CN1669014A - Network service broker system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for providing network applications with access to service functionality available via one or more networks or network terminals is provided. The method includes logically providing at least one network service broker between one or more network infrastructures and a service provisioning infrastructure operating on top of the network infrastructures. The loosely coupled interface of the network service broker is exposed to the service provisioning infrastructure. Access by network applications to value added services within the network infrastructure is facilitated through the loosely coupled network service broker interface.

Description

Network service broker system and method

The cross reference of related application

This continues in the part that submit to November 20 calendar year 2001, title be No. the 09/996th, 406, the application of " Web Services PushGateway ", and it is transferred to the application's assignee, and its content is incorporated herein for your guidance.

Technical field

The present invention relates to network communicating system in general, more specifically, relates to a kind of system and method that the services functionality that can obtain is conducted interviews be convenient on wired and/or wireless network.

Background technology

The modern communications epoch have caused wired and great development wireless network.Computer network, TV network and telephone communication network are just experiencing a kind of unprecedented technical development that is advanced by consumer demand.Wirelessly be devoted to relevant consumer demand, the more dirigibilities and the agility that provide information to transmit simultaneously with mobile network's technology.

The present and the future's network technology continues to be convenient to make the information transmission to become easily, and convenient more for the user.This locality, rapid the expansion regional and global network such as the Internet provides the ocean of an information for society.These network technologies are growing for comprising wireless and mobile technology.Via these networks, information can be downloaded to desktop system, wireless system, mobile system or the like.For example, can be downloaded to now on the mobile radio unit via the information that the Internet obtains, for example cellular phone, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant), laptop computer or the like.A kind of such to be convenient to internet content technology of round-trip transmission between wireless device be wireless application protocol (wap), and it integrates the Internet and other networks and wireless network platform.In general, WAP is one group of characteristic and functional agreement that is used to illustrate Internet Standard and wireless service both criteria.It and wireless network standards have nothing to do, and as a kind of open standard design.WAP gets up the gap bridge joint between wired Internet example and the wireless domains, so that allow wireless device users to cross over the benefit that two kinds of platforms are enjoyed the Internet.

The second generation wireless service that usually is called as the 2G wireless service is a kind of current wireless service based on circuit-switched technology.The global system for mobile communications (GSM) of 2G system-for example and Personal Communications Services (PCS) have been used the digital radio power technology in order to improve quality and serve widely on first generation mobile technology.The 3G or the title third generation relate to the set of number technology, and these digital technologies expections are making improvements aspect capacity, speed and the efficient by adopt new packet-based transmission method between terminal and network.The user of 3G equipment and network can visit multimedia service, for example video request program, video conference, quick web visit and file transfer.Existing and service in the future by and be to provide also in the future by the network service provider with continuing, they provide service and use to mobile device user by network.

These service/application that the webserver holds usually need some information specific, so that the user can correctly use described application.For example, the user may need to be authorized to use this application, and/or the user may need for using this application to be collected the charges.Further, application may need to understand terminal user's whereabouts, especially under the situation of the wireless terminal that can roam to another position from a position.These and other " increment " function is usually served by obtainable other on the network cooperation and is finished.

Yet establishment can be visited the value-added service provision architecture technical scheme that can obtain and be had an intrinsic difficult problem in network infrastructure.Because a large amount of standards, technology and dealer's dedicated functionality in the network components, it is pretty troublesome visiting the functional of wireless (perhaps wired) network.Along with " polymerization ", this environment is further complicated.Service provision architecture (SPI) may for example ad hoc not created for cellular network, and may be a kind of technical scheme in the web territory.In the case, must in the SPI technical scheme, drop into sizable investment, guarantee it can with each network interface so that visit comes the increment of automatic network.This brings a problem: the dealer of SPI technical scheme (that is, application server) need to consider the difference in the network system, and from the difference on the technical scheme of a plurality of network components dealer.

Therefore, in the network service industry, there are a kind of needs: simplify functional visit, and, comprise mobile network, WLAN or the like no matter be fixed network, or wireless network to obtaining from network.The invention solves these and other deficiency of the prior art, and many prior art systems and methodological beneficial effects of being better than are provided.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a kind of system and method that is used to help to visit the services functionality that can on wired and/or wireless network, obtain.

According to one embodiment of present invention, provide a kind of network system, be used to help to visit on one or more networks, to obtain functional.This network system comprises one or more terminals and the network infrastructure that comprises one or more network systems that can operate in network.Network application is worked in the service provision architecture of using for terminal.At least one network service broker is provided, and it comprises the loose couplings interface that appears to the service provision architecture, is used for the value-added network service from terminal and/or network system intermediary to the service provision architecture.

In embodiment more specifically, this loose couplings interface is a kind of standard interface, such as extend markup language (XML) interface, perhaps more specifically is a kind of Web service interface.The network service broker can be the intermediary device of network coupled, and the intermediary device of terminal coupling perhaps may mix.The network service broker can present various forms and function, include but not limited to: the checking intermediary device that is used to visit the service for checking credentials of using for network application, be used for charge intermediary device in conjunction with the use visit charge/charging service of network application, be used for the access terminal location-based service so that allow terminal location is offered the position intermediary device of network application, the content subscription intermediary device of reservation intention that is used for that subscription information is stored to the profile register and examines the final user of this terminal, be used for visit and attend service (presence service) so that allow user's presence information is offered the intermediary device of attending of network application, the client who is used for the supply of intermediary's portable terminal supplies intermediary device, be used to help content is advanced to the notice intermediary device of terminal, and the privacy intermediary device that is used to visit final user's privacy information.

According to another embodiment of the invention, provide a kind of method that the services functionality that visit can obtain via one or more networks is provided for network application.Described method is included in one or more network infrastructures and the network service broker of at least one network coupled is provided between the service provision architecture of working on the described network infrastructure in logic.The loose couplings interface of described network service broker is appeared to described service provision architecture.By described LCN service broker interface, the visit of the value-added service of network infrastructure inside is become more convenient by network application.

According to another embodiment of the invention, provide a kind of method that is used to network application that the services functionality that visit can obtain via one or more networks is provided, a kind of network service broker of terminal coupling wherein is provided.The network service broker of described terminal coupling is in logic between the one or more terminals and the service provision architecture of working on the network infrastructure.The loose couplings interface of this network service broker is appeared to described service provision architecture, and the visit of the value-added service that is provided by described terminal to small part being carried out by network application appears to described service provision architecture via described loosely-coupled network service broker interface.According to another embodiment of the invention, described network service broker is a network coupled and the mixing of the network service broker of terminal coupling, so that, the visit of carrying out via one of described terminal and described network infrastructure or value-added service that both provide is become more convenient by network application via described loose couplings interface.

Described network service broker of the present invention also is useful under the context environmental of mobile terminal roaming.According to another embodiment of the invention, provide a kind of method, be used to network application at service provision architecture internal work to provide can be via terminal user's visit of carrying out of the services functionality that obtained by accesses network of roaming therein.Described method comprises to providing the use authority voucher with the accesses network service broker that is subjected to that be associated by accesses network.Described service provision architecture receives the described address that is subjected to the accesses network service broker there from the home network service intermediary device that is associated with home network.Described home network service intermediary device appears the loose couplings interface to described service provision architecture, so that help in communication each other.The described accesses network service broker that is subjected to is to use the address of described network service broker of being visited to visit by described service provision architecture.By of the visit of described service provision architecture, become more convenient by the described loose couplings interface of accesses network service broker that is subjected to that is appeared to described service provision architecture to carrying out from the described services functionality that is subjected to obtain the accesses network.According to another roaming embodiment of the present invention, a kind of method is provided, has been used to network application at service provision architecture internal work to provide can be via terminal user's visit of carrying out of the services functionality that obtained by accesses network of roaming therein.In this case, between the described home network that is subjected to accesses network and described terminal user, set up the roaming agreement.Described method be included in described service provision architecture and with home network service intermediary device that described home network is associated between, communicate via the loose couplings interface that is appeared to the home network service intermediary device of described service provision architecture.Described method further is included in described home network service intermediary device and communicates between the accesses network service broker with described being subjected to of being subjected to that accesses network is associated, and wherein said home network service intermediary device is serving as the agency to can conduct interviews via the described services functionality that obtained by accesses network the time.In another roaming embodiment, a kind of method is provided, be used to network application at service provision architecture internal work to provide can be, wherein be subjected to have set up between accesses network and the described service provision architecture roaming agreement described via the visit that is subjected to the services functionality that accesses network obtains of terminal user's roaming therein.Described method is included in and describedly is subjected to accesses network and provides in logic between the described service provision architecture of working on the network infrastructure to be subjected to the accesses network service broker, and the described loose couplings interface of accesses network service broker that is subjected to is appeared to described service provision architecture.By described service provision architecture to becoming more convenient by the described described loose couplings interface of accesses network service broker that is subjected to from being subjected to the visit of the services functionality that accesses network obtains there.

