
- MAPI separates the programming interfaces used by the client applications and the service providers. Every component works with a common, Microsoft Windows-based user interface.
- a single messaging client application can be used to receive messages from fax, a bulletin board system, a host-based messaging system and a LAN-based system. Messages from all of these systems can be delivered to a single "universal inbox.”
- Transmission Control Protocol is a transport layer protocol used by an application in one host to communicate with an application in another host. This is accomplished by services provided by the protocol layers beneath the transport layer in both hosts.
- TCP Transmission Control Protocol
- TCP manages the connection and once both applications have communicated all required information between themselves the connection is released as if the connection is two simplex connections as opposed to a single duplex connection. The information is transferred between apphcations on different hosts is a byte stream.
- the transport layer hides message transfer details such as segmentation, ordering and duplication from the applications and provides end-to-end acknowledgement.
- the Internet Protocol (IP) layer provides certain services to the transport layer protocol including hiding the details of the physical and data link layers and the services provided by them from the transport layer protocol.
- the IP layer provides a datagram delivery service.
- a datagram is a unit of data less than an entire message.
- a message may be, for example, a file, which may be quite large. Since there is a maximum size for a message (or file), the message may have to be segmented and transferred in smaller units. These smaller units are thus called datagrams.
- Each datagram is sent over the network as a separate entity and may, in fact, follow separate paths to the destmation host. At the destination host, the datagrams are reassembled in proper order (usually in a buffer area) by the transport layer.
- Each node on the network sends any datagrams on to a next node only considering the final destination and only acknowledges receipt of the datagram to the preceding node. That is, the IP layer does not provide end-to-end acknowledgement. End-to-end acknowledgement is a service of the transport layer protocol. Should any node-to-node acknowledgements not be received by the preceding node, the datagram or datagrams unacknowledged will be retransmitted. The transport layer in the destination host will also acknowledge any duplicated datagrams (else receipt of duphcate datagrams will continue resulting in a clogged network) and ignore them.
- Routing between network nodes is accomplished by means of routing tables. These routing tables can be static or dynamic and result in datagrams being forwarded from a source host to a destination host one node at a time.
- the intermediate nodes are often called "hops.”
- the acronym, TCP/IP is also used to refer to a five layer protocol model similar to the
- the TCP/IP model does not have the equivalent to layers 5 and 6 of the ISO/OSI protocol model.
- a protocol model defines the protocol layers and the interfaces between the layers.
- FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
- the implementation provides the actual services. This layered approach allows for ease of upgrading so long as the interface to the layer immediately above or below is not altered. Layering also allows for complete substitution. For example, should a new physical medium become available then so long as the interface between layer two and layer one remain the same, an old physical layer implementation module can be removed and a new implementation module substituted. In the alternative, the new implementation module could be added as another option.
- the protocol suite defines the rules and the implementation provides the services that allow the communications to take place between apphcations on different hosts.
- the implementation of the TCP layer provides for the application to require a certain Quality of Service (QOS) as specified by a set of parameters including but not limited to priority, transmission delay, throughput etc..
- QOS Quality of Service
- UDP User Datagram Protocol
- the basic data transfer unit is the datagram.
- a datagram is divided into header and data areas as it is for the JP layer.
- An additional header over and above the JP header is used.
- the UDP header contains source and destination addresses (ports), a UDP length field (the length includes the 8 byte header and the data) and a UDP checksum.
- the UDP data includes the IP header and data.
- the IP layer supports UDP as a connectionless transport protocol for use in transmitting, for example, one time request-reply type messages or applications where time is of greater importance than accuracy.
- TCP is used by applications on different hosts to communicate over a assumed unreliable network. To accomplish such communication much is added to the protocol in order to ensure that the information transferred over the network is valid. This addition has a cost and that cost is increased overhead with the attendant increase in bandwidth.
- a UDP header is eight bytes, the TCP header is 24 bytes and an IP header is a minimum of 20 bytes. Therefore, UDP/IP headers are a immum of 28 bytes and TCP/IP headers are a minimum of 44 bytes. This is fairly large in terms of overhead and bandwidth utilization particularly over wireless networks. There are other significant problems with using standard TCP/IP over wireless networks principally in the area of flow control. The UDP/IP protocol combination, while not offering any guarantees to users, is expected to be reliable.
- Wireless networks tend, however, by their nature to be lossy.
- Several solutions have been proposed when the network is not homogeneous. That is, when the network has both wireless and wireline portions.
- One suggestion is to use indirect TCP and another is to use snooping.
- Other protocols such as Serial Line IP (SLIP) and Point to Point Protocol (PPP) have been developed.
- SLIP Serial Line IP
- PPP Point to Point Protocol
- SLIP Serial Line IP
- CDPD vendors indicate that they provide an integrated TCP/IP stack but it is not known the cost in terms of bandwidth overhead.
- the existing wireless protocols do not provide an end-to-end solution over multiple networks and multiple chent devices. Therefore, in addition to the need for a common architecture through a single, user friendly methodology for providing effective and reliable wireless data solutions for hand-held and laptop computing devices, wireless networks, and legacy systems, there also exists a need to efficiently and reliably communicate data using mimmum bandwidth.
- the present invention features a system, method and computer program product that in an exemplary embodiment is operative to provide a multi-network transport programming interface that can enable client/server apphcations to be written easily, where such applications can allow client apphcations rurining on client devices to communicate messages with server applications across one or more wireless and wire-line networks.
- the present invention in an exemplary embodiment offers features for communicating such messages over wireless networks efficiently, without requiring significant bandwidth, a valuable resource in wireless networks.
- the present invention in an exemplary embodiment includes a system for communicating messages in a client-server environment over one or more wireless networks that can support different network protocols, h an exemplary embodiment, the system of the invention includes a client device operative to execute a chent apphcation, and a back-end server (BES) operative to execute a server application.
- a protocol gateway can encapsulate an underlying network protocol of the plurality of wireless networks.
- a client application and the server application can communicate messages with each other through the PG independently of the underlying network protocol of the wireless network used for such communication.
- the present invention in an exemplary embodiment, features a highly optimized semi-reliable data transport protocol, simple network transport layer (SNTL).
- SNTL simple network transport layer
- the transport protocol implementation in an exemplary embodiment, can optimize the over the air communication by using a connectionless send and receive mechanism.
- the present invention can provide multiple compression mechanisms to reduce the amount of information that needs to be sent over the air.
- the transport protocol implementation in order to provide a reliable mechanism over a connectionless environment, can provide for message segmentation and reassembly, message retries, or message ACK and NACK service for each supported wireless network.
- message segments that are not acknowledged by the peer protocol layer within the configurable time frame can be retried automatically by the transport protocol implementation.
- the interfaces between layers can be clearly defined for peer-to-peer communication between corresponding layers of both sides of a connection. That is, the protocol stack on each side (chent and server) can be symmetrical. This can allow two machines to specify how they communicate with one another on a level-to-level basis, rather than having to negotiate one giant protocol for the entire network.
- the transport protocol implementation can support message duplication detection.
- the transport protocol implementation can add only four to six bytes to each application message, hi an exemplary embodiment, SNTL can include a novel and non-obvious hybrid protocol including many of the advantages of TCP but connectionless as is UDP. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, there can be less overhead than is required by conventional TCP.
- the present invention in an exemplary embodiment, can also use a wireless connectivity middle layer gateway, which can be developed using a wireless software development environment.
- the environment can insulate a developer from the complexities of the underlying details related to devices and protocols.
- the environment can be packaged, advantageously, as a software development toolkit (SDK).
- SDK software development toolkit
- the developer can work at the application layer by using the SDK.
- the SDK in an exemplary embodiment, can include, e.g., software libraries for client and/or server application development.
- the present invention in an exemplary embodiment, can support solutions and software engineering using technologies such as, e.g., Windows NT/95/98/2000, Open Database Connection (ODBC) compliant databases, Palm OS, and Windows CE client devices, and CDPD, Mobitex and dial-up networks.
- ODBC Open Database Connection
- wireless technologies and chent devices can remain transparent to the data source through the use of client and server application programming interfaces (APIs) that can support multiple operating environments including, for example, Palm OS, RIM, Windows 95, 98, 2000, CE and NT, UNTX, Linux, and other variations of UNIX, etc.
- APIs application programming interfaces
- These well-defined APIs can use a set of portable class libraries to aid in rapid application development.
- Access to the intelhgent messaging network of the present invention can be via wireless client devices or via a dial-up or leased line or other wireline connection coupled via, e.g., an Internet service provider (ISP), a network service provider (NSP), a private network, or a virtual private network (VPN).
- ISP Internet service provider
- NSP network service provider
- VPN virtual private network
- enterprise support can be provided for and to, wireless clients and clients that need to access the intelhgent messaging network of the present invention via a wired connection or dial-up line.
- This latter group of chents can be called Internet proxy chents, i.e., chents that can use a proxy server for access to the Internet.
- this system can ensure that data solutions are supported.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a messaging system, including: a client device having stored therein a client application, which is adapted to be executed by the client device; a server having stored therein a server apphcation, which is adapted to be executed by the server; a plurality of wireless networks, each of which is adapted to: communicate messages between the chent device and the server; and support one or more wireless network protocols; a protocol gateway encapsulating a fundamental network protocol, which underlies each of the one or more wireless network protocols; and means for communicating a message between the chent application and the server apphcation, over a selected wireless network protocol through the protocol gateway, independent of the selected wireless network protocol.
- An exemplary embodiment further includes at least one message router for routing the message between the protocol gateway and the server.
- the message router further includes means for authenticating an origin of the message.
- the authenticating means authenticates the origin before the message is routed by the message router.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include a database accessible by the message router and adapted to store information relating to routing and authentication of the message.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include an HTTP proxy server, which is adapted to receive a plurahty of HTTP requests from the client device, send each the request over the Internet to the server, and transmit a response corresponding thereto from the server to the client device.
- the HTTP proxy server is adapted to support one or more HTTP protocols.
- the HTTP proxy server can include: means for creating a TCP/IP socket connection; and means for managing the TCP/TP socket connection.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include an SNMP manager.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include: means for defining a maximum segment size; means for determining if the message exceeds the maximum segment size; and means for segmenting the message into a plurality of message segments, none of which exceeds the maximum segment size.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include means for supporting a message retry in each of the wireless network protocols.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include means for supporting a message
- Another exemplary embodiment of the present ⁇ ention is directed to a method of communicating a message between a chent device having stored therein a client apphcation adapted to be executed by the client device, and a server having stored therein a server application adapted to be executed by the server, over a plurahty of wireless networks, each of which is adapted to support one or more wireless network protocols, the method including the steps of: providing a protocol gateway; within the protocol gateway, encapsulating a fundamental network protocol, which underlies each of the one or more wireless network protocols; and communicating the message between the chent application and the server application, over a selected wireless network protocol through the protocol gateway, independent of the selected wireless network protocol.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of providing at least one message router for routing the message between the protocol gateway and the server.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of authenticating an origin of the message. In an exemplary embodiment the authenticating step is performed before the message is routed by the message router.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the steps of: providing a database, which is accessible by the message router; and storing in the database information relating to routing and authentication of the message.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the steps of: providing an HTTP proxy server, which is adapted to receive a plurality of HTTP requests from the client device; sending each the request received by the HTTP proxy server over the Internet to the server; and transmitting a response corresponding to each the request from the server through the HTTP proxy server to the client device.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of adapting the HTTP proxy server to support one or more HTTP protocols. Altematively, an exemplary embodiment can further include the steps of: creating a TCP/IP socket connection with the
- HTTP proxy server and managing the TCP/IP socket connection with the HTTP proxy server.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the steps of: defining a maximum segment size; determining if the message exceeds the maximum segment size; and segmenting the message into a plurality of message segments, none of which exceeds the maximum segment size.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of supporting a message retry in each of the wireless network protocols.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of supporting a message
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a client-server environment including a client device having stored therein a client application, which is adapted to be executed by the client device, a server having stored therein a server application, which is adapted to be executed by the server, and a plurality of wireless networks, each of which is adapted to communicate messages between the chent device and the server, and support one or more wireless network protocols, the improvement including a computer- readable medium, which includes: a first code segment defining a fundamental network protocol, which underlies each of the one or more wireless network protocols; a second code segment encapsulating the fundamental network protocol within a protocol gateway; a third code segment for communicating a message between the client application and the server application, over a selected wireless network protocol through the protocol gateway, independent of the selected wireless network protocol.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include a fourth code segment for routing the message between the protocol gateway and the server.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include a fifth code segment for authenticating an origin of the message.
- the fifth code segment is adapted to authenticate the origin before the message is routed by the fourth code segment.
- an exemplary embodiment can further include a sixth code segment for defining a database, which is accessible by the execution of the fourth code segment and adapted to store information relating to routing and authentication of the message.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include a seventh code segment for supporting one or more HTTP protocols.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include an eighth code segment for creating a TCP/IP socket connection; and a ninth code segment for managing the TCP/IP socket connection.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include a tenth code segment for defining a maximum segment size; an eleventh code segment for dete ⁇ mning if the message exceeds the maximum segment size; and a twelfth code segment for segmenting the message into a plurality of message segments, none of which exceeds the maximum segment size.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of deploying content from one of a plurality of servers, through a message router and over a wireless network to a chent apphcation, which is running on one or more of a plurality of chent devices, including the steps of: creating, at the chent device, an inbound message including a message key; sending the inbound message from the chent device; accepting the inbound message at the message router; forwarding the inbound message to a selected one of the plurality of servers based on the message key.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the steps of: in the selected one of the plurality of servers, generating a responsive message; sending the responsive message from the selected one of the plurahty of servers to the message router; providing a plurality of protocol gateways, each of which is based on a communication type; in the message router, selecting one of the plurality of protocol gateways; and forwardmg the responsive message to the selected one of the plurahty of protocol gateways; formatting the responsive message for a selected one of the plurality of client devices; and forwarding the formatted responsive message to the client apphcation running on the selected one of the plurality of client devices.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of forwarding, from the server to the client application running on the selected one of the plurality of chent devices, an acknowledgement that the inbound message was received by the server.
