System for managing user profile data

• US 20040186901A1
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Guigui, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5006 Creating or negotiating SLA contracts, guarantees or penalties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5064 Customer relationship management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In a communications environment, a system for managing user profile data, comprising:

a) a network interface layer operatively associated with a communications network,

b) a data storage layer, operative to store user profile data relating to the communications network, and

c) a data conversion layer, functionally disposed between the network interface and the data storage layers and which is capable of converting the user profile data into a plurality of communications network formats.

Claims

1. In a communications environment, a system for managing user profile data, comprising:

a) a network interface layer operatively associated with a communications network,

b) a data storage layer, operative to store user profile data relating to the communications network, and

c) a data conversion layer, functionally disposed between the network interface and the data storage layers and which is capable of converting the user profile data into a plurality of communications network formats.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the data conversion layer is capable of making bi-directional contact with the network interface layer whereby a plurality of communications network data formats may be converted into a user profile data format compatible with the data storage layer.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the user profile data is provided in a substantially single format.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the user profile data is provided in a tagged or tag-based format.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein the user profile data is provided using an Internet mark-up language such as XML.

6. A system according to claim 1 further comprising an aggregation layer operative to convene user profile data relating to a plurality of different communications networks.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the aggregation layer has a push/pull relationship with the data conversion and data storage layers.

8. A system according to claim 6 wherein the aggregation layer comprises a data store selector operative to effect storage of user profile data in appropriate sectors of the data storage layer.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the data storage layer comprises a rules repository accessible by the aggregation layer, the rules contained within the repository influencing the operation of the aggregation layer.

10. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a user access module operative to receive information from a user or subscriber and to effect or request a change, where appropriate, in the user profile data contained within the data storage layer.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the user access module forms part of the network interface layer.

12. A system according to claim 10 wherein the user access module is receptive to information transmitted using a web-based protocol such as HTTP.

14. A system according to claim 1 or claim 13 wherein the network interface layer is operatively associated with a plurality of communications networks such as mobile telecommunications, public switched telephone, enterprise and Internet networks.

13. In a communications environment, a system for managing user profile data, comprising:

a) a network interface layer operatively associated with a plurality of different communications networks,

b) a data storage layer, operative to store user profile data relating to the communications networks, and

c) a data conversion layer, functionally disposed between the network interface and data storage layers and which is capable of effecting a conversion between a plurality of communications network formats and a user profile format, whereby a plurality of communications networks may have access to the data storage layer, thus enabling services to be provided using such networks that are tailored in accordance with the user profile data.

15. A system according to claim 13 wherein the network interface layer is operatively associated with a plurality of communications networks such as mobile telecommunications, public switched telephone, enterprise and Internet networks.

16. In a communications environment, a system for managing user profile data, comprising:

a) a network interface layer operatively associated with a communications network and comprising a user access module receptive to information transmitted using a web-based protocol such as HTTP and operative to receive information from a user or subscriber and to effect or request a change, where appropriate, in the user profile data contained within the data storage layer;

b) a data storage layer, operative to store user profile data, provided in a substantially single tagged or tag-based format, relating to the communications network;

c) a data conversion layer, functionally disposed between the network interface and the data storage layers and which is capable of converting the user profile data into a plurality of communications network formats; and

d) an aggregation layer having a push/pull relationship with the data conversion and data storage layers and operative to convene user profile data relating to a plurality of different communications networks, the aggregation layer comprising a data store selector operative to effect storage of user profile data in appropriate sectors of the data storage layer,

wherein the data conversion layer is capable of making bi-directional contact with the network interface layer whereby a plurality of communications network data formats may be converted into a user profile data format compatible with the data storage layer and the data storage layer comprises a rules repository accessible by the aggregation layer, the rules contained within the repository influencing the operation of the aggregation layer.