System and method for service naming and related directory structure in a mobile data network

• US 7,305,252 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Siren, Ritva, Maion, Jean-Francois, Britt, Lysaa
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/730,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/556.2, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 709/228, 709/227, 709/217
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

In response to a request by a mobile terminal for an information resource associated with a generic service name, one wireless network provides an IP address for a first provider of information. Another wireless network, in response to the same generic service name, provides an IP address for a different information provider. Other wireless networks will provide addresses for still other providers. Upper level generic service names include one or more hierarchically-arranged lower levels of generic service names. This tree of generic service names is used to create, in a consistent manner in different wireless networks, a generic directory of accessible information resources. In certain embodiments, a mobile terminal determines its location and provides location information with (or in connection with) a generic service name.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

submitting a first generic service name to a first wireless network that stores a hierarchical generic service name tree containing a plurality of generic service names each associated with a default Internet information resource, wherein a first subset of said generic service names is mapped in said tree to a plurality of associated default Internet information resources by said first wireless network, and wherein a second subset of said service names is mapped in said tree to a plurality of non-default Internet information resources by said first wireless network, thereby overriding said default associations for said second subset of service names within said first wireless network;

accessing, in response to said submission, a default Internet information resource mapped to the first generic service name by the first wireless network;

submitting the first generic service name to a second wireless network; and

accessing, in response to said submission to the second wireless network, a non-default Internet information resource mapped to the first generic service name by the second wireless network, the non-default Internet information resource being distinct from the default information resource mapped to the first generic service name by the first wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

submitting a first generic service name comprises appending location-specific data to the first generic service name.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the location-specific data comprises at least one of a Cell ID or an Area ID.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the location-specific data comprises a Cell ID and an Area ID.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first wireless network maps said first generic service name to a default Internet information resource based on the appended location-specific data, and wherein the second wireless network does not map said first generic service name to an Internet information resource based on the appended location-specific data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said mobile terminal automatically receiving at least a portion of said tree upon entering a coverage area of, and commencing wireless communication with, the first wireless network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

said mobile terminal receiving an update of generic service names while in wireless communication with the first wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second generic service names are upper level generic service names in a generic service name tree, and

the generic service name tree comprises multiple hierarchically arranged lower levels of generic service names.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

each of a plurality of generic service names in the tree is associated with a default information resource,

displaying, upon selection of the at least one generic service name, a language-specific generic service name having an associated language matching a preferred language setting of the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

a sub-subset of service names in the first subset is also in the second subset, and

each of multiple service names in the sub-subset is mapped to an information resource by the first wireless network distinct from the information resource mapped to the service name by the second wireless network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one generic service name has a plurality of corresponding language-specific generic service names, and

each of the language-specific generic service names has an associated language, and said method further comprising;

a communications interface configured to provide two-way communication via a wireless network between the apparatus and other locations;

an input device;

a processor; and

a memory, the memory having stored thereon machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following;

storing a plurality of generic service names,

receiving a user selection of an information category corresponding to a first of the plurality of generic service names,

transmitting, to a first wireless network, a request for a sub-level of generic service names assigned to the information category,

receiving, from the first wireless network in response to the request, a list of generic services names of the sub-level,

displaying a plurality of said generic service names of the sub-level,

receiving a user selection of one of the sub-level generic service names,

transmitting the selected sub-level generic service name via wireless communication link with the first wireless network,

accessing, in response to transmission of the selected sub-level generic service name via the wireless communication link with the first wireless network, a first Internet information resource,

receiving a user selection of an information category corresponding to a second of the plurality of generic service names,

transmitting the second generic service name via the wireless communication link with the first wireless network,

accessing, in response to transmission of the second generic service name via the wireless communication link with the first wireless network, a second Internet information resource,

receiving a user reselection of an information category corresponding to the first or second of the plurality of generic service names,

transmitting the generic service name corresponding to the reselected category via a wireless communication link with a second wireless network,

accessing, in response to transmission of the corresponding generic service name, a third Internet information resource, the third Internet information resource being different from the first or second Internet information resources;

wherein the first and second generic service names are upper level generic service names in a generic service name tree that comprises multiple hierarchically arranged lower levels of generic service names;

each of a plurality of generic service names in the tree is associated with a default information resource,

each generic service name in a first subset of the plurality is mapped by the first wireless network to a distinct non-default information resource,

each generic service name in a second subset of the plurality is mapped by the second wireless network to a distinct non-default information resource, and

the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising;

transmitting a generic service name of the first subset to the first wireless network,

accessing, in response to said transmission, the non-default information resource mapped to said first subset generic service name by the first wireless network,

transmitting to the first wireless network a third generic service name not mapped by the first wireless network to a non-default information resource, and