According to another embodiment of the invention, provide a kind of network service broker, be used for helping service supply architecture and visit the services functionality that can obtain via one or more networks.Described network service broker comprises and is used for interface that the services functionality from network infrastructure is conducted interviews.Described network service broker further comprises the loose couplings interface that is appeared to described service provision architecture, wherein said loose couplings interface comprise have extend markup language (XML) pattern on the Web service platform, set up, based on the interface of Web service, be used to appear the services functionality that can obtain via described network.

Above-mentioned summary of the present invention is not intended to describe the embodiment or the implementation of each example of the present invention.This be subsequently accompanying drawing and the purpose of relevant discussion.

Description of drawings

The present invention is combined in that illustrated embodiment illustrates in the following accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a block scheme, illustrates the composition according to the network service broker of one aspect of the invention prevailingly;

Fig. 2 illustrates service in the service provision architecture (SPI) and uses and how can be benefited from this loose couplings interface and how resultant increment is appeared example to described SPI by described network service broker;

Fig. 3 illustrates the various representational network service broker that can realize according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates the architecture of universal network service broker in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized according to the network environment of checking intermediary device of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized according to the network environment of charge intermediary device of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized according to the network environment of position of the present invention intermediary device;

Fig. 8 has realized exemplary according to the network environment of content subscription intermediary device of the present invention

Embodiment;

Fig. 9 has realized exemplary according to the network environment of content delivery intermediary device of the present invention

Embodiment;

Figure 10 has realized the exemplary embodiment of attending the network environment of intermediary device according to of the present invention;

Figure 11 is the chart of representational profile register;

Figure 12 provides the exemplary embodiment of the network system of the notice of Web service in accordance with the principles of the present invention intermediary device;

Figure 13 is a block scheme, and the exemplary embodiment that Web service according to an embodiment of the invention pushes gateway architecture is shown;

Figure 14 illustrates the exemplary implementation of intermediary device territory/Web service logic interfacing;

Figure 15 illustrates the exemplary embodiment of Web service logic/api interface;

Figure 16 illustrates the exemplary embodiment of terminal/intermediary device domain interface;

Figure 17 illustrates an embodiment who uses a plurality of network service broker for a plurality of Virtual network operators;

Figure 18 illustrates the exemplary implementation according to the interface intermediary device of principle of the present invention; And

Figure 19 illustrates an exemplary approach, and wherein roaming problem can manage by using network service broker according to the present invention.

Embodiment

In the explanation of following each embodiment, quoted accompanying drawing, described accompanying drawing has constituted the part of explanation at this, and show by illustrated mode in described accompanying drawing can be in order to put into practice each embodiment of the present invention.Should be understood that: can use other embodiment, and can be in the improvement of making under the situation that does not deviate from scope of the present invention on structural and the function.

The present invention relates to a kind of functional system and method that can on wired and/or wireless network, obtain that is used to help to visit.The present invention has realized the network service broker, and it has simplified the functional visit that obtains on the still wireless diverse network that can no matter fix.Described network service broker appears loosely-coupled standard Web service interface (perhaps other standard interfaces) to the service provision architecture, and has realized well-defined permission service.

Traditionally, use the method for attachment of standard, in the communication that produces on the network infrastructure between terminal and the service provision architecture technical scheme.Establishment can " increment ", the position that for example can in network infrastructure, obtain or presence information that continuous access provided service provision architecture technical scheme, be exactly very difficult in essence.Owing to being and also will being various standards, technology and the dealer's dedicated functionality that is associated with network components in the future that it is pretty troublesome visiting the functional of wireless or cable network now.Polymerization is further complicated with this problem.The service provision architecture may not be a particular network, the special establishment of for example cellular network, and may be a kind of technical scheme in the web territory.In the case, must in service provision architecture (SPI) technical scheme, drop into sizable investment, guarantee it can with each network interface so that any increment that visit can obtain via network.What this problem was faced is to preside over the developer who uses in SPI, and therefore they need consider the difference of variety of network systems, network components dealer or the like aspect.

These difficult problems can solve by using one or more network service broker according to the present invention.Fig. 1 is a block scheme, illustrates the composition of network service broker according to an aspect of the present invention prevailingly.Network environment 100 comprises diverse network architecture 102, and diverse network technology and technical scheme that is provided by different dealer generally is provided for it.Environment 100 among Fig. 1 also comprises service provision architecture technical scheme 104, and its expression application server can be in order to provide the architecture of application and service on particular network.The various terminals that terminal 106 expression can be used on network comprise the terminal that can communicate via network of (for example) desktop and portable computer and terminal, honeycomb fashion and other wireless telephones, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) or any other type.

According to the present invention, one or more network service broker 108 in described network environment 100, are provided.Described network service broker 108 can provide various functions.A function of described network service broker 108 comprises to SPI 104 and appears loose couplings interface (for example, the Web service interface), and another function is to realize or (facade) the well-defined permission service of empty bag.Described network service broker 108 can appear service by agreed interface, and needn't disclose the end-to-end implementation of bottom.Described service broker helps operator to open their service to applications, and the value-added visit to ad hoc networks territory (for example, mobile domains) is provided.Described service broker also makes operator charge to SPI for the information that offers SPI.If described information provides to terminal from intermediary device, then finally can collect the expense of this service to the final user.When the intermediary device of intermediary device in other networks provides service, then can roam relevant charge.In one embodiment, be a kind of " standardized " or the Web service interface of deciding through consultation in addition to the loose couplings interface of SPI 104, will illustrate more fully below.

Described " increment " may derive from network, terminal or between described network and terminal, distribute functional.For example, described increment may be in current mobile network's architecture, in fixed network, use in the network of exempting from license band radio technology or the like and set up.In the service context environment of position one more specifically in the example, it is known for this system that the company intranet of license band radio technology and/or the positional information in the ad hoc the Internet focus or the positional information in fixing company intranet are exempted from use, but there is no need to exist an approach to visit it.According to the present invention, therefore can be for exempting from the license frequency band and even creating described intermediary device for fixing the Internet inserts.

As mentioned above, an embodiment of described network service broker is included in the Web service interface of SPI 104, and it can define with extend markup language (XML).Web service is based on network (particularly based on the Internet) modular applications, and it is finished special task and meets special technology form.Web service to be service-oriented by describing, represent that based on a large amount of emerging standard of the application architecture of assembly they provide a kind of distributed computing fabric that focuses on the delivery service of crossing over the Internet especially altogether.In general, Web service is self-contained modular applications, and it can be open promptly to come with form, be positioned, and the leap WWW is called.When disposing Web service, other are used and the service of being disposed can be located and call to Web service.They can finish various functions, from simple business processing of asking complexity.

Useful is that Web service is via ubiquitous Web agreement and data layout visit, for example HTTP(Hypertext Transport Protocol) and extend markup language (XML).Therefore, at present, the platform of basic Web service is that XML adds HTTP, and can use other agreements in addition, for example be used for RPC SOAP, be used for WSDL that service interface describes, be used for UDDI of service discovery or the like.XML is a kind of text based SGML, and its current enterprising line data of Web that is widely used in exchanges.As use the situation of HTML, data are to use the marker character sign, and they are known as " mark " altogether.XML tag accords with identification data, and serves as the field name in the program.XML is between a kind of client of making and the service and the language that can be expressed out of the complex interaction between the assembly of composite service.HTTP is a kind of application protocol, more specifically, is the one group of rule that is used for swap file on the network such as WWW (text, graph image, sound, video and other multimedia files).Though example set forth herein illustrates from the general extent in conjunction with XML and HTTP, be appreciated that this is an illustrative purposes for example, and the agreement of the present and the future's type and data layout can be used also.

More particularly, the set of several correlation techniques is represented in Web service, and relates to the connection between at least two kinds of application, remote procedure call (RPC) for example, and wherein inquiring about and responding is to exchange with the XML on the HTTP.The Web service technology can define according to various technological layers.Core layer comprises transport layer, and for example TCP/IP or previous described HTTP can transmit XML message therein.XML message sends layer, for example Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), also represents the core layer of Web service.SOAP is that a kind of unified mode and definition that defines transmission XML coded data uses HTTP to carry out the protocol specification of the mode of RPC as basic communication protocol.

The higher level layer of giving of Web service stack comprises service discovery layer, and it can comprise the technology such as Web Services Description Language (WSDL) (WSDL) and universal description, discovery and integration (UDDI).How WSDL has a kind ofly defined the description based on XML that is connected with specific Web service, and therefore indicates the service supplier will how to be described in the basic format of the Web service request on different agreements or the coding.It is used to describe Web service can do what, and where it resides in, and how to call it.The mode that UDDI provides a kind of client can be used for dynamically locating other Web services.It represents that one group is used for the registration of Web service and other business processings and the agreement and the public directory of real-time positioning.UDDI provides for Web service supplier and has registered themselves mode, and provides supply with searching the particular Web service, being attached thereto and alternant way with it.Other higher level layers of Web service stack can comprise workflow layer.Workflow layer can comprise the technology such as Web service stream language (WSFL).WSFL is a kind of XML language that is used to describe the Web service composition, and allows Web service to form in other inner recurrence, so that be created in the more complex features of setting up on the existing Web service.

When adopting Web service, can use the above-mentioned technology that reaches other, agreement, data layout or the like.Yet, quote these known technology and be for the exploitation that is provided at Web service and used exemplary technology in using.Therefore, the present invention can use these known technology, but also is applicable to other technology existing and/or in the future, according to the description that provides herein, this is readily understood that for those of skill in the art.

Referring to Fig. 1, network service broker 108 can comprise the intermediary device of network coupled once more, and it is communicated by letter with the network components in the network infrastructure 102, shown in line 110.This allows because complicacy that cause from the difference in the network components in a plurality of dealer or source and that cause owing to the difference between the common network infrastructure is hidden.An embodiment of the intermediary device of network coupled is included in the Web service interface of SPI 104, and wherein said Web service interface defines with XML.A kind of so exemplary XML interface allows to hide network type and network components difference.For example, various types of networks, for example the difference between fixing/wired and wireless (for example, WLAN (wireless local area network), bluetooth, movable type/honeycomb fashion or the like) network can be hidden.Under mobile network's situation, there is diverse network subtype, for example global system for mobile communications (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) (WCDMA) or the like, their difference also can be hidden.In the situation of network components, use the special protocol of network value added to be hidden.For example, issue Nokia (Nokia) the special purpose interface agreement of computer interface (CIMD) to the message of short message service center (SMSC), can stash from SPI 104 in the situation of notice intermediary device, the exemplary embodiment of described notice intermediary device will be described hereinafter more fully.

Described network service broker 108 can comprise and intermediary device by the terminal coupling of the devices communicating of terminal 106 expression, shown in line 112.The intermediary device of described terminal coupling is communicated by letter with terminal 106, and when described intermediary device and described terminal are cooperated, appear obtainable service (or a plurality of service) or functional (or a plurality of functional).In one embodiment, this interface defines with XML.Described XML interface makes it possible to mode identification terminal type common or standard, and does not consider the agreement used for identification between described terminal and intermediary device.It also allows to dispose in the ordinary way described terminal, and irrelevant with the special protocol of being used by the terminal sale merchant that is used for configurating terminal.The intermediary device of described terminal coupling can also be hidden the difference in the assembly of protocols that is used by described terminal, for example hides to be used for using network to transmit the difference of the assembly of protocols of presence information.

Intermediary device can serve as the intermediary device of network coupled and terminal coupling simultaneously.In the case, functionally between network and terminal, distribute, and intermediary device will rise in value and provide as the functional summation among both.Further, terminal can be communicated by letter with described network service broker, so that visit the increment of network by the interface identical with the interface of SPI 104 uses.

The various intermediary devices that are associated with network service broker according to the present invention also comprise the management interface that is used for one or more management systems or other operations support systemss (OSS) (not shown).This management interface can provide various interface and service, comprises the intermediary device monitoring, intermediary device statistics, intermediary device configuration tool, and customer service and charging (CCB) or other charge/charge system interface.Described intermediary device monitoring relates to the supervision of intermediary device process status and operation.The statistics of the use amount about them that provided by intermediary device, affairs amount, response time or the like is provided for intermediary device statistics.The intermediary device configuration tool preferably can be the Web interface that is used for making for the system manager the described intermediary device that is used for realizing configuration activities.With respect to the CCB system interface, desirable is that all subscriber's relevant informations reside in the profile register.Yet the type architecture is closely linked the deenergized period of the deenergized period of all intermediary devices with a kind of like this profile register, and this is extremely unwelcome in practice.Therefore, may in some intermediary devices, have the subscriber information storer of intermediary device special use, and this information is usually safeguarded by the CCB system.In this case, described intermediary device can comprise the CCB system interface that is used to obtain this information.

Described network service broker can further be hidden around roaming the complex nature of the problem.When the wireless user just roamed in the zone in the home network outside, this was subjected to the service in the accesses network may need accessed.Usually, this of user and this user roaming therein is subjected to accesses network not have business relationship.On the contrary, home network operator and this are subjected to accesses network that business relationship (for example, roaming agreement) is arranged.According to the present invention, same method can be extended the service that the intermediary device by home network provides.A kind of like this example of roaming condition is provided below.

Therefore, the network service broker provides a kind of controlled way that appears the functional or information that can obtain in this network for Virtual network operator.Intermediary device makes the owner of network can come protection information or functional associated final user's privacy (for example, positional information, identity or the like) based on final user's preference.Intermediary device further makes the owner of network or receive this value-added its other party to service supplier, final user and collects the charges.Intermediary device allows because complicacy that cause from the difference in the network components in a plurality of dealer or source and that cause owing to the difference between the common network infrastructure is hidden.

In one embodiment, network service broker according to the present invention provides the value-added visit to mobile domains.Described increment may derive from network, terminal or between network and terminal, distribute functional.Network service broker according to the present invention is not destroyed the communication between terminal and the SPI, because these intermediary devices allow to conduct interviews by the increment of open loose couplings interface to mobile domains.Traditional Application Design depends on the tight interconnects of all accessories.In this case, the developer must thoroughly understand thoroughly and two ends that can control linkage.In loosely-coupled system, the implementation of arbitrary end of connection can be changed, and this application will work on.The current techniques implementation of loosely coupled system comprises the message based asynchronous technique of use for robustness, and has further used ubiquitous agreement, for example HTTP, SMTP, XML.Technology technical scheme in the future also will help the loose couplings interface.In loosely-coupled system, the discovery of Internet resources/service is a problem.Locate one of this type of service when previous mode be by UDDI operator, it is the tabulation of an open service.Fig. 2 illustrates service among the SPI and uses and how can be benefited from this loose couplings interface and how the increment of generation is as a result of appeared example to described SPI by described network service broker.

(for example, WAP, SyncML, MMS, Java or the like) terminal is connected with the service/application 202 that is provided by SPI204, shown in line 206 to adopt standard technique 200.Shown in line segment 208, the identity that is associated with terminal from the request of SPI 204 there of service 202, and shown in line segment 212, the checking intermediary device 210 at the intelligent edge of the network that is arranged in this terminal subsequently of SPI 204 is connected.Described checking intermediary device 210 is used 202 for service and is provided as the current sessions device of marking terminal uniquely.

Use 202 by the unique identifier that receives from checking intermediary device 210 theres, the position of requesting terminal are provided for position intermediary device 214.This request illustrates by line 216.Shown in line segment 220, position intermediary device 214 communicates by letter with privacy intermediary device 218, request allows to use 202 positions that terminal is provided to service.According to the strategy that is provided with by the final user, privacy intermediary device 218 can come work with one of multiple feasible pattern, if for example according to acquiescence refusal request, accept request according to acquiescence and to use 202 and can be identified and be authorized to location information uniquely and conduct interviews then accept, point out the final user to allow to discharge this information or the like.In other words; privacy intermediary device 218 and/or the privacy services supplier who is associated can have such effect: information that each other intermediary devices appear to the service provision architecture from this network in question and functional quilt be " protection privacy " automatically, so that for example whether the position intermediary device is asked this user to agree or needed to agree to discharge this privacy information to the privacy intermediary device/privacy services supplier who is associated with this user.

