Methods and systems for exposing access network capabilities using an enabler proxy

• US 20060117109A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for exposing access network capabilities using an enabler proxy. In one embodiment, a device for providing access to one or more capabilities of a wireless network comprises a first interface to communicate with an application, a second interface to communicate on a wireless network as a subscriber device, and logic to process requests from the network-based application to access one or more capabilities of the wireless network. The logic may be configured to process the requests by at least using one or more services subscribed to by the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an enabler proxy;

subscribing the enabler proxy to one or more services available on a wireless network;

establishing a connection between the enabler proxy and the wireless network;

obtaining, via the established connection, information using one of the services; and

transmitting the obtained information to an application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the information comprises obtaining presence information for at least one subscriber device indicating whether the at least one subscriber device is currently communicatively coupled with the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the information comprises obtaining location information for at least one subscriber device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising before transmitting the obtained information, determined the application is authorized to receive the obtained information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a connection on one of a GSM network and a CDMA network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a connection on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network and a WiFi network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a network connection from the enabler proxy to an application server executing the application, and wherein transmitting the obtained information comprises transmitting the obtained information using the established network connection.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the obtained information comprises sending an email to the application.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the obtained information comprises accessing a modem.

11. A method comprising:

at an enabler proxy communicating on a wireless network, using at least one service subscribed to by the enabler proxy to collect information about one or more devices communicating on the wireless network;

establishing a connection from the enabler proxy to an application; and

transmitting the collected information to the application using the established connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein collecting information comprises collecting presence information for the subscriber devices.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein collecting information comprises collecting location information for the subscriber devices.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

establishing a second connection between the enabler proxy and a second wireless network, the enabler proxy subscribing to one or more services available on the second wireless network;

at the enabler proxy, using at least one of the services to collect information about a second set of one or more subscriber devices communicating on the second wireless network; and

transmitting the information for the second set to the application via the established connection to the application.

15. A method comprising:

providing an enabler proxy;

subscribing the enabler proxy to a service available on a wireless network;

establishing a connection between the enabler proxy and the wireless network;

receiving, at the enabler proxy, a request from an application to transmit a message to a subscriber device communicating on the wireless network; and

transmitting the message from the enabler proxy to the second subscriber device using the established connection and the service.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the enabler proxy, a reply message from the subscriber device; and

transmitting the reply message to the application.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting an MMS message.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting an SMS message.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting a voice chat message.

20. A method comprising:

providing an enabler proxy communicating as a subscriber device on a wireless network;

receiving, at the enabler proxy, a request from an application to initiate a voice call with a second subscriber device communicating on the wireless network;

establishing a voice call from the enabler proxy to the second subscriber device; and

using the enabler proxy to connect the voice call to the application.

21. A method comprising:

providing an enabler proxy communicating as a subscriber device on a wireless network;

establishing a connection between an enabler proxy and a wireless network;

receiving, at the enabler proxy, a request from a second subscriber device communicating on the wireless network to initiate a voice call with a user of an application;

establishing a voice connection with the application;

connecting the voice connection to the second subscriber device using the enabler proxy.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein establishing the voice connection comprises establishing a voice over IP connection.

23. A device for providing access to one or more capabilities of a wireless network, the device comprising:

a first interface to communicate with an application;

a second interface to communicate on a wireless network; and

logic to process requests from the application to access one or more capabilities of the wireless network, the logic configured to process the requests by at least using one or more services subscribed to by the device.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the logic is further configured to use the second interface obtain information for one or more additional subscriber devices communicating on the wireless network.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a data storage, communicatively coupled with the logic, to store the additional subscriber device information.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein in response to a request from the application to transmit a multi-media message to a second subscriber device communicating on the wireless network received on the first interface, the logic is configured to establish a connection to the second subscriber device using the second interface and to transmit the multi-media message to the second subscriber device using the established connection.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein in response to a request from the application to transmit a text message to a second subscriber device communicating on the wireless network received on the first interface, the logic is configured to establish a connection to the second subscriber device using the second interface and to transmit the text to the second subscriber device using the established connection.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein in response to a request from the application to transmit a voice chat message to a second subscriber device communicating on the wireless network received on the first interface, the logic is configured to establish a connection to the second subscriber device using the second interface and to transmit the voice chat message to the second subscriber device using the established connection.

29. The device of claim 23, further comprising one of a SIM and a USIM.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the second interface is associated with an MSISDN.