Generic network interface function

• US 20040153546A1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Leitgeb, Manfred
• Application Number:
  US10/374,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols

Abstract

A simple and efficient way of connecting services to applications is described by the apparatus and method for connecting services to applications in a communication network, characterized in that an OSA gateway (4) for providing a service sets up an access point between a requesting application (1) and a portal (3) in order to negotiate a transmission protocol, and in that, following successful negotiation, provision of the service in the portal (3) is granted to the application (1) via the OSA gateway (4).

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting services to applications in a communication network,

having a reception unit (5) for receiving a proposal for acceptance of parameters of a service and a request regarding provision of a service from an application (1),

having a processing unit (2) for recording the type of service, and the address at which the service is available in a table (9) associated with the portal (3), in a table (7) and for processing the request regarding to connection to a service from an application,

having a processing unit (2) for checking the request for authentication and authorization, for forwarding the request via a transmission unit (7) and an access point (9) to a service in a portal (3), and for enabling the connection of the service to an application (1) following successful negotiation of a transmission protocol which is to be used between them,

having a portal (3) for disclosing properties of the service from a table (9), and an interface which is to be used, to the application (1) via the OSA gateway (4),

having a portal (3) for negotiating the transmission protocol which is to be used with the application (1) via the OSA gateway (4).

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized

in that the transmission protocol is provided for the connection between the service and the application (1).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission protocols provided are a dynamic CORBA call interface, XML, SOAP, applets or Java Beans.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided in a mobile communication network.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is provided in a computer network.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service access point (8) provided via a portal (3) is a transparent tunnel.

7. A method for connecting services to applications in a communication network, characterized

in that an OSA gateway (4) for providing a service sets up an access point between a requesting application (1) and a portal (3) providing the service in order to negotiate a transmission protocol, and in that, following successful negotiation, provision of the service in the portal (3) is granted to the application (1) via the OSA gateway (4).

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, characterized

in that a service'"'"'s properties and interface to be used are written to a table (9) associated with the portal (3).

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, for at least one service, parameters regarding the type and address of the service are written to a table (7).

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, upon a request from an application (1) regarding provision of a service, the application'"'"'s authentication and authorization are checked by the OSA gateway (4).

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, to provide the service, a transparent tunnel (8) is used as a connection between the OSA gateway (4) and the portal (3).