- An exemplary embodiment can further include the step of forwarding, from the server to the client apphcation running on the selected one of the plurality of chent devices, a negative acknowledgement indicating that the inbound message was received by the server but that no server was available to process the inbound message.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a communications system including a server, which is adapted to run a server application, a plurality of message routers, each of which is coupled to the server, a plurality of protocol gateways, each of which is coupled to each one of the plurality of message routers, and a wireless network, which is adapted to couple the server, through one or more of the plurahty of message routers and one or more of the plurahty of protocol gateways, to a plurahty of client devices, each of which is adapted to run a client application, a method for ⁇ sseminating content to the chent apphcations, including the steps of: receiving, at the server, a request-for-content message from a selected one of the plurality of chent devices; sending a responsive message from the server to one of the plurahty of message routers; selecting, at the one of the plurality of message routers receiving the responsive message, one of the plurality of protocol gateway
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of authenticating a request for service from a client apphcation running on a client device coupled through a message router to a server, including the steps of: sending a message to the message router by the client application running on the client device; failing the message router's authentication; sending a negative acknowledgement with an error code to the client apphcation running on the chent device; composing, in the client apphcation, a response including a user ID, a password, and a requested service type; forwarding the composed response to the message router; authenticating, with the message router, the user ID and user rights; updating a table with the authentication; sending an authentication response and a security token to the chent apphcation running on the client device; resending, from the client device, the message with the security token to the message router; verifying an address of the client device; and forwarding the resent message to the server based on a message key.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of authenticating a request for service from a client application r ining on a client device coupled through a message router to a server, mcluding the steps of: from the chent application, sending a message to the message router; failing the message router's authentication; sending a negative acknowledgement to the chent apphcation running on the chent device with an error code; composing a response including a user ID, a password, and a requested service type by the client apphcation; forwarding the composed response to the message router; further failing the message router's authentication; and sending a negative authentication response to the chent application running on the client device indicating authentication failure.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to a communications system including a server, which is adapted to run a server application, a plurality of message routers, each of which is coupled to the server, a plurahty of protocol gateways, each of which is coupled to each one of the plurahty of message routers, and a wireless network, which is adapted to couple the server, through one or more of the plurality of message routers and one or more of the plurahty of protocol gateways, to a plurality of chent devices, each of which is adapted to run a client application, a method of disseminating an unsolicited alert to a selected chent application, including the steps of: within the server application, generating an unsohcited alert message; from the server, sending the unsolicited alert message to one or more of the plurahty of message routers; at the one or more of the plurahty of message routers, retrieving a station ID based on a customer ID,
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a communication system that advantageously incorporates a messaging system according to the present invention
- FIG. IB is a high level block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including an exemplary protocol gateway coupled to an exemplary message router which is coupled to an exemplary back-end server;
- FIG. IC is an exemplary embodiment illustrating messaging routing according to the present invention
- FIG. ID is an exemplary embodiment illustrating a protocol gateway (PG) startup sequence according to the present invention
- FIG. IE is an exemplary embodiment illustrating a message router (MR) startup sequence according to the present invention
- FIG. IF is an exemplary embodiment illustrating a back end server (BES) startup sequence according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a redirector that interacts with a browser and the intelhgent messaging network that is part of the system of FIG. IA;
- FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the proprietary protocol stack of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to an authentication challenge success
- FIG. 5 - is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to an authentication challenge failure
- FIG. 6A is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to a client apphcation request to Back-End Server
- FIG. 6B r is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of multi-segment messages that corresponds to a client apphcation request to a Back-End Server
- FIG. 7A is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to a Back-End Server response to chent application;
- FIG. 7B is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of multi-segment messages that corresponds to a Back-End Server (BES) response to client application, or alternatively an alert generated by the BES;
- FIG. 8A is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to a Back-End Server alert to chent application;
- FIG. 8B is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram depicting a flow of messages providing an exemplary hybrid alert to an alternate client device according to the present invention
- FIG. 8 C is an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram depicting a flow of messages representing an exemplary request and alert that could give rise to sending of a hybrid alert according to FIG. 8B according to the present invention
- FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of a diagram illustrating an exemplary message header according to the present invention.
- FIG. IA depicts a block diagram of a communication system 100 that advantageously can incorporate the present invention including one or more chent devices 112a-c, collectively referred to as client devices 112.
- the chent devices 112 can execute corresponding client applications, which can be developed to provide specific subscriber solutions.
- service subscribers such as, e.g., client user 102, as shown, can carry, e.g., Palm Pilot client devices, Windows CE based chent devices or other one-way or two-way messaging client devices 112 to, e.g., remain apprised of stock market activities and initiate transactions while roaming within the coverage area of their respective wireless service providers.
- the communication system 100 can support an intelligent messaging network architecture (hereafter referred to as "intelhgent messaging network”) according to the present invention.
- the intelhgent messaging network advantageously can incorporate a middleware service in accordance with the present invention that can allow for the development of client and server applications independent of the underlying network protocols and device configurations.
- the basic middleware services offered by the intelhgent messaging network architecture can include, e.g., client-server connectivity, platform transparency, network transparency, application tool support (through the use of APIs), network management, interaction with other network services, scalabihty and high availability.
- FIG. IA depicts an exemplary embodiment of the communication system 100 including a detailed block diagram of the present invention.
- the communication system 100 in an exemplary embodiment, can be configured to support a wide variety of wired and wireless access network protocols via an access network 114.
- the access network 114 protocols can include, e.g., dial-up modem, analog cellular, digital cellular, cellular digital packet data (CDPD), Mobitex, RIM, Ardis, iDEN, personal communication system (PCS)- code division multiple access (CDMA) or time division multiple access (TDMA), global system for wireless messaging (GSM), two-way and one-way paging (e.g., ReFlex, Flex, etc.), as well as geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) or low earth orbit (LEO) satelhte network access protocols.
- GSM global system for wireless messaging
- GSM global system for wireless messaging
- GSM global system for wireless messaging
- GSM global system for wireless messaging
- GSM global system for wireless messaging
- the intelhgent wireless messaging network of the present invention can provide network transparency to developers of client and server applications. As such, developers do not need to concern themselves with implementation details of the underlying network protocols or with various platform specific encoding, such as, e.g., big-endian and little- endian.
- a number of the protocol gateways (PGs) 116a, 116b and 116c, collectively PGs 116, can be configured to support a specific network access protocol.
- the PGs 116 in an exemplary embodiment, can act as an interface between a network 114 and wide-area/local- area networks (WANs/LANs) 118a, and 118b.
- the PGs 116 can provide the flexibility to support multiple present and future wireless access protocols such as, e.g., GPRS.
- Networks 118 collectively including networks 118a and 118b, as shown, can be coupled to network 114 by, e.g., a router 114, and can be protected from unauthorized access through a firewall 120.
- Networks 118 can include, e.g., a wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), and/or the global Internet.
- networks 118 can include, e.g., one or more back-end servers (BESs) 122a, 122b, and 122c, collectively BESs 122, that can ran server applications that can communicate messages with client applications running on the client devices 112.
- BESs back-end servers
- MRs message routers
- 124a, 124b, and 124c collectively MRs 124
- a specific type of BES shown as an HTTP Proxy BES 132 can be used to send messages to an Internet server 142 such as a web server. It should be noted that although the present mvention is described with reference to a specific exemplary architecture, a wide variety of WANs and LANs that can support wired and wireless environments are possible.
- the PGs 116 can be responsible for sending and receiving apphcation messages between client applications and a BES 122 that can support the service type of the application message.
- the message can be routed to the BES 122 via the MR 124 as will described further below with reference to FIG. IC.
- a corresponding PG 116 can support that network access protocol.
- PGs 116 can communicate directly with one or more MRs 124 using, e.g., conventional TCP/IP communications or a modification of TCP/IP to address flow control between wireless and wireline networks.
- the PGs 116 can use clustering for, e.g., redundancy, scalabihty and load-balancing of incoming IP traffic across all the nodes within a configured cluster.
- PGs 116 can provide load balancing by providing traffic to MRs 124 in, e.g., a round-robin fashion, which can, e.g., transmit to least recently used MR 124.
- client apphcations can be configured to communicate to a single virtual IP address of the PG 116 cluster.
- this can provide the intelligent messaging network the flexibility to dynamically start and stop the PGs 116 without disrupting service.
- the PGs 116 can run outside of the firewall 120.
- the intelhgent messaging network architecture of the present invention does not preclude the PGs 116 from rxmiiing inside an enterprise firewall 120.
- the BESs 122 and MRs 124 can each have access to corresponding BES and MR databases (DBs) 126 and 128, respectively, which can store server application and message routing parameters.
- DBs BES and MR databases
- a shared database can be used to store information on an auxiliary memory device such as, e.g., a storage area network (SAN).
- SAN storage area network
- the BES DB 126 and MR DB 128 can each maintain a common pool of information amongst the entire group of network servers.
- this information which can be independent of any specific messaging application, can be stored and accessed from a structured query language (SQL) database.
- SQL structured query language
- the intelligent messaging network architecture can incorporate one or more simple network management protocol (SNMP) management consoles 130a, 130b, and 130c, collectively SNMP console 130, as the mechanism for network management.
- SNMP is a standard network management protocol widely used in conventional TCP/IP networks.
- the console 130 e.g., can receive SNMP alerts.
- a customer's SNMP console 130 can be "hooked" into, including such data as might reside in, e.g., a management information base (MJB) 134a.
- the SNMP console 130 can be used to easily and effectively manage the intelligent messaging network of the present invention.
- the intelhgent messaging network can provide network administrators a tool to monitor the health of the network.
- An SNMP console 130 can be placed in a network operations center (NOC) to advantageously centrally manage the intelligent messaging network of the present invention.
- NOC network operations center
- An HTTP Redirector 106 can enable off-the-shelf web browsers such as, e.g., browser 104, to send and receive requests, such as, e.g., hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests, over the intelligent messaging network.
- HTTP hypertext transfer protocol
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can work by intercepting HTTP requests from the browser 104 and can redirect them over the intelligent messaging network for fulfillment by an intelhgent messaging network HTTP proxy back end server 132a, 132b, or 132c, collectively HTTP proxy back end servers (HBES) 132, which in turn can forward messages on to, e.g., other Internet servers 142.
- HTTP proxy back end server 132a, 132b, or 132c collectively HTTP proxy back end servers (HBES) 132, which in turn can forward messages on to, e.g., other Internet servers 142.
- HBES HTTP proxy back end servers
- the intelhgent messaging network can provide a set of advanced services
- the network can also offer support for external legacy services that might already be in use by an organization.
- vendor services such as, e.g. security, and databases
- the intelligent messaging network can fit into an existing legacy networking environment, thereby allowing organizations to use their existing networking environment.
- the Intelligent Messaging Network of the present invention can use an Aether Intelligent Messaging (ATM) Network (also referred to as ALJM.net) developed by Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A., the assignee of the present invention.
- ATM Aether Intelligent Messaging
- the BES 122 can be an Aether Back End Server (ABES) available from Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A.
- ABES Aether Back End Server
- the PG 116 can be an Aether Protocol Gateway (APG), also previously referred to as a frontend server (FES), available from Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A.
- APG Aether Protocol Gateway
- FES frontend server
- the MR 124 can be an Aether Message Router (AMR) available from Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A.
- AMR Aether Message Router
- An exemplary embodiment of the MR DB 128 is an ATM database available from Aether Systems, Inc. of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S. A.
- the SNMP Console 130 can be an Aether SNMP Network Management Console available from Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A., which can include an SNMP compliant network management apphcation and hardware system platform.
- the HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 can be an Aether HTTP Proxy Back End Server available from Aether Systems Inc., of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A.
- the intelligent messaging network in an exemplary embodiment, can provide multiple software development kits (SDKs) to assist, e.g., engineers in developing client and server applications.
- SDKs can contain a consistent set of APIs and a set of platform specific hbraries for all intelligent messaging network supported platforms and networks.
- the intelligent messaging network can provide developers a resource kit including a set of tools to assist the developers when designing, implementing, and testing their client and server applications.
- the intelligent messaging network can provide, in an exemplary embodiment, a mobile client and server SDK environment to assist engineers developing chent apphcations and BESs 122.
- the SDKs can provide an easy to use API and a set of platform specific libraries to perform, e.g., compression, network management services, server-to-server communication, server registration/de-registration, and reliable message transport services.
- all of the servers, PGs 116, MRs 124, BESs 122 can use, e.g., Windows NT 4.0 as their operating system available from Microsoft Corporation of
- All the servers provide a set of common services, including, e.g.,: network management;
- NT event logging NT event logging
- message trace logging run as NT services
- server registration server de-registration
- server-to-server TCP/IP communication server-to-server
- the intelhgent messaging network server SDK can encapsulate the implementation of these core functions via apphcation programming interfaces (APIs) to insulate application developers from the hardware, software and protocol details of the underlying platforms.
- APIs apphcation programming interfaces
- All intelligent messaging network servers can support the standard SNMP GET, SET, and GET NEXT operations.
