Method and arrangement for personalization of series and applications in telecommunication networks using a user profile web portal

[0001] This invention relates to the use of services and applications from terminals in telecommunication networks.

[0002] The success of mobile communication expressed by the explosion both in the number of mobile phones and the number of mobile subscriptions can only be explained by the user's demand for freedom and flexibility. The fact of being able to communicate anytime and anywhere is in itself very valuable to the users. Such a demand will soon be extended to comprise other services than just voice communication. In fact, after experiencing exciting data applications on the Internet the user will inevitably expect to be able to access them anywhere at anytime and on any terminal either fixed or mobile.

[0003] In addition, he/she will probably expect to access the same application or at least be able to recognise the application that he/she is familiar with at home. The functionality, the behaviour, the presentation, the look and feel, the preferences and settings, etc. should preferably be the same or as close as possible to what he/she is used to. This is possible to achieve but requires that the user set up and personalize for each application/service and restore the original settings after use. However, it is a boring and time consuming task that he/she would prefer to be exempt from. For a non-technical user such a task can neither be required nor accepted.

[0004] There is an obvious demand for automatic set-up for every services and applications according to the user's preferences no matter when, where or on which device the user is using the service or application.

[0005] There is per today no known solution that satisfies the following requirements:

• • [0006] 1. Always allows automatic set up of every service or application according to the user's preferences without the intervention of the user, independently of the time, the location, the network and the device in use.
  • [0007] 2. Allows the preservation of the user's setting and preferences for any services and applications independently of the time, the location, the network and the device in use.
  • [0008] 3. Supports both communication services that allow communications between human beings such as voice telephony, multimedia telephony, conference, etc. and data services that offers computing services to a user such word processor, spreadsheet, database, etc.
  • [0009] 4. Supports all services and applications of the user no matter where the services and applications are located, i.e. in the home operator's domain, the visiting operator's domain, the 3^rd party domain or locally on the user's devices.

[0010] There exists, however, systems that satisfy partially the requirements stated above. In telecommunication systems, in order to allow the customization of services, a user profile is introduced to capture the preferences and settings of the users as in the case of Universal Personal Telecommunication (UPT) (ITU-TS, 1994) and in Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture (TINA) (TINA Consortium, 1997). In Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), such a user profile is called Subscriber Data or Subscriber Profile (ETSI/3GPP, 1998). The user profile contains information that is required for service provisions, identification, authentication, routing, call handling, charging, subscriber tracing, operation, and maintenance purposes.

[0011] Telecom user profiles as defined have many limitations. The user profile is intended for customisation of the main service, namely voice communication or telephony, and its supplementary services, e.g. call forwarding, call answering, etc. It is also stored within the operator's system and is not available to 3rd party applications or services.

[0012] This invention proposes a method and arrangement that satisfies all the four requirements stated above.

[0013] In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide an overall system architecture which allows an automatic set up of the user's preferences for all services and applications independently of the time, location, network and devices that the user is currently using.

[0014] The scope of the invention appears from the appended patent claims.

[0015] A detailed account of the inventive system will now be given in reference to the appended drawings, in which

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the overall architecture of a system according to the present invention,

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a user profile as utilized in the present invention,

[0018] FIG. 3 is showing user profile access by services and applications,

[0019] FIG. 4 is showing user profile access via a User Profile Web Portal.

[0020] The example in FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication system including a mobile communication network 2 with a terminal 1. The terminal can e.g. be a mobile phone or a PDA. The system also includes a fixed network 5 with a terminal 7, here an ordinary telephone. The networks are interconnected with a gateway 4. Each network 2, 5 is is connected to the Internet 13 via gateways 3, 6.

[0021] As mentioned above, it is an objective of the invention to provide user access to preferred services and applications no matter where he/she is located. In order to fulfill this objective, the following features are included in the inventive solution:

• • [0022] All the user's settings and preferences for all his services and applications are incorporated in a User profile.
  • [0023] The User Profile is made available in the World-Wide-Web as an XML web service 12 that we call User Profile XML Web service.
  • [0024] The user is allowed to access and modify his/her profile via a User Profile Web Portal 10.
  • [0025] The system includes a User Profile Agent 11 that
    • [0026] fetches the User Profile from the User Profile Web Service 12.
    • [0027] carries out the settings of the services and applications according to the user's preferences and save the original settings.
    • [0028] sends the modified profile back to User Profile Web Service 12 for storage when the user terminates his session.
    • [0029] restores the original/default settings of the personalized applications.

[0030] The two components introduced in the Internet and the World-Wide-Web; the User Profile Web Service 12 and the User Profile Web Portal 10 that are both web servers and can be addressed using an URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).

