Service control device and method

• US 20020120691A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, Curt, Faccin, Stefano, Le, Khiem, Sreemanthula, Srinivas, Patil, Basavaraj, Sivalingam, Kengatharan
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a service control device and method for controlling service execution in a communication network. A service script for a user is loaded in response to the receipt of an incoming message, and it is checked based on a comparison of the loaded service script and the incoming message whether a service is to be triggered. If a service triggering has been determined, a service is activated in an external service execution environment. Due to the fact that the service execution is not performed in the service control point but in an external service execution environment, the service logic does not have to be provided at the service control point. It provides a flexible way to define, execute, and control user-specific, operator, and third party services combining various service capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for controlling service execution in a control point of a communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) loading a service script for a user in response to the receipt of an incoming message;

b) checking whether a service is triggered based on a comparison of said incoming message with said loaded service script; and

c) activating a service in an external service execution environment if a service triggering has been determined in said checking step.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said activating step comprises a message processing step if an existing message is to be modified or if a new message is to be created.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of temporarily storing service scripts for active users in said control point.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said service script comprises a service description and triggering information, needed to invoke said service activation in said external environment.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a service is triggered when a match is determined for a given trigger condition in the triggering information.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said service description comprises an IP address of an external execution point and/or an IP address of an external logic repository server.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of invoking and coordinating service execution in at least two external execution points.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of coding a service interaction information in said service script.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of performing a firewall function towards service execution in other service execution environments.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating an active service in response to the receipt of a corresponding request from said communication network.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of handling both mobile-originated and mobile-terminated calls for said user in said control point.

13. A device according to claim 12, further comprising protocol engine means (1) for receiving and transmitting protocol messages and for passing incoming messages to said service script executing means (2).

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein said protocol engine means is an SIP engine 1.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein said service activating means (3) is arranged to contact a message processing means (4) if a message processing is required.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said message processing means is an SIP message processor (4).

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein said message processing means is arranged to modify an existing message or to create a new message in response to a corresponding request from said service activating means (3).

18. A device according to claim 12, further comprising temporary storing means (5) for storing service script of active users.

19. A device according to claim 12, wherein said service activating means (3) is arranged to invoke and coordinate service execution in at least two external execution points.

12. A device for controlling service execution in a communication network, said device comprising:

a) service script execution means (2) for loading a service script in response to the receipt of an incoming message, and for checking whether a service is triggered based on a comparison of said incoming message with said loaded service script; and

b) service activating means (3) for activating a service in an external service execution environment in response to the receipt of a request for service invocation from said service script executing means (2).