Architecture for multiple channel access to applications

• US 6,961,776 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Barake, Antoine, Buckingham, Ronald Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARQADLE, YASIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/742,347
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/230, 709/231, 709/232, 709/246, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 370/466
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications

Abstract

A system for enabling multiple types of end user devices to access an Internet-based application, the system comprising: an AMI component communicating with the application; a DMI component communicating with the devices; a broker module communicating with the DMI component and with the AMI component, wherein the DMI component converts end data received from the broker module into a format suitable for the devices; the DMI component transmits replies to prompts from the broker module based on an end user'"'"'s input into the devices; the broker module emulates a sequence of events and decisions followed by the application; the broker module requests application data from the AMI component based on the broker module emulating the application; the AMI component receives requests from the broker module and transmits replies to the requests to the broker module based on original data from the application, the broker module transmits end date to the DMI component, the end data being based on at least one factor chosen from the group comprising: the broker module'"'"'s emulation of the application; and application data received from the AMI component.

Claims

1. A system for enabling multiple types of end user devices to access multiple Internet-based applications through the internet, said system comprising:

an Application Mediation Interface (AMI) component for communicating with said Internet-based applications through the internet;

a Device Mediation Interface (DMI) component for communicating with said end user devices; and

a broker module for communicating with said DMI component and with said AMI component,

wherein,

said DMI component converts end data received from said broker module into a format suitable for an end user device;

said DMI component transmits replies to prompts from said broker module based on an end user'"'"'s input into said end user device;

said broker module emulates a sequence of events and decisions followed by an Internet-based application;

said broker module requests application data from said AMI component based on said broker module emulating said Internet-based application;

said AMI component receives requests from said broker module and transmits replies to said requests to said broker module based on original data from said application,

said broker module transmits end data to said DMI component, said end data being based on at least one factor chosen from the group comprising;

said broker module'"'"'s emulation of said Internet-based application; and

application data received from said AMI component.

2. A system as in claim 1 further including a session manager for managing a session between an end user device and said an Internet-based application, said session manager storing variables and data received from said application by said AMI component.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said session manager is internal to said AMI component.

4. A system as in claim 1 further including an authentication manager for determining whether an end user device requesting access to an Internet-based application is entitled to said access.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said DMI component is connectable to said multiple types of end user devices, said DMI component for communicating with each of said end user devices which each require different data formats.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said broker module includes multiple brokers separate from one another.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein one of said multiple brokers corresponds to one of said multiple Internet-based applications, one of said multiple brokers being for:

requesting application data to said AMI component;

emulating a sequence of events and decisions followed by one of said Internet-based applications; and

transmitting end data to said DMI component.

8. A method of enabling multiple types of end user devices to access multiple Internet-based applications through the internet, said method comprising the steps of:

emulating a sequence of events and decisions followed by an Internet-based application at a broker module;

requesting application data from an Application Mediation Interface (AMI) component based on an emulation of said Internet-based application by said broker module, said AMI component communicating with said Internet-based application;

transmitting application data requested to said broker module from said Internet-based application, said application data being based on original data received from said Internet-based application by said AMI component;

transmitting end data to a Device Mediation Interface (DMI) component, said end data being based on at least one factor chosen from the group comprising;

said broker module'"'"'s emulation of said Internet-based application; and

application data received from said AMI component; and

converting said end data at said DMI component into a format suitable for an end user device communicating with said DMI component.

9. A method as in claim 8, further including the step of:

authenticating an end user device to determine whether an end user is allowed to access said Internet-based application, said step of authenticating being accomplished by an authentication manager.

10. A method as in claim 8, further including the step of:

managing a session between an end user device and an Internet-based application by storing variables and data received from said Internet-based application by said AMI component, said step of managing being accomplished by a session manager.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein said broker module includes multiple brokers separate from one another, said steps of emulating a sequence of events and decisions, requesting application data, transmitting application data requested and transmitting end data to said DMI component are accomplished by one of said multiple brokers.

12. A method for the integration of end user devices for accessing Internet-based applications, said method comprising the steps of:

providing multiple Internet-based applications;

providing multiple types of end user devices for accessing the multiple Internet-based applications through the internet;

emulating a sequence of events and decisions followed by an Internet-based application at a broker module;

requesting application data from an Application Mediation Interface (AMI) component based on an emulation of said Internet-based application by said broker module, said AMI component communicating with said Internet-based application;

transmitting application data requested to said broker module from said Internet-based application, said application data being based on original data received from said Internet-based application by said AMI component;

transmitting end data to a Device Mediation Interface (DMI) component, said end data being based on at least one factor chosen from the group comprising;

said broker module'"'"'s emulation of said Internet-based application, and

application data received from said AMI component; and

converting said end data at said DMI component into a format suitable for an end user device communicating with said DMI component.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said multiple types of end user devices are chosen from the group comprising:

a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) enabled mobile device;

a personal digital assistant (PDA) device;

a palmtop device; and

a public switched telephone network (PSTN) device.

14. A method as in claim 12 further including the step of:

authenticating an end user device to determine whether a corresponding end user is allowed to access said Internet-based application, said step of authenticating being accomplished by an authentication manager.

15. A method as in claim 12, further including the step of:

managing a session between an end user device and an Internet-based application by storing variables and data received from said Internet-based application by said AMI component, said step of managing is accomplished by a session manager.

16. A method as in claim 12, wherein said broker module includes multiple brokers separate from one another, said steps of emulating a sequence of events and decisions, requesting application data, transmitting application data requested and transmitting end data to said DMI component are accomplished by one of said multiple brokers.