Web services push gateway

A network system for communicating push messages, comprising:

• one or more mobile terminals capable of receiving push messages via one of a plurality of mobile push technologies;
• one or more Web Services applications capable of providing the push messages via Web Services protocols;
• and
• a Web Services push gateway for interfacing the push messages provided by the Web Services applications to any of the plurality of mobile push technologies, the Web Services push gateway configured to collect bearer characteristics from each of a plurality of mobile push bearers respectively associated with the plurality of mobile push technologies, the Web Services push gateway including an interface for advertising a push service of the Web Services push gateway.

A method of facilitating the transmission of push messages to mobile terminals which collectively implement a plurality of different mobile push technologies, the method comprising:

• providing a first gateway interface to a Web Services domain, wherein the Web Services domain comprises at least one Web Service push application that transmits at least one push message;
• providing a second gateway interface to a mobile push technologies domain, wherein the mobile push technologies domain comprises one or more mobile terminals each operable with at least one of the mobile push technologies;
• advertising a push service that provides transmission of the push messages to the mobile terminals which collectively implement the plurality of different mobile push technologies;
• collecting bearer characteristics from a plurality of mobile push bearers associated with the mobile push technologies;
• routing the push message received at the first gateway interface to an elected one of the plurality of mobile push bearers;
• and
• transmitting the push message from the elected mobile push bearer to a recipient mobile terminal via the second gateway interface, wherein the push message is transmitted utilizing the mobile push technology provided by the elected mobile push bearer.

A method of facilitating the transmission of push messages to mobile terminals utilizing a plurality of different mobile push technologies, the method comprising:

• advertising a push service that provides transmission of the push messages to the mobile terminals which collectively implement the plurality of different mobile push technologies;
• receiving the push messages from Web Services applications via Web Services protocols;
• obtaining presence information relating to the availability and type of recipient mobile terminal;
• obtaining user preference information relating to particular user preferences identified by the user of the recipient mobile terminal;
• obtaining bearer availability and capabilities information from each of a plurality of different mobile push bearers each capable of communicating with the mobile terminals using a different mobile push technology;
• selecting a mobile push bearer to transmit the push message to the recipient mobile terminal based on one or more of the presence information, user preference information, and bearer availability and capabilities information;
• and
• delivering the push message from the selected mobile push bearer to the recipient mobile terminal using the mobile push technology provided by the selected mobile push bearer.

A network system for facilitating the transmission of push messages to mobile terminals which collectively implement a plurality of different mobile push technologies, the network system comprising:

• first interface means for interfacing to a Web Services domain, wherein the Web Services domain comprises at least one Web Service push application that transmits at least one push message;
• second interface means for interfacing to a mobile push technologies domain, wherein the mobile push technologies domain comprises one or more mobile terminals each operable with at least one of the mobile push technologies;
• a third interface for advertising a push service provided by the first and second interfaces;
• means for collecting bearer characteristics from a plurality of mobile push bearers associated with the mobile push technologies;
• means for routing the push message received via the first interface means to an elected one of the plurality of mobile push bearers;
• and
• means for transmitting the push message from the elected mobile push bearer to a recipient mobile terminal via the second interface means, wherein the push message is transmitted utilizing the mobile push technology provided by the elected mobile push bearer.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for facilitating the transmission of push messages to mobile terminals utilizing a plurality of different mobile push technologies, the computer-executable instructions performing steps comprising:

• advertising a push service that provides transmission of the push messages to the mobile terminals which collectively implement the plurality of different mobile push technologies;
• receiving the push messages from Web Services applications via Web Services protocols;
• collecting one or more of presence information relating to the availability and type of recipient mobile terminal, user preference information relating to particular user preferences identified by the user of the recipient mobile terminal, and bearer availability and capabilities information from each of a plurality of different mobile push bearers each capable of communicating with the mobile terminals using a different mobile push technology;
• selecting a mobile push bearer to transmit the push message to the recipient mobile terminal based one or more of the presence information, user preference information, and bearer availability and capabilities information;
• and
• delivering the push message from the selected mobile push bearer to the recipient mobile terminal using the mobile push technology provided by the selected mobile push bearer.