Automated creation of multiple provider services

• US 8,233,600 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Weinberg, David, Beningson, Judith F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US12/174,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.01, 379/265.11, 705/26.35, 705/26.62, 705/38, 705/41, 705/42, 705/80, 705/1.1, 705/27.1, 705/35, 705/37, 705/39, 705/40, 709/200, 717/120, 235/379, 370/260, 382/162, 455/445, 701/410, 710/15, 726/3, 726/4, 726/31
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user

Abstract

A method may include receiving, at a service server, a request for services from a requesting device. The service server may identify one or more service options responsive to the request and send a list of the identified service options to the requesting device. The service server may receive a selected service option from the requesting device. The service server may collect payment information for the selected service option from the requesting device and providing accounting information to a service provider of the selected service option based on the payment information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server, a request for services from a device, the services to be distributed via a network;

identifying, by the server and based on the request, one or more service options for providing the services to the device via the network;

sending information regarding the one or more service options to the device;

receiving a selection of a selected service option, of the one or more service options, from the device;

receiving payment information for the selected service option from the device;

collecting payment for the selected service option based on the payment information; and

allocating, by the server, the payment to a provider of the selected service option and to a particular component within the network that enabled the provider to provide the selected service option via the particular component to the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to a user of the device; and

associating the payment information with the unique identifier of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a unique identifier to the provider; and

associating accounting information with the unique identifier of the provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing accounting information to the service provider and the particular component,

the accounting information being based on the payment information, and

the accounting information comprising information associated with the allocating of the payment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to the provider to provide the selected service option to the requesting device based on the selected service option.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information from the provider,

the information including content for the selected service option; and

providing the content to the device.

7. The method of claim 4, where the accounting information is customized to an operations support system of the provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more paths through multiple networks to connect the device and a device associated with the provider,

the one or more paths including a path via the particular component.

9. A system comprising:

a server to;

store information associated with services provided by a plurality of providers,

the information associated with the services including service options for providing the services to a user device via a network;

receive payment information from the user device;

collect payment for the services based on the payment information; and

allocate the payment to two or more of the plurality of providers used in providing one or more of the services to the user device via the network.

10. The system of claim 9, where the server is further to:

enable the user to securely access data or systems, in multiple domains, that are associated with the plurality of providers.

11. The system of claim 9, where the server is further to:

store content offered by one or more of the plurality of providers; and

provide the content to the user device.

12. The system of claim 9, where the server is further to:

customize accounting output, associated with the allocation of the payment, to an operations support system format of one or more of the two or more of the plurality of providers.

13. The method of claim 9, where the server is further to store at least one of:

pricing elements for one or more of the services of one of the plurality of providers, or

cost elements for the one or more of the services of the one of the plurality of providers.

14. The method of claim 9, where the server is further to:

identify one or more paths to connect the user device and two or more devices associated with the providers,

the one or more paths being used in providing the services.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions, executable by at least one processor, to register a user of a device for services provided by a server,

the one or more instructions to register the user including one or more instructions to receive payment information of the user;

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to receive a request for services from the device;

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to identify, based on the request, a service option for providing the services to the device via a network;

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to send information regarding the service option to the device;

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to receive authorization from the device to provide the services based on the service option;

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to collect payment from the user based on the payment information and the service option; and

one or more instructions, executable by the at least one processor, to allocate the payment to a service provider of the service option and to a particular component of the network,

the service option being provided by the services provider to the requesting device via the particular component.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

one or more instructions to assign a unique identifier to at least one of the user of the device or the service provider of the service option.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

one or more instructions to send a request to the service provider to provide the service option via the network to the requesting device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

one or more instructions to provide, to the service provider, accounting information based on the allocation of the payment.

19. A server comprising:

a memory, and

one or more processors to;

receive a request for services from a device;

identify, based on the request, one or more service options for providing the services to the device via a network;

send information regarding the one or more service options to the device;

receive a selection of a selected service option, of the one or more service options, from the device;

collect payment for the selected service option from the device; and

allocate the payment among a plurality of service providers operating together to provide a service associated with the selected service option to the device via the network.

20. The server of claim 19, where the one or more processors are further to:

provide accounting information, based on the allocation of the payment, to the plurality of service providers.