Method for implementing context aware service application and related apparatus

• US 8,990,233 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chen, Shan, Ma, Qifeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US13/718,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 707/758, 707/749, 707/737, 707/E17.002, 707/706, 707/728, 370/331, 370/401, 370/395.2, 370/389.338, 370/349, 370/392, 370/400, 370/311, 370/395.3, 370/431, 370/466, 370/465, 370/230, 370/238, 370/254, 370/351, 455/422.1, 455/456.3, 455/436, 455/41.1, 455/456.2, 455/437, 709/204, 709/228, 709/217
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2887 characterised by the offered subscriber services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/60 Context-dependent security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method for implementing a context aware service application and a related apparatus. One method for implementing a context aware service application includes: receiving, by a context aware service platform, a first context request from a context aware client, where the first context request carries description information corresponding to requested context information; and matching released context sources by using the description information, and if matching succeeds, acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source, and sending the acquired context information to the context aware client. The technical solutions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure help implement the context aware service application in a flexible and standard manner.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a context aware service application, comprising a context aware service platform having at least a processor executing program codes of the context aware service application stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory to perform functions, comprising:

receiving a first context request from a context aware client, wherein the first context request carries description information corresponding to requested context information; and

matching a released context source by using the description information, and if matching succeeds, acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source, and sending acquired context information to the context aware client, wherein the acquiring of context information provided by the at least one matched context source, comprising;

filtering a collection of matched context sources according to a preset preference policy, and delivering, to the context aware client, information about the collection of matched context sources acquired by filtering the collection of matched context sources; and

if a first selective context request from the context aware client is received, and the first selective context request carries information about a context source selected by the context aware client from the collection of context sources, acquiring context information provided by the context source selected by the context aware client.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if matching the released context sources by using the description information fails, the method further comprises:

receiving a second context request from the context aware client, wherein the second context request carries updated description information corresponding to requested context information;

obtaining a keyword through association and inference by using the updated description information; and

matching released context sources by using the keyword, and if matching succeeds, acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source, and sending acquired context information to the context aware client.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein if matching the released context sources by using the description information fails, the method further comprises:

obtaining a keyword through association and inference by using the description information; and

matching released context sources by using the keyword, and if matching succeeds, acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source, and sending acquired context information to the context aware client.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source comprises:

according to an access type of the at least one matched context source, establishing a connection with the at least one matched context source; and

based on a established connection with the at least one matched context source, acquiring the context information provided by the at least one matched context source.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the context request further carries information about a user identity and/or a local application identity; and

before the acquiring context information provided by at least one matched context source, the method further comprises;

determining, by using the user identity and/or local application identity and according to an access control policy of the at least one matched context source, whether the context aware client is allowed to request the context information provided by the at least one matched context source; and

if allowed, executing a step of acquiring the context information provided by the at least one matched context source.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein before receiving the first context request, the method further comprising:

receiving by the context aware service platform, a request for releasing a context source, wherein the request for releasing the context source carries identity information, access type information, and access control policy information of the context source; and

storing by the context aware service platform, the identity information, access type information, and access control policy information of the context source.

7. The method according to claim 6, when the context source updates its context information, comprising:

the context aware service platform send a context information report request to the context source;

the context source, according the context information report request, reports updated context information.

8. The method according to claim 6, when the context source updates its context information, comprising:

the context aware service platform creates a monitor event and sends a notice to the context source;

after updating the context information of the context source, the context source sends the updated context information, through a monitor port, to the context aware service platform initiatively.

9. A method for implementing a context aware service application, comprising a context aware service client having at least a processor executing program codes of the context aware service application stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory to perform functions, comprising:

when triggered by a local application, sending a first context request to a context aware service platform, wherein the first context request carries description information corresponding to requested context information; and

if context information delivered by the context aware service platform is received, adapting the context information to the local application;

if information about a collection of released context sources successfully matched by using the description information delivered by the context aware service platform is received, selecting a context source from the collection of the context sources according to a user instruction or a preset policy, and acquiring context information provided by the selected context source, wherein the selecting of the context source from the collection of the context sources according to a preset policy comprises;

selecting according to the preset policy, from the collection of the context sources, a local context source that meets requirements; and

if the collection of the context sources does not comprise the local context source that meets requirements, selecting, from the collection of the context sources, a non-local context source that meets requirements.

10. A context aware service platform device, comprising:

a transceiver, a processor functionally coupled to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores instruction codes of a context aware service application executable by the processor, wherein;

the transceiver is configured to receive a first context request from a context aware client, wherein the first context request carries description information corresponding to requested context information; and

the instruction codes of the context aware service application when executed by the processor;

cause the context aware service platform device to match released context sources by using description information, and

if matching succeeds, acquire context information provided by at least one matched context source, wherein the transceiver is further configured to send acquired context information to the context aware client;

wherein the acquiring of the context information provided by at least one matched context source, comprising;

filtering a collection of matched context sources according to a preset preference policy, and delivering, to the context aware client, information about the collection of matched context sources acquired by filtering the collection of matched context sources; and

if a first selective context request from the context aware client is received, and the first selective context request carries information about a context source selected by the context aware client from the collection of context sources, acquiring context information provided by the context source selected by the context aware client.

11. A context aware client, comprising:

a transceiver, a processor functionally coupled to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores instruction codes of a context aware service application executable by the processor , wherein;

the transceiver is configured to send, a first context request to a context aware service platform when triggered by a local application, and to receive context information delivered by the context aware service platform, or to receive information about a collection of released context sources successfully matched by utilizing the description information delivered by the context aware service platform, wherein the first context request carries description information corresponding to requested context information; and

the computer instruction codes of the context aware service application, when executed by the processor;

cause the context aware service platform device to adapt the context information to the local application, if context information delivered by the context aware service platform is received, and

select a context source from the collection of the context sources according to a user instruction or a preset policy, and acquire context information provided by the selected context source if information about a collection of released context sources successfully matched by using the description information delivered by the context aware service platform is received;

wherein the selecting of the context source from the collection of the context sources according to a preset policy comprises;

selecting according to the preset policy, from the collection of the context sources, a local context source that meets requirements; and

if the collection of the context sources does not comprise the local context source that meets requirements, selecting from the collection of the context sources, a non-local context source that meets requirements.