- the intelhgent messaging network servers can generate SNMP traps for notifying a network administrator of a critical event.
- the intelligent messaging network Server SDK can provide a common MIB, for basic control and status- handling that is shared by all the intelligent messaging network servers.
- the intelhgent messaging network server SDK can provide a MIB for each supported server type (i.e. PG 116, MR 124, HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132, and BES 122). Developers developing BESs 122 can define custom MIBs to support functions specific to their apphcation needs and can register the custom MIBs in a registered MIBs database 134. Registration of a custom MIB with the SNMP console 130 can be encapsulated by a set of network management APIs provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK.
- B. NT Event Logging Service All intelhgent messaging network servers can log critical information (e.g., start/stop time, and critical errors) to the NT event log on a corresponding platform on which they are running. Developers developing BESs 122 can log application specific events to the NT event log via APIs provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK.
- All intelhgent messaging network servers can optionally log inbound, outbound, and system events on the platform on which they are running. Developers developing BESs 122 can log application specific information to an application-info-log via APIs provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK. In this way, developers are not required to know the implementation details of how to log a message to the inbound, outbound, or system-info- logs.
- all intelligent messaging network servers can run as NT services.
- a utility program called AimServiceAny can be that can wrap NT service functionality around each intelhgent messagmg network server executable.
- intelligent messaging network servers can run without having anyone logged onto the machine and, thus, can prevent unauthorized users from accessing the platform and the servers.
- Network Management Mechanism In addition to SNMP, running as an NT service provides an additional simple network management capability by using a remote SvrMgr utility provided on all NT servers to monitor and start/stop intelligent messaging network services running anywhere on the network.
- Startup Dependencies An NT service can depend on the presence of other services before it is allowed to start (e.g. some intelligent messaging network servers depend on the fact that an SQL database server is running as well as possible server-to-server dependencies).
- the intelligent messaging network can mclude various servers including, e.g., the following:
- the simplest instance of an intelligent messaging network can include a server of each of the three types coupled together as depicted in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. IB.
- FIG. IB depicts, in an exemplary embodiment, a high level block diagram 136 of the present invention including, e.g., one or more PGs 116a-c coupled to one or more MRs 124a- c, which are in turn, coupled to one or more BESs 122a-c.
- Each server-to-server connection can include a TCP connection.
- PGs 116a-c can be coupled to MRs 124a-c;
- MRs 124a-c can be coupled to PGs 116a-c and BESs 122a-c (or HBESs 132a-c); and
- BESs 122a-c can be coupled to MRs 124a-c.
- Server startup logic can include, e.g., starting the servers 116, 122, and 124 in any order as each server can attempt to find the server(s) of the required type to which it is to be coupled.
- the server start sequence in an exemplary embodiment, can proceed as follows:
- an intelligent messaging network server 116, 122 and 124 can create a TCP "listener" socket.
- the TCP listener socket accepts connection requests from other intelligent messaging network servers 116, 122 and 124.
- the intelhgent messaging network server then registers the following information about the server in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128: • The IP address of the server and the port that the server is listening on for new connections; • The server's intelhgent messaging network Domain; and
- An intelhgent messaging network Domain is a text string (e.g.
- MyTestDomain that allows multiple intelligent messaging networks to run on the same physical network without interfering with each other.
- An intelligent messaging network server can only connect to other intelhgent messaging network servers in the same domain.
- the server's server type e.g.,: PG 116, MR 124, or BES 122.
- the registering server can obtain a unique database registration identifier (ID) and then can search the MR database 128 for other registered servers in the server's intelhgent messaging network domain and of the appropriate type; e.g., PGs 116 can search for MRs 124 in their domain, MRs 124 can search for PGs 116 and BESs 122, BESs 122 can search for MRs 124.
- ID unique database registration identifier
- each server 116, 122 and 124 can find one instance of each peer type to which it connects.
- the intelligent messaging network can allow multiple servers of each type to run within a domain in order to improve performance and redundancy. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, if there are 2 PGs 116 and 3 MRs 124, each PG 116 can be coupled to each of the MRs 124.
- the intelligent messagmg network server can attempt to couple itself to that server on the peer server's TCP listener socket.
- connection handshake can include the following sequence: a) The connecting server can send an intelligent messaging network ServerConnect message to the peer server. This message can contain the connecting server's unique database registration ID (obtained when the server first registered in the database, see step 2 above). The connecting server can then wait a specified amount of time for a reply from the peer server.
- the peer server can receive the intelligent messaging network "connection message” and can verify that the version included as part of the intelhgent messaging network message is compatible with its own communications version and that the message is indeed an intelhgent messaging network connection message. If the version is incorrect or the message is not a connection message, the peer server can terminate the TCP connection. If the peer server accepts the connection message it can send an intelligent messaging network connection message back to the connector in reply.
- the connecting server can also verify the message version and type and can either keep the connection open, or close the connection if, e.g., the version and type verification fail.
- the connecting server can assume that the peer server is, e.g., not a valid intelligent messaging network server, or is functioning improperly and so it can close the TCP connection to the peer server.
- FIG. IC is described below after FIG. IF relating to MR 124.
- FIG. ID depicts a block diagram 144 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of discovery services message flow for a PG 116 startup sequence.
- the discovery service flow can begin with step 146.
- step 146 the PG 116 can use registration services provided by, e.g., the intelligent messaging network server SDK to register the PG 116 with the intelhgent messaging network by adding an entry to a RegisteredServers table in the MR database 128.
- step 148 the PG 116 can use registration services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to enumerate the hst of all the MRs 124 registered with the intelhgent messaging network in, e.g., the same domain. From step 148, flow can continue with step 150. In step 150, using an IP address and listener port for each of the MRs 124, the PG 116 can use communication services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to establish and manage a TCP/IP connection with each of the MRs 124 contained in the enumerated hst.
- the MR 124 can add the PG 116 to its RegisteredServers cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the PG 116. If a connection attempt fails, the PG 116 can re-attempt to connect to the MR 124, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. IE depicts a block diagram 152 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of discovery services message flow for a MR 124 startup sequence.
- the discovery service flow can begin with step 154.
- step 154 the MR 124 can use registration services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to register itself with the intelligent messaging network by adding an entry to the RegisteredServers table in the MR database 128. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an alternative database could be used. From step 154, diagram 152 can continue with step 156.
- step 156 the MR 124 can use registration services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to enumerate a hst of, e.g., all PGs 116 and BESs 122 registered with the intelligent messaging network. From step 156, diagram 152 can continue with step 158.
- the MR 124 can use communication services provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to estabhsh and manage a TCP/IP connection with, e.g., each PG 116 contained in the enumerated hst.
- the PG 116 can add the MR 124 to its Server Connections cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the Message Router. From step 158, diagram 152 can continue with step 160.
- the MR 124 can uses communication services provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to establish and manage a TCP/IP connection with each BES 122 contained in the enumerated hst.
- the BES 122 can add the MR 124 to its Server Connections cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the MR 124.
- FIG. IF depicts a block diagram 162 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of discovery services message flow for a BES 122 startup sequence.
- the discovery service flow can begin with step 164.
- step 164 the BES 122 can use the registration services provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to register itself with the intelhgent messaging network by adding an entry to the RegisteredServers table in the MR database 128. From step 164, diagram 162 can continue with step 166.
- the BES 122 can use registration services provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to enumerate the hst of, e.g., all MRs 124 registered with the intelligent messaging network. From step 166, diagram 162 can continue with step 168. In step 168, using the IP address and listener port for each MR 124, the BES 122 can use the communication services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to establish and manage a TCP/IP connection with each MR 124 contained in the enumerated hst. When a BES 122 can couple to a MR 124, the MR 124 can add the BES 122 to its RegisteredServers cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the BES 122. If the connection attempt fails, the BES 122 can reattempt to connect to the MR 124.
- an intelhgent messaging network server When an intelhgent messaging network server is started, it can register itself with the network by adding an entry to a RegisteredServers table in the intelhgent messaging network MR database 128. This can enable other intelhgent messaging network servers to locate one another on the network.
- An API provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK can allow for registering the following server attributes in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128:
- Server Type - PGs 116 types can include CDPD, Mobitex and ISP dialup.
- BES 122 types can depend on the server application;
- Packet Header Version - can indicates the version of the packet header that the server supports
- IP Address and Listener Port - can indicate the IP address and the listener port number to be connected to by other servers in order to communicate with this server.
- an intelhgent messaging network server When an intelhgent messaging network server is stopped, it can de-register itself from the network by removing its entry from the RegisterServers table in the intelhgent messaging network MR database 128.
- An API can be provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to de-register a server in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128.
- mtelhgent messaging network servers can communicate with each other over a TCP/IP socket connection.
- APIs provided by the intelligent messaging network server can encapsulate the creation, management, and sending/receiving of data over the socket connection.
- each server can also provide additional services that can be specific to the functionality of the server.
- the intelligent messaging network architecture can include various core software components that can run on, e.g.,: PG 116; MR 124; BES 122;
- HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 and SNMP Management Console 130.
- the PGs 116 can follow a predefined start up sequence to register itself with the intelligent messaging network.
- Each PG 116 can add an entry to the RegisteredServers table in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128 and can enumerate the list of all MRs 124 registered with the network in the same domain.
- the PG 116 can establish and manage a TCP/IP connection with each MR 124 contained in the enumerated list.
- the MR 124 can add the PG 116 to its RegisteredServers cache and can begin forwarding messages to the PG 116. If, however, the connection attempt fails (e.g., there is a timeout), the PG 116 can re-attempt to connect to the MR 124 after a configurable time period.
- the PGs 116 can be responsible for supporting the following specific services:
- Each PG 116 can encapsulate the underlying wireless network access protocol so that it is transparent to MR 124 and BESs 122. As a result, when the MR 124 receives a message from a PG 116, it is unaware of the underlying network access protocol used for communicating the message.
- All messages to be transmitted over the network that exceed a predefined segment size can be segmented into multiple message segments.
- All mcoming message segments (except the last segment to complete the message) received (including duplicate segments) can be immediately acknowledged back to the peer wireless protocol layer and can be queued pending receipt of all message segments via an inbound message map.
- the PG 116 does not immediately send an acknowledgment to the peer wireless protocol layer. Instead, the message segments can be assembled into a complete message, which can be forwarded to an appropriate BES 122 via an MR 124.
- the BES 122 successfully receives the message and acknowledges the same to the PG 116 via MR 124, then the PG 116 can acknowledge the last segment received thus completing the acknowledgment of the entire message.
- An inbound message map can manage a separate inbound message map for each unique link station ID of a sender.
- the PG 116 can check to make sure the message segment has not been already received (i.e., a duphcate message segment). If the message segment is a duphcate, the segment can be acknowledged to the peer wireless protocol layer, discarded and conditionally logged.
- the segments can be assembled into a complete message. If the message ID of the assembled message has been already received (duplicate message), then the message can be acknowledged to a corresponding peer wireless protocol layer, discarded and conditionally logged.
- Each PG 116 can keep track of the last n message IDs received for each unique link station ID.
- Any message that is bound for a client device 112 can be segmented into a number of segments greater than a segmented pacing threshold and can be sent at a pacing interval.
- the threshold and interval can be configurable prior to a gateway protocol startup.
- Each PG 116 can automatically retransmit any message segment transmitted over the network that is not acknowledged by a corresponding peer wireless protocol layer within a configurable amount of time.
- the PG 116 can retry a configured number of times before notifying a BES 122 that the message could not be delivered to a chent apphcation. 7. Forwarding of Ack/Nack Messages
- each PG 116 can retain knowledge of all outstanding message segments pending acknowledgment (message segments that have not been acknowledged by the peer wireless protocol layer) via a pending acknowledgment map.
- the pending acknowledgment map can maintain information pertaining to message segments that have been successfully transmitted and are pending acknowledgment from the peer wireless protocol layer. If an acknowledgment (positive or negative) is received for a message segment that is not pending acknowledgment, the segment can be discarded and conditionally logged.
- the PG 116 can sen, as shown in step 5 of FIG 7, an ACK control message to the BES 122 via MR 124 (provided that the BES 122 has requested such notification) to indicate the message has been successfully dehvered to the client apphcation. If the number of transmission attempts for the message segment exceeds a configurable number of retry attempts, the PG 116 can send an NACK control message to the BES 122 to indicate that the message could not be delivered to the chent application.
- Each MR 124 can communicate with the PGs 116 and BESs 122. Upon start up, the MR 124 can use the registration services provided by the intelligent messaging network server
- the MR 124 can also use the registration services to enumerate the list of all the PGs 116 and BESs 122 that are registered with the intelligent messaging network. Using the IP address and listener port or socket for each PG 116, the MR 124 can estabhsh and manage a TCP/IP connection with each PG 116 contained in the enumerated list. When an MR 124 connects to a PG 116, the PG 116 can add the MR 124 to its Server Connections cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the
- the MR 124 can also establish and manage a TCP/IP connection with each BES 122 contained in the enumerated hst. See FIG. IC.
- the BES 122 can also add the MR
- Each MR 124 can also use the registration services provided by the intelhgent messaging network server SDK to de-register itself from the intelhgent messaging network by removing its entry from the RegisteredServers table in the MR database 128.
- the MR 124 can close the TCP/IP connection with each PG 116.
- Each PG 116 can also remove the MR 124 from its Server Connections cache and can immediately stop forwarding messages to the terminating MR 124. Then, the MR 124 can clean up any previously allocated resources and can terminate.
- FIG. IC depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating messaging routing according to the present invention.
- FIG. IC illustrates a client user 102 using a client device 112 can attempt to communicate via wireless network 108 and network 114 to resources coupled to PG 116.
- BESs 122a, 122b and 122c can have aheady registered upon boot with MRDB 128 of MR 124.
- routing can be based on content instead of address.
- Registration or discovery can include a providing server identifier (ID), a service type, and a message type supported by the particular BES 122.
- MR 124 can load into the cache of MR 124, the registration information about BESs 122.
- MRs 124 and BESs 122 can communicate via a TCP/IP connection.
- BES 122a can be registered for service type 7 and message type 5.
- BES 122b can be registered for service type 7 and all message types as illustrated by an asterisk (*) wildcard character.
- Each BES can have a unique server ID and service type combination. The only server ID that can be shared is 0 (zero).
- the client device 112 can communicate with PG 116 and can send a message including a unique message key.
- the unique message key can include, in an exemplary embodiment, a server identifier (ID), a service type and a message type, as shown.
- the PG 116 can provide the MR 124 the message over network 118b.
- PG 116 in an exemplary embodiment, can route to a least recently used MR 124, providing a round-robin load balancing function.
- redundancy can be provided by using, e.g., multiple PGs 116 and multiple MRs 124.
- the MR 124 can similarly use a round-robin load balancing method to route the message to a least recently used PG 116 supporting the protocol of the client device 112 associated with the message.
- MR 124 can route a message received from the PG 116, to a BES 122 or HBES 132.
- MR 124 can route the message, in an exemplary embodiment, according to a set of semantic rules.
- the message can be routed to the BES 122 which most specifically corresponds to the contents of the message key.
- the least recently used BES 122 can be used by checking a time stamp identifying the last access to the BES 122.
- PG 116 would forward the message to the least recently used MR 124.
- MR 124 could look at the message key ⁇ 0, 7, 5 ⁇ to determine how to route the message. Based on the example registrations described above for BES 122a (0, 7, 5 ⁇ ; BES 122b ⁇ 0, 7, * ⁇ ; and BES 122c ⁇ 1, 7, * ⁇ , MR 124 could route the message to BES 122a since the BES 122a most specifically corresponded to the message key by having the exact service type and message type as the message key. It is important to note that BES 122b with a wild card asterisk for supported message type could also support the message if BES 122a was not available. The semantic rules could use the BES 122b as an alternative routing destination, if BES 122c is unavailable.
- a specific server ID can be placed in a message.
- • only one BES 122 will have a specific combination of server D and service type.
- the MRs 124 are responsible for supporting the following specific services:
- the MR 124 can be responsible for determining that the sender of a message is an authorized customer of the intelhgent messaging network.
- the MR 124 can use the device's source address (e.g., IP address or Mobitex MAN number) of the chent device 112 as the means of identifying authorized access.
- each MR 124 When each MR 124 receives a client message, it can check the device address against a local cache of authorized devices 112. If the source address is not found locally, the MR 124 can then check the MR DB 128. If the device address is an authorized chent device 112, in an exemplary embodiment, and the customer has permission rights to the requested service type, and the requested service type is not in use by the customer's account with a different source address, the MR 124 can cache the device address, customer identifier, and requested service type to ensure fast authentication of additional messages from the same source. Then, the message can be considered authentic and can be forwarded to the proper BES 122. Each MR 124 also can pass the customer identifier to the BES 122 to use as a key to search for customer specific information.
- message authentication based on the device's source address is not used, because during a dial-up access, the source address that can be seen by an MR 124 is the JP Address of the ISP provider.
- Each subscriber that desires wire-line access can have a User JD and Password, which can be selected by the subscriber at the time they subscribe to a service, and can be saved as part of the MR DB 128.
- Each MR 124 can initially follow the same procedure to authenticate a dial-up message as it does when authenticating a wireless message. However, in case a message is received from a dial-up connection, the MR 124 can issue an authentication challenge to the message source. On receiving the challenge, the chent application can prompt the user 102 to enter the user ID and password of the user 102, which can be forwarded (encrypted) to the MR 124 as an authentication request and can proceed with authentication process.
- the MR 124 can check the service type and source address of subsequent messages against its authentication cache and can allow/disallow the message as appropriate.
- the MR 124 does not keep the cached mapping between a source address and vahd customer indefinitely.
- a configurable timeout period may be specified, after which cached entries can be removed.
- the timeout interval can be the length of time that has passed between successive messages from a cached client device 112.
- the MR 124 can remove it from its cache.
- the MR 124 can also decrement a device's authentication count within the intelligent messaging network MR database 128. The authentication count can indicate how many other MRs 124 have heard from the client device 112. When a dial-up device's authentication count drops to zero, the device address can be removed from the MR DB 128.
- MR client Message Routing Service there can be several ways in which an MR 124 can route a chent message to a BES 122, including, e.g.,:
- the form of routing can be determined based on the contents of an intelligent messaging message header.
- the intelhgent messaging message header or message key can be pre-f ⁇ xed to every apphcation message.
- the intelligent messaging message header can contain the following fields, e.g.,: a 1-byte Server ID that can identify a specific server of the given service type. The value 0 can be reserved to indicate that indirect routing is desired.
- a non-zero value can indicate that the message is directed at a specific BES 122; a 12-bit Service Type Identifier, which can be used by both indirect and direct routing, can identify the type of service (e.g., MarketClip, FX, etc.) associated with the messages; and a 12-bit Message Type Identifier that can uniquely identify the message within the context of the specified service type required for direct routing.
- a 12-bit Service Type Identifier which can be used by both indirect and direct routing, can identify the type of service (e.g., MarketClip, FX, etc.) associated with the messages
- a 12-bit Message Type Identifier that can uniquely identify the message within the context of the specified service type required for direct routing.
- an MR 124 When an MR 124 receives an incoming message from a chent application, it can check the Server ID field contained in the intelhgent messaging message header portion of the message. If the Server ID field of the intelhgent messaging message header is zero, the MR 124 can route the message to the proper BES 122 by consulting a routing table that can map message keys (Service Type and Message ID) to the JP address of one or more connected BESs 122a-c as described above with reference to FIG. IC. During server registration, all BESs 122 can be required to register a list of supported message keys.
- message keys Service Type and Message ID
- a given BES 122 supports the majority of messages for a specific Service Type, it need only register a single root message key including only the Service Type.
- the small subset of service messages not supported by that BES 122 would be registered as individual message keys by a different BES 122 of the same Service Type.
- the MR 124 can route messages based on the most specific key value (Service Type, Server ID, and Message ID) found in the table. If no specific mapping is found, the MR 124 can use the Service Type portion of the key to look for root message entries.
- the MR 124 can use a round-robin scheduling procedure to pick which target BES 122 to route to. For example, the timestamp of last access of the BES can be consulted to determine a least recently used BES 122.
- two third party services MarketClip and FX, Reuters® news service solutions for real-time reporting on equities and foreign exchanges, with messages for each application supported by a corresponding BES 122.
- each apphcation BES 122 could only have to register its root service type (e.g., MktMon or FX) in order for its messages or responses for client devices 112 to be routed correctly by the MR 124.
- its root service type e.g., MktMon or FX
- two BESs 122 currently support news requests independently of one another (i.e. there is no common news BES 122 that both of them use), but a separate news BES 122 can be created to handle ALL news requests.
- no new sof ware should be sent to service providers so that all future news messages (for either application) are tagged to go to the new news server.
- the new news BES 122 upon registration, can add the specific news message keys previously handled by the MarketClip and FX BESs 122 to the MRs 124 message routing table.
- the original BESs 122 do not need to change because the news BES 122 message keys can contain the service types and message IDs specific to the two applications.
- Each MR 124 can do its primary routing based on the more specific table entries, the same news messages that would have formerly been routed to the two BESs 122, could get routed to the new news BES 122.
- the BESs 122 can be designed around specific services, rather than a suite of services that comprise an application, some of which may be common to other applications. Under this arrangement, overall response performance can improve as specific services are assigned to their own BES 122. This is because a client application not using a given service does not have to wait, while the BES 122 is accessing process requests for a different service.
- BESs 122 that can maintain state information about a particular chent device 112 can often require direct routing.
- the intelligent messaging network message header portion of the message can contain a nonzero value in the Server ID field.
- an MR 124 sees a non-zero value in the Server ID field, it can route the message to the proper BES 122 by consulting a routing table that maps server keys ⁇ Service Type, Message ID, Server ID ⁇ to the IP address of a connected BES 122. Specifying a Server ID alone can be not sufficient to ensure that the message is delivered to the proper BES 122.
- a BES 122 can register the service types and message IDs it can handle; and the service type/message ID of a direct route message can match those types registered by the BES 122 with the specified Server ID. Management of BES 122 IDs can be the responsibility of the application. If an application runs more than one BES 122 with the same Server ID, then messages with that Server ID can be routed to the BES 122 whose message routing table can contain the most specific match with the messages service type and Message ID. If two BESs 122 can map the same Server ID, Service Type, and Message ID, then, as in indirect routing, the MR 124 can use round robin scheduling to pick a target BES 122.
- a BES 122 may use both direct and indirect routing on an as needed basis. To illustrate this, consider a BES 122 that for the most part is stateless, but has one or two logical operations that can require several targeted client/server messages to complete. If the BES 122 can initiate an operation that can require a targeted response, it can place its Server ID in the intelligent messaging network message header portion of the message it sends to the client application. When the client application responds, it uses the same Server ID in the response message to assure that the response is sent to the original Server. All other "stateless" messages can be sent with a Server ID of 0, so that they can be indirectly routed.
- BES 122 messages sent to a chent application can pass through the MR 124.
- Each MR 124 can decide which PG 116 to which to forward the message.
- the MR 124 can choose the proper PG 116 based on, e.g., the communications type (e.g., CDPD, Mobitex, ISP Dialup, etc.) used by a subscribers service provider.
- the mapping of communication type to client device address can be maintained by the MR 124 based on fixed entries in the MR DB 128 that can map source address of a chent device 112 or used ID and password to a specific communication type.
- Each PG 116 can also indicate the communication type of the PG 116 during the server registration process. If a PG 116 could not deliver a message to the client application, the PG 116 can send a network control non-acknowledgement (NACK) message to the BES 122 that originated the message, indicating that the message could not be delivered.
- NACK network control non-
- the chent device address (referred to, as its clientDevicelnfo), which is a part of the received request message, can be known to the BES 122.
- the BES 122 can provide the chentDevicelnfo as part of the ATMSvrPacket sent to the MR 124. Consequently, the MR 124 can then simply pass this information to the appropriate PG 116, which can then send the message to that client device 112 address.
- a BES 122 may need to asynchronously send a message to a subscriber (e.g. MarketClip Alert). Since this message is not in response to an mcoming chent message, the clientDevicelnfo may not be readily available to the BES 122. Rather than forcing the BES 122 to keep a mapping between client identifiers and their LinkStationTDs, a BES 122 may send a message to a client based solely on the customer ID. In this case, the AJMSvrPacket sent to a MR 124 contains a NULL LinkStationlD and a valid client LD. The receiving MR 124 can search it's authenticated device cache for an active device associated with the specified client ID and then can use the device's LinkStationlD to forward the message to an appropriate PG 116.
- a subscriber e.g. MarketClip Alert
- a BES 122 is an application specific server that can implement logic to process messages specific for that type of server. For example, an FX BES 122 can handle requests related to foreign exchange functions.
- a BES 122 can communicate directly with one or more MR 124s. Typically, BESs 122 can run behind the firewall 120. However, the mtelhgent messaging network architecture cannot preclude BESs 122 from running outside the firewall 120.
- the intelligent messaging network Server SDK can encapsulate those functions that are common to all BES 122s, thereby insulating developers from, e.g., details of transport control, compression, registering and de- registering with the MR DB 128.
- the BESs 122 can use the registration services provided by the intelligent messaging network server SDK to register themselves with the intelligent messaging network by adding an entry to the RegisteredServers table in the MR DB 128.
- Each BES 122 can establish a TCP/IP connection with each registered MR 124, using a corresponding IP address.
- the MR 124 can add the BES 122 to its RegisteredServers cache and can begin to start forwarding messages to the BES 122.
- each of the BESs 122 remove its entry from the RegisteredServers tables in the intelhgent messaging network MR database 128.
- the BES 122 can notify each MR 124 of its impending shutdown. This can allow each MR 124 to remove the BES 122 from its RegisteredServers cache and can immediately stop forwarding messages to the terminating BES 122.
- the BESs 122 can be responsible for supporting the following specific functions:
- the BES 122 can directly with a client apphcation. In reality, however, a BES 122 can communicate with one or more MRs 124. In the intelhgent messaging network architecture, only the BESs 122 can have knowledge of the application content required to communicate with a client application.
- intelhgent messaging network can provide a Adaptive- Huffman base compression service.
- the intelligent messaging network architecture can provide the necessary hooks to enable 3 ⁇ d party OEM compression mechanisms. If a BES 122 has specific compression requirements for its application data that are not addressed by intelligent messaging network supplied compression services, (i.e. Adaptive-Huffman); the BES 122 can be responsible for providing the compression mechanism.
- the architecture can provide the necessary hooks to enable 3 r party OEM security mechanisms. If a BES 122 has specific security requirements for its application data, the BES 122 can be responsible for providing the security mechanism.
- the BES 122 can send a network control acknowledgement (ACK) message to a PG 116 that originally received the message.
- ACK network control acknowledgement
- the PG 116 When the PG 116 receives the network control ACK message from the BES 122, it can send a transport level ACK message to the client device's peer wireless protocol layer indicating that the message was dehvered successfully to the BES 122.
