Service Delivery in Networks

• US 20130151386A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malaviya, Viren, Oswal, Anand, Joshi, Kiritkumar B., Ukhalkar, Sanjeev, Atale, Aniruddha
• Application Number:
  US13/324,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A method for providing access to a service using a network is implemented by establishing an agreement between an enterprise and a network service provider administering a network. Based on establishing the agreement, information is received from the network service provider on network resources configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise. A request to access the service is received from a network device via the network. The identity of the user associated with the network device is verified. Based on successfully verifying the identity of the user, the network device is sent information on the network resources. A service connection is established between the network device and the enterprise using the network resources that are configured to enable access to the service. The network device is allowed access to the service over the service connection.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a service using a network, the method comprising:

establishing an agreement between an enterprise and a network service provider administering a network, wherein the enterprise is associated with a system including a processor configured for providing a service;

based on establishing the agreement, receiving from the network service provider information on network resources that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

receiving, from a network device via the network, a service request to access the service provided by the enterprise;

verifying an identity of a user associated with the network device;

based on successfully verifying the identity of the user, determining the network resources associated with the network service provider of the network device that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

sending the network device information on the network resources;

establishing a service connection between the network device and the enterprise using the network resources indicated in the network device information; and

allowing the network device access to the service provided by the enterprise over the service connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service request includes credentials of a user associated with the network device and information on the network service provider of the network device such that

the identity of the user is verified based on the credentials included in the service request, and

the network service provider of the network device is identified using the information included in the service request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a wireless network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network service provider is a cellular network service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the network resources includes an Access Point Name (APN).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the agreement is a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving from the network service provider information on network resources that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise comprises:

generating an application to include information associated with the network resources, wherein the application is configured to be used on a plurality of network devices; and

providing information on the application on a website.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the network device access to the service provided by the enterprise over the service connection comprises allowing the network device access to the service without constraints of a data plan that is provided to the network device by the network service provider.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the agreement includes an arrangement between the enterprise and the network service provider for managing a financial cost of allowing the network device access to the service without billing the user associated with the network device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the network device access to the service provided by the enterprise over the service connection comprises providing the network device with a consistent quality of service (QoS) while accessing the service provided by the enterprise.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling an application on the network device, wherein the application is configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

establishing, using the application, a first connection between the network device and the enterprise;

sending to the enterprise, using the application and over the first connection, a request to access the service provided by the enterprise;

receiving from the enterprise, information on the network resources associated with the network service provider of the network device that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

based on receiving the information on the network resources, establishing, using the application, a service connection between the network device and the enterprise, wherein the service connection is established using network resources indicated in the information; and

accessing, using the application and over the service connection, the service provided by the enterprise.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

downloading the application on to the network device from a website associated with the enterprise, wherein the application is provided on the website by the enterprise.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on establishing the agreement, configuring one or more network resources included in the network for enabling service connections to the enterprise;

determining a limit on network devices for which service connections to the enterprise may be enabled at a same time;

sending information on the one or more configured network resources to the enterprise;

receiving a connection request from a network device to establish a service connection to the enterprise using at least one of the configured network resources;

determining whether a number of network devices with enabled service connections to the enterprise are at the limit;

based on determining that the number of network devices with enabled service connections to the enterprise are below the limit, enabling a service connection between the network device and the enterprise using at least one of the configured network resources, wherein the service connection enables network traffic exchange without constraints of a data plan provided to the network device by the network service provider; and

charging the enterprise for a cost of the network traffic exchanged over the service connection.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

based on determining that the number of network devices with enabled service connections to the enterprise are at the limit, denying the connection request from the network device such that a service connection from the network device to the enterprise is not enabled.

15. A method for providing access to a service using a network, the method comprising:

establishing, by an enterprise, an agreement with a network service provider administering a network, wherein the enterprise is associated with a system including a processor configured for providing a service;

based on establishing the agreement, receiving a subscriber identity module (SIM) card from the network service provider, wherein the SIM card includes information on network resources associated with the network service provider that are configured based on the agreement for enabling access to the service provided by the enterprise; and

providing the SIM card to a user for enabling the user to access the service provided by the enterprise.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

inserting, by the user, the SIM card into a network device associated with the user;

based on information included in the SIM card, determining the network resources associated with the network service provider that are configured for enabling access to the service provided by the enterprise;

establishing a service connection between the network device and the enterprise using the network resources; and

accessing, using the network device and over the service connection, the service provided by the enterprise,

wherein, based on the agreement, the service is accessed without constraints of a data plan provided to the network device by the network service provider, and the enterprise is charged for a cost of network traffic exchanged over the service connection.

17. A method for providing access to a service using a network, the method comprising:

establishing an agreement between an enterprise and a network service provider administering a wireline network, wherein the enterprise is associated with a system including a processor configured for providing a service;

receiving at a name server associated with the wireline network, a service connection request from a network device to a server associated with the enterprise, wherein the connection request includes an address for the server;

responsive to receiving the connection request, sending an answer record from the name server, wherein the answer record includes additional data for configuring the connection based on the agreement;

establishing the service connection through a router associated with the wireline network, wherein the router is configured, based on the additional data included in the answer record, to allow network traffic over the service connection without constraints of a data plan provided to the network device by the network service provider; and

charging the enterprise for a cost of the network traffic exchanged over the service connection.

18. A computer program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium and including instructions executable by a processor, the instructions operable to cause the processor to perform functions including:

establishing an agreement between an enterprise providing a service and a network service provider administering a network;

based on establishing the agreement, receiving from the network service provider information on network resources that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

receiving, from a network device via the network, a service request to access the service provided by the enterprise;

verifying an identity of a user associated with the network device;

based on successfully verifying the identity of the user, determining the network resources associated with the network service provider of the network device that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

sending the network device information on the network resources;

establishing a service connection between the network device and the enterprise using the network resources indicated in the network device information; and

allowing the network device access to the service provided by the enterprise over the service connection.

19. A computer program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium and including instructions executable by a processor, the instructions operable to cause the processor to perform functions including:

enabling an application on a network device, wherein the application is configured to enable access to a service provided by an enterprise;

establishing, using the application, a first connection between the network device and the enterprise;

sending to the enterprise, using the application and over the first connection, a request to access the service provided by the enterprise;

receiving from the enterprise, information on network resources associated with a network service provider of the network device that are configured to enable access to the service provided by the enterprise;

based on receiving the information on the network resources, establishing, using the application, a service connection between the network device and the enterprise, wherein the service connection is established using network resources indicated in the information; and

accessing, using the application and over the service connection, the service provided by the enterprise.

20. A computer program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium and including instructions executable by a processor, the instructions operable to cause the processor to perform functions including:

establishing an agreement between a network service provider administering a network and an enterprise providing a service;

based on establishing the agreement, configuring one or more network resources included in the network for enabling service connections to the enterprise;

determining a limit on network devices for which service connections to the enterprise may be enabled at a same time;

sending information on the one or more configured network resources to the enterprise;

receiving a connection request from a network device to establish a service connection to the enterprise using at least one of the configured network resources;

determining whether a number of network devices with enabled service connections to the enterprise are at the limit;

based on determining that the number of network devices with enabled service connections to the enterprise are below the limit, enabling a service connection between the network device and the enterprise using at least one of the configured network resources, wherein the service connection enables network traffic exchange without constraints of a data plan provided to the network device by the network service provider; and

charging the enterprise for a cost of the network traffic exchanged over the service connection.