Mobile services platform architecture

• US 20040215711A1
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Luna, Michael E.S., Martin, Bruce K. Jr., Valloppillil, Vinod, King, Peter F., Ramasubramani, Seetharaman
• Application Number:
  US10/286,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• 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 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

A mobile services platform (MSP) enables mobile clients on a wireless network to access network servers on a wireline computer network. The MSP comprises applications for execution during transactions between mobile clients and network servers in response to requests from mobile clients, and services for automatic invocation during communications between mobile clients and network servers. The MSP also includes a network services management subsystem that includes a proxy to proxy requests and responses between network servers and mobile clients. The MSP also includes a subscriber and service management subsystem to manage mobile subscriber data and subscriptions and to manage the applications and services to which subscribers have access. The MSP further includes a developer services management subsystem to enable and control access by external entities to subscriber-related information in the mobile services platform, and an administration subsystem to enable administrative operations to be performed.

Claims

1. A mobile services platform to enable a plurality of mobile clients operating on a wireless telecommunications network to access one or more network servers operating on a wireline computer network, the mobile clients used by a plurality of subscribers of wireless telecommunications services, the mobile services platform comprising:

a data communications interface to the wireline computer network;

a data communications interface to the wireless telecommunications network;

a set of application modules to provide applications for execution during communications between the mobile clients and the network servers in response to requests from the mobile clients to access the applications;

a set of service modules to provide services to be automatically invoked during communications between mobile clients and the network servers;

a network services management (NSM) subsystem including a proxy to proxy requests and responses between the network servers and the mobile clients;

a subscriber and service management (SSM) subsystem to manage data relating to the subscribers and subscriptions of the subscribers and to determine the applications and services to which the subscribers have access; and

an administration subsystem to enable administrative operations to be performed on the mobile services platform.

2. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireline computer network is the Internet.

3. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, further comprising a developer services management (DSM) subsystem to enable and control access by external entities to subscriber-related information maintained in the mobile services platform.

4. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the NSM subsystem further is to enhance at least some of the requests and responses by invoking one or more of the services.

5. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the NSM subsystem further comprises a web server.

6. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 5, wherein the NSM is to enhance the requests by adding subscriber information to the requests.

7. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 5, wherein the NSM is to enhance the requests or responses by adding authentication information to the requests or responses.

8. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of applications comprises a home page manager to enable control of a home page of the subscribers.

9. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of applications comprises a download module to enable features and functionality to be downloaded to mobile clients.

10. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of services comprises a location service broker to provide location information relating to a mobile client.

11. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of services comprises a translation service broker to translate content from a network server into a form more compatible with a mobile client.

12. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of services comprises a content push engine to push content to a mobile client.

13. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of services comprises a commerce broker to provide electronic commerce services to a mobile client.

14. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the administration subsystem comprises a user interface module to generate a user interface that enables a system administrator to perform administrative operations relating to the subscribers and the mobile services platform.

15. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 14, wherein the administration subsystem further comprises a billing manager to log billable events for the mobile services platform.

16. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 14, wherein the administration subsystem further comprises a configuration manager to configure services and features for the mobile clients.

17. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the SSM subsystem comprises a subscriber database to store subscriber data.

18. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the SSM subsystem comprises a provider management module to enable an entity external to the mobile services platform to perform functionality of the SSM subsystem for a subset of the plurality of mobile clients.

19. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the SSM subsystem comprises an identity management module to identify a subscriber by;

mapping an identity of said subscriber provided by an external entity to an identity represented in a canonical format; and

associating the identity in the canonical format with the subscriber.

20. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 1, wherein the SSM subsystem comprises an authentication module to enable a subscriber to be authenticated and authorized to use a plurality of said applications and services.

21. A mobile services platform to enable a plurality of mobile clients operating on a wireless telecommunications network to access one or more network servers operating on the Internet, the mobile clients used by a plurality of subscribers of wireless telecommunications services, the mobile services platform comprising:

a data communications interface to the Internet;

a data communications interface to the wireless telecommunications network;

a set of application modules to provide applications for execution during communications between the mobile clients and the network servers in response to requests from the mobile clients to access the applications;

a set of service modules to provide services for invocation during communications between mobile clients and the network servers without requiring any request for said services from the mobile clients;

a network services management (NSM) subsystem including a proxy, to proxy requests and responses between the network servers and the mobile clients, and to enhance at least some of the requests and responses by invoking one or more of the services;

a subscriber and service management (SSM) subsystem to manage data relating to the subscribers and subscriptions of the subscribers and to manage the applications and services to which the subscribers have access;

a developer services management (DSM) subsystem to enable and control access by external entities to subscriber-related information maintained in the mobile services platform; and

an administration subsystem to enable administrative operations to be performed on the mobile services platform.

22. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 21, wherein the NSM subsystem further comprises:

a web server; and

a subscriber service to enhance at least some of the requests or responses in a manner configured for an individual one of the mobile clients.

23. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 22, wherein the subscriber service is to enhance the requests by adding subscriber information to the requests.

24. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 22, wherein the subscriber service is to enhance the requests or responses by adding authentication information to the requests or responses.

25. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 22, wherein the subscriber service is to enhance at least some of the requests or responses by adding subscriber information and authentication information to the requests or responses.

26. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 21, wherein the set of applications comprises:

a home page manager to enable control of a home page of the subscribers; and

a download module to enable features and functionality to be downloaded to mobile clients.

27. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 21, wherein the set of services comprises at least one of:

a location service broker to provide location information relating to a mobile client;

a translation service broker to translate content from a network server into a form more compatible with a mobile client;

a push engine to push content to a mobile client; and

a commerce broker to provide electronic commerce services to a mobile client.

28. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 21, wherein the administration subsystem comprises:

a user interface module to generate a user interface that enables a system administrator to perform administrative operations relating to the subscribers and the mobile services platform;

a billing manager to log billable events for the mobile services platform; and

a configuration manager to configure services and features for the mobile clients.

29. A mobile services platform as recited in claim 21, wherein the SSM subsystem comprises:

a subscriber database to store subscriber data;

a provider management module to enable an entity external to the mobile services platform to perform functionality of the SSM subsystem for a subset of the plurality of mobile clients;

an identity management module to identify a subscriber by mapping an identity of the subscriber provided by an external entity to an identity in a canonical format and associating the identity in the canonical format with the subscriber; and

an authentication module to enable a subscriber to be authenticated and authorized to use a plurality of said applications and services.