Position intermediary device 214 can obtain positional information from location client 222 theres, shown in line 224.The positional information that is provided by position intermediary device 214 can be based on the ability in the network, for example observation time difference of Zeng Qianging (E-OTD) location technology.Alternatively, the ability that provides in the terminal can be provided described positional information, for example GPS (GPS) location technology.Do not consider that described positional information is derived from that it's kind of you to say so, position intermediary device 214 can offer this information service and use, and condition is that described privacy intermediary device 218 is accepted a kind of like this affairs.

The service that has received positional information via SPI 204 has used 202 can provide understanding/location-based service to the terminal of using standard technique 200 now, shown in line 226.

Another example comprises use payment intermediary device 228, and it can be used the there from service the terminal user and ask to be called in the chargeable service.In this case, the unique identifier of this terminal that before provided has been provided in service application 202.By providing this sign via line segment 230 to SPI 204, SPI 204 further communicates by letter with payment intermediary device 228, and shown in line segment 232, the station message recording that is complementary with requested payment is created in request.Then, use the communication of standard technique 200 to continue, shown as line 234.

Shown as the example among Fig. 3, can realize various network service broker according to the present invention.Fig. 3 illustrates a plurality of representational network service broker 300.Checking intermediary device 302 provides the service for checking credentials, and the intermediary device 304 of charging/pay the bill helps to collect the expense of service to the subscriber.Position intermediary device 306 helps to determine subscriber's position.Notify 308 and content delivery 310 intermediary devices provide service for application so that the content such as Multimedia Message is pushed to the subscriber.The device that content subscription intermediary device 312 provides digital content to subscribe for the service supplier.Attend intermediary device 314 and safeguard subscriber's dynamical state information, and the client supplies intermediary device 316 and helps to supply to mobile client.Profile register 318 comprises the information about subscriber's service, and the subscriber has licensed to the type of service supplier's right.Context intermediary device 320 can be used for to understand the contextual application of final user and providing contextual information to the service provision architecture in order to create, wherein context relate to final user and he/her context at terminal place.Also can use other 322 intermediary devices.

Fig. 4 illustrates the universal network service broker architecture 400 according to principle of the present invention.In this architecture, various network services intermediary device 402,404,406 becomes around the part at the intelligent edge 408 of GPRS (GPRS) 410 or other cordless communication networks.Network service broker 402,404,406 via the Internet 418 or other public networks, will allow service or offer operator 412 oneself application 414 or offer the application 416 of external service/content provider.In either case, when SPI 420,422 provides local service and when the network service broker provides application programming interface (API) to application, using 414,416 all will operation on SPI 420,422 respectively.

Just as described in connection with Fig. 3, can realize various network service broker according to the present invention.The architecture of multiple different example networks service broker is described below.

Fig. 5 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized the network environment of checking intermediary device 500.In one embodiment, this checking intermediary device technical scheme relates to the customer authentication based on terminal Internet protocol (IP) address.Customer authentication can also based on other technologies and agreement for example SSL/TSL (secure socket layer protocol/transmission socket layer agreement) provide.As known in the art, SSL a kind ofly guarantees in the method for secure communication between web browser and the web server for example of two points on the Internet.TSL also guarantees secure communication, and comprises the sophisticated method of control privacy and security.For the purpose of illustration rather than in order to limit, the description supposition customer authentication that is associated with Fig. 5 is based on IP address of terminal.

This example supposition terminal 502 combines work with GPRS 504 radio communication services.The GPRS connection procedure is a kind of mobile management function that connects between terminal 502 and network 504.Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) the 506th, a kind of support node as the gateway between GPRS network 504 and the packet switch public network such as the Internet 508.When terminal 502 produced the GPRS connection, IP address/Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number was to being stored in 500 li of checking intermediary devices.MSISDN (movement station ISDN/PSTN number) is a kind of mobile number that is used by the GSM/DCS network, and it comprises the information such as country code, domestic target number, attaching position register (HLR) identifier and subscriber's identifier (ID).In the time of subscriber's access services, WAP gateway 510 for example uses source IP address as key, asks subscriber ID from checking intermediary device 500 theres.

Checking intermediary device 500 query profiles registers 512 determine to be used for subscriber ID is offered the appropriate format of the specific service that the subscriber attempts to visit.Subscriber ID can provide with various forms, comprises Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number, virtual subscriber ID (VSI) or the like.The VSI form may also comprise candidate format, be included in several sessions during, determine on the section in period or the VSI that during a specific WAP session, remains valid one.The subscriber ID that returns from profile register 512 theres is offered application server 514 via WAP gateway 510.In one embodiment, subscriber ID can provide in the HTTP stem.

In one embodiment, application server 514 can be from checking relevant information or the service outside the checking intermediary device 500 there amount of the claim, as shown by communication path 516.In order to make this request, application server 514 can use the VSI that it obtains via the HTTP stem.A kind of like this request for example can be the request to Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number, user name or address, uses the request of obtaining lasting VSI for Push Service subsequently, prolongs request of VSI duration of response or the like.When application server 514 proposed a kind of like this request to extraneous information, checking intermediary device 500 query profiles registers 512 determined whether these application servers 514 are authorized to ask information specific or service.

Among the embodiment in Fig. 5, customer authentication can be based on source IP address.This provides sufficient security because the user traffic between terminal 502 and the GGSN 506 via tunnel (tunnel), be that secure communication path transmits.This makes it possible to filter the IP grouping of the IP address that does not have terminal of being assigned to 502 in GGSN 506.In addition, when having VPN (virtual private network) (VPN) between WAP gateway 510 and application server 514, subscriber ID remains unaffected.

Fig. 6 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized the network environment of charge intermediary device 600.General charge and charge system can comprise GPRS charging gateway 602, it collects charge record, for example call detail record (CDR) there from Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) or other support nodes, and after merging these CDR and converting them to suitable form, they are transmitted to charge system.In one embodiment, the charge record can offer postpaid charge system 604 via mediation devices 606, and described mediation devices 606 is used to this type of operations support systems (OSS) is interconnected.

According to the exemplary embodiment that goes out illustrated among Fig. 6, application server 608 is made the request of the service of charging via charge intermediary device 600.This request can be to use the virtual subscriber ID that receives via checking intermediary device 610, make to charge intermediary device 600 from SPI 608, as illustrated in conjunction with Fig. 5.Have a plurality of services that can obtain via this interface, comprise that " pre-payment " is functional, wherein the specific charge number of application server 608 inquiries whether can be from the subscriber account of a pre-paid debit.Another kind of obtainable service is the back payment function, and the number of wherein charging is added the bill to the subscriber.

Charge intermediary device 600 uses the virtual subscriber ID that comprises in the charge request from the actual subscriber ID of checking intermediary device 610 there requests.The intermediary device 600 query profiles registers 612 of charging then determine whether this application is authorized to, so that be that the subscriber charges.If like this, charge is sent to pre-payment surplus database 614, carries out debit.If the pre-payment surplus is used up, then indicate the message of denial of service to be sent to mandate intermediary device 610.Alternatively, charge also can be stored in the charging database 616, so that offer back payment charge system 604 subsequently.

Fig. 7 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized the network environment of position intermediary device 700.For example position-based service of position technique scheme (LCS) standard, wherein the external interface to the architecture of locating provides by standard GMLC (gateway mobile location center) (GMLC) 702.GMLC 702 is a kind of from the location-based gateway of using there reception request, request mobile location information and mobile location information being transmitted to location-based application.Yet GMLC 702 does not provide the conceptual model that is used by the network service broker, and requires independent position intermediary device 700 in this embodiment.For example, in GMLC 702, the subscriber identifies by Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number, and position intermediary device 700 can use as in conjunction with the illustrated virtual subscriber ID of Fig. 5.Further, intermediary device can be hidden and can't help the difference of the variety of network types that GMLC 702 handles.Intermediary device can be handled the information that for example extracts from the company intranet of exempting from the license technological expansion that uses such as WLAN (wireless local area network) (LAN), blue tooth wireless technology or the like there.

In the exemplary embodiment that illustrates in Fig. 7, application server 704 uses virtual subscriber ID (VSI) as key, via the Internet 706 (perhaps other networks) request subscriber position.Intermediary device 700 query profiles registers 708 in position are determined the positional information whether application server 704 is authorized to ask this subscriber.Position intermediary device 700 is asked the subscriber position from GMLC 702 theres, and this positional information is turned back to application server 704.Optionally, position intermediary device 700 also can send the charge documents to charge intermediary device 710, adds the subscriber's or the mobile service bill used to.

