Method and Apparatus for Operating an Open API Network Having a Proxy

• US 20080301294A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Panken, Franciscus Josephus Maria, Hellenthal, Jan Willem
• Granted Patent: US 8,001,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A telecommunication system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media that implements an open application program interface (API) system in which open API servers pass and receive API commands to applications through a novel proxy. The proxy assists implementing various management functions, such as assigning open API servers to application and monitoring the overall system, and service contract control, all beneficially in a transparent manner. The proxy enables the telecommunication system to handle geographically diverse applications and open API servers. All API command can, but need not, pass through the proxy.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a telecommunication network;

an open API server for sending and receiving application programming interface commands on said telecommunication network; and

a proxy for receiving said application programming interface commands from said open API server and for selectively sending said application programming interface commands to one of a first application or a second application;

wherein said proxy monitors the status of the system;

wherein said proxy dynamically selects the one of said first application or second application based on the status of the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said proxy changes its selection based on a change to the system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said proxy is transparent to said open API server.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said proxy is transparent to said selected application.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said proxy includes input/output circuitry, a memory, and a processor.

6. The system according to claim 1, further including a computer readable media for storing program information that at least partially controls the selection.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said open API server is adapted to bypasses said proxy and sends another application programming interface command directly to one of a plurality of applications so as to prevent the proxy from being a communication bottleneck.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one other application bypasses said proxy and sends another application programming interface command directly to said open API server or another open API server.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said proxy blocks at least a portion of said application programming interface commands from propagating.

10. A method of operating a telecommunication network, comprising:

receiving application programming interface commands from an open API server;

monitoring the status of the telecommunication network; and

selectively passing said application programming interface commands received from the open API server to a first application or a second application,

wherein the first application or the second application to which said application programming interface commands are passed is dynamically selected based on the status of the telecommunication network.