Method and apparatus for providing network dependent application services

• US 20020198840A1
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Flatrock
• Inventors: Silverberg, Sam A., Banka, Peter S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing network dependent application services is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a first group of one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to one or more application services are provided to a community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR) by a first application service Provider. One or more application delivery transports are then automatically provisioned in accordance with the one or more application service contracts, and selected ones of the application services are delivered through selected ones of said application delivery transports.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing first one or more application service contracts by a first application service provider (Provider) to a community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said first Provider;

automatically provisioning first one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said first one or more application services provided by said first one or more servers of said first Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said first one or more application service contracts;

providing second one or more application service contracts by a second application service provider (Provider) to the community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said second one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to second one or more application services provided by second one or more servers of said second Provider;

automatically provisioning second one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said second one or more application services provided by said second one or more servers of said second Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said second one or more application service contracts; and

delivering selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said first and second Providers through selected ones of said first and second application delivery transports respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first one or more application service contracts are provided by a community of one or more provider application routers (PARs) and said second one or more application service contracts are provided by a second community of one or more PARs.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said automatically provisioning first one or more application delivery transports further comprises:

identifying, by a first SAR of said community of one or more SARs, a preferred PAR of said first community of one or more PARs; and

negotiating a subnet and a shared secret between said first SAR and said preferred PAR to facilitate provisioning of said first one or more delivery transports.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said providing first one or more application service contracts to a community of one or more SAR(s) comprises providing one or more unapproved service contracts to a community of one or more SAR(s) for approval by the SAR(s).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said community of one or more SAR(s) approves said one or more unapproved service contracts through manifestation of a digital signature by the approving SAR(s).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first one or more application delivery transports and said second one or more application delivery transports comprise one or more virtual private network tunnels.

7. In a subscriber application routing device (SAR), a method comprising:

receiving first one or more application service contracts from a first application service provider (Provider), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said first Provider;

automatically provisioning first one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said first one or more application services provided by said first one or more servers of said first Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said first one or more application service contracts;

receiving second one or more application service contracts from a second application service provider (Provider), said second one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to second one or more application services provided by second one or more servers of said second provider;

automatically provisioning second one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said second one or more application services provided by said second one or more servers of said second Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said second one or more application service contracts; and

receiving selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said first and second Providers through selected ones of said first and second application delivery transports.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said SAR solicits said first one or more application service contracts from said first provider.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first one or more application service contracts are received from said first provider through an encrypted control channel.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

approving at least a subset of said first one or more application service contracts received from said first provider, and

transmitting said approved one or more application service contracts back to said first provider.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said automatically provisioning said first one or more application delivery transports comprises automatically provisioning a first one or more virtual private network tunnels between said SAR and said first provider.

13. The SAR of claim 12, wherein said SAR solicits said first one or more application service contracts from said first provider.

14. The SAR of claim 12, wherein said first one or more application service contracts are received from said first provider through an encrypted control channel.

15. The SAR of claim 12, further comprising instructions to

approve at least a subset of said first one or more application service contracts received from said first provider, and

transmit said approved one or more application service contracts back to said first provider.

16. The SAR of claim 12, wherein said instructions to automatically provision said first one or more application delivery transports further comprises instructions to automatically provision a first one or more virtual private network tunnels between said SAR and said first provider.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said selected one or more of said listed PARs are selected by the SAR based at least in part upon response times of the respective PARs.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically provisioning one or more application delivery transports comprises establishing one or more virtual private network tunnels between said SAR and said selected one or more PARs.

