Apparatus and method for sharing contents of Social Network Service in communication system

• US 9,219,608 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation (Seoul National University)
• Inventors: Lee, Jeong-Soo, Kim, Hong-Gee, Yang, Sang-Won, Song, Seung-Jae, Ahn, Jin-Hyun, Kim, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrishamkar, Kaveh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilcox, James J
• Application Number:
  US13/204,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20120227089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3213 using tickets or tokens, e.g. Kerberos network architectures or network communication protocols for entities authentication using tickets in a packet data network H04L63/0807
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3234 involving additional secure or trusted devices, e.g. TPM, smartcard, USB or software token network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using an additional device in a packet data network H04L63/0853

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method in a communication system allow sharing contents of users by acquiring an access right even if there is no connection relationship in a Social Network Service (SNS). The system includes an SNS provider and a middleware server. The SNS provider provides the SNS and generates an authorization key and an authorization token according to an open authorization protocol. The middleware server obtains contents of a second user from the SNS provider by using an authorization key of the second user when a first user requests sharing SNS contents of the second user, and transmits the contents of the second user to the first user.

Claims

1. A communication system for supporting a Social Network Service (SNS), the system comprising:

an SNS server configured to;

provide the SNS to a first SNS subscriber and a second SNS subscriber, both SNS subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, where the first SNS subscriber has no SNS connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber;

generate an authorization key and an authorization token according to an open authorization protocol for the second SNS subscriber of the SNS;

receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the first SNS subscriber; and

inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber; and

a middleware server configured to;

in response to the SNS server receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber;

obtain the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using an authorization key of the second SNS subscriber; and

transmit the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber to the first SNS subscriber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the SNS server is further configured to generate the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber when the second SNS subscriber registers an account for the SNS.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the middleware server is further configured to receive the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber when the second SNS subscriber registers an account to the middleware server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the middleware server is further configured to provide the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber to the SNS server, request an authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber, and when the authorization token is provided, collect the content of the second SNS subscriber by using the authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein after the authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber is requested, the middleware server is further configured to transmit an address of an authorization page to the second SNS subscriber upon receiving the address of the authorization page from the SNS server.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the SNS server is further configured to provide the authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber to the middleware server when the second SNS subscriber reads the authorization page.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein when a third subscriber of the SNS requests sharing content of the second SNS subscriber, the middleware server is further configured to inquire the second SNS subscriber about whether sharing of internal content with the third SNS subscriber is approved, and if an acceptance is received from the second SNS subscriber to share the content of the second SNS subscriber, transmit the content to the third SNS subscriber.

8. A method for operating a middleware server in a communication system supporting a Social Network Service (SNS), the method comprising:

determining an authorization key for a second SNS subscriber of the SNS according to an open authorization protocol when a request to share SNS content of the second SNS subscriber is received from a first SNS subscriber of the SNS by an SNS server configured to provide the SNS to a first SNS subscriber and a second SNS subscriber, both SNS subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, wherein the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber;

in response to the SNS server receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber, obtaining the content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber; and

transmitting the content of the second SNS subscriber to the first SNS subscriber,

wherein the SNS server is configured to generate an authorization key and an authorization token according to the open authorization protocol, receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the first SNS subscriber and inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber when the second SNS subscriber registers an account to the middleware server.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining the content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber comprises:

providing the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber to the SNS server;

requesting an authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber; and

collecting the content of the second SNS subscriber by using the authorization token when the authorization token is received.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber comprises, after requesting the authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber, transmitting to the second SNS subscriber an address of an authorization page when the address of the authorization page is received from the SNS server.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a third SNS subscriber request to share internal content of the second SNS subscriber is received, inquiring the second SNS subscriber about whether sharing the internal content is approved; and

when the internal content is provided from the second SNS subscriber, transmitting the internal content to the third SNS subscriber.

13. A method of operating a Social Network Service (SNS) server in a communication system, the method comprising:

providing the SNS to a first SNS subscriber and a second SNS subscriber, both subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, where the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber;

generating an authorization key for a second SNS subscriber of the SNS according to an open authorization protocol when registering a subscriber account;

receiving a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the first SNS subscriber;

inquiring the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber; and

providing the SNS content of the first SNS subscriber to a middleware server that is configured to, in response to the SNS server receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber, obtain SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using an authorization key of the second SNS subscriber and transmit the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber to the first SNS subscriber.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the authorization token comprises:

generating an authorization page when the request for the authorization token is received;

providing an address of the authorization page to the middleware server; and

providing the authorization token to the middleware server when the second SNS subscriber reads the authorization page.

