Composite services delivery

The present invention relates to Next Generation Networking (NGN), and more specifically to the placement and transmission of complex services on NGN networks.

Next Generation Networking (NGN) is an emerging computing networking technology that inherently supports data, video, and audio transmission. Unlike past circuit switching telephone networks, NGN networks perform packet switching, combining voice and data in a single network. Generally, NGN networks are classified by the division between call control and call transmission. Also, in NGN networks, all information is transmitted via packets that can be labeled according to their respective types. Therefore, individual packets are treated differently depending on the type indicated on the corresponding label.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an open, standardized, operator-friendly NGN multimedia architecture for mobile and fixed services. IMS implements Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which is based on a variant of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and is a standard Internet Protocol (Internet). Run on Protocol: IP). Telephone communication operators in NGN networks provide network-controlled multimedia services using IMS. The purpose of IMS is to provide users of NGN networks with new services in addition to those currently available. This broad purpose of IMS is supported through the widespread use of the underlying IP compatibility protocol and the corresponding IP compatibility interface. In this way, IMS can integrate the Internet with a wireless cellular space to provide cellular technology with useful services for ubiquitous access located on the Internet.

Multimedia services can be delivered in the same way both within NGN networks and within non-NGN networks through the use of documents with markup specified. In the case of services with a visual interface, visual-oriented markup such as the extensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) and many of its common species can be used in visual content browsers, for example, in hypertext transfer. You can specify a visual interface to a service when rendered through a visual content channel, such as a channel managed by the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). In comparison, the voice interface is a voice-extensible markup language (Voice eXtensible Markup). It can be specified for the service by voice-oriented markup such as Language: VoiceXML). In the case of a voice interface, for example, it is done through a separate voice channel managed according to SIP.

In many situations, it is preferable to configure the service to be transmitted across multiple different channels of different modalities, including audio and visual modes. In this regard, service providers cannot always predict the interactive modality of services that will be accessed by a given end user. To address this uncertainty, services can be prepared for communication through each expected modality, for example by voice and visual markups. However, generating multiple different markup documents to meet different access modality can be a tedious and tedious task. As a result, fusion technologies such as XHTML + VoiceXML (X + V) have been used to simplify the development process.

In particular, X + V represents one of the technological efforts to create a multimodal application development environment. In X + V, XHTML and VoiceXML can be mixed in a single document. The XHTML part of the document can manage the visual dialogue with the end user, and the VoiceXML part of the document can manage the voice dialogue with the end user. X + V allows command, control, and content navigation while simultaneously rendering multimodal content. In this regard, the X + V profile specifies how to calculate the grammar based on the visual hyperlinks present on the page.

<p> However, processing X + V documents requires the use of a unique browser within the client device used by the end user to access the content. Delivering multimedia services to a large number of end-user devices, including devices that are widespread across NGN networks, is unique to all end-user devices dealing with X + V and other unified technologies. It can be difficult if it is assumed to be configured. On the contrary, at best, the devices in the NGN network are designed to process visual dialogues within one standard communication channel and voice dialogues within a second standard communication channel. It can only be presumed to be.</p><p> Thus, despite the promising X + V, different communication channels are different in order to truly support multiple modalities of interaction with services delivered on NGN or even non-NGN networks. Must be established for each access modality. In addition, each service must be specified separately for each different modality. Finally, once a session is established over one access modality for a service, the intermediate session cannot be changed to different access modality for the same service within the same session. As a result, dialogues across different channels that address different dialogue modality remain out of sync and disjointed. As a result, end users are not free to switch between access modality for services in the NGN network.</p>

<p> Embodiments of the present invention address technical shortcomings relating to the placement and transmission of services to be accessed through different access channels in the NGN network, in order to place and transmit complex services in the NGN network. It provides new and non-trivial methods, systems, and equipment. As used herein, a composite service is accessed through multiple different access modality on different channels to accommodate in a common session, while maintaining service state synchronization between different access channels. It is a service deployed across the NGN network that is enabled to be.</p><p> In the first embodiment of the present invention, the data processing system enabling the composite service includes a plurality of channel Servlets capable of establishing a plurality of different access channels to the composite service for a common session. obtain. The system may also include a location registry containing a table of entries that associate different access channels with a common session. Furthermore, the system may include a model Servlet configured to bind to the model for the common session and modify the state data in the model for the common session. Finally, the model Servlet may be able to synchronize views for different access channels to the composite service depending on the changes detected in the model.</p><p> In another embodiment of the invention, a method of enabling a composite service is a step of establishing multiple access channels for a common session for the composite service and a common session in a per-channel view for the common session. Can include steps to synchronize state changes for the corresponding model. The step of establishing multiple access channels for a common session for a complex service may include establishing a voice access channel for the common session and a visual access channel for the common session for the common session.</p><p> Also, the steps to synchronize the state changes about the model in the view for each access channel to the service are the steps to maintain the state about the model, the step to create a listener for the state change about the model, and the model in the listener. It may include a step of detecting a state change about the model and a step of updating the view per access channel for a common session in response to detecting a state change about the model in the listener. Finally, a common session can be established for multiple access channels to complex services in IMS for NGN networks.</p><p> Further aspects of the invention will be described in part in the following description and may be partially apparent from this description or may be found by practicing the invention. Aspects of the present invention may be realized and achieved by the elements and combinations thereof specifically pointed out in the appended claims. It should be understood that both the above overview and the detailed description below are exemplary and for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention described in the claims.</p><p> Although only an example, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.</p>

