Methods for Exchanging User Profile, Profile Mediator Device, Agents, Computer Programs and Computer Program Products

A method performed by a profile mediator device for exchanging a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile for the user, and a second service provider, the method comprising:

• receiving from a server of the second service provider a request for the user profile;
• retrieving a policy corresponding to the user profile;
• generating a request identification for the request;
• and
• sending the request identification to the server of the second service provider, the request identification enabling the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the second service provider in accordance with the policy.

A profile mediator device for enabling the exchange of a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile and a second service provider, the profile mediator device comprising a controller arranged to:

• receive, via an input/output device, from a server of the second service provider a request for the user profile;
• retrieve, via the input/output device, a policy corresponding to the user profile, generate a request identification for the request;
• and
• send, via the input/output device, the request identification to the server of the second service provider, the request identification enabling a server of the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the server of the second service provider.

A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for a profile mediator device, for enabling exchange of a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile and a second service provider, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when executed on a profile mediator device, configures the profile mediator device to:

• receive from a server of the second service provider a request for the user profile;
• retrieve a policy corresponding to the user profile;
• generate a request identification for the request;
• and
• send the request identification to the server of the second service provider, the request identification enabling a server of the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the server of the second service provider.

A method performed by an agent of a server of a second service provider, for exchanging a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile and the second service provider, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for the user to use a service provided by the second service provider;
• receiving, from the user, a user profile identification confirming consensus to share with the second service provider the user profile of the user from the first service provider in accordance with a policy;
• requesting from a profile mediator device authorization to get the user profile from the first service provider, as identified by the user profile identification;
• receiving from the profile mediator device a request identification, the request identification enabling a server of the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the server of the second service provider.

An agent for a server of a second service provider for exchanging a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile and the second service provider, said agent comprising a controller arranged to:

• receive, via an input/out device, a request for the user to use a service provided by the second service provider;
• receive, via the input/out device, from the user, a user profile identification confirming consensus to share the user profile from the first service provider with the second service provider, in accordance with a policy;
• request from a profile mediator device, via the input/out device, authorization to get the user profile of the first service provider, as identified by the user profile identification;
• and
• receive from the profile mediator device, via the input/out device, a request identification, the request identification enabling a server of the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the server of the second service provider.

A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for an agent of a server of a second service provider, for exchanging a user profile of a user between a first service provider having the user profile and the second service provider, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on the agent, configures the agent to:

• receive a request for the user to use a service provided by the second service provider,
• receiving, from the user, a user identification confirming consensus to share with the second service provider a user profile of the first service provider;
• requesting from a profile mediator device authorization to get the user profile from the first service provider, as identified by the user identification;
• and
• receiving from the profile mediator device a request identification, the request identification enabling a server of the first service provider to exchange the user profile with the server of the second service provider.

An agent for a server of a first service provider for exchanging a filtered user profile between the first service provider and a second service provider, the agent comprising a controller arranged to:

• receive, via an input/output device, from a server of the second service provider a request for obtaining a user profile of a user, the request comprising a request identification;
• transmitting, via the input/output device, to a profile mediator device the request identification;
• and
• receiving, via the input/output device, a processing algorithm corresponding to the request identification, the processing algorithm for use in filtering user information in the user profile in accordance with a policy, to thereby obtain the filtered user profile for exchanging.

A computer-readable medium storing computer program for an agent of a server of a first service provider for exchanging a filtered user profile between the first service provider and a second service provider, the computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on the agent, configures the agent to:

• receive from a server of the second service provider a request for obtaining a user profile of a user, the request comprising a request identification;
• transmit to a profile mediator device the request identification;
• and
• receive a processing algorithm corresponding to the request identification, the processing algorithm for filtering user information in the user profile in accordance with a policy, to thereby obtain the filtered user profile for exchanging.