Protocol method for provisioning services

• US 20040260774A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Jensen, Peter Strarup, Veselov, Pavel S., Decristo, Dianna L., Mocek, Darryl J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 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 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An invention is disclosed for a computer protocol that facilitates provisioning services to client devices. The computer protocol includes discovery transactions that allow a client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server. A service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device. The computer protocol also includes subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories. A service directory comprises a plurality of services. Further included in the computer protocol are delivery transactions that allow the client device to downloading of data related to services.

Claims

1. A computer protocol for provisioning services, comprising:

discovery transactions that allow a client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device.

subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

delivery transactions that allow the client device to download data related to services.

2. A computer protocol as recited in claim 1, wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service.

3. A computer protocol as recited in claim 2, wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

4. A computer protocol as recited in claim 1, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

5. A computer protocol as recited in claim 4, wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

6. A computer protocol as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

7. A computer protocol as recited in claim 6, wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction.

8. A computer protocol as recited in claim 7, wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.

9. A method for provisioning services between a client device and a provisioning server, comprising the operations of:

providing discovery transactions that allow the client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device.

affording subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

providing delivery transactions that allow the client device to downloading of data related to services.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.

17. A system for provisioning services, comprising:

a provisioning server; and

a client device in communication with the provisioning server via a provisioning protocol, the provisioning protocol comprising;

discovery transactions that allow the client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device.

subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

delivery transactions that allow the client device to download data related to services.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the discovery transactions include a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service, and wherein the discovery transactions further include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory, and wherein the subscription transactions further include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device, the delivery transactions further including a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction, and wherein the delivery transactions further include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.