Methods and arrangements for distributing services and/or programs in a network environment

• US 6,578,075 B1
• Filed: 02/24/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: More Magic Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: More Magic Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Nieminen, Mika P., Rinkinen, Jorma, Kalpio, Karri
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Application Number:
  US09/214,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 709/203, 709/206, 709/228, 709/315, 709/221, 709/227, 713/201, 717/11
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and systems for distributing a user interface for communications and/or services available in a communications network, wherein the user interface is independent from the terminal and/or applications. The method includes requesting an access to a least one desired service by a terminal, identifying the type of the requesting terminal, identifying and selecting the desired services, establishing a customized connection between the requested services and the requesting terminal on a basis of the identifying, and delivering at least one service program, dependent on the type of terminal and the requested service to the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a user interface for communications and/or service or services available in a communications network, wherein said user interface is independent from used terminal and/or used application or applications, said method comprising the steps of:

requesting an access to at least one desired service by said terminal,

identifying the type of said terminal requesting said desired service by said access request and the connection and transfer rate used by the terminal for requesting the access,

identifying and selecting the requested desired service,

establishing a customized connection between the requested service and said terminal on a basis of said identifying of the type of the terminal and the connection and transfer rate used by the terminal and the requested desired service,

delivering at least one service program dependent from the type of the terminal and the requested service to said terminal from a Connection Manager for the duration of the established customized connection,

whereafter said service program is used in the terminal for implementing the requested desired service during the established connection, and

closing the connection between the Connection Manager and the terminal whereby the connection instance becomes invalidated.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises either automatically accomplished identification of said terminal or, in case the automatic identification cannot be accomplished or is not sufficient, sending of a specific identification program to said terminal.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the specific identification program is individually customized for each individual connection between said terminal and said Connection Manager on the basis of the results of the initial identification.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data to be transferred from the Connection manager to the terminal is defined on basis of the information provided by the identifying step so as to be compatible with the terminal.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said selection of the service to be delivered to the terminal is further based on individual preferences and parameters of the user.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising overall management and/or monitoring of the communications and the state thereof between said terminal and the service during the entire duration of the connection.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising provision of value added services, said value added services including billing services, by the Connection Manager.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising steps for creating a user agent for such connections and/or terminals which are not capable of handling the requested service programs, and thereafter executing said service program by the user agent in the Connection Manager instead of said terminal.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step for sending a client program from the Connection Manager to the terminal.

11. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step of producing of at least a part of the features of various services by means of the Connection Manager.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step for linking at least two Connection Managers together.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step for removing or invalidating all programs delivered to the terminal from the Connection Manager at the time or after the connection is released.

2. A method for distributing services to a client terminal comprising the steps of:

requesting a certain service by the client terminal,

identifying the client terminal and the type of the connection and transfer rate used by the terminal,

establishing a customized connection between the client terminal and a Connection Manager based on said request and the connection and transfer rate used by the client terminal for requesting the service,

generating in said Connection Manager a terminal profile on the basis of the identification,

selecting a customized service program among a plurality of possibilities for a service program capable of executing said requested service on the basis of said terminal profile,

delivering said customized service program to said terminal from the Connection Manager,

whereafter said service program is used in the client terminal for implementing the desired service during the established connection, and

closing the connection between the Connection Manager and the client terminal, whereby the connection instance becomes invalidated.

19. A method according to claim 2, wherein the identifying step comprises either automatically accomplished identification of said terminal or, in case the automatic identification cannot be accomplished or is not sufficient, sending of a specific identification program to said terminal.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the specific identification program is individually customized for each individual connection between said terminal and said Connection Manager on the basis of the results of the initial identification.

21. A method according to claim 2, wherein the data to be transferred from the Connection manager to the terminal is defined on basis of the information provided by the identifying step so as to be compatible with the terminal.

22. A method according to claim 2, wherein said selection of the service to be delivered to the terminal is further based on individual preferences and parameters of the user.

23. A method according to claim 2, further comprising overall management and/or monitoring of the communications and the state thereof between said terminal and the service during the entire duration of the connection.

24. A method according to claim 2, further comprising provision of value added services, said value added services including billing services, by the Connection Manager.

25. A method according to claim 2, further comprising steps for creating an user agent for such connections and/or terminals which are not capable of handling the requested service programs, and thereafter executing said service program by the user agent in the Connection Manager instead of said terminal.

26. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step for sending a client program from the Connection Manager to the terminal.

27. A method according to claim 2, comprising a step of producing of at least a part of the features of various services by the Connection Manager.

28. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step for linking at least two Connection Managers together.

29. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step for removing or invalidating all programs delivered to the terminal from the Connection Manager at the time or after the connection is released.

14. A system for distributing a user interface for communications and/or service or services of a communications network, wherein said user interface is independent from used terminal and/or used application or applications, said arrangement comprising:

a terminal for requesting an access to at least one desired service and for executing said service,

a Connection Manager arranged to identify the type of the terminal and transfer rate of the terminal requesting said service on a basis of the access request and the connection and transfer rate established between the terminal and the Connection Manager, to identify and select the requested desired service, to establish a customized connection between the requested service and the terminal on basis of said identification and requested desired service, and to deliver at least one service program dependent from the type of the terminal, used connections, and the requested service to said terminal for the duration of the established customized connection, wherein the arrangement is such that said service program is used in the terminal for implementing the requested service during the established connection and that closing of the connection between the Connection Manager and the terminal, invalidates the connection instance.

16. A system according to claim 14, the Connection manager comprising

an interface towards various services,

an interface towards said terminal, and

an adapter for adapting the service program(s) such that the service program(s) become(s) compatible with the terminal.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the adapter comprises a further external adapter arranged to convert the service specific protocol messages to be compatible with the internal data structures of the Connection Manager and an internal adapter arranged to enable the Connection Manager to communicate with various kinds of services and service programs through various kinds of connections and/or protocols.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the adapter is arranged to store a state of the connection.

15. A system for distributing services to clients in a communications network, comprising:

client terminal for requesting and using a certain service,

a Connection Manager for identifying the client terminal on basis of the request and a type of connection and transfer rate used for the request, generating a terminal profile for selecting a customized service program among a plurality of possibilities for a service program capable of executing said requested service on the basis of said terminal profile and transfer rate, establishing a customized connection between the terminal and the Connection Manager based on the terminal profile and the requested service, and delivering said customized service program to said terminal, wherein the arrangement is such that said service program is used in the terminal for implementing the service during the established connection and that closing of the connection between the Connection Manager and the terminal invalidates the connection instance.

30. A system according to claim 15, the Connection manager comprising an interface towards various services,

an interface towards said terminal, and

an adapter for adapting the service program(s) such that the service program(s) become(s) compatible with the terminal.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the adapter comprises a further external adapter arranged to convert the service specific protocol messages to be compatible with the internal data structures of the Connection Manager and an internal adapter arranged to enable the Connection Manager to communicate with various kinds of services and service programs through various kinds of connections and/or protocols.

32. A system according to claim 30, wherein the adapter is arranged to store a state of the connection.