Subscription-Based Services

• US 20090300192A1
• Filed: 04/30/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cappelle Networking DE LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cappelle Networking DE LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Northrup, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44552 Conflict resolution, i.e. enabling coexistence of conflicting executables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available. Dynamic Configuration Management and a Configurable Application Program Service provide software which can be commoditized, as well as upgraded while in operation.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for a service provider application service executing on a service provider computer to provide a directory service of application services accessible using an Internet Protocol, comprising:

receiving a request communication from an end-user application process to at least one of;

register an application service, wherein the request includes required registration information, or,

register an application service, wherein the request includes required registration information and one or more optional registration information, or,

query for an application service, wherein the request includes criteria for selecting an application service, or,

select and connect to an accessible application service, wherein the request includes criteria for selecting the application service;

interacting with a directory service of registered application services to satisfy the request; and

in response thereto, sending a response communication to the end-user application process.

22. A system for a service provider to provide an application service accessible through the Internet, the application service being configured to use at least one Internet Protocol to receive a request communicated from an end-user application process, the request including at least one unique identifier assigned to the end-user application process, and in response thereto validate the end user application process identifier;

select one or more accessible application services from a set of registered application services; and

communicate the results thereof to the end-user application process.

23. A method for a service provider to provide an application directory service of one or more registered application services using the Internet, comprising:

a) initializing a communication link over the Internet in response to an end-user application process requesting a connection;

b) receiving a query request, including criteria for selecting at least one application service satisfying the criteria;

c) locating a registered application service satisfying the criteria;

d) sending a response communication to the end-user application process, the response including information representative of the registered information describing the application service satisfying the request; and

e) disconnecting the communication link.

24. A method for a service provider application process executing on a service provider computer to respond to a request communicated from an end-user application process over the Internet, comprising:

a) initializing a communication link in response to the end-user application process requesting a connection;

b) receiving a request, including criteria for selecting a desired application service;

c) interacting with a directory service process with a multiplicity of registered application services to select an application service satisfying the criteria; and

d) connecting the end user application process to the selected application service.

25. A method for a service provider application process with a registered service to provide an application service to a requesting end user application process over the Internet, comprising:

a) interacting with a received communication from the end user application process to dynamically configure an application service to satisfy the request; and

b) executing the dynamically configured application service to satisfy the request.

26. A method for a service provider application process executing on a service provider computer to respond to a request communicated from an end-user application process over the Internet, comprising:

receiving a communication from the end-user application process, the communication including a unique identifier assigned to the end-user application process during a subscription process and criteria for selecting a registered communication point; and

in response thereto,

validating the end-user application process,

selecting a registered communication point satisfying the criteria, and

redirecting communication from the selected communication point to the end-user application process.