Method and apparatus for enabling real-time bi-directional transactions on a network

US 20080091801A1
Filed: 10/30/2007
Published: 04/17/2008
Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web comprising the steps of:

receiving a transactional request from a wireless user for access to media content;

handing said transactional request to an exchange component, said exchange component providing said wireless user with a choice of currently available media content services accessible by said exchange component;

receiving a selection of a particular accessible media content service from said wireless user;

providing a choice of available media content from said particular media content service to said wireless user;

receiving a request from said wireless user for particular media content. providing said particular wireless media content in real time to said wireless user.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing real-time, two-way transactional capabilities on the Web. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for enabling object routing, the method comprising the steps of creating a virtual information store containing information entries and attributes associating each of the information entries and the attributes with an object identity, and assigning a unique network address to each of the object identities. A method is also disclosed for enabling service management of the value-added network service, to perform OAM&P functions on the services network

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110 Claims

1. A method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web comprising the steps of:
- receiving a transactional request from a wireless user for access to media content;
  
  handing said transactional request to an exchange component, said exchange component providing said wireless user with a choice of currently available media content services accessible by said exchange component;
  
  receiving a selection of a particular accessible media content service from said wireless user;
  
  providing a choice of available media content from said particular media content service to said wireless user;
  
  receiving a request from said wireless user for particular media content. providing said particular wireless media content in real time to said wireless user.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- - 2. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein said particular wireless media content includes video.
  - 3. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein said particular wireless media content includes audio.
  - 4. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein said particular wireless media content includes web advertising.
  - 5. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein said particular wireless media content includes buying or selling.
  - 6. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein said particular wireless media content is multi-media.
  - 7. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 1 wherein the step of providing said particular wireless media content is performed through a switching or exchange component.
  - 8. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 7 wherein said switching or exchange component provides a plurality of vertical services.
  - 9. The method for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 8 wherein said vertical services are chosen from the group consisting of messaging, archival retrieval, directory services, data staging and financial services.

10. A system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web comprising:
- a management component capable of communicating with a wireless user, said management component receiving a request from a wireless user for wireless media content services;
  
  an exchange component supplying said wireless user with a choice of available wireless media services, wherein said exchange component receives a choice by said wireless user relating to a particular wireless media service;
  
  a switching component providing information transfer between said particular wireless media service and said wireless user by which said wireless user may choose and receive particular wireless media content.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- - 11. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said particular wireless media content includes video.
  - 12. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said particular wireless media content includes audio.
  - 13. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said particular wireless media content includes web advertising.
  - 14. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said particular wireless media content is multi-media.
  - 15. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said particular wireless media content includes web buying and selling.
  - 16. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 10 wherein said switching component provides a plurality of vertical services.
  - 17. The system for delivering complete wireless transactional services over the World Wide Web of claim 16 wherein said vertical services are chosen from the group consisting of messaging, archival retrieval, directory services, data staging and financial services.

18. An employee-accessible web service network portal operated by a business entity comprising:
- a point of service application provided by a particular sub-entity related to said business entity;
  
  a second application provided by a different sub-entity also related to said business entity;
  
  a portal allowing an employee access to said point of service application, said portal also allowing said employee to transfer information from said second application to said point of service application.
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- - 19. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 wherein said particular sub-entity is a payroll department.
  - 20. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 wherein said different sub-entity is a human resources department.
  - 21. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 wherein funds can be transferred by said point of service application to benefit said employee.
  - 22. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 wherein said portal allows said employee to transfer information between other application programs provided by other sub-entities related to said business entity.
  - 23. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 wherein one of said point of service application allows access to the group of services consisting of 401K plans, expense reports, time cards, payroll, travel, vacation and commissions.
  - 24. The employee-accessible web service network portal of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of point of service applications.

25. An exchange component of a web-based transactional service comprising:
- a plurality of application components;
  
  a switching component;
  
  an object routing component;
  
  a web page component;
  
  wherein said web page component provides a web page to a user that allows said user to select a particular transactional service, said switching component switches information between said user and an application component related to said particular transactional service, and said object routing component routes media content objects between said particular transactional service and said user.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- - 26. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 25 wherein said switching component is a value added network switch.
  - 27. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 25 wherein some of said application programs are point of service applications.
  - 28. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 25 wherein said exchange component receives a handoff message from a server when a user requests said particular transactional service.
  - 29. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 28 wherein said server is remote from said exchange component.
  - 30. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 25 wherein said web page component provides said user with a graphical user interface containing a list of available transactional services.
  - 31. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 30 wherein said web page component allows said user to choose a transactional service from said list.
  - 32. The exchange component of a web-based transactional service of claim 31 wherein said switching component switches said user to one of said application components based upon a choice from said list.

