Subscription-based services

• US 7,535,927 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cappelle Networking DE LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cappelle Networking DE LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Northrup, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US11/062,256
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 370/469, 726/4, 709/218, 718/103
• US Class Current: 370/469
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44552 Conflict resolution, i.e. enabling coexistence of conflicting executables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a virtual network, sitting “above” the physical connectivity and thereby providing the administrative controls necessary to link various communication devices via an Access-Method-Independent Exchange. In this sense, the Access-Method-Independent Exchange can be viewed as providing the logical connectivity required. In accordance with the present invention, connectivity is provided by a series of communication primitives designed to work with each of the specific communication devices in use. As new communication devices are developed, primitives can be added to the Access-Method-Independent Exchange to support these new devices without changing the application source code. A Thread Communication Service is provided, along with a Binding Service to link Communication Points. A Thread Directory Service is available, as well as a Broker Service and a Thread Communication Switching Service. Intraprocess, as well as Interprocess, services are available. Dynamic Configuration Management and a Configurable Application Program Service provide software which can be commoditized, as well as upgraded while in operation.

Claims

1. A system for a service provider to provide a service to an end-user subscriber comprising:

a service provider application service configured for use on a service provider computer in the Internet to receive a request for an application service including a subscriber identifier, and in response thereto configured to validate the subscriber identifier, interact with a directory service which executes as a thread to select the application service that the subscriber has subscribed to, and provide the service.

2. A method for providing application services using an Internet Protocol to a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an application service communicated from an application process, the request including a named representation of data representative of a subscriber identifier; and

in response thereto, validating the subscriber identifier as a registered subscriber, interacting with a directory service which executes as a thread to select an application service that the subscriber has subscribed to, and providing the service to the registered subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the request includes state information previously communicated by a previous service provided to said subscriber.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising communicating with a directory service to locate the registered subscriber information.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising validating the subscriber identifier using a service provider process.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein providing a service to the subscriber includes starting a thread of execution.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein providing a service comprises providing the service for a fee.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein providing a service comprises providing communications through an accessible communication device.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

communicating licensing information to the subscriber.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the service is dynamically constructed.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein providing a service comprises providing the service by the evaluation of one or more rules.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising communicating with a service provider service to provide the service to the subscriber.

13. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing software to the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

using a service to convert information from a first type to a second type.

15. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

using a multiplicity of services to satisfy the request.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the service is dependent on features accessible to the end user application process.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein the service is dependent on a service accessible to the end user application process.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein the service communicates state information to the end user application process.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the request includes said state information.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium including control logic stored therein, the control logic enabling the providing of application services using an Internet Protocol by a method comprising:

receiving a request for an application service communicated from an application process, the request including a named representation of data representative of a subscriber identifier; and

in response thereto, validating the subscriber identifier as a registered subscriber, interacting with a directory service which executes as a thread to select a service that the subscriber has subscribed to, and providing the service to the registered subscriber.

21. A method for providing application services using an Internet Protocol, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an application service communicated from an application process, the request including data representative of a subscriber identifier; and

in response thereto, validating the subscriber identifier as a registered subscriber;

interacting with a directory service which executes as a thread to select an application service that the subscriber has subscribed to;

providing the requested service; and

determining a fee for using the requested service.

22. A method for providing application services using an Internet Protocol, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an application service communicated from an application process, the request including of data representative of a subscriber identifier; and

in response thereto, validating the subscriber identifier as a registered subscriber;

interacting with a directory service which executes as a thread to select an application service that the subscriber has subscribed to;

selecting the requested service from a plurality of available services; and

providing the requested service.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium including control logic stored therein, the control logic enabling the providing of application services using an Internet Protocol by a method comprising:

receiving a request for an application service communicated from an application process, the request including data representative of a subscriber identifier; and

in response thereto, validating the subscriber identifier as a registered subscriber;

interacting with a directory service which executes as a thread to select an application service that the subscriber has subscribed to;

providing the requested service; and

determining a fee for using the requested service.