Method for providing internet services to a telephone user

• US 20080126510A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Jat Systems 2006 Ltd.
• Original Assignee: T-Jat Systems 2006 Ltd.
• Inventors: Drori, Gideon, Golobrodsky, Oleg, Peterburg, Moshe, Peterburg, Yitzhak
• Granted Patent: US 8,064,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A method is described for providing a user of a telephone device with a capability to use Internet-based applications. The user of a telephone device sends a request to be connected to an Internet-based application. The request is received by a first server, which in return is operative to establish a communication path extending between the user'"'"'s telephone device and a second server at which the application resides via that first server. Next, a virtual client entity is created at that first server, where this entity is operative to communicate with the telephone device on one hand and with the application residing at the second server. This virtual client entity preferably exists for the duration of a communication session that is about to take place between the user and the requested application, and be eliminated once the user logs off from the application.

Once a connection has been established between the application and the user, the user'"'"'s ID for that application is stored at the first server, and is used as a destination for the application to forward messages directed to that user at times when the user is not actively connected to that application. After the message has been received and stored by the first server, an indication is sent to the user, informing him/her that such messages have been received.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user of a telephone device with a capability to use Internet-based applications, which method comprises the steps of:

transmitting from said telephone device an indication towards a first server, denoting a request to be connected to an application residing at a second server;

establishing a communication path that extends between said telephone device and said second server via said first server;

at said first server, creating a virtual client entity adapted to communicate with said telephone device and with said application residing at said second server, for the duration of a communication session that is about to take place between said user and said application;

exchanging communications between said second server and said telephone device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of authenticating the user by a service provider associated with said first server.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of providing said user with a menu from which the user selects a requested application prior to carrying out the step of establishing said communication path.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of providing the user'"'"'s telephone device with a plurality of WML/JSP/HTML pages transmitted from said first server.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of establishing an Internet connection between said telephone device and said first server, prior to transmitting said indication.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the communication session takes place, said telephone device is provided with an emulation to allow the user to communicate with said application.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing said telephone device with an emulation to allow the user to properly communicate with said application.

7. A method to allow providing a user of a telephone device with an indication that a message was sent to him/her via an Internet-based application, irrespective of whether said user is currently actively connected to said Internet-based application, which method comprises the steps of:

(i) at a second server associated with said Internet-based application, receiving a message addressed to said user;

(ii) forwarding said message towards a first server at which a virtual client entity had been created to enable establishing a communication session previously held between said user of the telephone device and said Internet-based application;

(iii) determining whether said user is currently actively connected to the Internet-based application;

(iv) storing the message if said user is not currently actively connected to said Internet-based application; and

(v) providing said user with an indication that at least one message addressed to him/her has been stored.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said step of providing the user with said indication is carried out following receipt of a request generated at said telephone device, to connect its user with any Internet-based application via said first server.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said step of providing the user with said indication is carried out following the establishment of a communication session between said telephone device and said Internet-based application.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said step of providing the user with said indication is carried out by sending said indication to the telephone device following storage of the message at said first server, irrespective of whether a request to connect said user with said Internet-based application has already been initiated.

11. A computer program product encoding a computer program for executing on a computer system a process for receiving an indication transmitted by a user of a telephone device and denoting a request to be connected to an application residing at a remote server, establishing a communication path between said telephone device and said remote server via a server at which said computer program product resides, and creating a virtual client entity adapted to communicate with said telephone device and with said application residing at said remote server for the duration of a communication session during which said user is in communication with said application.

12. A computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said process further comprising carrying out an authentication procedure of said user.

13. A computer program product according to claim 11, operative to execute on a computer system a process for creating a virtual client entity adapted to communicate with a telephone device and with an Internet-based application associated with a remote server, storing an identification of a user of said telephone device for communicating with said Internet-based application, storing messages forwarded towards a server associated with said computer program product from the remote server, and sending an indication towards said telephone device, indicating that there is a stored message addressed to the user of said telephone device.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13, wherein messages addressed to said user are forwarded towards said server associated with said computer program product following a positive response made by said server to an interrogation initiated by said Internet-based application to determine whether said user'"'"'s identification is stored at said server associated with said computer program product.

15. A computer program product according to claim 11, for executing on a computer system a process for receiving one or more messages transmitted to a user of a telephone device via an Internet-based application associated with a remote server while said telephone user is not actively connected to said Internet-based application, enabling storage of said message received and providing said user with an indication that said message has been stored.