Fractional applications product catalog
First Claim
1. A method for controlling access to web-based applications available on a second network by a plurality of client mobile communications devices on a first network, wherein the first network is maintained by a service provider and includes (a) a first database comprising (i) a product catalog which contains a listing of a subset of the applications available on the second network, and (ii) a set of service rules which governs access to any of the applications in the product catalog by the client mobile communications devices through the service provider, (b) a second database which specifies the applications that have been activated for each of the plurality of client mobile communications devices, and (c) a network appliance which is in communication with the second database and which restricts access by each of the client mobile communications devices to the respective applications specified as active for that device, the method comprising:
- receiving a request, from one of the plurality of client mobile communications devices, for an action selected from the group consisting of (a) activating an application, and (b) reactivating a previously activated application;
determining whether the request is allowable by (i) ascertaining whether the requested application is in the product catalog, and (ii) ascertaining whether the service rules permit the client device to access the requested application;
if the request is allowable, updating the second database to indicate that the application has been activated for the requesting client device; and
if the request is not allowable, sending a notice to the requesting client device that the request has been denied;
wherein the steps of receiving the request and determining whether the request is allowable are performed by the service provider, and wherein the service provider provides services to the client mobile communications devices in accordance with the set of service rules;
wherein the product catalog and service rules in the first database are maintained by an administrator, and wherein the administrator makes periodic modifications to the product catalog and service rules in the first database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for controlling access to applications available on a second network by a plurality of client mobile communications devices on a first network, wherein the first network includes (a) a first database comprising (i) a product catalog which contains a listing of a subset of the applications available on the second network, and (ii) a set of service rules which governs access to any of the applications in the product catalog by the client mobile communications devices, (b) a second database which specifies the applications that have been activated for each of the plurality of client mobile communications devices, and (c) a network appliance which is in communication with the second database and which grants access by each of the client mobile communications devices to the respective applications specified as active for that device.
22 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for controlling access to web-based applications available on a second network by a plurality of client mobile communications devices on a first network, wherein the first network is maintained by a service provider and includes (a) a first database comprising (i) a product catalog which contains a listing of a subset of the applications available on the second network, and (ii) a set of service rules which governs access to any of the applications in the product catalog by the client mobile communications devices through the service provider, (b) a second database which specifies the applications that have been activated for each of the plurality of client mobile communications devices, and (c) a network appliance which is in communication with the second database and which restricts access by each of the client mobile communications devices to the respective applications specified as active for that device, the method comprising:
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receiving a request, from one of the plurality of client mobile communications devices, for an action selected from the group consisting of (a) activating an application, and (b) reactivating a previously activated application; determining whether the request is allowable by (i) ascertaining whether the requested application is in the product catalog, and (ii) ascertaining whether the service rules permit the client device to access the requested application; if the request is allowable, updating the second database to indicate that the application has been activated for the requesting client device; and if the request is not allowable, sending a notice to the requesting client device that the request has been denied; wherein the steps of receiving the request and determining whether the request is allowable are performed by the service provider, and wherein the service provider provides services to the client mobile communications devices in accordance with the set of service rules;
wherein the product catalog and service rules in the first database are maintained by an administrator, and wherein the administrator makes periodic modifications to the product catalog and service rules in the first database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for controlling, by a service provider, access by a service provider to network-based applications which are available on a network, the method comprising:
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providing access to the network to a plurality of subscribers of a service offered by the service provider, wherein the service is offered by the service provider in accordance with a service plan; maintaining a product catalog which contains a subset of the applications available on the network; maintaining a database which lists the activation state of applications in the product catalog for each of the plurality of subscribers, wherein each activation state listed in the database has a value selected from the group consisting of active and inactive; changing, in the database, the activation state of an application in the product catalog for at least one of said plurality of subscribers; and updating the database to reflect the change in activation state; wherein any request to access an application in the product catalog which is received from a mobile communications device associated with one of said plurality of subscribers is denied if the activation state of the application is inactive for that subscriber, wherein the product catalog and service rules are maintained by an administrator, and wherein the administrator makes periodic modifications to the product catalog and service rules. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for controlling access to a network, comprising:
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providing access to the network to a plurality of subscribers in accordance with a service plan; maintaining a product catalog which contains a subset of the applications available on the network; maintaining a database which lists the activation state of applications in the product catalog for each of the plurality of subscribers, wherein each activation state listed in the database has a value selected from the group consisting of active and inactive; providing a set of service rules which governs access to any of the applications in the product catalog; receiving a request, from a mobile communications device associated with one of said plurality of subscribers, to access an application in the product catalog; determining whether the request is allowable by (i) ascertaining whether the activation state of the requested application has the value of active, and (ii) ascertaining whether the service plan permits the client device to access the requested application; if the request is allowable, granting access to the requested application on the network; and if the request is not allowable, sending a notice to said mobile communications device that the request for access has been denied; wherein the product catalog and service rules are maintained by an administrator on the first network, and wherein the administrator makes periodic modifications to the product catalog and service rules. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification