Integrated server platform for the autonomous provisioning of device services

• US 20040128375A1
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Majandro LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Rockwell, Ronald M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,644,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A platform allowing automated device service subscription by remote devices employs a provisioning scheme to regulate subscriptions and supplies replenishment.

Claims

1. A provisioning services platform comprising provisioning server running a service consumer interface, an entity management module, an order processing module, policy &

preferences module, a registration module, a service definitions module, a service developer interface module, and a service participant interface module.

2. The platform of claim 1 further comprising a common provisioning model based on a shared user service lifecycle.

3. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service consumer interface interacts with external users and external devices and that substantially isolates other provisioning server modules from different protocols used by devices and users.

4. The platform of claim 1 wherein the entity management module comprises a repository of entity information localized and substantially isolated from the other modules of the provisioning server.

5. The platform of claim 4 wherein the entity information comprises information on machines usable with the platform.

6. The platform of claim 4 wherein the entity information comprises information on users of the platform.

7. The platform of claim 4 wherein the entity information comprises information on entity preferences with regard to the platform.

8. The platform of claim 1 wherein the entity management module is a point of contact with systems outside the provisioning server.

9. The platform of claim 1 wherein the entity management module provides a user interface for access to local and network based information.

10. The platform of claim 1 wherein the order processing module directs order processing from service sponsors as well as those created by the policy &

preferences module.

11. The platform of claim 1 wherein the order processing module interacts with other modules to fulfill the order requirements.

12. The platform of claim 1 wherein the order processing module tracks order status.

13. The platform of claim 1 wherein the registration module maintains security of the provisioning server.

14. The platform of claim 1 wherein the registration module comprisesn authorization module that selectively allows users with proper privileges to execute transactions with the provisioning server.

15. The platform of claim 1 wherein the registration module registers users of the provisioning server in conjunction with the entity module.

16. The platform of claim 1 wherein the registration module works with the service consumer and order processing modules to substantially isolate security related artifacts of transactions.

17. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service definitions module maintains definitional information on services provisioned by the provisioning server.

18. The platform of claim 17 wherein the definitional information includes version information.

19. The platform of claim 17 wherein the definitional information includes file composition.

20. The platform of claim 17 wherein the definitional information includes service inter relationships.

21. The platform of claim 17 wherein the definitional information includes what devices can use the services.

22. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service developer interface module supports service developers in at least one of development, distribution, and update of services.

23. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service participant interface module interfaces with users.

24. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service participant interface module directs service lifecycle information to appropriate resources.

25. The platform of claim 1 wherein the service participant interface module directs service transaction information to appropriate resources.

26. An architecture and implementation of a provisioning server comprising:

a service consumer interface that interacts with external users and external devices and that substantially isolates other provisioning server modules from different protocols that devices and users;

an entity management module that is a point of contact with systems outside the provisioning server and comprising a repository of entity information localized and substantially isolated from the other modules of the provisioning server and that provides a user interface for access to local and network based information;

an order processing module that directs order processing from service sponsors as well as those created by a policy &

preferences module, interacts with other modules to fulfill order requirements, and tracks order status;

a registration module that maintains security of the provisioning server, registers users of the provisioning server in conjunction with the entity module, works with the service consumer and order processing modules to substantially isolate security related artifacts of transactions, and comprises an authorization module that selectively allows users with proper privileges to execute transactions with the provisioning server;

a service definitions module that maintains definitional information on services provisioned by the provisioning server;

a service developer interface module that supports service developers in at least one of development, distribution, and update of services; and

a service participant interface module interfaces with users.

27. The platform of claim 26 wherein the entity information comprises information on machines usable with the platform.

28. The platform of claim 26 wherein the entity information comprises information on users of the platform.

29. The platform of claim 26 wherein the entity information comprises information on entity preferences with regard to the platform.

30. The platform of claim 26 wherein the definitional information of the service definitions module includes version information.

31. The platform of claim 26 wherein the definitional information of the service definitions module includes file composition.

32. The platform of claim 26 wherein the definitional information of the service definitions module includes service inter relationships.

33. The platform of claim 26 wherein the definitional information of the service definitions module includes what devices can use the services.

34. The platform of claim 26 wherein the service participant interface module directs service lifecycle information to appropriate resources.

35. The platform of claim 26 wherein the service participant interface module directs service transaction information to appropriate resources.

36. The platform of claim 26 wherein the service consumer interface comprises a wev server that allows user interaction through web services.

37. The platform of claim 26 wherein the service consumer interface routes incoming transactions to an appropriate internal resource to process the transaction.

38. The platform of claim 26 wherein the service consumer interface processes output from other modules that has been queued for a particular entity and translates the output into a required protocol required to interact wit the entity.