Delivery of network services

• US 8,600,404 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson M, Leuca, Ileana A, Holmes, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US13/591,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-4323, 455/433, 4554561-457, 4554141-4144, 370/252, 370/310, 370/352, 705/1.1, 705/37, 705 711- 722
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A network includes user information comprising terminal capabilities and readiness information for a terminal device. A network element receives the terminal capabilities and readiness information from the terminal device and communicates the terminal capabilities and readiness information such that it is received and stored. The information is accessed to set media delivery parameters for the terminal device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server comprising at least one processor, a first plurality of media delivery parameters from a first terminal device across a network, wherein the first plurality of media delivery parameters comprises a readiness information and a presence information of the first terminal device, and wherein the first plurality of media delivery parameters are dynamically updated based upon a changing communication condition between the first terminal device and the network;

soliciting, by the processor, a bid from each of a plurality of media providers to provide a service to the first terminal device based upon the first plurality of media delivery parameters;

selecting, by the processor, a first media provider based on a combination of a received bid and an ability of the first media provider to deliver the service to the first terminal device according to the first plurality of media delivery parameters;

receiving, by the processor, a second plurality of media delivery parameters of a second terminal device associated with the first terminal device, the second plurality of media delivery parameters indicating that the first terminal device has been switched with the second terminal device; and

selecting a second media provider to deliver the service to the second terminal device based upon the second plurality of media delivery parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of media delivery parameters further comprises a terminal capability of the first terminal device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a quality of service for delivery of media to the first terminal device based on the first plurality of media delivery parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the quality of service includes determining a frame rate, a compression ratio, and a frame size of a media resource to be delivered to the first terminal device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a location of the first terminal device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a service contract with the first media provider.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service provider from the plurality of service providers is selected based in part upon a second bid provided by the second service provider.

8. A server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first plurality of media delivery parameters from a first terminal device across a network, the first plurality of media delivery parameters comprise a readiness information and a presence information of the first terminal device that are dynamically updated based on a communication channel between the first terminal device and the network;

selecting a first service provider from among a plurality of service providers based upon a plurality of bids submitted by the plurality of service providers, the plurality of bids indicating each service provider'"'"'s ability to deliver a media resource to the first terminal device according to the first plurality of media delivery parameters; and

selecting a second media provider to deliver the media resource to a second terminal device in response to receiving a second plurality of media delivery parameters of the second terminal device, the second plurality of media delivery parameters indicating that the first terminal device has been switched with the second terminal device.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of media delivery parameters indicates that the second terminal device is connected to the network.

10. The server of claim 8, wherein the first plurality of media delivery parameters is updated via a service portal.

11. The server of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

storing media delivery parameters for each of a plurality of associated terminal devices; and

soliciting the plurality of bids from the plurality of service providers depending upon a most recent updated media delivery parameter.

12. A system, comprising:

a server comprising a processor; and

a memory that stores logical instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

updating a stored readiness information and a stored presence information for a first terminal device associated with a user account;

selecting a first service provider from a plurality of service providers based upon a plurality of bids submitted by the plurality of service providers, wherein each of the plurality of service providers are capable of delivering a media resource to the first terminal device based on the stored readiness information and the stored presence information;

forming a service contract with the first service provider;

applying the readiness information, the presence information, and a plurality of terminal capabilities to determine an optimal quality of service for providing the media resource to the first terminal device; and

selecting a second service provider to provide the media resource to a second terminal device associated with the user account in response to receiving an indication that the first terminal device has been switched with the second terminal device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving updated stored readiness and presence information from the second terminal device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise dynamically selecting the second service provider from the plurality of service providers based upon the updated stored readiness and presence information.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the updated stored readiness and presence information indicate that the second terminal device associated with the user account is activated.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the second service provider is selected based in part on a list of terminal capabilities of a plurality of terminal devices associated with the user account and service requirements for each of the plurality of terminal devices.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise discontinuing the service contract with the first service provider.