Method and apparatus for managing the provisioning of client devices connected to an interactive TV network
First Claim
1. A system for managing the intercommunication of provisioning-related data between interconnected provisioning systems in an interactive television (ITV) network, the system comprising:
- an ITV Provisioning Manager device having a plurality of interfaces;
a plurality of ITV Network Components, the plurality of ITV Network Components including an IP provisioning system, a subscriber management billing system, an ITV service server, and a customer service center;
each of the ITV Network Components having an associated provisioning system, wherein the associated provisioning systems of the ITV Network Components are individually connected to respective ones of the interfaces of the ITV Provisioning Manager device in order for the associated provisioning systems of the ITV Network Components and the ITV Provisioning Manager device to communicate provisioning-related data with one another for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV Network Components; and
an ITV Client Device having an associated provisioning system connected to at least one of the ITV Network Components in order for provisioning-related data to be communicated between the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device and the ITV Network Manager device via the associated provisioning system of the at least one of the ITV Network Components connected to the ITV Client Device for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV Client Device;
wherein the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device is individually connected to a respective one of the interfaces of the ITV Provisioning Manager device in order for the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device and the ITV Provisioning Manager device to communicate provisioning-related data directly with one another for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV client device, wherein the ITV Client Device is associated with a subscriber of the ITV network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing the provisioning of an client device connected to a service distribution network, such as an interactive television service-providing network. Provisioning is managed by a provisioning manager that knows the specific provisioning data to collect and where the data is located and is to be forwarded. The provisioning manager thus acts as an intelligent provisioning data traffic manager by performing as a central collection and dissemination point for the provisioning data and directing provisioning data flows between a billing system, IP data network, server complex and/or other network systems.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for managing the intercommunication of provisioning-related data between interconnected provisioning systems in an interactive television (ITV) network, the system comprising:
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an ITV Provisioning Manager device having a plurality of interfaces;
a plurality of ITV Network Components, the plurality of ITV Network Components including an IP provisioning system, a subscriber management billing system, an ITV service server, and a customer service center;
each of the ITV Network Components having an associated provisioning system, wherein the associated provisioning systems of the ITV Network Components are individually connected to respective ones of the interfaces of the ITV Provisioning Manager device in order for the associated provisioning systems of the ITV Network Components and the ITV Provisioning Manager device to communicate provisioning-related data with one another for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV Network Components; and
an ITV Client Device having an associated provisioning system connected to at least one of the ITV Network Components in order for provisioning-related data to be communicated between the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device and the ITV Network Manager device via the associated provisioning system of the at least one of the ITV Network Components connected to the ITV Client Device for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV Client Device;
wherein the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device is individually connected to a respective one of the interfaces of the ITV Provisioning Manager device in order for the associated provisioning system of the ITV Client Device and the ITV Provisioning Manager device to communicate provisioning-related data directly with one another for the ITV Provisioning Manager device to manage provisioning of the ITV client device, wherein the ITV Client Device is associated with a subscriber of the ITV network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interactive television (ITV) provisioning apparatus for managing the intercommunication of provisioning-related data between interconnected provisioning systems in an ITV network, the ITV network including a plurality of ITV network components with each ITV network component having an associated provisioning system, wherein the ITV network components include an IP provisioning system, a subscriber management billing system, an ITV service server, and a customer service center, the ITV provisioning apparatus comprising:
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a data storage device for storing provisioning-related data;
a plurality of provisioning message interfaces, each of the provisioning message interfaces being operable to be individually connected to respective provisioning systems associated with the ITV network components;
an operator interface;
a controller, connected with the data storage device, the provisioning message interfaces, and the operator interface, that transmits and receives provisioning-related data messages, via the provisioning message interfaces, to and from the provisioning systems associated with the ITV network components to manage provisioning of the ITV network components, and stores a record of said data messages in the data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification