US 2003/0200299 A1 · Method and system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider utilizing public wired and/or wireless communication networks

Abstract

A business model is described for providing pervasive computing services to authorized corporate customers through a middle-tier service provider (MTSP) utilizing public wired and wireless communications networks such as the Internet. Entitled employees can securely connect via approved pervasive computing devices to corporate communications applications (e.g. e-mail, calendar, messaging) and browser accessible Intranet applications (e.g. field service, sales, document management) utilizing this invention. Secure connections are established between the device and the corporate infrastructure through a public wireless communication network utilizing the middle-tier service provider's infrastructure. Authorized corporations use the middle-tier service provider to perform all service fulfillment, service enablement and service account management functions in support of the contracted pervasive computing services. Corporations are alleviated from the continual and soaring investments in additional resources and infrastructure required to support a corporate pervasive computing strategy.

Claims39

Dependent claims

An integrated system for enabling computing services for use by associated pervasive computing devices through an associated middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service enablement system providing a secure insulation layer including authorization procedures and authentication procedures, the authorization procedures and authentication procedures being adapted to be performed by the associated middle tier service provider;
and,
a CME portal system in communication with the CME service enablement system and utilizing a secure hosting infrastructure for all interaction between entitled users of the integrated system, corporate infrastructures, the associated middle tier service provider and partners.

An integrated system for deploying computing products for use by associated pervasive computing devices through a middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service fulfillment system that utilizes associated entitlements and profiles to ensure that correct products are deployed and supported for only entitled employees;
and,
a CME account management system;
wherein the CME service fulfillment system and CME account management system function independently of each other offering respective services of the integrated system.

1 more element

An integrated system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider, the system comprising:

a CME service fulfillment system that utilizes associated entitlements and profiles to ensure that correct products are deployed and supported for only entitled employees;
a CME service enablement system providing a secure insulation layer including authorization procedures and authentication procedures, the authorization procedures and authentication procedures being adapted to be performed by the associated middle tier service provider;
and,
a CME account management system.

1 more element

An integrated method for CME service fulfillment and management comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;
(b) modifying standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;
(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;
(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through a modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;
(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;
(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;
(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;
(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;
(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;
(vi) giving, to each approved vendor and system, access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions;
and,
(vii) activating the entitled user;
or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;
(ix) approving or denying the request;
(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved;
and,
(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;
and,
(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request.

18 more elements

An integrated method for deploying computing products to pervasive computing devices comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;
(b) modifying, by the middle tier service provider, standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;
(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;
(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through the modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;
(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;
(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;
(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;
(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;
(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;
(vi) giving each approved vendor and system access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions;
and,
(vii) activating the entitled user;
or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;
(ix) approving or denying the request;
(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved;
and
(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;
(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request;
(g) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;
(h) creating entitled user accounts;
(i) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user's corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;
(j) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;
(k) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network;
(l) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer;
(m) incorporating relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service into a CME system according to an account contract;
(n) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;
(o) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;
(p) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports;
and,
(q) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information;
wherein steps (a)-(q) are integrated in a manner wherein steps (a)-(f) provide for CME service fulfillment, steps (g)-(l) provide for CME service enablement, and steps (m)-(q) provide for account management.

30 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform integrated method steps for executing commands to perform CME service fulfillment and management, the integrated method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;
(b) modifying standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;
(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;
(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through a modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;
(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;
(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;
(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;
(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;
(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;
(vi) giving, to each approved vendor and system, access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions;
and
(vii) activating the entitled user;
or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;
(ix) approving or denying the request;
(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved;
and,
(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;
and,
(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request.

18 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform integrated method steps for executing commands to deploy computing products to pervasive computing devices, the integrated method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a middle tier service provider for CME services;
(b) modifying, by the middle tier service provider, standard CME portal system templates and storing the modified templates into a CME fulfillment system, wherein the modifying provides a personal feel to the CME portal system for authorized corporate employees;
(c) enabling, by the middle tier service provider, access to the modified CME portal by assigning a unique corporate wide user ID and password that can be used by authorized users to request CME services;
(d) inputting, by an authorized user, identifying information such as, but not limited to, name, contact information, work location and employee type for requesting service, wherein the information is inputted through the modified CME portal utilizing a UGI, such as a browser, and stored within a CME fulfillment system;
(e) executing an entitlement process, wherein the entitlement process is an electronic workflow driven process that entails the middle tier service provider notifying a customer agent of pending requests that are ready for processing and customer agents interact with the CME Fulfillment system through a UGI, and, depending upon an outcome of the entitlement process, steps for an entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(i) entitling the authorized user as an entitled user;
(ii) completing, by the entitled user, a personalized profile, providing information including, but not limited to, selectively requested approved products, shipping address and service activation;
(iii) forwarding, by the middle tier service provider, batch hardware and software requests to appropriate vendor partners fulfillment systems;
(iv) storing within the fulfillment system information related to each request;
(v) interacting, by the vendor partners, with the CME fulfillment system through a secure communications network connection through a partner CME portal;
(vi) giving each approved vendor and system access rights to the CME fulfillment system through a CME SecurePar system for supporting fulfillment and CME service transactions;
and,
(vii) activating the entitled user;
or steps for a non-entitled user are selectively executed comprising:
(viii) initiating an automatic review process according to contract agreements;
(ix) approving or denying the request;
(x) executing steps (i)-(vii) for an entitled user if the request is approved;
and,
(xi) selectively removing the authorized user from the CME portal system if the request is denied;
(f) notifying the authorized user of approval of the request or of a reason for denial of the request;
(g) loading an entitled user profile into an enablement support system;
(h) creating entitled user accounts;
(i) defining secure communications network paths based on the entitled user's corporation and applications, wherein the secure paths are defined between a CME enablement access system and a customer application environment, and wherein all communications network traffic traverses a secure path utilizing a middle tier service provider CME portal, and wherein the customer interface utilizes a secure communications network connection;
(j) storing information and updating processes related to the entitled user in a CME support system to reflect the addition of a new entitled employee record;
(k) connecting partners for supporting the entitled user to the CME support System through the middle tier service provider CME portal, wherein a partner interface to the middle tier service provider CME portal is through a secure communications network connection, and wherein entitled users receive required products and access while they are remote and connected through a public wireless communications network;
(l) selectively notifying at least one of the entitled user and the customer;
(m) incorporating relevant restrictions, limitations and conditions of service into a CME system according to an account contract;
(n) customizing, by a middle tier service provider, a set of management reports based on a standard set of templates that the middle tier service provider uses for reporting status of the account to both middle tier service provider management and partners and to customer agents;
(o) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer contract specific provider and partner management reports;
(p) creating, by the middle tier service provider, customer profile specific reports;
and,
(q) resolving, by the middle tier service provider and partners, any service delivery issues, wherein the middle tier service provider and partners work from the same information;
wherein steps (a)-(q) are integrated in a manner wherein steps (a)-(f) provide for CME service fulfillment, steps (g)-(l) provide for CME service enablement, and steps (m)-(q) provide for account management.

30 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider utilizing public wired and/or wireless communication networks

Life of this patent

Method and system for providing pervasive computing services through a middle tier service provider utilizing public wired and/or wireless communication networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39