Methods and apparatus for simultaneously hosting multiple service providers on a network

• US 20060253596A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Gordon Kent, Chen, An Mei, Barone, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus simultaneously hosting multiple service providers on a network. A method is provided for hosting multiple service providers in a data network. The method includes controlling access to services offered by one or more service providers, and discovering affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers. The method also includes filtering the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers, and transmitting the package database to the device.

Claims

1. A method for hosting multiple service providers in a data network, the method comprising:

controlling access to services offered by one or more service providers;

discovering affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

filtering the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers; and

transmitting the package database to the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for services from the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the request includes the affiliation provisions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling access to new services provided by the one or more selected service providers;

filtering the new services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a new package database of services offered by the selected service providers; and

transmitting the new package database to the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said discovering and filtering comprise generating a package database of services offered by the service providers.

6. Apparatus for hosting multiple service providers in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

processing logic that operates to control access to services offered by one or more service providers;

affiliation logic that operates to discover affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

package generation logic that operates to filter the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers; and

transceiver logic that operates to transmit the package database to the device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transceiver logic comprises logic to receive a request for services from the device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the request includes the affiliation provisions.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing logic operates to control access to new services provided by one or more service providers.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the package generation logic operates to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more service providers.

11. Apparatus for hosting multiple service providers in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

means for controlling access to services offered by one or more service providers;

means for discovering affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

means for filtering the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers; and

means for transmitting the package database to the device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving a request for services from the device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the request includes the affiliation provisions.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for controlling access to new services provided by the one or more selected service providers;

means for filtering the new services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a new package database of services offered by the selected service providers; and

means for transmitting the new package database to the device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for discovering and filtering comprise means for generating a package database of services offered by the service providers.

16. A computer-readable media comprising means, which when executed by a processor, operate to implement a method for hosting multiple service providers in a data network in a data network, the method comprising:

controlling access to services offered by one or more service providers;

discovering affiliation provisions associated with a device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

filtering the services according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers; and

transmitting the package database to the device.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 16, the method further comprising receiving a request for services from the device.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the request includes the affiliation provisions.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 16, the method further comprising:

controlling access to new services provided by the one or more service providers;

filtering the new services according to the affiliation provisions to generated a new package database of services offered by the selected service providers; and

transmitting the new package database to the device.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the discovering and filtering comprise generating a package database of services offered by the service providers.

21. A method for operating a device in a system that hosts multiple service providers in a data network, the method comprising:

requesting access to services offered by one or more service providers;

discovering affiliation provisions associated with the device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

receiving a package database;

filtering the package database according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

selecting at least one service from the package database of services.

transmitting a subscription request that identifies the at least one service.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving an updated package database.

24. Apparatus for use in a system that hosts multiple service providers in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

processing logic that operates to request access to services offered by one or more service providers, and discover affiliation provisions associated with the device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

receiving logic that operates to receive a package database;

affiliation filter logic that operates to filter the package database according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

client logic that operates to select at least one service from the package database of services, and

transmitting logic that operates to transmit a subscription request that identifies the at least one service.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the receiving logic further comprises logic that operates to receive an updated package database.

27. Apparatus for use in a system that hosts multiple service providers in a data network, the apparatus comprising:

means for requesting access to services offered by one or more service providers;

means for discovering affiliation provisions associated with the device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

means for receiving a package database;

means for filtering the package database according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

means for selecting at least one service from the package database of services.

means for transmitting a subscription request that identifies the at least one service.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising means for receiving an updated package database.

30. A computer-readable media comprising means, which when executed by a processor, operate a method for subscribing to services in a system that hosts multiple service providers in a data network, the method comprising:

requesting access to services offered by one or more service providers;

discovering affiliation provisions associated with the device, wherein the affiliation provisions are associated with one or more selected service providers;

receiving a package database;

filtering the package database according to the affiliation provisions to generate a package database of services offered by the one or more selected service providers.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 30, the method further comprising:

selecting at least one service from the package database of services.

transmitting a subscription request that identifies the at least one service.

32. The computer-readable media of claim 30, the method further comprising receiving an updated package database.