accessing the default information resource associated with the third generic service name.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein data identifying the associated language for each of the language-specific generic service names is stored in a Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) record.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless network are in the same geographic area, and wherein the first, second and third Internet information resources are unrelated to location of the mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second wireless networks and at least one additional wireless network are members of a plurality of wireless networks,

the first generic service name is included in a collection of generic service names, and

each generic service name of the collection is mapped by at least one of the plurality of wireless networks to an Internet information resource distinct from a resource mapped to said generic service name by at least one of the remaining wireless networks of the plurality.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

each generic service name in a first subset of the plurality is mapped by the first wireless network to a distinct non-default information resource, and

each generic service name in a second subset of the plurality is mapped by the second wireless network to a distinct non-default information resource, and further comprising;

submitting a generic service name of the first subset to the first wireless network;

accessing, in response to said submission, the non-default information resource mapped to said first subset generic service name by the first wireless network;

submitting to the first wireless network a third generic service name not mapped by the first wireless network to a non-default information resource; and

accessing the default information resource associated with the third generic service name.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

transmitting a first selected sub-level generic service name comprises appending location-specific data to the first selected sub-level generic service name,

transmitting a second generic service name comprises appending location-specific data to the second generic service name, and

transmitting one of the first selected sub-level generic service or second generic service names comprises appending location-specific data to said one of the first selected sub-level or second generic service names.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the location-specific data comprises at least one of a Cell ID or an Area ID.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the location-specific data comprises a Cell ID and an Area ID.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

receiving the stored plurality of generic service names from the first wireless network after commencing wireless communication with the first wireless network.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

receiving an update of the stored plurality of generic service names while in wireless communication with the first wireless network.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

a sub-subset of service names in the first subset is also in the second subset, and

each of multiple service names in the sub-subset is mapped to an information resource by the first wireless network distinct from the information resource mapped to the service name by the second wireless network.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a display screen, and wherein:

at least one generic service name has a plurality of corresponding language-specific generic service names,

each of the language-specific generic service names has an associated language, and

the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following;

displaying, upon selection of an information category corresponding to the at least one generic service name, a language-specific generic service name having an associated language matching a preferred language setting stored in the memory.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

transmitting data identifying the preferred language setting, and

receiving only language-specific generic service names having an associated language matching the preferred language setting.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

transmitting data identifying the preferred language setting,

receiving a set of language-specific generic service names comprising service names having an associated language matching the preferred language setting and service names having an associated language not matching the preferred language setting, and

displaying information corresponding to the service names of the set having an associated language matching the preferred language setting without displaying information corresponding to the service names of the set having an associated language not matching the preferred language setting.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a display screen, and wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

displaying on the display screen a plurality of information categories, each of the displayed information categories corresponding to one of the generic service names, and

displaying on the display screen, subsequent to receiving a user selection of a displayed information category, an Internet information resource mapped by the first wireless network to the generic service name corresponding to the selected displayed category.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

accessing, upon receipt of a user selection of a location-dependent information category, a source of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate data,

retrieving from said GPS source coordinate data for the current location of the apparatus, and

transmitting the retrieved coordinate data to the first wireless network with the generic service name corresponding to the selected location-dependent category.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

accessing, upon receipt of a user selection of a location-dependent information category, a source of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate data,

retrieving from said GPS source coordinate data for the current location of the apparatus,

accessing a data source mapping the GPS coordinate data to a geographic area comprising at least one of a country, city, or town,

rewriting a generic service name corresponding to the selected location-dependent category to include a description of the geographic area, and

transmitting the rewritten generic service name to the first wireless network.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory has stored thereon additional machine-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform the following:

transmitting a generic service name to the first wireless network,

receiving from the first wireless network a request for coordinate location data for the apparatus,

accessing, upon receipt of the request, a source of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinate data,

retrieving from said GPS source coordinate data for the current location of the apparatus, and

transmitting the retrieved coordinate data to the first wireless network.

29. A server comprising:

a memory;

a communications interface coupled to a wireless communication network; and

a processor configured to perform the following;

storing a first plurality of generic service names in a database in the memory, each generic service name in the first plurality being mapped to multiple distinct Internet information

each generic service name in the first plurality is mapped to multiple Internet information resources based upon different combinations of the generic service name, values for a Cell ID and values for an Area ID,

each generic service name in a third plurality is mapped to multiple Internet information resources based upon different combinations of the generic service name and values for an Area ID,

the processor is configured to receive communications from mobile terminals via the communications interface, each communication containing a generic service name of the first, second or third plurality appended to a value for a Cell ID and a value for an Area ID,

mobile terminals communicating a generic service name from the first plurality are directed to an Internet information resource based on the combination of the generic service name and the Cell ID and Area ID values in the communication, and

the processor is further configured to provide, in response to each of the communications from mobile terminals containing a generic service name from the third plurality, direction to the resource mapped to the combination of the generic service name and Area ID value in the communication.