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer programs for transmitting complex services in NGN networks. According to one embodiment of the invention, different access channels to the service can be established to access the service through corresponding different access modalities, including audio and visual modes. Specifically, dialogue with a service within a session can be provided across a selected channel of different channels, each corresponding to a different access modality for the service. In the case of audio and visual modality, separate markup documents are used in each selected channel according to the particular modality of that channel.

Importantly, each channel used to access a service within a session can be associated with each other channel accessing the service within the same session. As a result, the state of the service is stored in the model in the Model-View-Controller architecture and can be maintained regardless of the channel used to change the state of the service. In addition, the representation of the service can be synchronized in each view for the selected channel of the different channels. In this way, the end user interacts with the service in a single session across different access channels using different access modality without the need for cumbersome and inherent logic placed on the client's computing device. can do.

Fortunately, the system of the invention can be embodied within IMS in an NGN network. In the illustration, FIG. 1 is a substantive diagram of an IMS configured to be used with a data processing system configured to deploy and transmit complex services in an NGN network. As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing system 200 that enables the composite service can be configured to deploy and transmit the composite multimedia service 180 in the NGN network 120. As used herein, a "composite multimedia service" may be a service configured to be accessed through multiple different views of different modality across different communication channels correspondingly. ..

More specifically, the composite multimedia service 180 is accessible through several different modality, including visual mode, instant messaging mode, and voice mode. Each access modality can be created by developer 190 through the use of service development tool 170. The service development tool 170 can be configured to create different access modality for the composite multimedia service 180, with visual markup and composite multi to provide visual access to the composite multimedia service 180. Includes voice markup to provide audible access to media service 180.

One or more gateway server platforms 110 can be combined with a data processing system 200 that enables complex services. Each gateway server platform 110 can facilitate the establishment of communication channels to access the composite multimedia service 180 according to a particular access modality. For example, the gateway server platform 110 may include a content server such as a web server that can provide visual markup for accessing the composite multimedia service 180 on the NGN network 120 through visual mode. Similarly, the gateway server platform 110 may include a voice server capable of providing audible access to the composite multimedia service 180 on the NGN network 120 through audible mode.

The end user 130 can access the composite multimedia service 180 using any one of the client access device 150 choices. The application logic within the client access device 150 can provide an interface for a particular access modality. Examples include content browsers in personal computing devices, audible user interfaces in popular devices, telephone user interfaces in telephones, and the like. Importantly, each provided access modality is separate of multiple channels 160 established with the corresponding gateway server platform 110 on network 120 for the same session with composite multimedia service 180. It means that you can use one of them. In this regard, a session with the composite multimedia service 180 has multiple channels 160 to provide different access modality to the composite multimedia service 180 to one of the end users 130. Can exist across.

In a more specific diagram, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a data processing system 200 that enables the combined services of FIG. The data processing system 200, which enables complex services, can operate on application server 275 and is a composite multimedia on different access channels 245,250,255 for different endpoint types 260A, 260B, 260C in the NGN network. It may include multiple channel servlets 235 configured to handle communication interactions with the corresponding session 225 for the service. In this regard, Channel Servlet 235 provides Real Time over HTTP. As a voice enabler and voice server for a visual endpoint 260A that implements a voice interface utilizing Protocol: RTP) or a voice endpoint 260 that utilizes SIP, it can handle voice dialogue. Similarly, Channel Servlet 235 can handle visual dialogues as a web application for the visual endpoint 160A. As yet another example, Channel Servlet 235 can handle instant message dialogues as an instant messaging server for the instant messaging endpoint 260C.

