Mobility Network Operator Service Delivery Hub

• US 20110225060A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunmire, David, Owenby, Clifford Marcus, Keith, Chad C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

A service delivery hub controlled by a network operator includes an access controller; a network services gateway in communication with the access controller and in communication with external network elements, a partner management center in communication with the access controller and the network services gateway, the partner management center configured to establish a service level agreement with application service providers or enabler providers; an interface defined by the service level agreement, the interface configured to provide a single point access to the application service developers, to provide a set of programming interfaces to the developers whereas the programming interfaces provide access to the external network elements; and a charging system interface to a charging gateway, wherein the charging system is subject to the service level agreement and wherein the service delivery hub allocates revenue in accordance with the service level agreement.

Claims

1. A service delivery hub controlled by a network operator comprising:

an access controller;

a network services gateway in communication with the access controller and in communication with external network elements;

a partner management center in communication with the access controller and the network services gateway, the partner management center configured to establish a service level agreement with application service providers or enabler providers;

an interface defined by the service level agreement, the interface configured to provide a single point access to the application service developers, to provide a set of programming interfaces to the developers whereas the programming interfaces provide access to the external network elements; and

a charging system interface to a charging gateway, wherein the charging system is subject to the service level agreement and wherein the service delivery hub allocates revenue in accordance with the service level agreement.

2. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the network services gateway communicates with the external network elements via a VPN tunnel.

3. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the network services gateway provides an interface to a network enabler, wherein the network enabler provides access to external network elements.

4. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the access controller includes policy control functionality.

5. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the access controller provides an interface to a portal.

6. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the access controller provides an interface to an aggregator, wherein the aggregator is configured to combine applications from one or more application service providers and provides aggregated content through the service delivery hub in accordance with a service level agreement.

7. The service delivery hub of claim 1 wherein the single point of access for the application service provide is provided by a partner management center configured to enter into a service level agreement with a network operator, and wherein the service delivery hub is further configured to develop and test an application, to obtain certification of the application and to transmit the application to be hosted on the service delivery hub, and wherein the service delivery hub is configured to distribute the application to one or more other networks or locales without the application service provider requiring independent access to the one or more other networks.

8. The service delivery hub of claim 1 further comprising an operations and maintenance function to load balance access to the network elements.

9. A system for providing services to mobile customers comprising:

a service delivery hub configured for establishing service level agreements with third party application service providers or enabler providers;

managing access to the network, monitoring and allocating external network resources, interfacing with external mobile networks or external network subsystems; and

interfacing with a charging system;

a network enabler in communication with the service delivery hub to provide services to customers of external mobile networks

a portal in communication with the service delivery hub for providing access to third party application providers or enabler providers; and

a charging system in communication with the service delivery hub;

wherein the service delivery hub provides a single point of access to the third party application providers or enabler providers and wherein the applications and enablers are provided to the customer of the external networks.

10. A method of distributing applications from a single point of entry in a network comprising:

providing login credentials to an application service provider to a service delivery hub;

establishing a service level agreement between the application service provider and the service delivery hub;

receiving an application at the service delivery hub;

receiving a request for purchasing an application at the service delivery hub from a storefront;

providing network access for distribution of the application; and

settling a transaction among the service delivery hub and the application service provider in accordance with the service level agreement.