Methods and systems for exposing access network capabilities using an enabler proxy

• US 7,860,490 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Maes, Stephane H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/130,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,052 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/566, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 709/203, 709/230, 709/245, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for exposing access network capabilities using an enabler proxy. In one embodiment, a device for providing access to one or more capabilities of a wireless network comprises a first interface to communicate with an application, a second interface to communicate on a wireless network as a subscriber device, and logic to process requests from the network-based application to access one or more capabilities of the wireless network. The logic may be configured to process the requests by at least using one or more services subscribed to by the device.

Claims

1. A machine readable storage medium having sets of machine-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

provide an enabler proxy;

subscribe the enabler proxy to one or more capabilities of a wireless network which are not exposed to third party content or service providers by the wireless network'"'"'s provider, wherein the enabler proxy is configured to provide the third party content or service providers with access the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed;

establish a connection between the enabler proxy and the wireless network;

obtain, by the enabler proxy via the established connection, access to at least one of the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed; and

the enabling proxy, provide the one or more content providers with access to the at least one of the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed.

2. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to obtain presence information for at least one subscriber device indicating whether the at least one subscriber device is currently communicatively coupled with the wireless network.

3. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to obtain location information for at least one subscriber device.

4. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a connection on one of a GSM network and a CDMA network.

5. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a connection on one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network and a WiFi network.

6. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to establish a network connection from the enabler proxy to an application server executing an application.

7. The machine readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein establishing the connection comprises establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

8. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one or the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed comprises a presence service.

9. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one or the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed comprises a service for obtaining location information for subscriber devices.

10. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

establish a second connection between the enabler proxy and a second wireless network, the enabler proxy subscribing to one or more services available on the second wireless network;

at the enabler proxy, use at least one of the services to collect information about one or more subscriber devices communicating on the second wireless network; and

transmit the information for the second set to the application via the established connection to an application.

11. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

receive, at the enabler proxy, a request from an application to transmit a message to a subscriber device communicating on the wireless network; and

transmit the message from the enabler proxy to a second subscriber device using the established connection and the at least one of the capabilities of the wireless network which are not exposed.

12. The machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

receive, at the enabler proxy, a reply message from the subscriber device; and

transmit the reply message to the application.

13. The machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting an MMS message.

14. The machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting an SMS message.

15. The machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein transmitting the message comprises transmitting a voice chat message.