Application programming interface for provisioning services

• US 20040261086A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Jensen, Peter Strarup, Veselov, Pavel S., Decristo, Dianna L., Mocek, Darryl J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

An invention is provided for provisioning services to client devices. In one embodiment, discovery transactions are included that allow an adapter software component to retrieve information regarding services available to a client device from a provisioning application. A service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device. Also included are subscription transactions that allow an adapter software component to manage content in service directories. A service directory comprises a plurality of services. In addition, delivery transactions are included that allow an adapter to facilitate downloading of data related to services to the client device.

Claims

1. An application programming interface for provisioning services, comprising:

discovery transactions that allow an adapter software component to retrieve information regarding services available to a client device from a provisioning application, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device;

subscription transactions that allow an adapter software component to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

delivery transactions that allow an adapter to facilitate downloading of data related to services to the client device.

2. An application programming interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service.

3. An application programming interface as recited in claim 2, wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

4. An application programming interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

5. An application programming interface as recited in claim 4, wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

6. An application programming interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows an adapter to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

7. An application programming interface as recited in claim 6, wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning application to request an adapter to perform an update transaction.

8. An application programming interface as recited in claim 7, wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain a link to data, the link facilitating downloading of the data.

9. A method for provisioning services, comprising the operations of:

providing discovery transactions that allow an adapter software component to retrieve information regarding services available to a client device from a provisioning application, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device;

affording subscription transactions that allow an adapter software component to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

providing delivery transactions that allow an adapter to facilitate downloading of data related to services to the client device.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows that allows an adapter to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning application to request an adapter to perform an update transaction.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain a link to data, the link facilitating downloading of the data.

17. A system for provisioning services, comprising:

a provisioning server executing a provisioning application;

an provisioning application programming interface (API) in communication with the provisioning application, the provisioning API comprising;

discovery transactions that allow an adapter software component to retrieve information regarding services available to a client device from a provisioning application, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device.

subscription transactions that allow an adapter software component to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

delivery transactions that allow an adapter to facilitate downloading of data related to services to the client device; and

an adapter software component in communication with the provisioning application via the provisioning API, the adapter software component further in communication with a client device.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the discovery transactions include a service discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service, and wherein the discovery transactions further include a service directory discovery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory, and wherein the subscription transactions further include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows that allows an adapter to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device, the delivery transactions further including a notification transaction that allows the provisioning application to request an adapter to perform an update transaction, and wherein the delivery transactions further include a delivery transaction that allows an adapter to obtain a link to data, the link facilitating downloading of the data.