Gateway device having an XML interface and associated method
First Claim
1. A method of providing services to users, the method performed at a network system configured to provide the users with access to the internet, the network system in communication with a billing and content server and with a hotel property management system, the method comprising:
- providing a subscriber computer with access to at least one network via the network system;
adapting, at the network system, to the subscriber computer to facilitate communications between the subscriber computer and the at least one network;
receiving an XML command at the network system from the billing and content server;
parsing the XML command to determine a type of operation requested by the billing and content server and to determine a user associated with the XML command;
translating at least a portion of the XML command to produce data in a call accounting record format configured to be compatible with a protocol associated with the hotel property management system;
transmitting the data in the call accounting record format to the hotel property management system, the data in the call accounting record format configured to authorize and bill an account associated with the user;
receiving an authorization result from the hotel property management system;
translating the authorization result to produce an XML response indicating that the XML command was received and processed appropriately; and
transmitting the XML response from the network system to the billing and content server, the XML response comprising a confirmation identifier based on the authorization result.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gateway device and associated method are provided that facilitate communications with external devices by utilizing a uniform communications format. The gateway device includes a subscriber interface for adapting to a subscriber computer that is connected to the gateway device. The subscriber interface facilitates communications between the subscriber computer and at least one network or on-line service without requiring the subscriber computer to be reconfigured and without requiring the subscriber computer to support XML commands and responses. The gateway device also includes an XML interface for communicating with an external device via a series of XML commands and responses. The XML commands and responses can relate to a variety of matters, including various subscriber management matters.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of providing services to users, the method performed at a network system configured to provide the users with access to the internet, the network system in communication with a billing and content server and with a hotel property management system, the method comprising:
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providing a subscriber computer with access to at least one network via the network system; adapting, at the network system, to the subscriber computer to facilitate communications between the subscriber computer and the at least one network; receiving an XML command at the network system from the billing and content server; parsing the XML command to determine a type of operation requested by the billing and content server and to determine a user associated with the XML command; translating at least a portion of the XML command to produce data in a call accounting record format configured to be compatible with a protocol associated with the hotel property management system; transmitting the data in the call accounting record format to the hotel property management system, the data in the call accounting record format configured to authorize and bill an account associated with the user; receiving an authorization result from the hotel property management system; translating the authorization result to produce an XML response indicating that the XML command was received and processed appropriately; and transmitting the XML response from the network system to the billing and content server, the XML response comprising a confirmation identifier based on the authorization result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 9, 10)
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3. A computing system configured to manage services provided to users, the system comprising:
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one or more computer processors; one or more communications links configured to communicate with a billing and content server and with a hotel property management system; a subscriber interface configured to provide a subscriber computer with access to at least one network and to adapt to the subscriber computer to facilitate communications between the subscriber computer and the at least one network; and an XML processing module, configured to cause the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising; receiving an XML command from the billing and content server; parsing the XML command to determine a type of operation requested by the billing and content server and to determine a user associated with the XML command; transmitting data, in a format specific to the hotel property management system, to the hotel property management system to authorize and bill an account associated with the user in accordance with data in the XML command; receiving an authorization result from the hotel property management system; and transmitting an XML response to the billing and content server, the XML response comprising a confirmation identifier based on the authorization result. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions configured to cause a computer processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an XML command from a Billing and Content Server (BCS); parsing the XML command to determine a type of operation requested by the BCS and to determine a user associated with the XML command; translating at least a portion of the XML command to produce a Call Accounting Record (CAR) command configured to be interoperable with a CAR protocol associated with a Property Management System (PMS), the CAR command being different from the XML command, the CAR command comprising an identifier of the user associated with the XML command and further comprising billing information; transmitting the CAR command to the PMS; receiving an authorization result from the PMS; generating an XML response based on the received authorization result, the XML response indicating that the XML command was received and processed appropriately; and transmitting the XML response to the BCS. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification