Apparatus and methods for provisioning services
First Claim
1. A method for provisioning services within a computer network, the method comprising:
- receiving an offer pertaining to a service, the offer being created by a provider and transmitted from a first device to a second device within the computer network;
receiving identifying information regarding one or more invitees to be invited to access the service of the offer, the one or more invitees being transmitted from the first device to the second device; and
in response to receipt of the offer and the identifying information regarding the one or more invitees, providing an invitation to each of the one or more invitees to access the service of the offer based on the received identifying information.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for effectively provisioning services for access by other entities or services. In general, a service manager is configured to manage the provisioning of services between remote entities within a computer network. In general terms, a remote entity offers a service to another remote entity through the service manager. The service manager facilitates formation of the offer to one or more Invitee(s) specified by the service provider. After an offer is formed, it may then be provided to the specified Invitee(s). After an Invitee receives an offer, the Invitee may accept the offer through the service manager or let the offer expire. The service manager also preferably tracks the status of each offer and whether each specified Invitee has accepted such offer. After an Invitee accepts an offer, the service manager preferably records information sufficient for the Invitee to use the offered service.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for provisioning services within a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving an offer pertaining to a service, the offer being created by a provider and transmitted from a first device to a second device within the computer network;
receiving identifying information regarding one or more invitees to be invited to access the service of the offer, the one or more invitees being transmitted from the first device to the second device; and
in response to receipt of the offer and the identifying information regarding the one or more invitees, providing an invitation to each of the one or more invitees to access the service of the offer based on the received identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer system operable to provisioning services within a computer network, the computer system comprising:
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one or more processors;
one or more memory, wherein at least one of the processors and memory are adapted for;
receiving an offer pertaining to a service, the offer being created by a provider and transmitted from a first device to a second device within the computer network;
receiving identifying information regarding one or more invitees to be invited to access the service of the offer, the one or more invitees being transmitted from the first device to the second device; and
in response to receipt of the offer and the identifying information regarding the one or more invitees, providing an invitation to each of the one or more invitees to access the service of the offer based on the received identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A computer program product for provisioning services within a computer network, the computer program product comprising:
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at least one computer readable medium;
computer program instructions stored within the at least one computer readable product configured for;
receiving an offer pertaining to a service, the offer being created by a provider and transmitted from a first device to a second device within the computer network;
receiving identifying information regarding one or more invitees to be invited to access the service of the offer, the one or more invitees being transmitted from the first device to the second device; and
in response to receipt of the offer and the identifying information regarding the one or more invitees, providing an invitation to each of the one or more invitees to access the service of the offer based on the received identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification