Method and system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider utilizing public wired and/or wireless communication networks

• US 20030200299A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jamison, James D. III
• Application Number:
  US10/128,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200299A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A business model is described for providing pervasive computing services to authorized corporate customers through a middle-tier service provider (MTSP) utilizing public wired and wireless communications networks such as the Internet. Entitled employees can securely connect via approved pervasive computing devices to corporate communications applications (e.g. e-mail, calendar, messaging) and browser accessible Intranet applications (e.g. field service, sales, document management) utilizing this invention. Secure connections are established between the device and the corporate infrastructure through a public wireless communication network utilizing the middle-tier service provider'"'"'s infrastructure. Authorized corporations use the middle-tier service provider to perform all service fulfillment, service enablement and service account management functions in support of the contracted pervasive computing services. Corporations are alleviated from the continual and soaring investments in additional resources and infrastructure required to support a corporate pervasive computing strategy.

Claims

1. An integrated system for enabling computing services for use by associated pervasive computing devices through an associated middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service enablement system providing a secure insulation layer including authorization procedures and authentication procedures, the authorization procedures and authentication procedures being adapted to be performed by the associated middle tier service provider; and

,

a CME portal system in communication with the CME service enablement system and utilizing a secure hosting infrastructure for all interaction between entitled users of the integrated system, corporate infrastructures, the associated middle tier service provider and partners.

2. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 1 wherein the CME portal system comprises:

an enablement CMEP portal in communication with the CME service enablement system;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure entitled user CME portal in communication with the enablement CMEP portal and connected to at least one network interface;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized customer CME portal in communication with the CME service enablement system and connected to at least one secure network interface; and

,

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner CME portal in communication with the CME service enablement system and connected to at least one secure network interface.

3. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 1 wherein the CME portal system is connected to and utilizes at least one of:

an associated public wired communications network;

an associated public wireless communications network; and

,

an associated set of interconnected computer networks.

4. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 3 wherein the set of interconnected computer networks comprises the Internet.

5. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 1 wherein the CME service enablement system comprises:

a wireless user interface;

a wireless public interface connected to the wireless user interface;

a wired user interface;

a wired public interface connected to the wired user interface;

a CME enablement access system in communication with the CME portal system);

a CME enablement support system in communication with the CME portal system;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the CME enablement support system;

a first secure communications network interface in communication with the CME portal system;

a customer interface in communication with the first secure communications network interface;

a customer application infrastructure in communication with the customer interface;

a second secure communications network interface in communication with the CME portal system;

a partner interface in communication with the second secure communications network interface; and

,

a partner support infrastructure in communication with the partner interface.

6. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 5 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component;

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

7. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 5 wherein the CME enablement access system comprises:

a proxy enablement component;

a security enablement component; and

,

an entitled user auxiliary component.

8. The integrated system for enabling computing services as set forth in claim 5 wherein the CME enablement support system comprises:

an interactive support component;

a trouble ticket component;

a provider administration component;

a maintenance database;

a knowledge database;

a provider system management component;

a system performance database; and

,

a fulfillment performance database.

9. An integrated system for deploying computing products for use by associated pervasive computing devices through a middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service fulfillment system that utilizes associated entitlements and profiles to ensure that correct products are deployed and supported for only entitled employees; and

,

a CME account management system;

wherein the CME service fulfillment system and CME account management system function independently of each other offering respective services of the integrated system.

10. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 9 wherein the CME service fulfillment system and the CME account management system utilize at least one of:

an associated public wired communications network;

an associated public wireless communications network; and

,

an associated set of interconnected computer networks.

11. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 10 wherein the set of interconnected computer networks comprises the Internet.

12. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 9 wherein the CME service fulfillment system comprises:

a user interface;

a customer agent interface;

a public communications network interface connected to the user interface and the customer agent interface;

a middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal connected to the public communications network interface;

a CME SecureCus system in communication with the middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal, wherein the SecureCus system provides authorization and authentication for authorized users and authorized customer agents;

a fulfillment CME portal in communication with the CME SecureCus system;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the fulfillment CME portal;

a partner CME portal in communication with the CME fulfillment system;

a CME SecurePar system in communication with the partner CME portal, wherein the SecurePar system provides access rights to authorized partners;

an authorization and authentication system in communication with the CME SecureCus system and the CME SecurePar system;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface in communication with the CME SecurePar system;

a secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface;

a second partner interface in communication with the secure communications network interface; and

,

a fulfillment component in communication with the second partner interface.

13. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 12 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component;

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

14. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 9 wherein the CME account management system comprises:

a wireless customer agent interface;

a wireless public communications network interface in communication with the wireless customer agent interface;

a wired customer agent interface;

a wired public communications network interface in communication with the wired public communications network interface;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized customer CME portal in communication with the wireless public communications network interface and the wired public communications network interface;

a CME SecureCus system in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized customer CME portal, wherein the SecureCus system provides authorization and authentication for authorized users and authorized customer agents;

a customer agent account management CME portal in communication with the CME SecureCus system;

a management agent CME portal in communication with the customer agent account management CME portal;

an executive agent CME portal in communication with the customer agent account management CME portal;

a CME account management subsystem in communication with the management agent CME portal and the executive agent CME portal;

a middle tier service provider support team CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a middle tier service provider account team CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a middle tier service provider management team CMEP in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME enablement support system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME enablement access system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a partner CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME SecurePar system in communication with the partner CME portal, wherein the SecurePar system provides access rights to authorized partners;

an authorization and authentication system in communication with the CME SecureCus system and the CME SecurePar system;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface in communication with the CME SecurePar system;

a secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface; and

,

a second partner interface in communication with the secure communications network interface.

15. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 14 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component);

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

16. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 14 wherein the CME enablement access system comprises:

a proxy enablement component;

a security enablement component; and

,

an entitled user auxiliary component.

17. The integrated system for deploying computing products as set forth in claim 14 wherein the CME enablement support system comprises:

an interactive support component;

a trouble ticket component;

a provider administration component;

a maintenance database;

a knowledge database;

a provider system management component;

a system performance database; and

,

a fulfillment performance database.

18. An integrated system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service fulfillment system that utilizes associated entitlements and profiles to ensure that correct products are deployed and supported for only entitled employees;

a CME service enablement system providing a secure insulation layer including authorization procedures and authentication procedures, the authorization procedures and authentication procedures being adapted to be performed by the associated middle tier service provider; and

,

a CME account management system.

19. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 18 wherein the CME service fulfillment system, the CME service enablement system and the CME account management system utilize at least one of:

an associated public wired communications network;

an associated public wireless communications network; and

,

an associated set of interconnected computer networks.

20. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 19 wherein the set of interconnected computer networks comprises the Internet.

21. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 18 wherein the CME service fulfillment system comprises:

a user interface;

a customer agent interface;

a public communications network interface in communication with the user interface and the customer agent interface;

a middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal in communication with the public communications network interface;

a CME SecureCus system in communication with the middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal, wherein the SecureCus system provides authorization and authentication for authorized users and authorized customer agents;

a fulfillment CME portal in communication with the CME SecureCus system;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the fulfillment CME portal;

a partner CME portal in communication with the CME fulfillment system;

a CME SecurePar system in communication with the partner CME portal, wherein the SecurePar system provides access rights to authorized partners;

an authorization and authentication system in communication with the CME SecureCus system and the CME SecurePar system;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface in communication with the CME SecurePar system;

a secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface;

a second partner interface in communication with the secure communications network interface; and

,

a fulfillment component in communication with the second partner interface.

22. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 21 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component;

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

23. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 18 wherein the CME service enablement system comprises:

a wireless user interface;

a wireless public interface in communication with the wireless user interface;

a wired user interface;

a wired public interface in communication with the wired user interface;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure entitled user CME portal in communication with the wireless public interface and the wired public interface;

an enablement CME portal in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure entitled user CME portal;

a CME enablement access system in communication with the enablement CME portal;

a CME enablement support system in communication with the enablement CME portal;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the CME enablement support system;

a middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal in communication with the CME enablement support system and the CME enablement access system;

a first secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider infrastructure authorized customer CME portal;

a customer interface in communication with the first secure communications network interface;

a customer application infrastructure in communication with the customer interface;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner CME portal in communication with the CME enablement support system;

a second secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner CME portal;

a partner interface in communication with the second secure communications network interface; and

,

a partner support infrastructure in communication with the partner interface.

24. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 23 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component;

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

25. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 23 wherein the CME enablement access system comprises:

a proxy enablement component;

a security enablement component; and

,

an entitled user auxiliary component.

26. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 23 wherein the CME enablement support system comprises:

an interactive support component;

a trouble ticket component;

a provider administration component;

a maintenance database;

a knowledge database;

a provider system management component;

a system performance database; and

,

a fulfillment performance database.

27. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 23 further comprising:

a plurality of customer applications in communication with the customer application infrastructure; and

,

a partner support system in communication with the partner support infrastructure.

28. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 18 wherein the CME account management system comprises:

a wireless customer agent interface;

a wireless public communications network interface in communication with the wireless customer agent interface;

a wired customer agent interface;

a wired public communications network interface in communication with the wired public communications network interface;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized customer CME portal in communication with the wireless public communications network interface and the wired public communications network interface;

a CME SecureCus system in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized customer CME portal, wherein the SecureCus system provides authorization and authentication for authorized users and authorized customer agents;

a customer agent account management CME portal in communication with the CME SecureCus system;

a management agent CME portal in communication with the customer agent account management CME portal;

an executive agent CME portal in communication with the customer agent account management CME portal;

a CME account management subsystem in communication with the management agent CME portal and the executive agent CME portal;

a middle tier service provider support team CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a middle tier service provider account team CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a middle tier service provider management team CMEP in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME fulfillment system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME enablement support system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME enablement access system in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a partner CME portal in communication with the CME account management subsystem;

a CME SecurePar system in communication with the partner CME portal, wherein the SecurePar system provides access rights to authorized partners;

an authorization and authentication system in communication with the CME SecureCus system and the CME SecurePar system;

a middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface in communication with the CME SecurePar system;

a secure communications network interface in communication with the middle tier service provider secure infrastructure authorized partner interface; and

,

a second partner interface in communication with the secure communications network interface.

29. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 28 wherein the CME fulfillment system comprises:

a request processing component;

a corporate account profile database;

an entitlement processing component;

a contract SLA database;

a product catalog database;

a build database;

an asset management database; and

,

a provision processing component.

30. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 28 wherein the CME enablement access system comprises:

a proxy enablement component;

a security enablement component; and

,

an entitled user auxiliary component.

31. The integrated system for providing pervasive computing services as set forth in claim 28 wherein the CME enablement support system comprises:

an interactive support component;

a trouble ticket component;

a provider administration component;

a maintenance database;

a knowledge database;

a provider system management component;

a system performance database; and

,

a fulfillment performance database.

32. An integrated method for CME service fulfillment and management comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;

(b) modifying standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;

(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;

(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through a modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;

(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;

(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;

(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;

(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;

(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;

(vi) giving, to each approved vendor and system, access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions; and

,

(vii) activating the entitled user;

or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;

(ix) approving or denying the request;

(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved; and

,

(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied; and

,

(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request.

33. The integrated method for CME service fulfillment and management as set forth in claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

(g) incorporating, into a CME system, relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service according to an account contract);

(h) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;

(i) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;

(j) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports; and

,

(k) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information.

34. An integrated method for CME service enablement comprising the steps of:

(a) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;

(b) creating entitled user accounts;

(c) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user'"'"'s corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;

(d) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;

(e) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network; and

,

(f) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer.

35. An integrated method for deploying computing products to pervasive computing devices comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;

(b) modifying, by the middle tier service provider, standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;

(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;

(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through the modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;

(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;

(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;

(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;

(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;

(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;

(vi) giving each approved vendor and system access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions; and

,

(vii) activating the entitled user;

or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;

(ix) approving or denying the request;

(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved; and

(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;

(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request;

(g) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;

(h) creating entitled user accounts;

(i) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user'"'"'s corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;

(j) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;

(k) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network;

(l) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer;

(m) incorporating relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service into a CME system according to an account contract;

(n) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;

(o) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;

(p) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports; and

,

(q) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information;

wherein steps (a)-(q) are integrated in a manner wherein steps (a)-(f) provide for CME service fulfillment, steps (g)-(l) provide for CME service enablement, and steps (m)-(q) provide for account management.

36. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform integrated method steps for executing commands to perform CME service fulfillment and management, the integrated method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;

(b) modifying standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;

(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;

(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through a modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;

(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;

(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;

(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;

(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;

(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;

(vi) giving, to each approved vendor and system, access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions; and

(vii) activating the entitled user;

or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;

(ix) approving or denying the request;

(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved; and

,

(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied; and

,

(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request.

37. The article of manufacture as set forth in claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

(g) incorporating, into a CME system, relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service according to an account contract);

(h) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;

(i) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;

(j) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports; and

,

(k) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information.

38. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform integrated method steps for executing commands to perform CME service enablement, the integrated method comprising the steps of:

(a) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;

(b) creating entitled user accounts;

(c) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user'"'"'s corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;

(d) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;

(e) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network; and

,

(f) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer.

39. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform integrated method steps for executing commands to deploy computing products to pervasive computing devices, the integrated method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;

(b) modifying, by the middle tier service provider, standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;

(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;

(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through the modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;

(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;

(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;

(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;

(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;

(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;

(vi) giving each approved vendor and system access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions; and

,

(vii) activating the entitled user;

or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising;

(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;

(ix) approving or denying the request;

(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved; and

,

(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;

(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request;

(g) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;

(h) creating entitled user accounts;

(i) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user'"'"'s corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;

(j) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;

(k) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network;

(l) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer;

(m) incorporating relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service into a CME system according to an account contract;

(n) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;

(o) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;

(p) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports; and

,

(q) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information;

wherein steps (a)-(q) are integrated in a manner wherein steps (a)-(f) provide for CME service fulfillment, steps (g)-(l) provide for CME service enablement, and steps (m)-(q) provide for account management.