Schema-based services for identity-based access to device data

• US 7,206,788 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Horvitz, Eric J., Shaw, Rhae-Christie, Gehlsen, John M., Fang, Lijiang, Lucovsky, Mark H., Sauntry, David M., Wu, Winnie C., Pierce, Shaun D., Steckler, Paul A., Moore, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz; Apu M.
• Application Number:
  US10/208,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/10, 707/103.R, 707/104.1, 707/101, 707/102, 345/771, 345/853, 370/338, 705/2, 709/203, 709/204, 709/217, 709/226, 709/228, 709/229, 709/237, 709/245, 713/2, 713/164, 713/169, 713/201, 717/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A schema-based device service that provides centralized access to per-user device data, wherein access to the device data is based on each user'"'"'s identity. The device service includes a schema that defines rules and a structure for each user'"'"'s data, and also includes methods that provide access to the data in a defined way. The device schema thus corresponds to a logical document containing the data for each user. A service such as a notification/alerts service accesses data in the logical document by data access requests through defined methods, such as in order to customize or modify a notification for a device based on the device characteristics. In one implementation, the device schemas are arranged as XML documents, and the services provide methods that control access to the data based on the requesting user'"'"'s identification, defined role and scope for that role.

Claims

1. In a computer network, a method performed by a schema-based service for identity-based access to device data, the method comprising,

providing an identity-based device schema for access to the device data based upon an associated identity of a user, the identity-based device schema defining how requests to the service are structured and defining device-related elements for structuring logical device documents;

providing a plurality of logical device documents associated with respective users, where each logical device document is structured with elements in conformance with the identity-based schema and each describes characteristics or properties of a computing device of its associated user;

receiving a data access request directed to device information of a user identified by identity information included with the request, where the request comprises markup language that conforms to the identity-based schema; and

in response to the data access request, accessing a logical device document of the requested user based on the identity information included with the request, and manipulating the logical device document.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the logical device document comprises reading data from at least one element in the logical device document.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein manipulating the logical device document comprises writing data to at least one element in the logical device document.

4. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the schema includes at least one defined field for extending the schema.

5. In a computer network, a method performed by a schema-based service, the method comprising,

receiving a request to retrieve device data with accessibility to the device data based upon an associated identity of a user, the request including associated user identity information identifying a user of a device corresponding to the requested device data, where the request conforms to schema information that defines how the service is accessed;

reading from a data store to obtain, from among device data for a plurality of devices and respective users, device data of the user, where the reading is based on the associated user identity information;

constructing a device document including at least part of the read device data, the document and device data being structured with markup language according to schema information defining structure of device documents; and

returning the document in response to the request.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 5.

8. In a computer network in which content is sent from an entity to a recipient device, a method comprising,

providing a device-information service, the device-information service providing device data formatted with extensible markup language code according to an identity-based device schema;

receiving from the entity a data access request directed to accessing device information based upon an associated identity of a user, the request including associated identity information that identifies the recipient device; and

in response to the data access request, using the identity information to obtain device data for from among device data for a plurality of devices and providing the device data for the recipient device, the device data being formatted with extensible markup language according to the identity-based device schema.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, at the entity, receiving the device data and modifying the device data before sending the device data to the recipient device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein modifying the device data comprises filtering the device data based on a characteristic of the recipient device such that some of the obtained device data is not provided to the recipient device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein modifying the device data comprises filtering the device data based on a rendering capability of the recipient device such that some of the obtained device data is not provided to the recipient device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the device data corresponds to an alert, and wherein modifying the device data comprises filtering the device data based on an alerting capability of the recipient device.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 8.