System and user interface for managing users and services over a wireless communications network

• US 20020049675A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kari Kailamaki, Matti Suomalainen, Sanjay Khurana
• Original Assignee: Kari Kailamaki, Matti Suomalainen, Sanjay Khurana
• Inventors: Khurana, Sanjay, Kailamaki, Kari, Suomalainen, Matti
• Application Number:
  US09/860,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5061 characterised by the interaction between service providers and their network customers, e.g. customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

The present invention is a system for managing users and services over a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Gateway. The system provides a way to create and maintain user and group accounts and a method of authenticating user identities for the purpose of assigning an access level and granting the use of services. The system also provides for: assigning service subscriptions to a specific user or group; setting parameters on the length of time a specific user or group has access to services; defining payers and payment methods for each service subscription that a user or a group has; defining user and group aliases for customized identification; importing or exporting user and group information in a usable format; a user interface capable of implementing all the features of the system; and cooperating with data storage equipment and data storage and processing software required for the management of users and services.

Claims

1. A method for managing users and services in a system for providing information over a Wireless Application Protocol Gateway, comprising:

creating a service provider entry for a company that provides a service;

adding said service as available to users;

creating a user account for a specific user on a database; and

,

creating a subscription to at least one available service for said user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises assigning said user to at least one available group of users.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said group of users is subscribed to at least one available service.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein creating a user account further comprises assigning said user a unique identification for utilization by said system.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising deleting said user from said database.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising disabling authentication for said user'"'"'s bearer address.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein disabling can be achieved by setting said user'"'"'s bearer address to expire at a certain date and time or by directly disabling the ability of said bearer address to be authenticated.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein deleting occurs after all user subscriptions and group memberships have been withdrawn.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein said system assigns an anonymous status to users who cannot be identified.

10. A method as in claim 2, wherein said groups are assigned a unique identification for utilization by said system.

11. A user interface for administration and management of users and services in a Wireless Application Protocol Gateway on a graphical display surface, comprising:

a series of screens, modifyable by a system, that allow said administrator to create and maintain user and group accounts, authenticate user identities for the purpose of assigning an access level and granting the use of services, assign service subscriptions to a specific user or group, set parameters on the length of time a specific user or group has access to services, define payers and payment methods for each service subscription that a user or a group has, define user and group aliases for customized identification, import or export user and group information in a usable format.

12. A user interface of claim 11, wherein customer service personnel are capable of modifying said screens.