# US 5,706,437 A · System and method for accessing a service on a services network

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- Number: US 5,706,437 A
- Document ID: US5706437A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/581,744
- Filed: 1995-12-29
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-12-29
- Assignees: MCI Communications Corporation
- Inventors: Michael Kirchner; Sridhar Krishnaswamy; George Kult; Jeff Sackett; Greg Young
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706437A

## CPC

- H04L 67/14: Session management (for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066)
- H04L 67/51: Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
- H04L 69/12: Protocol engines
- H04L 69/32: Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
- H04L 69/327: in the session layer [OSI layer 5]
- H04L 69/329: in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

The invention provides a generic session layer protocol that enables many generic complex transactions and exchanges between a client and a service/server. The generic session layer transactions and exchanges are available via a set of programming language functions. The functions reside in the Network Information Distribution Service (NIDS) Application Program Interface (API) of an operator services network. To introduce a new service on an operator services network, only the functions are need to be used. Accordingly, each time a new service is created, new functions calls, new protocols and a new session layer do not need to be created.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for accessing a service on a services network using a set of generic functions and a generic session layer protocol, wherein the generic functions and generic session layer protocol can be used with any new service, said method comprising the steps of:
(1) calling a first function to establish a connection between an application and the service, wherein the first function resides in an application interface and said step of calling a first function includes sending a connection identifier and a service identifier;
(2) calling a second function to transfer a packet between the application and the service, wherein the second function resides in the application interface and said step of calling a second function includes sending a connection identifier and data; and
(3) calling a third function to terminate the connection between the application and the service, wherein the third function resides in the application interface and said step of calling a third function includes sending a connection identifier and a server identifier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises the steps of:
sending a service number request from the application to a server on which the service resides to obtain a service number;
sending a service number response from the server to the application interface;
sending an open service request to the service; and
sending a response from the service to the calling application.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the steps of:
sending the packet from the calling application to the service.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the steps of:
sending the packet and a response request from the calling application to the service;
sending a response to the application interface; and
sending the response from the application interface to the calling application.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (1), (2) and (3) are called by the application and step (3) comprises the steps of:
sending a termination request from the calling application to the service; and
sending a response from the service to the calling application.

### Claim 6

A system for setting up a new service on a services network using a set of generic functions and a generic session layer protocol, wherein the generic functions and generic session layer protocol can be used with any new service, the system comprising:
a first means for establishing a connection between an application and the service, wherein the first means resides in an application interface and said means for establishing comprises means for sending a connection identifier and a service identifier;
a second means for transferring a packet between the application and the service, wherein the second means resides in the application interface and said means for transferring includes means for sending a connection identifier and data; and
a third means for terminating the connection between the application and the service, wherein the third means resides in the application interface and said means for terminating includes means for sending a connection identifier and a server identifier.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A system according to claim 6, wherein said first means comprises:
means for sending a service number request from the application to a server on which the service resides to obtain a server number;
means for sending a service number response from the server to the application interface;
means for sending an open service request to the service; and
means for sending a response from the service to the calling application.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A system according to claim 6, wherein said second means comprises:
means for sending a packet from the calling application to the service.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A system according to claim 6, wherein said second means comprises:
means for sending a packet from the calling application and a response request to the service;
means for sending a response to the application interface; and
means for sending the response from the application interface to the calling application.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A system according to claim 6, wherein said third means comprises:
means for sending a termination request from the calling application to the service; and
means for sending a response from the service to the calling application.

### Claim 11

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform generic method steps for establishing access between an application and a service in an operator services network, said method steps comprising:
(1) calling a first function to establish a connection between an application and the service, wherein the first function resides in an application interface and said step of calling a first function includes sending a connection identifier and a service identifier;
(2) calling a second function to transfer data between the application and the service, wherein the second function resides in the application interface and said step of calling a second function includes sending a connection identifier and data; and
(3) calling a third function to terminate the connection between the application and the service, wherein the third function resides in the application interface and said step of calling a third function includes sending a connection identifier and a server identifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 11, wherein steps (1), (2) and (3) are called by the application and said step (1) comprises the steps of:
sending a service number request from the application to a server on which the service resides to obtain a service number;
sending a service number response from the server to the application interface;
sending an open service request to the service; and
sending a response from the service to the calling application.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 11, wherein steps (1), (2) and (3) are called by the application and said step (2) comprises the steps of:
sending a packet from the calling application to the service.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

A program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 11, wherein steps (1), (2) and (3) are called by the application and said step (2) comprises the steps of:
sending a packet from the calling application and a response request to the service;
sending a response to the application interface; and
sending the response from the application interface to the calling application.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

A program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 11, wherein steps (1), (2) and (3) are called by the application and said step (3) comprises the steps of:
sending a termination request from the calling application to the service; and
sending a response from the service to the calling application.