System, method, and computer program product for service and application configuration in a network device

• US 7,860,525 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kauniskangas, Hannu, Kaarela, Kari, Parkkinen, Jukka, Hyvarinen, Mikko A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/739,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/519, 455/517, 455/500, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/550.1, 455/445, 455/466, 4554141-4144, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 370/310, 370/343, 370/312, 370/313, 370/328, 370/329, 705/1, 709/218, 709/219, 709/203, 709/204
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method is provided that includes accessing information associated with at least one service or application in a social network. The method also includes detecting at least one event relating to the information associated with the at least one service or application within the social network and modifying the information associated with the at least one service or application in response to the at least one event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting at least one event relating to information associated with at least one service at least one application, or a combination thereof within a social network;

modifying the information associated with the at least one service or the at least one application in response to the at least one event; and

determining to receive at a user terminal one or more access requests for the at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof from one or more other user terminals in the social network as a gateway.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising searching for configuration information associated with the at least application within the social network.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising collecting configuration information associated with the at least application.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining configuration information that is required for the at least one application.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising storing the collected configuration information for the at least one application in a configuration repository.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising parsing at least a portion of the collected configuration information and configuring the at least application using the parsed configuration information.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the social network is controlled by one service provider, and the at least one service is controlled by another service provider.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one event involves configuring or modifying one or more user relationships, one or more user accounts, one or more access rights between users, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one service, the at least one application, or a combination thereof in the social network.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the gateway authenticates the one or more access requests based upon one or more configured or modified access rights.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the gateway transmits one or more authenticated access requests to the at least one service, and forwards one or more responses to the authenticated access requests to the one or more other user terminals.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

defining a degree of separation between users within the social network; and

configuring one ore more access rights to the at least one service provided by a service provider corresponding to the degree of separation.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising submitting the one or more access requests to the service provider to at least one of create, delete, and update the one or more access rights based on the degree of separation.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising automatically configuring or modifying one or more user accounts, one or more access rights, or a combination thereof based on information of social network membership, relationship, or a combination thereof for services, applications, or a combination thereof.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating a configuration repository when the social network is formed.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting comprises detecting when at least one of a member and a service is added to the social network.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein modifying comprises submitting a request to a service provider to create an account or update access rights to the at least one service when at least one of the member and the service is added to the social network.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein modifying comprises updating a configuration repository containing configuration information associated with the at least one application in the social network when at least one of the member and the service is added to the social network.

18. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps

detecting at least one event relating to information associated with at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof within a social network;

modifying the information associated with the at least one service or the at least one application in response to the at least one event; and

receiving one or more access requests for the at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof from one or more apparatus in the social network as a gateway.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

searching for configuration information associated with the at least one application within the social network.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

collecting configuration information associated with the at least one application.

21. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

modifying the collected configuration information in response to an event within the social network.

22. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

storing the collected configuration information for the at least one application in a configuration data repository.

23. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

parsing at least a portion of the collected configuration information and configuring the at least one application using the parsed configuration information.

24. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

determining configuration information that is required for the at least one application.

25. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

defining a degree of separation between members within the social network required to obtain access to the at least one service provided by a service provider.

26. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 25, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

submitting one or more requests to the service provider to at least one of create, delete, and update access rights based on the degree of separation.

27. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

submitting a request to create an account to a service provider when the social network is formed.

28. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

creating a configuration data repository when the social network is formed.

29. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

detecting when at least one of a member and a service is added to the social network.

30. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

submitting a request to a service provider to create an account or update access rights to the at least one service when at least one of the member and service is added to the social network.

31. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

updating a configuration repository containing configuration information associated with the at least one application in the social network when at least one of the member and service is added to the social network.

32. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

detecting when at least one of a member and a service is removed from the social network.

33. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

submitting a request to a service provider to delete an account or update access rights of the member when at least one of the member and service is removed from the social network.

34. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

updating a configuration repository containing configuration information associated with the at least one application in the social network when at least one of the member and service is removed from the social network.

35. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one

processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

detect at least one event relating to information associated with at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof within a social network;

modify the information associated with the at least one service or the at least one application in response to the at least one event; and

receive one or more access requests for the at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof from one or more apparatus in the social network as a gateway.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus is further caused to detect the at least one event.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the apparatus is further caused to submit a request to a service provider to create an account or update access rights to the at least one service when at least one of a member and service is added to the social network.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the apparatus is further caused to submit a request to a service provider to delete an account or update access rights of a member when at least one of the member and service is removed from the social network.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus is further caused to define a degree of separation between members within the social network required to obtain access to the at least one service provided by a service provider.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the apparatus is further caused to create, delete, and update access rights based on the degree of separation.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus is further caused to create a configuration repository when the social network is formed.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the apparatus is further caused to collect configuration information associated with the at least one application.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the apparatus is further caused to update a configuration repository containing configuration information associated with the at least one application in the social network when at least one of a member and service is added to the social network.

44. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the apparatus is further caused to update a configuration repository containing configuration information associated with the at least one application in the social network when at least one of a member and service is removed from the social network.

45. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the apparatus is further caused to parse at least a portion of the collected configuration information and configuring the at least one application using the parsed configuration information.

46. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine configuration information that is required for the at least one application.

47. A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface to allow access to at least one service, the service configured to perform at least the following:

automatically configuring or modifying one or more user accounts, one or more access rights, or a combination thereof based on information of social network membership, relationship, or a combination thereof for services, applications, or a combination thereof in a social network;

determining to receive a request from a first user terminal at one or more other user terminals in the social network for assistance with configuring or modifying one or more applications at the first user terminal; and

determining whether to enable the one or more other user terminals to remotely access the first user terminal thereby configuring the one or more applications at the first user terminal, based upon the automatically configured or modified one or more user accounts, one or more access rights, or a combination thereof.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein remotely accessing the first user terminal with the at least one other user terminal comprises establishing a remote data connection between the user terminals.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the service is further configured to perform:

determining access rights of the at least one other user terminal prior to allowing the one or more user terminals to remotely access the first user terminal.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein allowing comprises allowing the at least one other user terminal to configure the first user terminal when the at least one other user terminal has access rights.

51. A method comprising:

detecting at least one event relating to information associated with at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof within a social network;

modifying the information associated with the at least one service or the at least one application in response to the at least one event; and

determining to transmit at a user terminal one or more access requests for the at least one service, at least one application, or a combination thereof between a service provider and one or more other user terminals in the social network as a master.