- a transport level ACK message to the client device's peer wireless protocol layer indicating that the message was dehvered successfully to the BES 122.
- an intelligent messaging network database can use an AIM Database available from Aether Systems of Owings Mills, Maryland, U.S.A. which, can maintain a common pool of information between intelligent messaging network servers. This information, which is independent of any specific messaging application, can be stored and accessed from a SQL database know as, e.g., the MR DB 128, or the BES DB 126.
- the MR DB 128 can be shared by all intelligent messaging network servers 116, 122, and 124. The following sections describe the tables that comprise the intelligent messaging network MR database 128 schema. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the schema could also be used for another database, such as, e.g., BES DB 126.
- the ServiceTypes table is a list of all the service types supported by the intelligent messaging network.
- the RegisteredServers table is used during the connection process and keeps track of the location and type of all Servers currently running on the Network. Access to this table is through the Server SDK.
- the ServerMsgMap is accessed during Server Registration, MR 124 Start-UP and client Message Routing.
- This table maps a running Server to the set of Message's that should be routed to that Server. Access to this table is through intelligent messaging network Server SDK.
- the AuthorizedUsers table is accessed during Message authentication.
- the table contains a list of UserlDs/Passwords with authorized access to the intelligent messaging network Network. Access to this table is through the Server SDK.
- the AuthorizedDevices table is accessed during message authentication. This table contains a list of device addresses with authorized access to the intelligent messaging network Network. Entries may be permanent (a Mobile client Device) or temporary (a Wire-line device). Access to this table is through the intelligent messaging network Server.
- the UserRights table is accessed during message authentication. This table contains the service types an authorized user can access. Access to this table is through the Server SDK.
- the ActiveUsers table is accessed during message authentication.
- This table contains the list of active customer Ids and the services they are using with a count of MRs 124 that have authenticated the account for the service in use.
- the purpose of the table is to detect and prevent multiple devices from accessing a service with same customer ID when the AllowMultiAccess bit is "false”.
- the table contains the LinkStationType and LinkStationlD used by the customer so the MRs 124 can support NULL LinkStationlD from the BES 122. Access to this table can be through the intelligent messaging network server.
- the CommTypes table is a list of all communication Protocols supported by the intelligent messaging network.
- SQL procedures are used to manage the database. The following is a list of definitions commonly used as parameters in the stored SQL procedures.
- the user Id is used to authenticate ISP dial-up access.
- Password - The password is used to authenticate dial-up access.
- AccountNo - The account number can be both alpha and/or numeric and is for customer service purposes.
- ServiceType The service type the customer is provisioned to access. For example, MarketClip, MarketTrader, etc.
- CommType - The type of Network Protocol the chent device is using to access the intelligent messaging network Network.
- CDPD Code Division Multiple Access
- Mobitex Code Division Multiple Access
- CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
- DeviceType The type of access to the intelligent messaging network Network, either wireless or wireline.
- RetumCode The return code from the stored procedure.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to enter a new customer using a wireless CDPD device to the database.
- User Id and Password are entered as NULL.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to delete a customer from the database. This procedure also deletes any devices used by the customer and services provisioned for the customer.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to add a user id and password to the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to delete a customer from the database. This procedure also deletes any devices used by the customer and services provisioned for the customer.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to change a user's password in the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to delete a user access right from a customer defined in the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to associate a device address to a defined customer in the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to delete a device address from a defined customer in the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to disassociate by deletion of ALL device addresses from a defined customer in the database.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to suspend a user and all the user's device address' access to the intelhgent messaging network and notify all MRs 124 to remove the device address from it's local cache. This mechanism is used when a customer reports a lost or stolen chent device.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to reactivate a user and all the user's device address' access to the intelligent messaging network .
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to suspend a device address' access to the intelhgent messaging network and notify all MRs 124 to remove the device address from it's local cache.
- NotifyAMR 24 (bit) - True to suspend the device address from all MRs 124 memory, false not to.
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to reactivate a device address' access to the intelhgent messaging network .
- This stored SQL procedure allows customer service to get the customer identifier associated with a device address.
- HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 is responsible for handling mcoming HTTP requests, sending the request over the Internet to the target Web HTTP Server, and transmitting the response back to the client device.
- the Intelligent messaging network HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 supports various versions of the HTTP protocol specification.
- the HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 is also responsible for communicating with a target HTTP Web Server. In order to handle each inbound HTTP request, the HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 creates and manages a TCP/IP socket connection to the target Web HTTP Server. When the HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132 receives the response from the Web HTTP Server, it creates an HTTP response message and formats it for transmission back to the client apphcation running on a client device.
- Browsers 104 can typically communicate directly to an HTTP Web Server via TCP/IP.
- TCP/IP is a chatty LAN protocol requiring significant overhead that is not a cost effective way for browsing the Internet wirelessly.
- an HTTP Redirector 106 can intercept raw HTTP requests from the browser 104 and can redirect the request over the intelhgent messaging network for fulfillment by an HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132.
- the HTTP Redfrector receives a response from the HTTP Proxy Back End Server 132, it can s nply pass the response to the browser 104 to process.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram 200 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Block diagram 200 illustrates an HTTP Redirector 106 interacting with the browser 104 and mtelhgent messaging network network.
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can act as a "client side" proxy server allowing it to intercept Web browser HTTP requests.
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can take advantage of the optimized wireless protocol and compression services offered by the Intelhgent messaging network and the protocol of the present invention. This results in significant byte savings when sending HTTP requests and receiving HTTP responses over a wireless network.
- the HTTP Redirector can support browsers 104 such as, e.g., Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape's Communicator 4.5 browsers on the Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and Windows CE platforms.
- browsers 104 such as, e.g., Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape's Communicator 4.5 browsers on the Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and Windows CE platforms.
- Standard versions of browsers 104 send HTTP requests over TCP/IP, which is a chatty LAN protocol.
- TCP/IP is not cost effective in terms of bandwidth usage in a wireless environment.
- a standard version of browser 104 can require an IP based network and conventionally does not work with non-IP based wireless networks such as Mobitex.
- the redirector 106 can address these issues and can provide a method of using a standard Web browser 104 in a wireless network.
- browser 104 of a chent device 112 can typically allow access to resources such as, e.g., a destination Web server 210, such as an Internet server 142a on a network 202, such as, e.g., the global Internet, through a Proxy IP/port 204 instead of communicating directly with the destination Web server 210.
- the Proxy IP/port 204 can fulfill a request on behalf of the client device 112 to the destination Web server 210.
- the redirector 106 can act as a "client-side" proxy.
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can sit on top of standard mobile hbraries 208 provided by the intelligent messaging network. These mobile hbraries 208 can be optimized for the specific wireless protocol supported by the specific client device 112a-c.
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can intercept all requests from browser 104.
- the raw HTTP request can then be packaged into an intelligent messaging network message and transmitted through the intelligent messaging network 114 to the BES 122a-c designed to handle HTTP requests.
- the HTTP BES 132 can forward the request to a Web server of a content provider such as, e.g., destination web server 210, which can provide a response.
- the content provider can be a third party in an exemplary embodiment.
- the communication to the content provider can occur via the network 202 of FIG. 2.
- a network 212 depicted in FIG. 2 can include the intelligent messaging network of the present invention, e.g., the underlying LAN network 118a and b, the PGs 116, the firewall 120, router 110, and the MR 124.
- HBES 132 When the HBES 132 receives the response from the destination Web server 210, HBES 132, or BES 122 (not shown), can package the response into an intelhgent messaging network message and can transmit the response back to the requestmg client device 112 via the PG 116 via the MR 124.
- HTTP response and can be sent to the browser 104.
- the HTTP redirector 106 can maintain all connections with the browser 104 throughout this process, so that from the perspective of the browser 104, the browser 104 appears to be communicating directly to the Web server 210.
- the mobile libraries 208 can be optimized for the underlying wireless protocol.
- the HTTP Redirector 106 can sit on top of the hbraries 208 providing the browser 104 with the same benefits without any modifications to the browser 104. Since the HTTP Redirector 106 packages HTTP requests and responses into intelligent messaging network messages, the raw payload of the messages can be compressed. Most conventional Web traffic deals with straight text in the form of HTML, so the amount of data transmitted can be greatly reduced by using standard compression techniques. The compression techniques can result in an increase in data throughput and a reduction of airtime. hi addition to compression, in an exemplary embodiment, performance can be enhanced by the fact that TCP/IP is not used over the wireless network, where the SNTL transport protocol of the present invention is rather used. Turning briefly to FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a network communications layered architecture is depicted. FIG. 3 includes block diagram 300, which is described further below following the description with reference to FIG. 8C.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram 400 depicting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Flow diagram 400 numerically depicts a flow of messages that corresponds to the authentication challenge success flow.
- Flow diagram 400 numerically shows message paths between a client device 112 and an MR 124 including exemplary steps labeled by numbers 1-8, as follows:
- the client apphcation can send an application request message to the MR 124 (the PG 116 is not explicitly involved in authentication), i.e., a device authentication;
- the client application running on a client device may fail the authentication of the MR 124;
- the MR 124 cannot find the device address in its local cache or the
- the device's security token in the LinkStationlD is not the same as the device's security token in the. intelhgent messaging network MR database 128.
- the subscriber does not have user rights to the requested service.
- the MR 124 can send a a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message to the client apphcation with the appropriate error code;
- the client application can respond with an authentication request message including an UserlD, secure password, and the requested service type to authenticate; i.e., reauthenticatioi ;
- the MR 124 can check the UserlD and password against the AuthorizedUsers in the MR DB 128;
- the MR 124 can verify that the subscriber has rights to the requested service. If the subscriber does have user rights to the service, the MR 124 can add the device address to the AuthorizedDevices table, as well as to the MR 124 local cache and can assign a security token to the client application running on the client device 112.
- the MR 124 can send an authenticated response message with a success value to the client application to let the client application know that the client application has been authenticated; the security token can also be sent to the client device 112; i.e., an indication of success;
- the client apphcation can re-send the original message (step 1) that caused the authentication challenge with the new security token; i.e., send request; and
- the MR 124 can verify the device address against the authentication cache of the MR 124 and can forward the message to the proper BES 122 or HBES 132 (not shown).
- FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram 500 depicting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Flow diagram 400 numerically depicts a flow of messages that can correspond to the authentication challenge success/failure.
- the diagram numerically shows message paths between the chent device 112 and the MR 124 including exemplary steps labeled by numbers 1-7, as follows:
- Chent apphcation can send an apphcation message to the MR 124 (again, the PG 116 is not explicitly involved in authentication, in an exemplary embodiment, all client/MR 124 communications can pass through the PG 116); i.e., device authentication;
- the chent device 112 can fail the MRs 124 authentication
- the MR 124 cannot find the device address in its local cache or the AuthorizedDevices table in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128.
- the security token of the client device 112 in the LinkStationlD can be not the same as the device's security token in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128.
- the user of the chent device 112 can not have user rights to the requested service.
- the MR 124 can send a negative acknowledgment (NACK) message to the chent application with the appropriate error code;
- NACK negative acknowledgment
- the client application can respond with an authentication request including the UserlD, secure password and the requested service type to authenticate; i.e., logon with userid and password;
- the MR 124 can check the UserlD and password against the AuthorizedUsers in the MR DB 128; the UserlD, password can be invalid and/or the user can not have rights to the requested service;
- the MR 124 can send an authentication response message with a failure value to the client application to let it know that the authentication has failed; i.e., authentication failure; and
- FIG. 6A illustrates a flow diagram numerically depicting a flow of messages that corresponds to a client application request to BES 122.
- the diagram numerically shows message paths between the chent device 112 and the MR 124 including exemplary steps labeled by numbers 1-6, as follows:
- the client application that can be running on client device 112 can create an application request (APP REQ) message and can pass the message to the transport layer to transmit over the network 212;
- APP REQ application request
- the transport layer can determine if the message needs to be segmented into multiple segments; the transport layer can transmit the message over the network and can wait for a transport level ACK;
- the PG 116 can assemble the message segment into a complete application message (if necessary) and can send the apphcation message to the next available MR 124;
- a NACK message can be generated by the PG 116 and can be sent back to the client apphcation with the appropriate error code.
- the PG 116 can not immediately send a transport ACK message back to the client application. This can be done when the BES 122 receives the apphcation message and sends an ACK control message back to the PG 116.
- the MR 124 can look up the device address and the service type (first in its local cache, then if necessary in the intelhgent messaging network MR DB 128) to see if the message is from an authorized source;
- the MR 124 can choose the next available BES 122 that has been registered to support the specified service type and can then send the message to that BES 122. If there are no BESs 122 registered that can support the specified service type, a NACK message can be generated by the MR 124 and can be sent back to the client application with the appropriate error code. 5.
- the BES 122 can send an acknowledgement (ACK) control message back to the PG 116 that received the application message; the BES 122 can also process the incoming message; and
- the PG 116 can send a transport ACK message to the chent application at chent device 112; in some exemplary embodiments, sending ACK messages can be optional.
- FIG. 6B depicts an exemplary embodiment of a message flow diagram 602 illustrating transmission of a multi-segment message from a chent device 112 to a BES 122 according to the present invention.
- Flow diagram 602 can begin with step 604.
- the simple network transport layer (SNTL) apphcation can segment the message into multiple segments, can encapsulate the segments with an SNTL segment header 900, and can transmit the message initially to PG 116.
- An exemplary embodiment of a message header 900 is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 9.
- the flow diagram can continue with step 606.
- the PG 116 can send to client device 112 an acknowledgement (ACK) of receipt of the transmitted messages at the PG 116.
- ACK acknowledgement
- the flow diagram 602 can continue with step 608.
- chent device 112 can automatically retry, or retransmit segment 2 of the message to the PG 116, since acknowledgement was not received for segment 2 in step 604.
- User datagram protocol is an efficient communication protocol, however it is unreliable, lacking provision to segment messages and retransmit unacknowledged messages.
- the peer protocols of the SNTL layers on the client device 112 and PG 116 can work in coordination with UDP to provide highly optimized and reliable wireless communication while using efficient connectionless (i.e., unlike TCP) UDP communication.
- the SNTL layers can provide other useful transport functions such as, e.g., pacing, congestion control and other functionality without requiring an entire TCP transport stack.
- the SNTL layer can include, in an exemplary embodiment, a 4 bytes wide header, 6 bytes wide for multi-segment messages, as discussed with reference to FIG.9. From step 608, flow diagram 602 can continue with step 610.
- step 610 PG 116 can transmit the complete multi-segment message to MR 124.
- flow diagram 602 can continue with step 612.
- step 612 MR 124 can route the message to BES 122 as discussed above with reference to FIG. IC.
- flow diagram 602 can continue with step 614.
- step 614 BES 122 can send an acknowledgement of receipt of the multi-segment message to MR 124. From step 614, flow diagram 602 can continue with step 616.
- MR 124 can send acknowledgement of receipt of the multi-segment message at the BES 122 on to PG 116.
- flow diagram 602 can continue with step 618.
- PG 116 can send acknowledgement of receipt of the multi-segment message at the BES 122 on to client device 112.
- PG 116 can also send acknowledgment of receipt of segment 2 of the message as well.
- acknowledgment of receipt of the second segment can occur following step 606. From step 618, flow diagram 602 can immediately complete.
- FIG. 7A illustrates a flow diagram 700 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Flow diagram 700 numerically depicts a flow of messages that corresponds to a response from BES 122 to a request of the client application, illustrated and described further above with reference to FIG. 6A.
- Flow diagram 700 numerically shows message paths beginning from the BES 122, through the MR 124 and PG 116 to client device 112 including exemplary steps labeled by numbers 1-5, as follows:
- a BES 122 can respond to a chent application request as illustrated in flow diagram 600; the BES 122 can pass the response message (REQ RESP), message flags, customer ID and LinkStationlD (cached from the previous mcoming request) in flow diagram 700, which can represent a second or so-called "send" call;
- REQ RESP response message
- message flags customer ID
- LinkStationlD cached from the previous mcoming request
- Message flags can specify whether to compress and/or encrypt the message and whether the BES 122 requires an ACK message when the PG 116 has successfully delivered the application message to the client apphcation running on chent device
- the BES 122 can send the apphcation message to the next available MR 124. If no MR 124 is available, then a false can be returned from the send. 2.
- the MR 124 can use the LinkStationlD to determine the associated communication type (e.g.,CDPD, Mobitex, etc.) and can send the message to the next available PG 116 of the correct communication type;
- the PG 116 can segment the apphcation message (if necessary) and can transmit the application message over the network;
- the transport layer can receive the message segment and can assemble the message segment into a complete application message (if necessary); the transport layer can send a transport ACK message to the PG 116 that sent the message; it is important to note that, in some exemplary embodiments, sending ACK messages can be optional; and
- the PG 116 can send an ACK control message back to the BES 122 (via the MR 124) that was the source of the original message (if required).
- FIG. 7B depicts an exemplary embodiment of a message flow diagram 702 illustrating transmission of a multi-segment message from BES 122 to a client device 112 according to the present invention.
- Flow diagram 702 can alternatively represent sending of a multi-segment alert from BES 122 to a client device 112.
- Flow diagram 702 can begin with step 704.
- BES 122 can transmit a multi-segment message intended for a client device 112 to MR 124.
- flow diagram 702 can continue with step 706.
- MR 124 can route the message to an appropriate PG 116 as discussed above with reference to FIG. IC.
- SNTL simple network transport layer
- 116 can segment the message into multiple segments, can encapsulate the segments with an SNTL segment header 900, and can transmit the segments of the message to the client device 112.
- An exemplary embodiment of a message header 900 is illustrated below with reference to FIG. 9.
- client device 112 can send to the ' PG 116 an acknowledgement (ACK) of receipt of the transmitted messages at the client device 112.
- ACK acknowledgement
- step 710 Receipt of segment 2 is not acknowledged.
- the flow diagram 702 can continue with step 712.
- step 712 h an exemplary embodiment, PG 116 can automatically retry, or retransmit segment 2 of the message to the client device 112, since acknowledgement of receipt was not received for segment 2 in step 710. From step 712, flow diagram 702 can continue with step 714.
- step 714 client device 112 can transmit the complete multi-segment message to PG 116. From step 714, flow diagram 702 can continue with step 716.
- step 716 PG 716 can send an acknowledgement of receipt of the multi-segment message to MR 124. From step 716, flow diagram 702 can continue with step 718.
- step 718 MR 124 can send acknowledgement of receipt of the multi-segment message at the client 112 on to the BES 122. From step 718, flow diagram 702 can immediately end.
- the flow diagram 702 can be used in one exemplary embodiment to send a response from BES 122 to a request originating from client 112.
- flow diagram 702 can be used to generate an unsolicited response, also commonly referred to as an "alert,” or a "push.”
- acknowledgement of receipt of a response message is optional.
- client devices 112 such as, e.g., with some paging devices, it maybe impossible to send back from the client devices 112 an acknowledgment.
- FIG. 8A illustrates a flow diagram 800 depicting an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Flow diagram 800 numerically depicts a flow of messages that corresponds to an alert that can be sent from a BES 122 to a client application at client device 112.
- Flow diagram 800 in an exemplary embodiment, can proceed similarly to the method detailed in flow diagram 700 above describing sending a response message to a request.
- a BES 122 unsohcited alert can be sent to client apphcation and can differ only slightly from the response from BES 122 to a client application flow. The difference can include that the response message to a request is given the client device 112 object information when the BES 122 receives the request and can use this object to send the response.
- the object information can include a hidden linkstation id.
- the BES 122 When a BES 122 sends an alert, the BES 122 is responsible for constructing the chent device 112 object information with the proper Customer ID and Device 3D.
- the linkstation id that is hidden may be null.
- the BES 122 can know the customer ID or the customer ID and the port number of the client application rurrning on client device 112.
- the BES 122 can know only about the customer id and device id.
- the device id can be set to the defined ALL_DENICES value. In one embodiment, the port number of the client application is not needed.
- the BES 122 can target a specific client device 112.
- Flow diagram 800 of FIG. 8 numerically shows an exemplary alert message flow from the BES 122 through MR 124, and PG 116 to the client apphcation running on the client device 112 including several exemplary steps labeled by numbers 1-5, as follows:
- a BES 122 can send an unsohcited alert to a client application.
- the BES can pass the client device 112 information object, the alert message, the message send flags
- the customer/application information can include the customer ID or the customer ID and the port number of the client apphcation ranning on client device 112.
- Message flags can specify whether to compress and/or encrypt the message and whether the BES 122 requires an ACK message when the PG 116 has successfully delivered the message to the chent application.
- the BES 122 can then send the alert message to the next available MR 124. If no MRs 124 are available, then a false can be returned from the send call.
- the client device 112 information object can include the customer id and device id. Device id can be set to define the value of
- ALL_DEVICES if the BES 122 wants to send the alert to all devices 112 owned by the customer. Or the BES 122 can specify a specific device id if the BES 122 wants to target a specific customer's device 112 .
- Message flags can specify 1) whether the BES 122 requires an ACK message when the PG 116 has successfully delivered the message to the client apphcation (ACK_REQUIRED), 2) that the intelligent messaging network only try sending the alert if the chent is active on the intelhgent messaging network (SENDJDF_ACTINE_ONLY), 3) that the PG 116 should only try sending the message once and not perform retries (SEND_ONLY_ONCE).
- the compression flags can indicate if the message needs to be compressed or not and if so what algorithm to use.
- the encryption flags can indicate if the message needs to be encrypted or not and if so what encryption algorithm to use.
- the MR 124 can use the customer/apphcation information to send the alert message.
- the MR 124 can use the customer id and device id information to send the alert message.
- the MR 124 can search the local cache of the MR 124 and can search the ActiveUsers table to obtain the LinkStationlD associated with the customer ID. If the customer/apphcation includes both the customer 3D and application port number then the MR 124 can search the local cache of the MR 124 and can search the first device assigned to the customer ID in the AuthorizedDevices table to obtain the LinkStationlD. The MR 124 can use the LinkStationlD to determine the associated communication type (e.g., CDPD, Mobitex, etc.) and can send the message to the next available PG 116 of the correct communication type.
- the associated communication type e.g., CDPD, Mobitex, etc.
- the MR 124 cannot send the outgoing message to the client apphcation, in an exemplary embodiment. Therefore the MR 124 can send a customer inactive message back to the BES 122 that was the source of the outgoing message. If the customer/application information is both the customer ID and port number of the chent application running on client device 112, then the message can always be sent if a device address is found in the AuthorizedDevices table for the customer ID.
- the hnkstation id in the chent device information is null so the MR 124 will use the customer id and device id to construct one or more hnkstation id(s).
- the MR 124 can look in the ActiveUsers table to obtain the hnkstation id of the customer's device 112, (the device 112 could be active within the intelligent messaging network on some other MR 124 ) 2) If the message send flag is set to SEND JF_ACTINE_ONLY and device id is set to ALL_DEVICES, then the MR 124 can look in the ActiveUsers table to obtain the hnkstation id's of all the customer's devices 112 active on the network.
- the MR 124 can first look in its local cache to obtain the hnkstation id of the specified device 112. If the device 112 is not found in its local cache, then the MR 124 can look in the AuthorizedDevices table to obtain the linkstation id. 4) If the message flag is not set to SEND_IF_ACT ⁇ NE_ONLY and the device id is set to ALLJDEVICES, then all of the customer's device(s) 112 information should be retrieved from the AuthorizedDevices table. Using the retrieved information, the
- the MR 124 can construct the linkstation id(s). If the device(s) are found, either from the cache or database, the MR 124 can use the Linkstation id of each device to determine the associated communication type (e.g., CDPD, Mobitex) and can send the message for each linkstation id(s) to the next available PG 116 of the correct type. If no device(s) are found, the MR 124 can send a customer inactive message if the send message flag is set to
- the MR 124 can send back to the BES 122 each of the device id's found (to correlate the ACK's) before it sends the alert message to the
- FIG. 8B depicts an exemplary hybrid alert for sending to one or more devices
- FIG. 8C depicts an example of negative acknowledgments of an alert and a response providing client device 112 availability back to the BES 122.
- the PG 116 can segment the alert (if necessary) and can transmit the alert over the network (see FIG. 6B for more information regarding multiple segment responses or alerts);
- the transport protocol layer can receive the message segment and can assemble the message segment into a complete alert (if necessary); the transport protocol layer can send a transport ACK message to the PG 116 that sent the message; it is important to note that, in some exemplary embodiments, sending ACK messages can be optional.
- the transport can send the message to any apphcations that are running the transport protocol layer and that have expressed interest in the same type of message as the alert message.
- the transport can then send the transport ACK to the PG 116 that sent the message.
- the transport ACK is preferably sent back to the PG 116, however this can also be optional.
- the PG 116 can receive the transport ACK from the client apphcation running on chent device 112, and can send an ACK control message back to the BES 122 that was the source of the original message (if required).
- FIG. 8B depicts an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram 802 illustrating transmission of a hybrid alert from BES 122 to client devices 112a, 112b.
- Flow diagram 802 can begin with step 804.
- BES 122 can send a hybrid alert message to MR 124 for a client user who can have multiple client devices 112a, 112b.
- the hybrid alert can include XML query conditions.
- the query can query, e.g., the MR DB 128 to dete ⁇ nine the status of particular conditions.
- the client user could have multiple devices and the chent user's client record can indicate that redundant alerts should be sent to all devices at once.
- the client user's client record could indicate, e.g., that a message should be sent to a primary, or highest priority device first, and if the BES 122 receives no acknowledgement of receipt of the message from the primary device, then a message can be sent to a secondary or lower priority device, and so on, in the event that the client user has multiple chent devices. From step 804, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 806a or 806b.
- the MR 124 can route the hybrid alert message to any of client devices 112 that match the query conditions, hi one exemplary embodiment, the hybrid alert message can be sent to all devices 112a, 112b. Suppose the criterion are such that the hybrid alert is to be sent to both client devices 112a and 112b. The hybrid alerts can be sent in parallel or sequentially.
- step 806a MR 124 can route the hybrid message to PG 116a. From step 806a, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 808a.
- step 806b MR 124 can route the hybrid message to PG 116b. From step 806b, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 808b. In step 808a, PG 116a can route the hybrid alert message to client device 112a. From step 808a, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 810a.
- step 808b PG 116b can route the hybrid alert message to chent device 112b.
- flow diagram 802 can continue with step 810b.
- step 810a hi one embodiment, chent device 112a can send back to PG 116a a message acknowledging receipt of the hybrid alert message. Aknowledgment of receipt of an alert can be optional.
- step 812a flow diagram 802 can continue with step 812a.
- step 810b in one embodiment, client device 112b can send back to PG 116b a message acknowledging receipt of the hybrid alert message. Acknowledgment of receipt of an alert can be optional. From step 810b, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 812b.
- step 812a in an exemplary embodiment, the PG 116a can forward on the acknowledgement of receipt at the client device 112a to MR 124. From step 812a, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 814a.