Fig. 8 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized the network environment of content subscription intermediary device 800.The effect of content subscription intermediary device 800 is included as content/service supplier provides an interface so that store subscription information into profile register 802, and execution is communicated by letter with the final user of terminal 804 and is actually and is ready to subscribe so that examine this final user.

The subscriber can be by this subscriber the key word of message with specific Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number for example to be sent via SMSC 806 use Short Message Service (SMS)s in order to initiate subscribing a kind of mode of handling.Message is routed to application server 808 from SMSC 806, so that subscriber's Mobile Subscriber International ISDN Number is substituted by virtual subscriber ID.The subscriber can be that the subscriber browses the WAP/Web website in order to initiate the subscribing another kind of representational mode of handling, and sends order via WAP gateway 810 to SPI 808.In this case, content/service supplier receives subscriber's virtual subscriber ID in HTTP (perhaps other) stem.

In case subscribe to handle and to be initiated, use 808 this subscription information sent to content subscription intermediary device 800.Content subscription intermediary device 800 query profiles registers 802 determine whether the subscriber is allowed to subscribe this content.If like this, content subscription intermediary device 800 request subscribers examine this subscriber and in fact whether to be ready to carry out this transaction.Content subscription intermediary device 800 stores this subscription information into profile register 802 li, and the charge document can be sent to charge intermediary device 812.

Fig. 9 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized the network environment of content delivery intermediary device 900.Some Virtual network operator is not wanted to become the digital content reseller, and only wants to pay and billing mechanism for reseller provides.The functional undesired content of shielding that comprises at least of content intermediary device 900, select delivery mechanisms (for example, via the SMS of SMSC 902, via the MMS of MMSC 904, other mechanism that perhaps depend on subscriber's terminal 906 abilities), and the document of will charging send to the charge intermediary device 908.

Application server 910 sends to content intermediary device 900 with digital content.Before that, use 910 can be optionally respectively from profile register 912 and attend the ability of intermediary device (not shown) there inquiry terminal 906 and subscriber's current state.Content intermediary device 900 inquiry profile registers 912, come definite at least: 1) whether application server 910 is authorized to send this certain content to this subscriber; 2) whether this subscriber is allowed to receive this content (for example, whether having enough pre-payment surplus); And 3) what the ability of subscriber's terminal is.Then, the content intermediary device is carried out the content adaptation that is required, and uses the carrier corresponding to preferred delivery mechanisms 902,904 to send this content.

Figure 10 is the exemplary embodiment that has realized attending the network environment of intermediary device 1000.The same with the example of aforesaid position intermediary device, attend the industry standard server that the intermediary device technical scheme comprises provides standard external interface (standard is attended server 1002), but the conceptual model that provides by the network service broker is not provided.Therefore, even in standard is attended situation that server 1002 can obtain in network environment, also can use and attend intermediary device 1000.

In the example that this illustrates, application server 1004 uses virtual subscriber ID as key, ask subscriber's presence status, current " context " in other words from attending intermediary device 1000 theres.Attend intermediary device 1000 query profiles registers 1006, determine the presence information whether application server 1004 is authorized to ask this subscriber.If like this, then attend intermediary device 1000 and attend server 1002 theres from standard and ask subscriber's presence information, and this presence information is returned to application server 1004.Presence information comprise such as whether the subscriber online information and with the relevant information of characteristic in the terminal of at that time just being used by the subscriber.Optionally, attend intermediary device 1000 and also can send the charge documents, it is added to the subscriber's or the bill used to charge intermediary device 1008.

Be appreciated that aforesaid exemplary network service broker and relevant example architecture are not limited to residing network environment when they are described.Definite says, the example that provides is above for example understood the specific embodiment of intermediary device implementation.Intermediary device can be used to simplify the visit to all functions that can obtain on this network, no matter this network fix or wireless, comprise mobile network and the network such as WLAN (wireless local area network) (LAN).

Figure 11 is the chart of representational profile register 1100.1100 storages of profile register are about the information of subscriber's service 1102, preference 1104, terminal capability 1106 and other 1108 information.As pointed in the example in front, profile register 1100 is normally visited by different network service broker, but it also provides external interface for content/service supplier.A kind of like this interface for example is to be used to carry out various operations, for example inquires the ability of user terminal, various other services that the inquiry subscriber has subscribed, and authorized user visit specific service.Application can be used profile register 1100 information for various other purposes.

Another example of network service broker is notice or " propelling movement " intermediary device.In typical CLIENT, the client asks service or information there from server, and server responds so that information is sent to the client then.The push technology general reference is not having to send information to one or more equipment under the situation of last user action.Therefore, before its information of server transmission, do not have explicit request, so push technology comprises the affairs that server is initiated in fact from the client.Push technology can be used in combination with the variety of protocol and the communication technology, for example SMS, MMS, WAP, Session Initiation Protocol and other.In these are current (and the in the future) push technology each all has its characteristic, therefore for each in these different push technologies, the generation of PUSH message and the special knowledge that payment conventionally needs only to be only applicable to this technology.Have to the current network of the ability of take over party's mobile device PUSH message and use the technical scheme that is limited in technology-specific.For example, the HTTP-SMS gateway only allows message to send to the terminal that adapts to SMS from the Internet.Continual increase along with obtainable push technology, these force technical scheme to be out of favour with becoming inhibition, and, and do not determine how message to be pushed to the ever-increasing entity of push technology for the application developer liking concentrating on application and development is brought remarkable obstacle.

Provide technical scheme according to notice of the present invention (that is, pushing) intermediary device at these problems.Hereinafter will be in conjunction with the Web service notice intermediary device of Figure 12-13 illustrated example.Serve as the notice intermediary device of the Web service propelling movement gateway in the following example, refine mobile technology with a kind of like this method, consequently: network (for example, the Internet) application developer can make up application under the situation of the special knowledge that does not possess mobile domains.Can be applied to the embodiment based on Web service of above-described various intermediary devices similarly below in conjunction with many implementation details of notice intermediary device description.

Figure 12 has provided the exemplary embodiment according to the network system 1200 of the Web service notice intermediary device 1202 (also be known as Web service at this and push gateway) of principle of the present invention.The basic function of notice intermediary device 1202 is to be transformed into another assembly of protocols from an assembly of protocols.In the situation of Web service of the present invention notice intermediary device, protocol conversion is to mobile domains push protocol 1206 (for example, SMS, WAP Push, SIP, MMS or the like) from Web service agreement 1204 (for example, UDDI, WSDL, SOAP, or the like).

Notice intermediary device 1202 provides the gateway between Web service territory 1208 and the mobile push technology territory 1210.Notice intermediary device 1202 refines mobile technology consequently with a kind of like this method: the Internet application developer can still can make up application under the situation of the special knowledge that does not possess mobile domains.More specifically, the present invention has refined the core Push Service after the single the Internet paradigm, the Web service in this illustrational embodiment just.This is beneficial to the special knowledge that makes the Internet application developer no longer need mobile technology.Further, this illustrational embodiment of the present invention has refined single gateway whole mobile push technology afterwards.This makes the Internet developer no longer must assess the pros and cons of concrete push technology.Notice intermediary device 1202 has been shouldered and has been judged the responsibility that is used for message-submission is given specific user's optimal push technology.

The network components that notice intermediary device 1202 can be used as in the network 1200 is realized.The exact position of network components is not a particular importance, unless the Web service that it is placed in PUSH message in logic use 1212 and message with between the terminal 1214 that is pushed to.Though can adopt various environment to hold these technology, exemplary environment comprises Java TM 2 enterprise versions (J2EE) application server, perhaps .NET applied environment.

Figure 13 illustrates the block scheme that Web service according to an embodiment of the invention pushes the exemplary embodiment of gateway (that is notice intermediary device) architecture 1300.The basic function that Web service pushes gateway is to convert another assembly of protocols to from an assembly of protocols.For example, consider current Web service agreement and mobile push protocol, this conversion can be from Web service agreement (for example, UDDI, WSDL, SOAP or the like) to mobile push protocol (for example, SMS, WAP, SIP or the like).Web service shown in Figure 13 pushes gateway architecture 1300 and for example understands the exemplary architecture that is used to finish this function.