More specifically, the channel Servlet 235 may be capable of handling HTTP requests for interaction with the corresponding session 225 for composite multimedia services. HTTP requests can be made in voice mode from a visual mode-oriented web page on visual channel 245, from a visual mode-oriented instant messaging interface on instant messaging channel 255, or on voice channel 250 enabled by SIP. Can also be emitted. Similarly, Channel Servlet 235 is coupled to SIPlet, which is well known in the art and is useful in combination to handle voice dialogue for Corresponding Session 225 for composite multimedia services. VoiceXML and Call Control eXtensible Markup Through a voice enabler that may include appropriate voice markup (Language: CCXML), it may be possible to handle SIP requests for dialogue with the corresponding session 225 for composite multimedia services.

Each channel Servlet 235 can be combined with Model Servlet 220. Model Servlet 220 can arbitrate a dialogue with model 210 for the associated session of session 225. Each session 225 is manageable within Session Manager 215, which correlates different communication channels established through Channel Servlet 235 with the corresponding session of Session 225. Can be done. The interassociation of different communication channels can be facilitated through the use of the combined location registry 230. The location registry 230 can contain a table showing the host name of the system and the active channel for one of the corresponding sessions in session 225.

Model Servlet 220 can now access Model 210 for Correspondence Session 225 for Composite Multimedia Services, which provides different access channels 245,250,255 from each other through different endpoints 260A, 260B, 260C. May include program code. For example, model 210 can be encapsulated within an entity bean within a bean container. In addition, model 210 is the corresponding one of session 225, regardless of the access channel 245,250,255 for which session data is created, removed, or modified for the corresponding cache of session 225. Session data for a session can be stored.

In particular, session-by-session state changes for composite multimedia services can be synchronized across different views 260 for different access channels 245,250,255 through listener architecture. The listener architecture can include one or more listeners 240 per model 210. Each listener can accommodate different access channels 245,250,255 and can detect state changes for model 210. In response to detecting a state change for model 210 in one of the corresponding sessions of session 225 for the composite multimedia service, listener 240 joins through the corresponding one of channel Servlet 235. Notifications can be provided to the view 260 in use so that the view 260 in subscription can refresh to incorporate the detected state changes for the model 210.

In a further illustration, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the process for synchronizing states in models across different views, providing different access modality across different channels for a single session with complex multimedia services. Is. Starting at block 305, a session can be established to access the service through a view with a particular access modality. Session establishment can also be done on a particular communication channel. The block 310 can then provide access to the service on a particular communication channel. In decision block 315, if a new channel on which the service is accessed has not been established, in decision block 320, access to the service may continue on a particular communication channel until the session is aborted in block 325. it can.

In decision block 315, if a new communication channel is established in which the service will be accessed using different access modality, then in block 330, the listener for services for different views for each communication channel.. You can create a service. At block 335, access can be provided to the service on a new communication channel. If in decision block 340 a change in state about the service is detected, in block 345 the view may be synchronized for each established communication channel on which the service is accessed using different access modality. it can. Then, in decision block 350, if the session is desired to continue, access can continue to provide access to the service in block 335. Otherwise, processing can be terminated at block 355.

Embodiments of the invention can be entirely hardware-only, completely software-only, or include both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software including, but is not limited to, firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. In addition, the present invention provides computer programs accessible from computer-enabled or computer-readable media that provide program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. It can take the form of a product.

For the purposes of this description, computer-enabled or computer-readable media includes programs that provide program code for use by or in connection with instruction execution systems, devices, or devices. , Can be any device capable of storing, communicating, propagating, or transmitting. The medium can be electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or a semiconductor system (or device or device) or propagation medium. Examples of computer-readable media include semiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, removable computer diskettes, Random Access Memory (RAM), and read-only memory (ROM). , As well as fixed magnetic disks and optical disks. Current examples of optical discs include Compact Disk-Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) and Compact Disk-Read / Write (Compact). Disk-Read / Write: CD-R / W), and DVD included.

A data processing system suitable for storing and / or executing program code includes at least one processor that is directly or indirectly coupled to a memory element through a system bus. Memory elements are at least some local memory used during actual execution of program code, large-capacity storage, and at least some to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from large-capacity storage during execution. It may include cache memory that provides temporary storage of program code. Input / output or I / O devices (including keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through an intervening I / O controller. A network adapter may also be coupled to the system to allow the data processing system to be coupled through a dedicated or public network that intervenes with other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet (R) cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.

<figref num="1">FIG. 5 is a substantive diagram of an IMS configured to be used with a data processing system configured to deploy and transmit complex services in an NGN network according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a data processing system configured to arrange and transmit complex services in an NGN network according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a flow chart which shows the process for transmitting a complex service in an NGN network which concerns on one preferred embodiment of this invention.</figref>