- step 812b in an exemplary embodiment, the PG 116b can forward on the acknowledgement of receipt at the client device 112b to MR 124. From step 812b, flow diagram 802 can continue with step 814b.
- MR 124 can forward the acknowledgment of receipt on to BES 122.
- MR 124 can forward the acknowledgment of receipt on to BES 122.
- FIG. 8C depicts an exemplary embodiment of a flow diagram 816 illustrating a client device 112a which becomes unavailable when transmissions are being sent to it, which can prompt a hybrid alert to be sent to another client device 112b as shown, e.g., in flow diagram 802 of FIG. 8B.
- Flow diagram 816 can begin with step 818.
- BES 122 can attempt to send an alert to MR 124 intended for chent device
- step 818 flow diagram 816 can continue with step 820.
- step 820 MR 124 can route the alert to a PG 116a associated with client device 112a. From step 820, flow diagram 816 can continue with step 822.
- step 822 suppose client device 112a is unavailable to receive, and thus a negative acknowledgement of receipt (NACK) can be sent to MR 124.
- the PG 116a can be aware that an alternate path can be available, i.e., that another client device 112b with which the BES 122 can communicate.
- flow diagram 816 can continue with step 824.
- the negative acknowledgement (NACK) of receipt at chent device 112a can be forwarded on from the MR 124 to BES 122.
- BES 122 can be notified in the NACK, in one embodiment, that the BES 122 can send the alert using a hybrid alert such as, e.g., that depicted in flow diagram 802 of FIG. 8B, to reach the client user using chent device 112b (not shown in FIG. 8C).
- a hybrid alert such as, e.g., that depicted in flow diagram 802 of FIG. 8B, to reach the client user using chent device 112b (not shown in FIG. 8C).
- Flow diagram 816 also depicts a request from client device 112a being sent to BES 122 which can begin with step 826.
- step 826 the chent device 112a can send a request message to a PG 116a.
- flow diagram 816 can continue with step 828.
- PG 116a can forward the request on to MR 124.
- step 828 flow diagram 816 can continue with step 830.
- step 830 MR 124 can forward the request to BES 122. From step 830, flow diagram 816 can continue with step 832.
- step 832 BES 122 can send a response message intended for client device 112a to MR 124. From step 832, flow diagram 816 can continue with step 834.
- step 834 MR 124 can route the response message to a PG 116a associated with intended recipient, chent device 112a. From step 834, flow diagram 816 can continue with step 836.
- step 836 suppose that the PG 116a determines that chent device 112a is unavailable to receive a message, so a negative acknowledgment of receipt of the response message at the client device 112a can be sent to MR 124. From step 836, flow diagram 816 can continue, with step 838. h step 838, MR 124 can forward on the NACK message to BES 122 notifying BES 122 that the response message was not received by client device 112a. In an exemplary embodiment, BES 122 can be notified that the client user can be reached using another chent device 112b.
- BES 122 can be notified in the NACK, that the BES 122 can send the response message using a hybrid alert such as, e.g., that depicted in flow diagram 802 of FIG. 8B, to reach the client user using chent device 112b (not shown in FIG. 8C).
- a hybrid alert such as, e.g., that depicted in flow diagram 802 of FIG. 8B, to reach the client user using chent device 112b (not shown in FIG. 8C).
- the Mobile chent SDK is comprised of the following set of platform specific hbraries. Each of the following exemplary hbraries exports an easy to use API: • Utility Library;
- An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a utihty library providing compression services.
- a utihty library providing compression services.
- new compression and security mechanisms can be added without the knowledge of the transport library.
- the independence eliminates the need to regression test the transport library, as well as all apphcation users of the transport library when adding a new compression or security mechanism.
- the compression and security solutions may not meet the need for all intelhgent messaging network enabled apphcations, when new applications are developed, any specific compression or security requirements of such applications may be accommodated transparent to the transport library individually, on a component basis.
- wrapper APIs that encapsulate the default implementation of the utility and/or security libraries, developers could choose to write to the wrapper APIs, or directly to the utihty and/or security APIs.
- the utihty library of the intelligent messaging network can provide applications with functions to perform via an easy to use API.
- the following section summarizes the major functions provided by the utihty library.
- Applications can optionally compress/encode application messages prior to transmitting the message to a target destination. If the encode algorithm determines that it is not optimal to encode the message, the message is not encoded. Also, apphcations can optionally decode apphcation messages prior to processing the message. In order to determine if a message needs to be decoded, apphcations can check the encode flag contained in the message header.
- Every application message is pre-fixed with the intelligent messaging network message header prior to being sent to its target destination.
- the intelligent messagmg network utility library provides applications with functions to set/get the contents of the intelligent messaging network message header. It also provides functions to serial out and serial in the contents of the intelligent messaging network message header. Applications are not required to know the internal data representation of the intelligent messaging network message header.
- AIM Authentication Messages hi order to access the intelligent messaging network via an ISP dialup connection, the intelligent messaging network requires that the user provide security credentials to identify themselves.
- the intelligent messaging network utility hbrary provides functions to build an the intelligent messaging network authentication request message. Applications are not required to know the internal data representation of the intelligent messagmg network authentication request message, likewise for the intelligent messaging network authentication response message. Functions are provided to determine the authentication status of the request.
- the transport library provides reliable, optimized data communication over various wireless networks, such as the CDPD and Mobitex wireless networks, as well as ISP dialup wire line access to enabled the intelligent messaging network chent applications via an easy to use API.
- the following section summarizes the major functions provided by the mobile client transport library. • Designate Target Destination - The chent application can specify the target destination of the machine to receive the message.
- the client apphcation receives notification of the success or failure of the message transmission.
- the notification mechanism is via an event that the transport hbrary asserts.
- the client application is required to continuously poll the transport library to determine if the message transmission was successful or failed.
- the communication parameters for the mobile client transport hbrary can be tailored to the required communication behavior. These values can be configured via the registry (WinX platforms) or the preferences database (Palm OS platforms) prior to opening the mobile client transport hbrary.
- a layered architecture can be used for developing the transport hbrary.
- each layer (excluding the bottom) can encompass certain functions, can request services from the layer directly below it, and each layer (excluding the top) can provide services to the layer directly above it.
- layer N employs the services of layer N-1.
- the division of the network into logical layers can allow a higher level to make use of the more primitive functions of lower levels, without having the layer concern itself with the implementation details of those primitives.
- FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a block diagram 300 of the present invention.
- Block diagram 300 illustrates a proprietary wireless protocol stack of the present invention including a mapping to the layers of the OSI model as illustrated in the left column.
- the protocol stack of the present invention includes only 5 layers. The highest layer is the applications layer, which corresponds to layer 7 in the OSI protocol stack reference model.
- Layer 4 the transport layer is the proprietary simple network transport (SNTL) layer of the present invention.
- Layer 3 is the network layer, corresponding to OSI layer 3. Layers one and two of the OSI model have been combined in the figure for ease of reference and include the data link and physical layers for a variety of supported protocols for specific classes of chent devices.
- each of the PGs 116 has a symmetrical protocol stack.
- Each chent device 112 can have only one of the combination layers corresponding to OSI layers one and two.
- each of the PGs 116 could have one or more of the layers corresponding to the combination OSI layer one and two, an exemplary embodiment can include for each PG 116 having only one combination layer corresponding to layer one and two.
- apphcation layer layer 7 of the OSI stack
- the function of apphcation layer is to provide an interface between the application and the transport protocol layer by which client apphcations can send and receive messages across multiple wireless networks (or via dial-up ISP access) without having knowledge of the communication implementation.
- layers 4 can include, e.g., applications such as, e.g, mail, file transfer, and other applications such as, e.g., end user apphcations.
- This layer logically represents layer 4 of the reference model for the present invention.
- This layer provides the control structure for managing the communications between two communicating peer transport layers. The following sections detail the functions provided by this protocol layer.
- Layer 4 is the transport layer and, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a connectionless UDP-like transport protocol that has many of the features and advantages of TCP. That is, the transport layer is connectionless like UDP but has many of the features of TCP including but not limited to message segmentation, message segment reassembly, message retries, and message duplication but has only a four to six byte header.
- layers 4 can include, e.g., the simple network transport layer (SNTL) protocol of the present invention.
- SNTL simple network transport layer
- the network layer such as, e.g., the Internet Protocol (IP) layer is responsible for providing network protocol layer functionality and hiding the details of this functionality from the transport layer.
- IP Internet Protocol
- the data link protocol layer layer 2
- the physical protocol layer which handles modulation and radio transmission.
- layers 1 and 2 can include any of, e.g., the PSTN 308a, CDPD 308b, Mobitex 308c, Ardis 308d, GPRS, and other, and future protocols 308e, and GSM 308f.
- All messages to be sent over the network that exceed the maximum segment size are segmented into multiple message segments.
- the segment size is configured prior to the client application opening the transport library.
- the default maximum segment size is 512 bytes.
- a transport header is prefixed to every outbound message segment.
- the transport header is encoded in network-byte order. It is the sole responsibility of the application to encode any application specific data in network-byte order prior to calling the AeTransportSend interface function.
- the diagram below details the transport header fields.
- Fig. 9 illustrates a diagram 900 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- Diagram 900 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary segment header and exemplary components 902-910 of the header.
- a type I header can include a single segment message header
- This field contains the version number of the Segment Header. It consists of two bits, bit 0 and bit 1 of the 1 st word in the Segment Header. Valid values are 0 through 3.
- This field contains a message identification value. It consists of thirteen bits, bits 2 through 14 of the 1 st word in the segment header. Nahd values are 0 through 8,192.
- the transport protocol layer uses the message ID to discard segment/message duplications and to match acknowledgments with messages.
- Bit 19 segmentation indicator (0 - message not segmented, 1 - message segmented) Bit 18 - reserved Bit 17 - reserved
- TOTAL LENGTH 908 This field contains the total number of bytes contained in the message segment to be sent including the segment header. It consists of twelve bits, bits 20 through 31 of the 2 nd word in the segment header. Valid values are 4 through 4,096.
- SEGMENT NUMBER 910 This field identifies the number of this message segment. It consists of 8 bits, bits 0 through 7 of the 3 rd word in the segment header. Vahd values are 2 through 255. The peer wireless protocol layer uses this number to re-order the message segments into a single complete message. NOTE: This field is present only if the segmentation indicator is set in the flags field.
- the fransport protocol layer retains knowledge of all outstanding message segments pending acknowledgment (message segments that have not been acknowledged by the peer wireless protocol layer) via a pending acknowledgment queue.
- the pending acknowledgment queue maintains information pertaining to message segments that have been successfully transmitted and are pending acknowledgment from the peer wireless protocol layer. If an acknowledgment (positive or negative) is received for a message segment that is not pending acknowledgment, the ACK is discarded and conditionally logged.
- the application When all message segments have been positively acknowledged by the peer wireless protocol layer, the application is notified (if requested) with a message type of AJM_ACKJVIESSAGE and the message ID value associated with the sent message. If the number of transmission attempts for the message segment has exceeded the configured number of retry attempts, the application is notified with a message type of AIM_NACK_MESSAGE, the message ID value associated with the sent message, and the 2 byte error code containing the reason why the message was not dehvered. In order to re-send a message that has been negatively acknowledged, the apphcation calls a AeTransportSend interface function.
- All message segments not acknowledged by the peer wireless protocol layer within the configured time are automatically re-transmitted.
- the time to wait for an acknowledgment from the peer wireless protocol layer is configured prior to the chent application opening the transport library.
- the default time to wait for an acknowledgment from the peer wireless protocol layer can for example be 15 seconds.
- the transport protocol layer retries the configured number of times before notifying the apphcation that the message could not be delivered (negative acknowledgment).
- the number of times to retry is configured prior to the chent application opening the transport library.
- the default number of retry attempts is 3.
- All incoming message segments received are immediately acknowledged back to the peer wireless protocol layer and are queued pending receipt of all message segments via the inbound message queues.
- the incoming message queues manages a separate inbound message queue for each different LinkStationlD of the sender.
- the segments are assembled into a complete message. If the message ID of the assembled message has been aheady received (duphcate message), the message is discarded and conditionally logged. This layer keeps track of the last n message IDs received for each unique LinkStationlD.
- the number of message IDs to contain in the message look back queue is configured prior to the client application calling AeTransportOpen to open the transport library. The default number of message IDs to maintain in the message look back queue may be set to 10, for example.
- the exemplary message header 900 of FIG. 9 includes segment number field 910 which can be used to identify the segment number of a multi-segment message.
- segment number field 910 can be used to identify the segment number of a multi-segment message.
- an additional field (not shown) can be used to identify the total number of segments in a message.
- the total number of segments field could be 2 bytes wide.
- the simple network transport layer SNTL
- FIGs. 6B and 7B above illustrating transmitting a multi-segment message, and retrying where a segment is not acknowledged.
- the security library provides encryption and decryption services to the intelhgent messaging network enabled applications via an easy to use API.
- the initial security mechanism is based on Certicon's implementation. The following section summarizes the major functions provided by the security hbrary.
- Encryption - Mobile chent application running on a client device can optionally encrypt apphcation messages prior to transmitting the message to the target destination. Messages are encrypted with the secret key negotiated between the chent application running on a chent device and the server. Encryption is always performed after compression.
- Decryption - Mobile client applications running on a chent device can optionally decrypt chent application messages prior to processing the message.
- chent apphcations can check the encryption flag contained in the message header. Messages are decrypted with the secret key negotiated between the client apphcations rurrning on a chent device and the server.
- SDK Server Software Development Kit
- the Intelligent messaging network provides a server SDK environment to assist engineers developing PGs 116 and BESs 122.
- the server SDK is comprised of an easy to use C++ API and a set of Windows NT 4.0 hbraries.
- the SDK can be logically divided into the following two categories of classes:
- Server classes These are the core classes that server application developers use when creating new PGs 116 and BESs 122. These classes have no Graphical User Interface (GUI); thereby allowing developers to provide their own custom interfaces.
- GUI Graphical User Interface
- Server user interface classes These classes provide a graphical interface to the Server classes. Use of these classes is not required when developing a new Server.
- the Server classes are organized in the following simple class hierarchy:
- the AeServer class is the base class for all of the other Server classes and encapsulates those functions that are common to all Servers. These include:
- Server Registration/Deregistration - Server subclasses register/de-register from the intelligent messagmg network MR database 128 themselves, using methods defined in this class.
- the logic that determines how two Servers locate and connect to one another is implemented in the AeServer class.
- the connection flow consists of both estabhshing a TCP/IP connection as well as the mutual exchange of ServerConnect messages as a means of verifying the identify of each server.
- AeServer encapsulates the TCP/IP communication between all Servers. Servers can use the communication functions provided by this class to connect, disconnect, send messages, and receive messages over a TCP/IP connection to other Servers.
- the AIMSvrPacket is the standard unit of communication between all Servers. The sequence of fields that comprise the AIMSvrPacket is as follows:
- the AIMSvrPacket header in bytes.
- the AIMSvrPacket header consists of the first 5 fields of the AIMSvrPacket: version, header length, flags, total packet length and source server JD. This length is used by the TCP connection classes to read enough of the packet in order to determine the total size of the remainder of the packet.
- Flags (BYTE) - contains protocol information. It consists of eight flag bits, valid values are:
- Source Server Database ID (unsigned long) - Contains Database ID (a unique value assigned to an Server when the Server registers itself in the intelligent messaging network MR database 128 of the originator of the packet.
- LinkStationlD (variable length) - Contains the device address of the source or destination of the message contained in the packet. This field's size and content varies depending on the communications type (CDPD, Mobitex, etc) of the device.
- Message ID (unsigned short) - server packet message identifier.
- Customer ID (unsigned long) - intelligent messaging network MR database 128 ID of the customer who owns the device targeted by the message in the server packet.
- this field does not always contain a vahd value and is set to 0 when not valid.
- This field is not vahd when the AIMSvrPacket contains a network control message (server-to-server messages independent of application messages) or when passing a client message to/from a PG 116 and MR 124.
- the primary purpose of the field is for MR 124 to BES 122 communications; to identify the message source on incoming messages, and target a specific customer device on outgoing messages.
- Port Number (unsigned short) - customer device port number. Although always present in the packet, this field only contains a vahd (non-zero) value when a BES 122 sends an unsohcited message to a device.
- Intelligent Messaging Network Message Header (in an exemplary embodiment can include 6 BYTES) - All apphcation messages prefix the intelligent messaging network message header to the beginning of the application message.
- the intelligent messaging network message header consists of the following fields:
- Service Type (12-bits) Identifies which type of service (MarketClip, FX) the message pertains to. This field is used by both indirect and direct routing. 6.
- Message Type (12-bits) - Uniquely identifies the message within the context of the specified service type.
- Server ID (1-byte) - Identifies a specific BES 122 of the given service type. The value of 0 is reserved to indicate that indirect routing is desired. A non-zero value indicates that the message is targeted at a specific BES 122.
- the AeFEServer class subclasses AeServer and encapsulates those functions that are common to all PGs 116. All PGs 116 derived from the AeFEServer class. This class performs the following functions on behalf of all PGs 116:
- the transport header contains control information for communicating between the intelligent messaging network enabled client apphcations and PGs 116.
- This class optionally notifies the original sender of the message indication of the success or failure of the message transmitted to the client application running on client device 112.
- PGs 116 contain a configurable setting that can be set to slow up the transmission of messages larger than a specified number of segments.
- the communication parameters for the PG 116 can be configured to tailor the communication behavior. These values are configured prior to the starting the PG 116.
- the AeBEServer class subclasses from AeServer and encapsulates those functions that are common to all BESs 122. This class performs the following functions on behalf of all BESs 122:
- PG 116 via a MR 124.
- the PG 116 receives this ACK control message, it sends a transport layer ACK message to the client application on a chent device that originated the message indicating that the message was delivered to the BES 122.
- Process ACK Control Messages - When this class receives an ACK control message from a PG 116, indicating that the server apphcation message was dehvered to the client device, it notifies the derived BES 122.
- Message Compression/Decompression - AeBEServer is responsible for compressmg any outgoing messages and decompressing incoming messages. If an ATM provided compression type is involved, compression/decompression is done transparently relative to any subclasses of this type. Alternately, AeBEServer subclasses may implement compression in their message serialization.
- AeBEServer is responsible for encrypting any outgoing messages and decrypting incoming messages. If an AIM provided encryption type is involved, encryption/decryption is done transparently relative to any subclasses of this type. Alternately, AeBEServer subclasses may implement their own encryption algorithms by implementing the appropriate virtual methods that is invoked by
- PGs 116 All the intelligent messaging network developed PGs 116 are derived from the AeFEServer class. Derived PGs 116 provide the following functions:
- Encapsulate the Communication Layer - Derived PGs 116 provide the network specific interface to the communication layer used by the PG 116.
- the parent class (AeFEServer) does not know the implementation details of the underlying protocol layer used to send and receive messages to and from client applications running on chent devices 112. This is the sole responsibility of the derived PG 116.
- All BESs 122 developed by the intelligent messaging network can be derived from either the AeBEServer. Derived BESs 122 provide the following functions: • Process application Specific Messages - All application specific knowledge is implemented in the derived BES 122. For example, a news service can provide client devices with news stories related to a specific financial entity. The derived news server's parent class hierarchy (AeBEServer and AeServer) does not know the implementation details of the application message protocol. This is the sole responsibility of the derived
- the server user interface class hierarchy parallels the Server class hierarchy and provides the following types of functionahty:
- AeServerApp is the base class for all of the other Server GUI apps. All Server applications are complete, windows-based, executable programs. AeServerApp expects its subclasses to provide it with an instance of an AeServer subclass. Of the five areas of functionahty hsted above, AeServerApp provides the following:
- Persistent storage of configurable server settings and common user interface framework for viewing/editing those settings is implement through the Windows registry and AeServerApp provides the base registry key for all of its subclasses to use. AeServerApp also provides a standard method of viewing/editing server settings in the form of a PropertySheet. Subclasses provide for their own individual server settings by adding PropertyPages to the base class PropertySheet. AeServerApp provides a common page for handhng server settings common to all server types.
- AeServerApp In addition to providing a window where system events and errors can be displayed, AeServerApp also supplies a separate logging thread that can be used by subclasses when displaying output to their own windows. This thread runs at lower priority then the server processing threads so that screen logging does not negatively impact performance.
- AeServerApp provides a mechanism whereby system errors can be written to the NT Event log.
- the level of error reporting is configurable.
- users may specify that a batch file be executed when an error of a specified severity occur. Such batch files could be used to communicate problems to a system administrator via email or a pager.
- AeFEServerApp is derived from AeServerApp and provides the following additional user interface features:
- PG specific server settings Provides a user interface and persistent storage for transport settings such as maximum number of retries, retry timeout interval, segment size, etc.
- Inbound/Outbound message logging Provides two windows that log each inbound and outbound message. Makes use of the AeServerApp logging thread. Logging may be enabled/disabled for either window.
- PG specific statistics Gathers and displays statistical totals such as number of messages sent/received, number of ACKS/NACKS sent/received.
- Inbound/Outbound message logging Provides two windows that log each inbound and outbound message. Makes use of the AeServerApp logging thread. Logging may be enabled/disabled for either window.
- Back-End specific statistics Gathers and displays statistical totals such as number of messages sent/received, number of ACKS/NACKS sent/received, and compressed vs. uncompressed byte totals.
- Application message log view - Provides an additional logging window that apphcations should use to log their own errors or trace statements rather than intermingling them with the system messages in the system log window.
- intelligent messaging network can also provide tools that work in conjunction with the Microsoft Visual Developer Studio framework. These tools assist engineers developing chent and BES 122 applications, as well as stress test and monitor the health of the intelhgent messaging network .
- the Intelhgent messaging network Message Wizard makes it easy for developers to define their application specific data content of the intelligent messaging network messages.
- the wizard makes it easier for the developer to focus on adding business value to their application instead of having to worry about the tedious and error prone task of writing the serialization code to transfer message content between server and chent. It also automatically generates the code needed to serialize the message content between a client apphcation and a BES 122 application.
- the BES 122 App Wizard can make it easy for developers to create BES 122 applications.
- the BES 122 App Wizard generates the Visual Studio C++ project and its associated program and header files to create a BES 122 executable. BES 122 developers would then need to add program logic to support their application protocol.
- the Intelligent messaging network Ping App Wizard makes it easy for developers to create a Ping BES 122 executable.
- the Ping App Wizard generates the Visual Studio C++ project and its associated program and header files to send an application defined "heart beat' message to a BES 122.
- BES 122 developers may want to use this tool as a way to monitor the health of their BES 122.
- the intelligent messaging network can also provide a client simulation application. Developers can use the chent simulation application to simulate multiple chents and to generate BES 122 specific message traffic.
- the chent simulation application supports the following major functions:
- the present invention provides protection against technology obsolescence by supporting seamless integration of information sources with multiple wireless networks and client devices.
- the invention provides a reliable method of data transfer, while optimizing bandwidth constraint of wireless data services and providing end-to-end security.
- This invention allows for system growth by incorporating the new devices and wireless network technologies as they become available, without the need to modify client and server applications.
- the above-described environment which has a messaging base architecture, serves as the framework for implementation of the invention.
- This environment can provide client/server connectivity, which can provide an enabling mechanism for apphcation network connection connectivity.
- the architecture can support messaging.
- Platform transparency can be provided enabling platform independence of chent devices 112.
- Network transparency can be provided by an enabling mechanism for network independence by hiding the underhning network protocol.
- the SDK can provide an easy to use developers tool kit and environment for the design development of each aspect of the application, the client device 112, and server.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- Computing Systems (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2001229144A AU2001229144A1 (en) | 2000-01-31 | 2000-12-29 | Method and apparatus for sending and receiving client-server messages over multiple wireless and wireline networks |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US49455300A | 2000-01-31 | 2000-01-31 | |
US09/494,553 | 2000-01-31 | ||
US09/707,960 US6704768B1 (en) | 2000-01-31 | 2000-11-08 | System, method and computer program product for providing server discovery services during a startup sequence |
US09/707,960 | 2000-11-08 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2001056251A2 WO2001056251A2 (en) | 2001-08-02 |
WO2001056251A9 true WO2001056251A9 (en) | 2001-12-20 |
WO2001056251A3 WO2001056251A3 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
Family
ID=27051444
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2000/035478 WO2001056251A2 (en) | 2000-01-31 | 2000-12-29 | Method and apparatus for sending and receiving client-server messages over multiple wireless and wireline networks |
Country Status (2)
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AU (1) | AU2001229144A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001056251A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060020688A1 (en) | 2001-05-14 | 2006-01-26 | At&T Corp. | System having generalized client-server computing |
US7320027B1 (en) | 2001-05-14 | 2008-01-15 | At&T Corp. | System having generalized client-server computing |
US6947772B2 (en) * | 2002-01-31 | 2005-09-20 | Qualcomm Incorporated | System and method for providing messages on a wireless device connecting to an application server |
US7394813B2 (en) | 2004-05-05 | 2008-07-01 | Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. | Systems and methods for implementing an acknowledgement mechanism for transmission of a real-time data stream |
JP4796754B2 (en) * | 2004-06-15 | 2011-10-19 | 日本電気株式会社 | Network connection system and network connection method |
US8732652B2 (en) | 2007-06-15 | 2014-05-20 | Blackberry Limited | System and method for creating multi-mode applications |
EP2003832A1 (en) * | 2007-06-15 | 2008-12-17 | Research In Motion Limited | System and method for creating multi-mode applications |
EP2414952B1 (en) * | 2009-04-01 | 2016-09-28 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Managing transmissions among nodes communicating over a shared communication medium |
US8954515B2 (en) | 2010-06-30 | 2015-02-10 | Alcatel Lucent | Method and apparatus for reducing application update traffic in cellular networks |
CN111555969B (en) * | 2020-04-30 | 2021-10-22 | 杭州涂鸦信息技术有限公司 | Gateway based on Sub-G star network and mesh network |
US11929907B2 (en) | 2022-03-08 | 2024-03-12 | T-Mobile Usa, Inc. | Endpoint assisted selection of routing paths over multiple networks |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5771353A (en) * | 1995-11-13 | 1998-06-23 | Motorola Inc. | System having virtual session manager used sessionless-oriented protocol to communicate with user device via wireless channel and session-oriented protocol to communicate with host server |
JP3392314B2 (en) * | 1997-02-20 | 2003-03-31 | 株式会社日立インフォメーションテクノロジー | Data transmission method |
US6314108B1 (en) * | 1998-04-30 | 2001-11-06 | Openwave Systems Inc. | Method and apparatus for providing network access over different wireless networks |
-
2000
- 2000-12-29 AU AU2001229144A patent/AU2001229144A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-12-29 WO PCT/US2000/035478 patent/WO2001056251A2/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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WO2001056251A2 (en) | 2001-08-02 |
WO2001056251A3 (en) | 2002-09-12 |
AU2001229144A1 (en) | 2001-08-07 |
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