15. A method of operating a portable terminal in a communication system supporting a Social Network Service (SNS), the method comprising:

generating an authorization key of a second SNS subscriber of the SNS according to an open authorization protocol when an account for the second SNS subscriber is registered to the SNS;

providing the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber to a middleware server configured to, in response to the SNS server receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber, obtain SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using an authorization key of the second SNS subscriber, and transmit the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber to the first SNS subscriber; and

when a request to share SNS content of the second SNS subscriber is received from a first SNS subscriber of the SNS, wherein the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber, displaying a screen for inquiring the second SNS subscriber about whether the sharing of the content is approved,

wherein the SNS server is configured to provide the SNS to a first SNS subscriber and a second SNS subscriber, both SNS subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the first SNS subscriber, and inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using an authorization key of the second SNS subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the screen for inquiring about whether the sharing of the content is approved comprises at least one of information stored in a phone book regarding a requester who requests the sharing of the content and a tag specified by the requester.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the screen for inquiring about whether the sharing of the content is approved comprises an inquiry about whether to read an authorization page generated by the SNS server.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reading the authorization page when an acceptance to share the content of the second SNS subscriber is received.

19. A middleware server apparatus in a communication system supporting a Social Network Service (SNS), the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to, in response to an SNS server receiving an authorization key from a second SNS subscriber, obtain the content of the second SNS subscriber from an SNS server by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber, wherein the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber; and

a communication unit configured to transmit the content of the second SNS subscriber to the first SNS subscriber,

wherein the SNS server is configured to provide the SNS to the first SNS subscriber and the second SNS subscriber, both subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, generate an authorization key and an authorization token according to the open authorization protocol, receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the first SNS subscriber, and inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber when the second SNS subscriber registers an account to the middleware server.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber to the SNS server, request an authorization token for reading the content of the second SNS subscriber, and collect the content of the second SNS subscriber by using the authorization token when the authorization token is received.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein after requesting the authorization token for reading the contends of the second SNS subscriber, the controller is further configured to transmit to the second SNS subscriber an address of an authorization page when the address of the authorization page is received from the SNS server.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein when a third of the SNS request to share internal content of the second SNS subscriber is received, the controller is further configured to inquire the second SNS subscriber about whether sharing the internal content is approved, and transmit the internal content to the third SNS subscriber when the internal content is provided from the second SNS subscriber.

24. A Social Network Service (SNS) server apparatus in a communication system supporting an SNS, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to provide the SNS to a first SNS subscriber and a second SNS subscriber, both subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, where the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber, and generate an authorization key for a second SNS subscriber of the SNS according to an open authorization protocol when registering a subscriber account; and

a communication unit configured to provide the authorization token for reading SNS content of the second SNS subscriber when a request for the authorization token comprising the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber is received from a middleware server, and provide the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber when a request to read the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber comprising the authorization token is received,

wherein the communication unit is further configured to receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from a first SNS subscriber of the SNS, and inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber, wherein the first SNS subscriber has no connection with the second SNS subscriber, the connection providing accessibility to the content of the second SNS subscriber.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to generate an authorization page when the request for the authorization token is received, provide an address of the authorization page to the middleware server, and provide the authorization token to the middleware server when the second SNS subscriber reads the authorization page.

26. A portable terminal apparatus in a communication system supporting a Social Network Service (SNS), the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to generate an authorization key of a second SNS subscriber of the SNS according to an open authorization protocol when an account for the second SNS subscriber is registered to the SNS;

a communication unit configured to provide the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber to a middleware server configured to, in response to the SNS server receiving the authorization key from the second SNS subscriber, obtain SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from the SNS server by using an authorization key of the second SNS subscriber, and transmit the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber to a first SNS subscriber; and

a display unit configured to display a screen for inquiring the second SNS subscriber about whether sharing of SNS content of the second SNS subscriber is approved when a request to share the SNS content of the SNS subscriber is received,

wherein the SNS server is configured to provide the SNS to the first SNS subscriber and the second SNS subscriber, both subscribers subscribing to the SNS from the SNS server respectively, where the first SNS subscriber has no connection for providing accessibility to content of the second SNS subscriber with the second SNS subscriber, receive a request for accessing the SNS content of the second SNS subscriber from a first SNS subscriber of the SNS, and inquire the second SNS subscriber whether to approve the request by using the authorization key of the second SNS subscriber.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen for inquiring about whether the sharing of the content is approved comprises at least one of information stored in a phone book regarding a requester who requests the sharing of the content and a tag specified by the requester.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen for inquiring about whether the sharing of the content is approved comprises an inquiry about whether to read an authorization page generated by an SNS server.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the controller is further configured to read the authorization page when an acceptance to share the content of the SNS subscriber is received.