Web service pushes gateway architecture 1300 and comprises Web service endpoint module 1302.This is the end points of termination Web service agreement.An embodiment of Web service end points 1302 comprises and is used for for example at least one server of transport layer, for example http server.Yet, also can comprise other transport layers, for example Simple Mail Transfer protocol (SMTP), perhaps other transport layers known or future.In addition, Web service end points 1302 comprises that XML message sends engine, is used to analyze the request of input and produces appropriate responsive.XML message sends engine can use for example SOAP engine realization.XML message sends the engine analysis from the various parameters in the data field of request inside.Web service end points 1302 can also with the service registry interface so that announce its notice/Push Service.This ability for example can be used, and UDDI agreement and WSDL definitional language realize.

Exemplary Web service pushes gateway architecture 1300 and also comprises propelling movement adaptation layer 1304.Push adaptation layer 1304 and provide the mobile technology irrelative layer for pushing router one 306 (hereinafter will illustrate).Push adaptation layer 1304 various functions are provided, comprise two basic functions according to an embodiment of the invention.First of these basic functions is to be various mobile propelling movement carriers for example SMS carrier 130, WAP carrier 1310 and by any other carrier providing capability registration of carrier " X " 1312 (hereinafter will illustrate) appointment.This registration allows carrier with various terms their propelling movement ability of bandwidth, content ability, availability, stand-by period, secure payment, service quality or the like bulletin for example.Second basic function that pushes adaptation layer 1304 is to be transmitted to appropriate carriers 1308,1310,1312 by the PUSH message that pushes router one 306 payment.

In one embodiment of the invention, but move to push carrier 1308,1310,1312 and comprise one group of connector assembly." carrier " is the title of carrying the virtual bit pipeline of specific final user service, and general reference is used to signal broadcasting or " pass and carry " technology to subscriber equipment.Each carrier has the dedicated functions that is connected to special mobile push technology.The push technology that has indefinite number is especially considered push technology in the future.Purpose has for the purpose of illustration specifically identified SMS carrier 1308 and WAP carrier 1310, simultaneously current the and/or push technology in the future of carrier X 1312 any numbers of expression and type.

SMS carrier 1308 is used to be connected to short message service center (SMSC), manages text message.SMSC network components, by this network components, short message (for example via short message service) can be transmitted, and is stored under the situation that does not arrive message recipient, for sending after a while.For a kind of like this connection, there is variety of protocol, for example comprise the computer interface (CIMD) of message issue.The Short Message Entity (SME) that is commonly called application is interconnected via the CIMD connection to message center.The CIMD agreement is supported by various types of message centers, is comprised SMSC.This interconnection mainly be intended that from use (that is, SME) to movement station and from movement station to application transport message.The CIMD agreement only is regarded as SMS carrier 1308 at this can be so as to being connected to the representational agreement of SMSC, yet can alternatively realize any appropriate protocol.

An exemplary embodiment of WAP carrier 1310 is observed the WAP Push standard.There are various possibilities for this carrier.First kind of possibility is that described carrier can use WAP Push access protocol (PAP) to be connected to existing WAP Push proxy gateway (PPG).By the PPG between wired and the wireless network, become more convenient to mobile client equipment PUSH message.PAP is a kind of agreement that is used between push initiator's (for example, application/service) and PPG to transmit the content of waiting to be pushed to the client and relevant control information.PPG gives narrow-band devices, for example wireless telephone, pager, PDA, laptop computer or the like with this content delivery subsequently.

Another kind of possibility for WAP carrier 1310 is to use the WAP Push wireless air to download the direct and terminal communication of (POTA) agreement.WAP POTA is a kind of wireless air download protocol that is used for content is delivered to from the WAP server such as PPG the WAP terminal.In this case, Web service propelling movement gateway of the present invention also serves as WAP PPG.Other connection possibility and the present invention for WAP carrier 1310 are not limited to above-mentioned representational example.

But any other current and/or connector assembly in the future of carrier X 1312 expressions.Other examples comprise the MMS carrier that can be used to content of multimedia.The MMS carrier for example can be based on WAP MMS standard.Another example comprises the SIP carrier, and it can use Session Initiation Protocol to send PUSH message.But architecture 1300 is supported any current or connector assembly in the future.

Attending to act on behalf of 1314 is a kind of agencies that information is provided to propelling movement router one 306.Attend to act on behalf of 1314 and inform whether propelling movement router one 306 specific users are online and when online.If this user is online, then attend to act on behalf of 1314 information that also provide about the characteristic of the terminal just used by this user at that time.For example, if the user uses the mobile device of the first kind, then this user only PUSH message that can receive may be a text message.On the other hand, use second kind, more the user of the mobile device of advanced types may be able to receive the content of other type, such as Multimedia Message.Attend to act on behalf of 1314 and provide this category information, so that identify concrete termination property to pushing router one 306.In one embodiment of the invention, attending to act on behalf of 1314 can be by another network service broker, promptly attend intermediary device visit such as described in conjunction with Figure 10.

Attend to act on behalf of 1314 and can also inform other details to pushing router one 306.For example, attend to act on behalf of 1314 and can notify the ability of the residing bottom-layer network of user's work at present to pushing router one 306.This network capabilities can be the form with network characteristic, for example the second generation (2G) low bandwidth, the third generation (3G) high bandwidth or the like.Attend to act on behalf of 1314 details that many other types also can be provided.For example, be in meeting if for example the user is current, and do not want to receive message, attend to act on behalf of 1314 status indicator can be provided with audio content.

User preference agency 1316 is another kind of agencies that information is provided to propelling movement router one 306.This attends to act on behalf of 1316 mainly be intended that when receiving PUSH message to pushing the certain preference that router one 306 is informed the user.In such a way, one or more user preferences of other characteristics that the user can specify to be influenced transmission, present or be associated with PUSH message.

In one embodiment of the invention, user preference agency 1316 comprises resource center (repository) storehouse of the preference that is associated with each user.When PUSH message is transmitted,, and can therefore adopt this user preference for this PUSH message specific user pointed visits this resource center storehouse.In addition, user preference agency 1316 can comprise interface, to allow user's input and/or to edit those preferences.A kind of like this interface can use server for example http server realized that it will allow the user via their preference of browser editor.Also can be used according to the invention other interface implementation.

Can act on behalf of 1316 with user preference by the dissimilar user preference of any number of user ID is associated.For example, the user can identify the terminal preferences that is used for the terminal scope that identifying user has.The user can also specify will be in these various terminals each on the type of the content that receives.

Another example of user preference comprises network preference.This class preference is specified the type that relates to the network that is attached thereto the particular moment user.For example, the user only can specify the user with send high bandwidth message when 3G network is connected, perhaps in roaming, do not allow to send such message or the like.

Another example of user preference is to attend preference.These are and the relevant preference of User Activity when the special time.For example, the user can specify in the session, will interrupt or undesirablely whenever do not allow to send audio message when sleep time or at audio message.Attend preference and can also be used for when particular terminal is off-line, give another terminal, people or the like forwards.Further, can be left in the basket from the non-request message of some informed source, the message with big annex can be delayed or the like.The data of the user preference that can realize in this way and type are actually endless.

Push in Web service gateway 1300 the core place be to push router one 306, it is multiple purpose service.In general, push router one 306 and receive PUSH message from Web service end points 1302, processing from one or more propelling movement adaptation layers 1304, attend to act on behalf of 1314 and the information that receive of user preference agency 1316 theres, based on the information of collecting PUSH message is forwarded to appropriate carriers, and will pays and report and offer the PUSH message promoter.

The realization and the usefulness of notice intermediary device can be determined in mode described herein, also can with submit in November 20 calendar year 2001, series number is 09/996,406, name is called the mode of describing in the common unsettled U.S. Patent application of " Web Services Push Gateway " and determines that its content is incorporated herein for your guidance.Functional realization of other intermediary devices and usefulness can further be determined in mode described herein, and to submit in May 15 calendar year 2001, series number is 09/854,628, name is called the mode described in the common unsettled U.S. Patent application of " Context SensitiveWeb Services " and determines, and to submit in May 15 calendar year 2001, series number is 09/858,182, name is called the mode described in the common unsettled U.S. Patent application of " A SystemAnd Method For Location Based Web Services " and determines, these two parts of patented claims all are transferred to the application's assignee, and both contents are incorporated herein for your guidance.

Figure 14-16 provides the more generally example according to the example interface between the diverse network parts of principle of the present invention.Figure 14 illustrates the exemplary implementation of intermediary device territory/Web service logic interfacing 1400.This represents the interface between each intermediary device and the service provision architecture.This is based on loosely-coupled technology, because intermediary device territory/Web service logic interfacing is one group of loose couplings interface, and each intermediary device has its setting in mode independently.As shown in the embodiment of Figure 14 illustrated, provide XML pattern 1402 at intermediary device territory/Web service interface.For each intermediary device has used independent interface (that is, be used for communicate by letter pattern) between intermediary device and SPI.The XML pattern makes up on XML/SOAP/HTTP 1404.