33. A multi-media network object routing service comprising:
- a virtual information store located on one or more networked computers containing a plurality of information entries and a plurality of object attributes, wherein each of said information entries and each of said object attributes is associated with a particular multi-media web service network object, said multi-media web service network object having both a network object identity and a unique network address.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
- - 34. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 33 wherein said unique network address is an IP address.
  - 35. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 33 wherein multi-media web service network object resides on a node having an IP address.
  - 36. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 35 wherein said unique network address is based on the IP address of said node.
  - 37. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 35 wherein said node is a web server having a particular IP address.
  - 38. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 37 wherein said unique network address is related to said particular IP address of said web server.
  - 39. The multi-media web service network object routing service of claim 37 wherein said unique network address is related hierarchically to said particular IP address of said web server.

40. A web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions comprising:
- a web-based application accessible by N web participants, where N is an integer greater than 1, each of said web participants providing a service, and wherein said web-based application allows transfer of information between members of said N web participants;
  
  a user interface to said web-based application, wherein a user can access a service from at least one of said N web participants;
  
  and wherein said web-based application notifies at least one of said web participants when the user accesses a service from another of said web participants.
- View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
- - 41. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 40 wherein at least one of said N web participants is a merchant.
  - 42. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 40 wherein at least one of said services includes advertising.
  - 43. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 40 wherein said web-based application also sends advertising to said user.
  - 44. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 43 wherein said advertising originates at one of said N web participants.
  - 45. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 40 wherein at least one of said N participants exchanges multi-media information with said user in real time.
  - 46. The web service transaction system for allowing N-Way transactions of claim 40 wherein N is an integer greater than 2.

47. A cooperative multiple merchant web service system comprising:
- at least one point of service application accessible by a plurality of web merchants, each of said web merchants providing goods or services, said point of service application allowing transfer of information between said web merchants;
  
  a user interface to said point of service application, wherein said user can access at least some of said goods or services, and wherein access by said user to one of said merchant'"'"'s goods or services is communicated to at least one other of said merchants.
- View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
- - 48. The cooperative multiple merchant web service system of claim 47 wherein a particular one of said web merchants provides the service of maintaining a record of said user'"'"'s accesses.
  - 49. The cooperative multiple merchant web service system of claim 48 wherein said particular one of said merchants allows said user to provide funds for at least some of said accesses.
  - 50. The cooperative multiple merchant web service system of claim 47 wherein one of said merchants is a financial institution.
  - 51. The cooperative multiple merchant web service system of claim 47 wherein at least one of said merchants provides fungible goods.
  - 52. The cooperative multiple merchant web service system of claim 47 wherein at least one of said merchants provides exchanges multi-media information with said user.

53. A method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users comprising the steps of:
- providing a service network running on the internet upon which a plurality of web merchants provide real-time point of service transactional capabilities;
  
  providing at least one web site where a user can access said service network;
  
  providing an exchange component that interacts with said web site, wherein said exchange component provides said user with information relating to available point of service applications;
  
  allowing the user to choose a particular point of service application and to interact with that particular point of service application to complete a real-time transaction over the Web.
- View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
- - 54. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 53 wherein said exchange component communicates with a switching component.
  - 55. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 54 wherein said switching component routes information between said user and said particular point of service application.
  - 56. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 53 wherein users are provided with a list of available point of service applications.
  - 57. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 53 wherein said exchange component communicates with an object routing component.
  - 58. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 57 wherein said object routing component allows completion of said real-time transaction.
  - 59. The method for providing an enhanced value chain between web merchants and users of claim 53 wherein said user may be a supplier, partner, distributor or value-added resellers.

60. A value added web service network switch comprising, in combination:
- a switching service component that routes information between users and sources of customer services;
  
  a boundary service component that provides an interface to an enterprise network and to a user connected to a facilities network;
  
  an application service component containing application programs that deliver said customer services to users from said enterprise network.
- View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
- - 61. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said facilities network is the Web.
  - 62. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said application service component delivers services from the group consisting of multi-media messaging, archival/retrieval management, directory services, data staging, conferencing, financial services, home banking and risk management.
  - 63. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 further comprising a management component wherein said management component provides operations, administration, maintenance or provisioning functions.
  - 64. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 further comprising a management component that provides information management services, or application network management services or a control center.
  - 65. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said boundary service component interfaces to another value-added network switch.
  - 66. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said boundary service component interfaces to personal computers, televisions or telephones.
  - 67. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said boundary service interfaces to a private network.
  - 68. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said switching service component performs multiplexing or prioritization of requests or flow control of selective flow of data or multi-media information on one or more channels.
  - 69. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said boundary service component interfaces with a plurality of other value added web service network switches.
  - 70. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said application service component provides billing over the Web.
  - 71. The value added web service network switch of claim 60 wherein said application service component provides security management over the Web.

