Factorization of concerns to build a SDP (Service delivery platform)

• US 20070204017A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A service layer is provided that is concerned with providing a service. Also, a network layer is provided that is concerned with communicating with devices. The concerns of each layer are separate. For example, the service layer performs the service without worrying about any network dependencies. Also, the network layer is concerned with communicating with devices without worrying about the services that are being performed. These layers, however, are configured to work together such that a result of the service layer is used by the network layer. For example, a service may be performed by the service layer and then the result of the service is communicated to a device using the network layer.

Claims

1. A service delivery platform (SDP) configured to provide services, the platform comprising:

a network layer configured to perform a first function concerned with communicating with a network;

a service layer configured to perform a second function concerned with a service;

a business rules layer configured to perform a third function concerned with applying business rules;

wherein the first function of the network layer is factored out of the second function of the service layer, wherein the second function of the service layer is factored out of the third function of the business rules layer,

wherein the second function performs a service in the service layer, wherein the service is designed without being concerned with communicating with the network using the first function of the network layer, wherein business rules for the third function are performed for the service without being concerned with how the service is performed.

2. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the business rules comprise rules for business related aspects of the service.

3. The SDP of claim 2, wherein the business rules apply policies for the service.

4. The SDP of claim 3, wherein the policies are exposed to third parties.

5. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the service layer is configured to perform a plurality of services and the network layer is configured to communicate through a plurality of communication methods, the method further comprising:

wherein the service layer is configured to determine a service in the plurality of services;

wherein the network layer is configured to determine a communication method in the plurality of communication methods, wherein services in the plurality of services can be performed without being concerned with which communication method in the plurality of communication methods is determined.

6. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the business rules layer comprises an interface and bindings layer configured to apply policies for the service.

7. The SDP of claim 6, wherein the business rules layer comprises an enabler layer configured to provide interfaces that are exposed for usage of an enabler.

8. The SDP of claim 7, wherein the business rules layer comprises a business rules enforcement layer configured to enforce business rules without being concerned with the interface and bindings layer and the enabler layer.

9. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the service layer comprises a bindings layer configured to allow different technologies to be used for enablers.

10. The SDP of claim 9, wherein the service layer comprises an interfaces to enablers layer configured to provide enablers for different technologies.

11. The SDP of claim 10, wherein the service layer comprises a service oriented layer comprises service modules, each service module configured to perform a service without being concerned with the enablers and bindings being used for the service.

12. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the network layer comprises an adapters to network layer comprising drivers, each driver configured to provide drivers for different networks.

13. The SDP of claim 12, wherein the network layer comprises a network resource layer comprising network infrastructure configured to communication with different networks without being concerned with the drivers used.

14. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the service layer comprises a lifecycle and management layer.

15. The SDP of claim 1, wherein the service layer comprises an execution environment layer.

16. The SDP of claim 15, wherein the execution environment comprises a J2EE environment.

17. A service delivery platform configured to provide services in a telecommunications network, the platform comprising:

a business rules layer comprising a plurality of business rules to apply to a service;

a service layer comprising a plurality of service modules, each service module configured to perform a service, the service being offered to a user; and

a network layer comprising a plurality of network implementations, each network implementation configured to communicate with a device using a different protocol, the device communicating with the network layer using the telecommunications network,

wherein a service is configured using one or more business rules of the business rule layer, one or more service modules in the service layer, and one or more network implementations in the network layer,

wherein the one or more business rules are applied to a service request without being concerned with the service layer or network layer,

wherein the one or more service modules perform the service using a result of the one or more business rules being applied without being concerned with how the business rules layer applied the one or more business rules, and

wherein the one or more network implementations communicate a result of the service using a protocol without being concerned with how the service layer performed the service.

18. A method for providing a service delivery platform (SDP) configured to provide services, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of functions to be performed; and

providing a plurality of layers for the service delivery platform, wherein each layer is configured to perform a function in the plurality of functions;

wherein a first function of a first layer is factored out of a second function of a second layer, wherein the second function performs a service in the second layer, wherein the service is designed without being concerned with the first function of the first layer.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a service request; and

processing the request using the plurality of layers, wherein the request is processed using the first function of the first layer and then the second function of the second layer to generate a result for the request.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a network layer, service layer, and a business rules layer.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the plurality of layers comprises factoring out network and/or BSS resources from a layer.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the plurality of layers comprises factoring out network resources from a layer.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the plurality of layers factoring out application of business rules from a layer.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the plurality of layers factoring out a life cycle management and execution environment.

25. A service delivery platform (SDP) configured to provide services, the platform comprising:

a first layer configured concerned with performing a first function;

a second layer concerned with performing a second function; and

a third layer concerned with performing a third function,

wherein the first function of the first layer is factored out of the second function of the second layer, wherein the second function of the second layer is factored out of the third function of the third layer,

wherein the second function performs a service in the second layer, wherein the service is designed without being concerned with the first function being performed in the first layer, wherein the third function is performed for the service without being concerned with how the service is performed.