Method and apparatus for operating an open API network having a proxy

• US 20050165902A1
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Panken, Franciscus Josephus Maria, Hellenthal, Jan Willem
• Granted Patent: US 7,426,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A telecommunication system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media that implements an open application program interface (API) system in which open API servers pass and receive API commands to applications through a novel proxy. The proxy assists implementing various management functions, such as assigning open API servers to application and monitoring the overall system, and service contract control, all beneficially in a transparent manner. The proxy enables the telecommunication system to handle geographically diverse applications and open API servers. All API command can, but need not, pass through the proxy.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an open API server for communicating with a user device and for sending and receiving application programming interface commands; and

a proxy for receiving application programming interface commands from said open API server, for sending received application programming interface commands from said open API server to an application;

for receiving responses from an application, and for sending said received responses to said open API server;

wherein said proxy sends service contract implementation parameters to said open API server; and

wherein said open API server controls sending application programming interface commands based on said service contract implementation parameters.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said service contract implementation parameters are related to a service contract.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a data base for storing control parameters, wherein said proxy accesses and processes said stored control parameters to form said service contract implementation parameters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a registration and discovery device that receives said control parameters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said proxy includes input/output circuitry, a memory, and a processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a computer readable media for storing program information that at least partially controls said proxy to produce said service contract implementation parameters.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, based on service usage, said open API server requests modified service contract implementation parameters.

8. A system, comprising:

a telecommunication network;

an open API server for sending and receiving application programming interface commands on said telecommunication network; and

a proxy for receiving and sending application programming interface commands from said open API server and for selectively sending commands to, and receiving commands, at least a first application or a second application;

wherein said proxy monitors the status of the system; and

wherein said proxy dynamically selects the at least first application or second application based on the status of the system.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said proxy changes its selection based on a change to the system.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said proxy is transparent to said open API server.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein said proxy is transparent to said at least first and second applications.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said proxy includes input/output circuitry, a memory, and a processor.

13. The system according to claim 8, further including a computer readable media for storing program information that at least partially controls the selection.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one open API server bypasses said proxy and sends an application programming interface directly to an application so as to prevent the proxy from being a communication bottleneck.

15. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one application bypasses said proxy and sends an application programming interface directly to at least one open API server.

16. The system according to claim 8, wherein said proxy blocks predetermined application programming interface commands from propagating.

18. A method of claim 16, further including the step of identifying conditions that may require modifications to local service contract terms, and sending a request for a local service contract term modification.

19. A method of claim 16, further including the step of storing obtained service contract terms.

17. A method of operating a telecommunication network, comprising:

obtaining service contract terms;

processing the service contract terms to develop implementation parameters for a plurality of open API servers;

sending implementation parameters to said plurality of open API servers, wherein the implementation parameters sent to each open API server directs that open API server to implement local service contract terms;

sending and receiving application programming interface commands from the plurality of open API servers; and

passing sent and received application programming interface commands to at least one application;

wherein each open API server sends application programming interface commands only in accord with its local service contract terms.

20. A method of operating a telecommunication network, comprising:

sending and receiving application programming interface commands from an open API server;

monitoring the status of the telecommunication network; and

selectively passing sent and received application programming interface commands from the open API server to either a first application or to a second application;

wherein the application that is passed application programming interface commands is dynamically selected based on the status of the telecommunication network.