The Definition of the User Profile

[0031] The preferences and settings of a user are captured in the user profile. For each user there will be allocated one unique user profile.

[0032] In order to allow the users access to multiple applications and services anytime, anywhere and on any terminal, the content of the user profile needs to be extended to fulfil the following requirements (see UML class diagram, FIG. 2):

• • [0033] For each user the user profile must be expandable to incorporate the preferences and settings for any additional application or service that the user requires.
  • [0034] For each application the user profile must contain the information necessary for the presentation of the application on the terminal types requested by the user.
  • [0035] For each application the user profile must contain application restrictions which specify the usage restrictions.

[0036] The user profile must incorporate personal data such as address book, telephone list, bookmarks, calendar appointments, etc.

[0037] The UserProfile has five components: ServiceRestriction, RoutingInfo, ChargingInfo, SecurityInfo and ApplicationType.

[0038] The UserProfile contains personal data of the user such as: name, address, phone number, etc.

[0039] ServiceRestriction has attributes such as:

• • [0040] Roaming restriction
  • [0041] Time restriction
  • [0042] credit limit
  • [0043] Maximum number of terminal addresses for group registration for incoming applications
  • [0044] Incoming screening
  • [0045] Outgoing screening
  • [0046] List of subscribed services

[0047] RoutingInfo has attributes such as

• • [0048] Forwarding activation status
  • [0049] Registered terminal address for incoming applications
  • [0050] A linked-registered terminal address
  • [0051] Default terminal address for incoming applications
  • [0052] Routing by applications originating area
  • [0053] Routing by calling party identity
  • [0054] Time-dependent routing
  • [0055] Routing on “busy” condition
  • [0056] Routing on “no answers condition
  • [0057] Default duration (or number of calls) for incoming applications registration

[0058] ChargingInfo has attributes such as

• • [0059] Default charging reference location
  • [0060] Charging option selected
  • [0061] Temporary charging reference location
  • [0062] Advice of charge activation status

[0063] SecurityInfo has attributes such as

• • [0064] Authentication procedures subscribed
  • [0065] Security options subscribed
  • [0066] Type of authentication procedures activated
  • [0067] Max number of failed authentication attempts
  • [0068] Password
    ApplicationType

[0069] The UserProfile may contain zero or more ApplicationTypes. UserApplicationType may be e.g. spreadsheet application, word processor, e-mail client, Web browser, etc. A type should be defined with a unique ID defined by the User Profile Operator or by international standards.

UserApplicationProfile

[0070] Each ApplicationType may have zero or more UserApplicationProfiles. The UserApplicationProfile component is to enable customisation of an application, e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, etc. For each application (run in a service session), there may hence be assigned zero or one UserApplicationProfile. The application in the UserApplicationProfile should be identified with a unique ID representing also the version of the application. Hence, Netscape version x should have a different ID than Netscape version y.

[0071] The UserApplicationProfile may contain zero or one ApplicationRestriction, ApplicationRoutingInfo, ApplicationChargingInfo, ApplicationSecurityInfo and UserApplicationSpecifics. It is therefore possible to specify the restrictions, routing, charging, and security options for each application. If one or more of these components are not specified for the application, the corresponding components in the UserProfile (ServiceRestriction, RoutingInfo, etc.) can be applied instead.

UserApplicationSpecifics

[0072] The UserApplicationProfile may also contain zero or one UserApplicationSpecifics—a component that contains application specific data. ApplicationType and the specific application decide the structure and content of this component. As the Operator adds new application types and applications to the database, the structure of the UserApplicationSpecifics must be defined accordingly. For example it might be specified that all applications of type Web browser can store Bookmarks, History and Cookies in UserApplicationSpecifics. The format for storing this information depends on the application. For example Internet Explorer bookmarks will be saved in another format than Netscape bookmarks.

[0073] The reason for specifying ApplicationType is because it enables one application to use data belonging to another application, provided that the first application knows how to convert the data to its own format. If a user has stored bookmarks in Netscape format, but switches to e.g. Opera, the User Profile will recognise that the application type is the same, and that the Opera browser might want to use the Netscape bookmarks. If Opera has a method for importing Netscape bookmarks, the User Profile might provide the Netscape bookmarks to the Opera browser.

Example of Application Types

• • [0074] Mail

[0075] Applications: Outlook, Eudora, Pine, etc.

[0076] User Application Specifics: mailing list

• • [0077] Telephony

[0078] Applications: Fixed telephony, Mobile telephony, IP telephony, conference, etc.