72. A method for performing a real time transaction over a digital network, the method comprising:
- providing a web page for display on a computer system, wherein a user input device is coupled to the computer system;
  
  providing a point of service application as a selection within the web page, wherein the point of service application provides access to both a checking and savings account;
  
  accepting a first signal from the user input device to select the point of service application;
  
  accepting subsequent signals from the user input device; and
  
  transferring, in real-time and in response to the subsequent signals, funds from the checking account to the savings account.
- View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
- - 73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:
    - using a web service exchange to complete the transfer of funds.
  - 74. The method of claim 72, further comprising:
    - using a management agent to complete the transfer of funds.
  - 75. The method of claim 72, further comprising:
    - using object routing to complete the transfer of funds.
  - 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the object routing includes:
    - using distributed on-line service information bases.
  - 77. The method of claim 72, further comprising:
    - using a virtual information store to complete the transfer of funds.
  - 78. The method of claim 77, wherein the virtual information store includes a web service networked object.
  - 79. The method of claim 78, wherein the networked object includes a networked object identity.
  - 80. The method of claim 78, wherein each networked object is assigned an Internet address.
  - 81. The method of claim 80, wherein the Internet address is assigned based on the node at which the networked object resides.
  - 82. The method of claim 81, wherein a hierarchical addressing tree structure is used to assign the Internet address.
  - 83. The method of claim 72 wherein said transaction is requesting a loan from a lender.
  - 84. The method of claim 72 wherein said transaction is purchasing a vehicle with financing from a bank.
  - 85. The method of claim 72 wherein said transaction is accessing an account.

86. A method for managing services on a web service network in order to facilitate a transaction, the method comprising:
- providing a management service to a user;
  
  accepting signals from a user input device operated by the user to control the management service; and
  
  using the information management service to process an object identity, wherein the object identity represents a networked object.
- View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
- - 87. The method of claim 86, wherein the management service includes an information management service.
  - 88. The method of claim 86, wherein the management service includes a web service network management service.
  - 89. The method of claim 86, wherein the management service includes an operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning function on the Web.
  - 90. The method of claim 89, wherein the function includes security management on the Web.
  - 91. The method of claim 89, wherein the function includes fault management on the Web.
  - 92. The method of claim 89, wherein the function includes configuration management on the Web.

93. A method for configuring the context of a service on the World Wide Web comprising the steps of:
- providing a user interface that defines objects, information entries and attributes;
  
  storing said information entries and attributes in a virtual information store;
  
  configuring an instance of a process model;
  
  associating said process model with an object having an object identity that includes said information entries and attributes on the World Wide Web;
  
  assigning a unique network address to said object identity;
  
  performing object routing of said object on the World Wide Web;
  
  creating a web-based virtual accelerator as a web service;
  
  creating a grid network on the World Wide Web, said grid network having a plurality of grains;
  
  instantiating a context on the World Wide Web;
  
  associating a grain of said grid network to said context on the World Wide Web;
  
  using said web-based virtual accelerator to access said context and said object on the World Wide Web.
- View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
- - 94. The method of claim 93, wherein the process model is an organizational process model.
  - 95. The method of claim 93, wherein the process model is a business process model.
  - 96. The method of claim 93, wherein the process model is context-driven.
  - 97. The method of claim 93, wherein the process model relates to a group of geographies, markets, industries, departments, organizations, enterprises, web services, classifications and types.
  - 98. The method of claim 93, wherein the grains relate to groups of geographies, markets, industries, departments, organizations, enterprises, web services, classifications and types.
  - 99. The method of claim 93, wherein the grid network includes grains of instances of a group of process elements, context, web applications, geographies, markets, industries, departments, organizations, enterprises, web services, classifications and types.
  - 100. The method of claim 93, wherein the context is distinct from content on the World Wide Web.
  - 101. The method of claim 93, wherein the context is Business Process Automation.
  - 102. The method of claim 93, wherein the user interface provides a common command view of web services.
  - 103. The method of claim 93, wherein the user interface includes a control center for the grid network of context elements.
  - 104. The method of claim 93, wherein the grid network includes open access to unified communication using object routing.

105. A distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web comprising:
- a virtual information store containing a plurality of information entries and attributes, wherein said information entries and attributes are associated with a particular networked object having an object identity.
- View Dependent Claims (106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
- - 106. The distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web of claim 105 wherein each networked object has a network address.
  - 107. The distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web of claim 106 wherein said network address is an internet address.
  - 108. The distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web of claim 107 wherein said internet address is an IP address.
  - 109. The distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web of claim 107 wherein said internet address is associated with the node where said object is stored.
  - 110. The distributed online service information base on the World Wide Web of claim 105 wherein said object has a name and an object type.

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Current Assignee
Lakshmi Arunachalam
Original Assignee
Pi-Net International Incorporated
Inventors
Arunachalam, Lakshmi

Granted Patent

US 8,037,158 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

709/219
CPC Class Codes

G06Q 20/04   Payment circuits

G06Q 20/10   specially adapted for elect...

G06Q 30/0277   Online advertisement

G06Q 30/06   Buying, selling or leasing ...

G06Q 30/0601   Electronic shopping [e-shop...

H04L 41/18   Delegation of network manag...

H04L 67/02   based on web technology, e....

H04L 69/329   in the application layer [O...

H04L 9/40   Network security protocols

Method and apparatus for enabling real-time bi-directional transactions on a network

First Claim

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Method and apparatus for enabling real-time bi-directional transactions on a network

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