12. A subscriber application routing device (SAR) comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the SAR to

receive first one or more application service contracts from a first application service provider (Provider), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said first Provider,

automatically provision first one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said first one or more application services provided by said first one or more servers of said first Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said first one or more application service contracts,

receive second one or more application service contracts from a second application service provider (Provider), said second one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to second one or more application services provided by second one or more servers of said second provider,

automatically provision second one or more application delivery transports to facilitate delivery of said second one or more application services provided by said second one or more servers of said second Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said second one or more application service contracts, and

receive selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said first and second Providers through selected ones of said first and second application delivery transports; and

an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

17. In a subscriber application routing device (SAR), a method comprising:

receiving one or more application service contracts from an application service provider (Provider), said one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to one or more application services provided by one or more servers of said Provider;

request from the Provider a list of provider application routers (PARs) identified as being able to support a given contract of said one or more application service contracts;

automatically provisioning one or more application delivery transports between said SAR and a selected one or more of said listed PARs to facilitate delivery of said one or more application services provided by said one or more servers of said Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said one or more application service contracts; and

receiving selected ones of said application services provided by said one or more servers of said Provider through selected ones of said application delivery transports respectively.

20. A subscriber application routing device (SAR) comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the SAR to

receive one or more application service contracts from an application service provider (Provider), said one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to one or more application services provided by one or more servers of said Provider,

request from the Provider a list of provider application routers (PARs) able to support a given contract of said one or more application service contracts;

automatically provision one or more application delivery transports between said SAR and a selected one or more of said listed PARs to facilitate delivery of said one or more application services provided by said one or more servers of said Provider to clients of said Subscriber in accordance with said one or more application service contracts,

receive selected ones of said application services provided by said one or more servers of said Provider through selected ones of said application delivery transports respectively; and

an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said selected one or more of said listed PARs are selected by the SAR based at least in part upon relative response times of the respective PARs.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said instructions for automatically provisioning one or more application delivery transports further comprises instructions for establishing one or more virtual private network tunnels between said SAR and said selected one or more PARs.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selected ones of said first and second application services are delivered to one or more clients of said first community of one or more SARS.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said PAR is one of a community of PARs.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

identifying which PAR(s) amongst the community of PARs are able to support a selected one of said first one or more application service contracts; and

notifying said first community of one or more SARs as to which PARs are able to support the selected one of said first one or more application service contracts.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said first one or more application delivery transports comprise first one or more virtual private network tunnels.

29. The PAR of claim 28, wherein the selected ones of said first and second application services are delivered to one or more clients of said first community of one or more SARs.

30. The PAR of claim 28, wherein said PAR is one of a community of PARs.

31. The PAR of claim 30, further comprising instructions to:

identify which PAR(S) amongst the community of PARs are able to support a selected one of said first one or more application service contracts; and

notify said first community of one or more SARs as to which PARs are able to support the selected one of said first one or more application service contracts.

32. The PAR of claim 28, wherein said first one or more application delivery transports comprise first one or more virtual private network tunnels.

23. In a provider application routing device (PAR), a method comprising:

providing first one or more application service contracts to a first community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said Provider;

providing second one or more application service contracts to a second community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said second one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to second one or more application services provided by second one or more servers of said Provider; and

delivering selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said Provider through selected ones of a first one or more application delivery transports provisioned between said first community of one or more SARs and said PAR and a second one or more application delivery transports provisioned between said second community of one or more SARs and said PAR.

28. A provider application routing device (PAR) comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the PAR to

provide first one or more application service contracts to a first community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said Provider,

provide second one or more application service contracts to a second community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said second one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to second one or more application services provided by second one or more servers of said Provider, and

deliver selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said Provider through selected ones of a first one or more application delivery transports provisioned by said first community of one or more SARs and a second one or more application delivery transports provisioned by said second community of one or more SARs; and

an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.

33. In a provider application routing device (PAR), a method comprising:

providing first one or more application service contracts to a community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said Provider; and

delivering selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said Provider through a selected one or more application delivery transports provisioned by said community of one or more SARs.

34. A provider application routing device (PAR) comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions, which when executed cause the PAR to

provide first one or more application service contracts to a community of one or more subscriber application routers (SAR), said first one or more application service contracts specifying subscriptions to first one or more application services provided by first one or more servers of said Provider,

deliver selected ones of said first and second application services provided by said first and second one or more servers of said Provider through a selected one or more application delivery transports provisioned by said community of one or more SARs; and

an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the plurality of programming instructions.