VERIFIABLE SERVICE POLICY IMPLEMENTATION FOR INTERMEDIATE NETWORKING DEVICES

• US 20120192249A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headwater Research LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Original Assignee: Headwater Partners I LLC (Greg Raleigh)
• Inventors: Raleigh, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0876 Aspects of the degree of configuration automation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 : Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 : Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 : by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 : Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/20 : Traffic policing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 : for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 : for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 : using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 : by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/145 : avoiding end of session, e.g. keep-alive, heartbeats, resumption message or wake-up for inactive or interrupted session
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 : Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 : based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 : Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8055 : Selecting cheaper transport technology for a given service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 : Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 : Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 : of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/37 : Managing security policies for mobile devices or for controlling mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/02 : Traffic management, e.g. flow control or congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 : based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 : using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 : using signalling between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 : using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 : Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 : Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 : Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning

Abstract

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, an intermediate networking device acts as a service intermediary or intermediate connection between a network and one or more communications devices; implements a service policy set for assisting control of the intermediate networking device use of a service set on the network, the service policy set including one or more service policies associated with the intermediate networking device or one or more communications devices connected to the intermediate networking device, the service set being one or more network services used by the intermediate networking device or one or more communications devices; and monitors use of the service set based on the first service policy set, in which the implementation of the service policy set is verified.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one processor of a first end user device, the first end user device capable of operating as an intermediate networking device, the at least one processor configured to;

use an intermediate networking device forwarding agent to forward traffic between a first access network and one or more other end user devices according to a trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy to implement an intermediate networking device forwarding service, the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy associated with one or more policy settings; and

provide a user interface to a first end user of the first end user device, the user interface capable of receiving a modification request to modify at least one of the one or more policy settings associated with the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy; and

memory coupled to the at least one processor and configured to provide the at least one processor with instructions.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to communicate a state of the intermediate networking device forwarding service to a network element.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more policy settings sets whether the intermediate networking device forwarding service is active.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end user device receives a component of the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy from a network element.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end user device receives a policy setting instruction from a network element.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end user device receives the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy over a secure channel.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first end user device includes a service usage monitor configured to detect when the intermediate networking device forwarding service might be useful to the user.

8. The system recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide a user notification when the service usage monitor detects that the intermediate networking device forwarding service might be useful to the user.

9. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to allow or disallow the intermediate networking device forwarding service.

10. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to notify a user when the intermediate networking device forwarding service is active.

11. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to notify a user when the intermediate networking device forwarding service is active over a roaming network.

12. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to implement a different intermediate networking device forwarding service characteristic in accordance with the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy based on whether the first end user device is connected to a home network or a roaming network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to implement a different intermediate networking device forwarding service characteristic in accordance with the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy based on identification information of a particular other end user device or identification information of a particular user of a particular one of the one or more other end user devices.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device agent, and wherein the device agent is configured to notify a user when one of the one or more other end user devices attempts to or succeeds in connecting to the intermediate networking device forwarding service of the first end user device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more policy settings is configured to establish whether one of the one or more other end user devices can use the intermediate networking device forwarding service.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor requires an authentication process before allowing modification of the at least one of the one or more policy settings.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to pass or redirect the traffic to one or more specific access network routing paths according to the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy is established as trusted at least in part by storing the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy in an environment secure from user or application modification.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy is established as trusted at least in part by verifying the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy as not including unauthorized code.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy is established as trusted at least in part by receiving the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy over a secure link, and verifying the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy using a signature, certificate, hash or version configuration.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding policy is established as trusted at least in part by examining its execution environment or its storage environment.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate networking device forwarding agent is trusted.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the intermediate networking device forwarding agent is established as trusted at least in part by storing the intermediate networking device forwarding agent in an environment secure from user or application modification.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding agent is established as trusted at least in part by using a secure loader to verify the trusted intermediate networking device forwarding agent using a signature, certificate, hash or version configuration.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more policy settings is trusted.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more policy settings is established as trusted at least in part by storing the one or more policy settings in an environment secure from unauthorized tampering.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more policy settings is established as trusted at least in part by verifying the one or more policy settings as not having been tampered with.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is also capable of providing the user with an offer to pay for enabling the intermediate networking device forwarding service, and requiring a user acknowledgement prior to enabling the intermediate networking device forwarding service.

29. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor notifies the user of an indication of an intermediate networking device forwarding service payment term.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the user acknowledgement is sent to a network element to indicate user acceptance of the payment term.