30. The server of claim 29, wherein:

each of the generic service names of the first plurality is mapped to multiple distinct Internet information resources based on different combinations of the generic service name, language preferences and values for at least one of a Cell ID and an Area ID,

the processor is configured to receive communications from mobile terminals containing a generic service name of the first plurality appended to a language preference and to a value for at least one of a Cell ID or an Area ID, and

the processor is configured to provide, in response to each of the communications from mobile terminals containing a generic service name of the first plurality, direction to the resource mapped to the combination of the generic service name, language preference and Cell ID or Area ID value in the communication.

31. The server of claim 29, wherein the server is a localized DNS.

32. The server of claim 29, wherein the server is a localized web server.

33. The server of claim 29, wherein:

resources based upon different combinations of the generic service name and values for at least one of a Cell ID and an Area ID,

storing a second plurality of generic service names in a database in the memory,

each generic service name in the second plurality being mapped to a single distinct Internet information resource without regard to a value for a Cell ID or an Area ID,

receiving communications from mobile terminals via the communications interface, each communication containing a generic service name of the first or second plurality appended to a value for at least one of a Cell ID and an Area ID,

providing, in response to each of the communications from mobile terminals containing a generic service name of the first plurality, direction to the resource mapped to the combination of the generic service name and Cell ID or Area ID value in the communication,

providing, in response to each of the communications from mobile terminals containing a generic service name of the second plurality, direction to the resource mapped to the generic service name,

detecting a discovery request in a communication received from a requesting mobile terminal, said discovery request accompanied by an identification of a category of information, and

in response to detecting said discovery request, providing a multi-level hierarchical directory of generic service names to said requesting mobile terminal for display to a user.

34. A server comprising:

a memory;

a communications interface coupled to a wireless communication network; and

a processor configured to perform the following;

storing a plurality of generic service names in a database in the memory, each of the generic service names being mapped to a plurality of alternate information resources in a plurality of different languages, wherein said alternate information resources provide a common type of service, and further wherein a generic service name mapped to a non-default information resource has overridden a generic service name mapped to a default information resource,

receiving a request from a mobile terminal, via the communications interface, containing one of the plurality of generic service names and a language preference,

consulting said database to identify an alternate information resource that is mapped to said one of the plurality of generic service names and that is in a language corresponding to said language preference, and

providing, in response to said request, direction to said identified alternate information resource.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein said server is configured to automatically supply a portion of said plurality of generic service names to mobile terminals that enter into an area of wireless coverage of said server.

36. The server of claim 35, wherein said server is configured to automatically expand a selected generic service name in response to a user request.

37. A machine-readable medium storing machine-executable instructions for performing the following:

providing a user with an option of transmitting a discovery command requesting that a transmitted generic service name be resolved into a plurality of sub-level generic service names mapped to said transmitted generic service name by a wireless network receiving said discovery command;

providing a user with an option of transmitting a go command requesting that a transmitted generic service name be resolved into an Internet address by a wireless network receiving said go command;

submitting a first generic service name and a discovery command to a first wireless network and receiving in response a plurality of sub-level generic service names mapped to said first generic service name by said first wireless network;

submitting a second generic service name and a go command to said first wireless network and receiving in response a first Internet address mapped to said second generic service name by said first wireless network;

submitting said second generic service name and a go command to a second wireless network and receiving in response a second Internet address mapped to said second generic service name by said second wireless network, said first and second Internet addresses being different from one another;

wherein said plurality of sub-level generic service names includes a first subset of generic service names common to a plurality of wireless networks, and a second subset of non-default generic service names overridden by said first wireless network to override a default mapping of service names in said second subset.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

submitting a first generic service name comprises appending location-specific data to the first generic service name.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the location-specific data comprises at least one of a Cell ID or an Area ID.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the location-specific data comprises a Cell ID and an Area ID.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, comprising further machine-executable instructions for performing the following:

receiving a plurality of generic service names from the first wireless network after commencing wireless communication with the first wireless network.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 41, comprising further machine-executable instructions for performing the following:

receiving an update of generic service names while in wireless communication with the first wireless network.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

at least one generic service name has a plurality of corresponding language-specific generic service names, and

each of the language-specific generic service names has an associated language, and comprising further machine-executable instructions for performing the following;

displaying, upon selection of the at least one generic service name, one or more language-specific generic service names having an associated language matching a preferred language setting of a mobile terminal.

44. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said second subset of non-default generic service names are mapped to distinct information sources.

45. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein said machine-readable medium is a memory.