Method of improving access to services provided by a plurality of remote service providers

• US 6,957,260 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mighdoll, Lee S., Goldman, Phillip Y., Perlman, Stephen G., Leak, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PRIETO, BEATRIZ
• Application Number:
  US10/037,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709217-219, 709/225, 709/229, 709231-232, 709/236, 710 39- 40, 707/1, 707/500, 713/155, 713/170
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/40 using video transcoding, i.e. partial or full decoding of a coded input stream followed by re-encoding of the decoded output stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/46 Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2356 by altering the spatial resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 : Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 : e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 : involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A server system provides a client system with access to a number of services. For each service, if a given service provider is overloaded or if the client is unable to contact that provider, the client can contact another service provider capable of providing the requested service. The server system provides information to the client system identifying a list of services that the server system provides. For each service in the list of services, the information may include a service name identifying the service, and a unique port identifying each service provider for that service, so that one service name can be used in accessing multiple service providers of a desired service. A request from the client may include a service name identifying the desired service, and a port selected from ports provided by the server system that corresponds to a service provider for the desired service.

Claims

1. For a server system comprising a plurality of remote service providers accessible to a plurality of client systems through a network, a computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method of improving access to any of one or more services provided by the plurality of remote service providers, the method comprising steps for:

at a log-in service, determining the validity of a log-in request received from a client system;

at the log-in service determining the validity of the log-in request, generating a list of one or more services that can be accessed by the client system, wherein the list of one or more services comprises one or more available service providers for the list of one or more services so that if an available service provider for a requested service becomes unavailable, the client system can look to any other available service provider that is listed for the requested service;

downloading to the client system the list of one or more services and the one or more available service providers for the list of one or more services so that the client system can use the downloaded list of one or more services in accessing the requested service;

at the requested service, specifying one or more additional services and one or more corresponding service providers, previously unknown to the client, that are available for client access; and

downloading, from the requested service, the identified one or more additional services and the one or more corresponding service providers to the client, such that the requested service introduces the one or more additional services to the client without involvement of the log-in service.

2. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of one or more services includes at least one of (i) a service name, (ii) a port identifier, and (iii) a protocol, for each service in the list of one or more services.

3. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the list is based at least in part on loading conditions at the one or more available service providers.

4. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step for updating the downloaded list of one or more services.

5. A computer program product as recited in claim 4, wherein updating the downloaded list of one or more services is based at least in part on at least one of (i) a service or service provider becoming unavailable, and (ii) a new service or service provider coming one line.

6. A computer program product as recited in claim 4, wherein updating the downloaded list of one or more services is based at least in part on loading conditions.

7. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of one or more services comprises at least two service entries, each having a unique name, and wherein the at least two service entries refer to the same service.

8. A computer program product as recited in claim 1, wherein the list of one or more services comprises an email service.

9. For a server system comprising a plurality of remote service providers accessible to a plurality of client systems through a network a computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method of improving access to any of one or more services provided by the plurality of remote service providers, the method comprising acts of:

at a log-in service, receiving a log-in request from a client system;

at the log-in service, creating a list of one or more services that can be accessed by the client system, and for each service in the list of one or more services, identifying one or more available service providers so that if an available service provider for a requested service becomes unavailable, the client system can look to any other available service provider that is listed for the requested service;

sending to the client system, the list of one or more services and the one or more available service providers for each of one or more services in the list so that the client system can use the list of one or more services in accessing the requested service, and thereby balancing workload;

at the requested service, identifying one or more additional services and one or more corresponding service providers, previously unknown to the client, that are available for client access; and

from the requested service, sending the identified one or more additional services and the one or more corresponding service providers to the client, such that the requested service introduces the one or more additional services to the client without involvement of the log-in service.

10. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the list of one or more services comprises at least one of (i) a service name, (ii) a port identifier, and (iii) a protocol, for each service in the list of one or more services.

11. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the list is based at least in part on loading conditions at the one or more available service providers.

12. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising an act of sending an updated list of one or more services to the client system.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein sending the updated list of one or more services is at least in part due to at least one of (i) a service or service provider becoming unavailable, and (ii) a new service or service provider coming one line.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein sending the updated list of one or more services is due at least in part to loading conditions.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the list of one or more services comprises at least two service entries, each having a unique name, and wherein the at least two service entries refer to the same service.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 9, wherein the list of one or more services comprises an email service.

17. For a networked computer system comprising a plurality of service providers that may be accessed by a plurality of client systems through a network, a computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method of balancing workload among the plurality of service providers, the method comprising acts of:

for a particular client system, identifying one or more services that can be accessed by the particular client system;

for each of the one or more services that can be accessed by the particular client system, identifying one or more available service providers based at least in part on loading conditions at the one or more available service providers;

creating a list comprising the one or more services and the one or more available service providers for each of the one or more services;

sending to the particular client system, the list comprising the one or more services and the one or more available service providers for each of one or more services so that the client system can use the list in accessing the one or more services;

at one of the one or more services in the list, identifying one or more additional services not included in the list and one or more corresponding service providers that are available to the particular client system for access; and

from the one service, sending the identified one or more additional services not included in the list and the one or more corresponding service providers to the particular client system, such that the one service introduces the one or more additional services not included in the list to the particular client system.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the list of one or more services comprises at least one of (i) a service name, (ii) a port identifier, and (iii) a protocol, for each service in the list of one or more services.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, the method further comprising an act of sending an updated list of one or more services to the particular client system.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein sending the updated list of one or more services is at least in part due to at least one of (i) a service or service provider becoming unavailable, and (ii) a new service or service provider coming one line.

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein sending the updated list of one or more services is due at least in part to dynamic loading conditions.

22. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the list of one or more services comprises at least two service entries, each having a unique name, and wherein the at least two service entries refer to the same service.

23. A computer program product as recited in claim 17, wherein the list of one or more services comprises an email service.