According to one embodiment of present invention, XML pattern 1402 is a kind of pattern specification that are used for XML document, and wherein pattern is to be used for the method for use based on the XML document specify constraints of the language of XML.Pattern be used for description scheme, the constraint XML document content and with data type and XML element type and Attribute Association.According to the present invention, to use an advantage of the agreement pile up on HTTP be to allow Firewall Traversing (traversal) so that can enter via the fire wall of company via the communication of http port (for example port 80).Another advantage be Web service with on used their platform independence, the existing basis that this means the server in the Internet there is no need to be left in the basket and disregards, can and need not to change the benefit that this operating system obtains by Web service interoperability so that the server of working is communicated by letter with Web service on a kind of operating system.Although at the embodiment of Figure 14-16 illustrated according to the XML pattern description, but will be understood that current or technology in the future other replacement, that the loose couplings attribute that provided by XML is provided also can adopt according to the present invention by those of skill in the art.

In Figure 15, illustrate an exemplary embodiment of Web service logic/api interface 1500.This is the interface between each service application and the SPI.This is based on the loose couplings technology, is similar to intermediary device described in conjunction with Figure 14 territory/Web service logic interfacing.XML pattern 1502 provides at Web service logic/api interface place, is used for using 1504 interfaces with service.XML pattern 1502 makes up on XML/SOAP/HTTP 1506.

Illustrate the exemplary embodiment of terminal/intermediary device domain interface 1600 among Figure 16.This is the interface between terminal and each intermediary device.XML pattern 1602 is independent of 1604 designs of bottom communication stack.Therefore, same XML pattern 1602 can be used to have the Web territory terminal of supporting the ability of SOAP/XML/HTTP for example and be used to have the WSP that is supported in the WAP stack or the mobile domains terminal of the ability of the SyncML/XML on the HTTP (it is functional to have expanded RPC).

Service/content supplier is willing to that in general all clients that mean them provide same, consistent service, and no matter this client with which Virtual network operator is connected.Therefore, service/content supplier must with the intermediary device interface of several Virtual network operators.This is described out in Figure 17, and wherein SPI 1700 is coupled to the network service broker that is associated with a plurality of operators via the Internet 1702.More specifically, SPI 1700 and 1704 couplings of one or more network service broker that is associated with operator-A 1706, and further be coupled with one or more network service broker that are associated with operator-B 1,710 1708.From the angle of content provider, this has produced a difficult problem, because the network service broker interface of operator may there are differences because of all reasons.For example, for dealer, it is very common that the implementation of standard is added some expansion, and the standard that lets alone usually stays leeway for different explanations.Further, in standard, generally provide option, and some dealer can realize determining option that other dealer then do not realize.Operator also can carry out the different version of network service broker interface.Other reasons also may stop real " standardization " of network service broker interface.If the application on content provider's website must be considered all these differences, the service/application that then will slow down exploitation.

Therefore, the present invention has also designed the interface intermediary device at content provider website place, is used for the special-purpose difference of unified operator, and exempts this responsibility from use.Figure 18 illustrates the exemplary implementation according to a kind of like this interface intermediary device of principle of the present invention.In this embodiment, service/content supplier 1800 no longer it must be understood that the special-purpose difference of the operator in the network service broker interface of operator.On the contrary, these differences are refined in the interface intermediary device 1802, then each interface in interface intermediary device 1802 and each operator 1804,1806 or the like.Further, SPI is freed from select to be connected to the task of where obtaining positional information for example, and the illustrational embodiment among Figure 18 has simplified SPI and how to obtain service.For example, large-scale positional information company and operator formulate commercial agreement, calculate suitable profit on sales, and sell this location-based service to SPI.SPI formulates separately for the purpose of the facility of commercial agreement with all operators in order to need not, and is this profit payment.Interface between interface intermediary device 1802 and the SPI 1800 can be by standardization.

Usefulness according to network service broker of the present invention has been extended other network problems, for example roaming.The present invention allows to hide the roaming problem.When the user just roamed in the network outside the home network this user, this user may need to visit this and be subjected to service in the accesses network.Yet the user does not have business relationship with this network that this user has roamed therein probably.On the contrary, the owner of home network (for example, operator) is subjected to accesses network that business relationship is arranged with this.The service that is provided by the intermediary device in the home network can be provided similar fashion.Figure 19 illustrates the exemplary approach that can be used to use according to network service intermediary management roaming problem of the present invention.

When the user in the home network (for example, network-B 1900) time, SPI 1902 can be via the functional relevant special service in the network components (NE) 1904 in intermediary device 1906 visits and the home network 1900, shown in arrow 1908.When terminal user roaming the time to network-A 1910, this problem becomes: if the specific service among network-A 1910 only can be in network-A 1910 resources (for example, NE 1912) just provide accessed the time, how SPI1902 can obtain advantage from this special service.

In order to solve this specific roaming problem, there are two kinds of feasible technical schemes at least.The operator of user's home network 1900 and the operator that is subjected to accesses network-A 1910 have business relationship, for example roaming agreement for the broker service roaming.In this case, SPI1902 is typically connected to the intermediary device 1906 in the home network 1900.In first embodiment, intermediary device 1906 provides the address of the corresponding intermediary device 1914 among network-A 1910 with voucher to SPI 1902.Described voucher makes SPI 1902 can use home network-B 1900 and is subjected to intermediary device roaming agreement between the operator of accesses network-A 1910.According to this implementation, the intermediary device 1914 of intermediary device 1906 among home network-B 1900 in network-A 1910 directly sends voucher, and give SPI 1902 with the address of intermediary device 1914, so that allow SPI 1902 directly to communicate by letter, shown in arrow 1916 with intermediary device 1914.In another embodiment, intermediary device 1906 is communicated by letter with the intermediary device 1914 that is subjected to accesses network-A, and serves as the agency when the service of this network of visit, and is shown as arrow 1918.

When the terminal user when home network-B 1900 roams into network-C 1920, do not have business relationship between the operator of network-B 1900 and network-C 1920.In the intermediary device 1906 of SPI1902 from home network-B 1900 therefore, the address of the intermediary device 1922 among (perhaps from terminal 1924 itself) Network Search-C 1920.When SPI 1902 has received address with the intermediary device 1922 that be associated by accesses network 1920, SPI1902 will be directly be subjected to accesses network-C 1920 in intermediary device 1922 communicate by letter.In order to make this point feasible, may exist demand a: SPI 1902 to set up business relationship with the operator of network-C 1920, whereby, the operator of network-C 1920 allows the special intermediary device 1922 of SPI 1902 contacts, shown in arrow 1926.

Use above-mentioned standard, the present invention can be used as machine, process or by using standard program and/or engineering to produce that programming software, firmware, hardware or the resulting goods of their combination in any realize.

Any object routine with computer readable program code can produce according to computer program of the present invention or goods whereby in the inside of one or more computer usable mediums such as memory device or transmission equipment specific implementation.Thereby, as used herein term " goods " and " computer program " be intended to be included in such as on any memory device or on any computer usable medium in any transmission equipment (for good and all, provisionally, the computer program that exists perhaps moment ground).

Directly from a medium executive routine code, program code stored on medium, duplicate this code, use transmission equipment to transmit this code or other equivalent behaviors to another medium from a medium, may relate to and use storer or transmission equipment, described storer or transmission equipment come temporarily specific implementation program code as just the initial or first step when manufacturing, use or sale are of the present invention.

Memory device comprises, still is not limited to hard disk drive, disk, CD, tape, the semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, PROMS or the like.Transmission equipment comprises, still is not limited to the Internet, in-house network, based on the network service of telephone/modem, hard wire/cabled communication network, cellular communication, airwave communication, satellite communication, and network system/communication linkage other static state or that move.

Specific implementation machine of the present invention may relate to the subassembly or the independent sector of the one or more disposal systems that include but not limited to following content: CPU, storage/storage device, communication linkage, communication/transmission equipment, server, I/O equipment or one or more disposal systems, comprise software, firmware, hardware or their any combination or recombinant, they as setting forth in claims specific implementation the present invention.

