Method and apparatus for a publish-subscribe system with third party subscription delivery

• US 7,734,731 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Yang, Qian, Tendick, Patrick, Ordille, Joann J., Slye, John Hamilton
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US10/999,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20050208941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/216, 709/219, 709/226, 709/229, 709/230, 707/3, 707/4
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4874 : Intercept announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 : Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 : Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 : Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for notifying one or more users of information. One or more users are identified that have entered a subscription that matches the information; and a communication flow expression is generated that contains at least one primitive keyword indicating how a notification to the identified users should be processed. The communication flow expression may be provided, for example, to a third party for delivery. Typically, a request identifier is received back from the third party and forwarded to the application associated with the information. The communication flow expression comprises at least one recipient for the notification. The identified users may be required to have appropriate privileges associated with the information before being added to the communication flow expression.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, at a server, a user that has entered a subscription that matches the information contained in a notification; and

generating, at the server, a communication flow expression containing an instruction concerning the transmission of the notification; and

transmitting, from the server, the communication flow expression to a notification and response system, wherein;

i. the notification and response system is distinct from the server that generates the communication flow expression, and

ii. the notification and response system executes the communication flow expression, and

iii. the notification and response system transmits the notification in accordance with the instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a request identifier back from the notification and response system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of forwarding the request identifier to an application associated with the information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forwarding the communication flow expression to an application associated with the information for forwarding to a notification and response system for delivery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication flow expression comprises at least one recipient for the notification.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification is delivered to the at least one recipient in accordance with a preference of the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication flow expression further comprises one or more delegates for the notification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication flow expression further comprises one or more escalation events for the notification.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the identified users have appropriate privileges associated with the information before adding the identified users to the communication flow expression.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing recipients of the notification to see one another.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing responders to the notification to see one another.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

identify a user that has entered a subscription that matches the information contained in a notification; and

generate a communication flow expression containing an instruction concerning the transmission of the notification; and

provide the communication flow expression to a notification and response system wherein;

i. the notification and response system is distinct from an entity that generates the communication flow expression, and

ii. the notification and response system executes the communication flow expression, and

iii. the notification and response system transmits the notification in accordance with the instruction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a request identifier back from the notification and response system.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to forward the request identifier to an application associated with the information.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to forward the communication flow expression to an application associated with the information for forwarding to a notification and response system for delivery.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the communication flow expression comprises at least one recipient for the notification.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the notification is delivered to the at least one recipient in accordance with preferences of the recipient.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the identified users have appropriate privileges associated with the information before adding the identified users to the communication flow expression.

19. An article of manufacture for notifying one or more users of information, comprising a computer recordable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

identifying one or more of the users that has entered a subscription that matches the information; and

generating a communication flow expression containing an instruction concerning the transmission of the notification; and

providing the communication flow expression to a notification and response system, wherein;

i. the notification and response system is distinct from an entity generates the communication flow expression, and

ii. the notification and response system executes the communication flow expression, and

iii. the notification and response system transmits the notification in accordance with the instruction.