According to explanation provided herein, those of skill in the art can easily use suitable general or dedicated computer hardware that the software of creating is like that as described made up, create specific implementation computer system of the present invention and/or computing machine subassembly, and create computer system and/or the computing machine subassembly that is used to realize method of the present invention.

Certainly, will be understood that: under the situation that does not deviate from scope of the present invention or spirit, can be to making various improvement at various embodiment discussed above and replenishing.For example, the present invention's use that can combine with the networked environment of any kind, the global regional network from LAN (Local Area Network) to the rapid expansion such as the Internet, and comprise the wired and mobile network of cooperation.According to above-mentioned description to illustrational embodiment, those skilled in the art will easily understand the applicability of the present invention in any analogous network environment.

Therefore, scope of the present invention should not be subjected to the restriction of the above-mentioned specific embodiment that discusses, but should only be defined by the claims and the equivalent thereof that propose below.

Claims (40)

1. A network system that facilitates access to functionality available on one or more networks, including: one or more terminals operable in the network; network infrastructure including one or more network systems; at least one network-enabled application for use by one or more of said terminals, working within a service provisioning infrastructure; and At least one network service broker comprising a loosely coupled interface exposed to said service provisioning infrastructure for mediating value added network services from one or more of said terminals and network systems to said service provisioning infrastructure. 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the loosely coupled interface is a loosely coupled standardized interface. 3. The network system of claim 2, wherein the loosely coupled standardized interface is defined in Extensible Markup Language (XML). 4. The network system of claim 1, wherein the loosely coupled interface comprises a Web service interface. 5. The network system of claim 1, wherein the loosely coupled interface comprises a single loosely coupled web service interface exposed to the service provisioning infrastructure. 6. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker comprises at least one network-coupled broker for communicating with one or more network elements in the network infrastructure. 7. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker comprises at least one terminal-coupled broker for communicating with one or more terminals. 8. The network system of claim 1 , wherein the network service broker comprises at least one hybrid network service broker for communicating with one or more network components in the network infrastructure and with one or more terminal to communicate. 9. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is an authentication broker for accessing authentication services for use by the network enabled applications. 10. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a charging broker for access charging/billing services in connection with usage of the network-enabled applications. 11. The network system according to claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a location broker for accessing a terminal location service to allow the location of the terminal to be provided to the network enabled application. 12. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a content order broker for storing subscription information to a profile register and for verifying subscription intention of an end user of the terminal. 13. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a presence broker for accessing a presence service to provide user presence information to the network enabled application. 14. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a customer provisioning broker for brokering provisioning of the mobile terminal. 15. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a notification broker for facilitating pushing content to terminals. 16. The network system of claim 1, wherein the network service broker is a privacy broker for accessing end user private information and for controlling what information other brokers will provide to the service provisioning infrastructure. Mediator. 17. The network system of claim 16, wherein the privacy broker controls what information other brokers will provide to the service provisioning infrastructure based on parameters defined by the end user of the terminal, wherein the parameters It can be provided manually by the end user when requesting the end user privacy information, or automatically provided if the parameters have been predefined by the end user. 18. A method of providing a network application with access to service functionality available via one or more networks, comprising: providing at least one network service broker logically between one or more network infrastructures and a service provisioning infrastructure operating on said network infrastructure; exposing a loosely coupled interface of the web service broker to the service provisioning infrastructure; and Helping the network application to access value-added services inside the network infrastructure via the loosely coupled network service broker interface. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein facilitating access via the loosely coupled web service broker interface comprises using any of a variety of service provisioning infrastructure technologies such that the service is available to the Applications are obtained via the loosely coupled web service broker interface. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating between the network service broker and the network infrastructure regardless of one or more distinct network components operating within the network infrastructure technical differences. 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating between the network service broker and the network infrastructure regardless of technology on one or more network infrastructures having different access methods difference. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein said one or more network infrastructures collectively implement a plurality of different network technologies, and wherein said network service broker adapts Technical variation between architectural technologies. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein exposing a loosely coupled interface of the web service broker to the service provisioning infrastructure comprises exposing a loosely coupled web service interface to the service provisioning infrastructure. 24. The method of claim 18, further comprising defining the loosely coupled interface in Extensible Markup Language (XML). 25. The method of claim 18, wherein providing at least one network service broker comprises providing a plurality of network service brokers, and wherein each of the plurality of network service brokers includes a The service provisioning infrastructure described above, loosely coupled interfaces for communicating with each other. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least some of the plurality of network service brokers communicate with each other. 27. The method of claim 18, wherein the network infrastructure comprises at least one fixed network. 28. The method of claim 18, wherein the network infrastructure includes at least one wireless network. 29. The method of claim 18, further comprising the application using the value-added service as set by a network service broker. 30. A method of providing a network application with access to service functionality available via one or more networks, comprising: providing at least one network service intermediary logically between one or more terminals and a service provisioning infrastructure operating on top of the network infrastructure; exposing a loosely coupled interface of the web service broker to the service provisioning infrastructure; and Facilitating the web application to access, via the loosely coupled web service broker interface, value-added services provided at least in part by the terminal. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: communicating the terminal type of one or more of the terminals to the network service broker, and sending the terminal via a loosely coupled interface of the network service broker Types are provided to the service provisioning infrastructure. 32. The method of claim 30, further comprising: configuring one or more user terminals via cooperative communication between the user terminal and the network service broker under the direction of the network application, wherein the configuring is in conjunction with This is achieved independently of the protocol used by the user terminal. 33. A method of providing a network application with access to service functionality available via one or more networks, comprising: providing at least one hybrid network service logically between one or more network infrastructures and a service provisioning infrastructure operating on said network infrastructure, and between one or more terminals and said service provisioning infrastructure Mediator; exposing a loosely coupled interface of the hybrid web service broker to the service provisioning infrastructure; and Facilitating the network application to access value-added services provided via one or both of the terminal and the network infrastructure via the loosely coupled hybrid network service broker interface. 34. A method for providing a network application operating within a service provisioning infrastructure with access to service functionality available via a visited network in which an end user has roamed, comprising: providing usage authorization credentials to a visited network service broker associated with the visited network; receiving, at the service provisioning infrastructure, an address of the visited network service broker from a home network service broker associated with a home network, wherein the home network service broker exposes a loosely coupled interface to the service provider infrastructure to help communicate between each other; accessing, by the service provisioning infrastructure, the visited network service broker using the address of the visited network service broker; and The service provisioning infrastructure is facilitated to access service functionality available from a visited network via a loosely coupled interface of the visited network service broker, the loosely coupled interface being exposed to the service provisioning infrastructure. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein providing the usage credentials to the visited network service broker comprises providing the service provisioning infrastructure via a loosely coupled interface of the home network service broker. said usage credentials, and then provide said usage credentials to said visited network service broker via a loosely coupled interface of said visited network service broker 36. The method of claim 34, wherein providing usage credentials to the visited network service broker comprises providing the usage credentials directly from a home network service broker to the visited network service broker. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein providing usage authorization credentials to the visited network service broker comprises providing the visited network with a roaming agreement if a roaming agreement between the home and the visited network authorizes providing For the use authorization credential, provide the use authorization credential to the accessed network. 38. A method for providing a network application operating within a service provisioning infrastructure with access to service functionality available via a visited network in which an end user has roamed, wherein the A roaming agreement is established between home networks of end users, the method comprising: communicating between the service provisioning infrastructure and a home network service broker associated with the home network via a loosely coupled interface exposed to the home network service broker of the service provisioning infrastructure; as well as, communicating between the home network service broker and a visited network service broker associated with the visited network, wherein the home network service broker is in accessing service functionality available via the visited network Act as a proxy during sex. 39. A method for providing a network application operating within a service provisioning infrastructure with access to service functionality available via a visited network in which an end user has roamed, wherein the visited network and the A roaming agreement is established between the service provisioning infrastructures, the method comprising: providing a visited network service broker logically between said visited network and said service provisioning infrastructure operating on top of the network infrastructure; exposing a loosely coupled interface of the visited web service broker to the service provisioning infrastructure; and The service provisioning infrastructure is facilitated to access service functionality available from the visited network via a loosely coupled interface of the visited network service broker. 40. A network service broker for facilitating a service provisioning infrastructure to access service functionality available via one or more networks, the network service broker comprising: an interface for accessing said service functionality from a network infrastructure; and A loosely coupled interface exposed to the service provisioning infrastructure, wherein the loosely coupled interface comprises: a Web services-based interface with an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema built on top of a Web services platform for exposing Service functionality available via the network.

Images