• • [0079] User Application Specifics: telephone list
  • [0080] Calendar

[0081] Applications: Outlook, Calendar in PDA, etc.—User Application Specifics: calendar data.

The User Profile Web Service

Objective

[0082] The objective of the User Profile Web Service is to make the user profile universally available in the World-Wide Web

Functionality

[0083] This component has the following functions:

• • [0084] Assumes the storage and management of the User Profile.
  • [0085] Provides a SOAP interface called I1 on the World-Wide-Web such that any service or application located on the Internet or the fixed networks like PSTN, ISDN, etc. or mobile networks like GSM, GPRS, UMTS, etc. can query its UserApplicationProfile
  • [0086] Provides a SOAP interface called 12 with the User Profile Web Portal such the User Profile Web Portal can query the full User Profile.
  • [0087] Provides an OAM (Operation and Maintenance) interface which allows the definition of new users, new application type, new application ID, etc.
    Interface I1 for Application Profile

[0088] It is worth noting that authentication and authorization need to be performed before allowing this usage of this interface.

[0089] This interface allows authorized entities to query and write back the UserApplicationProfile, by using two function calls:

[0090] Method getUser ApplicationProfile (in UserID, in applType, in applID, in identification, out UserApplProfile)

[0091] Method setUser ApplicationProfile (in UserID, in applType, in applID, in identification, in UserApplProfile out Ack)

[0092] UserID: The User's ID

[0093] applType: The ApplicationType ID

[0094] applID: The ApplicationID (incl. Version ID)

[0095] identification: Token identifying the requestor

[0096] UserApplProfile: The UserApplicationProfile of the right user and application (according to in UserID, in applType, in applID)

[0097] Ack: Acknowledgement

[0098] Interface 12 for User Profile

[0099] It is worth noting that authentication and authorization need to be performed before allowing this usage of this interface.

[0100] This interface allows authorized entities to query and to write back the whole User Profile, with the following function calls:

[0101] Method getUser Profile (in UserID, in applType[ ], in applID[ ], in identification, out UserProfile)

[0102] Method setUser Profile (in UserID, in applType[ ], in applID[ ], in identification, in UserProfile out Ack)

[0103] UserID: The User's ID

[0104] applType[ ]: ApplicationType IDs. The applicationone can request information for one or more of the applications defined for the user

[0105] applID[ ]: ApplicationIDs (incl. Version IDs). The application can request information for one or more of the applications defined for the user

[0106] identification: Token identifying the requestor

[0107] UserApplProfile: The UserProfile of the right user, including information for the applications requested (specified in in UserID, in applType[ ], in applID[ ])

[0108] Ack: Acknowledgement

Implementation

[0109] We propose to implement the User profile as a service that makes an extendable user profile available to applications through a SOAP interface.

[0110] SOAP encoding of parameters and data sent to and from the service offers language and platform transparency, so that the service interface is available to any application on any device.

[0111] The appendix shows an example on how the methods offered by the User Profile Web Service can be implemented, written in SOAP.

The User Profile Web Portal

Objective

[0112] The objective of the User Profile Web Portal is to enable automatic preference settings.

Functions

[0113] This component has the following functions:

• • [0114] Provides a user interface on web browser (e.g.

[0115] Explorer, Netscape, etc.) such that the user can use a device (PC, workstation, WAP phone) with a browser to access the User Profile Web Portal.

• • [0116] Has a User Agent Profile which assumes the responsibility:
    • [0117] Interact with the User Profile Web Service to fetch the User Profile
    • [0118] to set up the services and applications using the User Profile obtained from the User Profile Web Service
    • [0119] to save the original settings of the personalized services and applications
    • [0120] to send the modified User profile back to the User Profile Web Service when the user terminates his session.
    • [0121] to restore the original settings for the respective service and applications.
      Use Scenarios
      Use scenario for the interface II

[0122] The User Profile Web Service provides an interface II such that services and applications can access it no matter where they are located. The user may use a service S offered by the mobile network, a service T offered by the fixed network or application X running on a computer connected to the Internet. In order to be able to carry out the set up according the user's preferences, these applications need to get its User Application Profile. They can use interface Il to make the query to the User Profile Web Service.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 3, through interface II, a service S residing in the Mobile Network System or a service T residing in the fixed networks systems or an application X running on a computer connected to the Internet can query its User Application Profile.

Use scenario for Interface 12

[0124] As shown in FIG. 4, this scenario starts as follows:

• [0125] 1. The user uses a device with a browser and is visiting the URL of the User Profile Web Portal. Although a computer is shown in the figure, the user may use any device having a browser such as a WAP phone, a PDA, etc.
• [0126] 2. He/she authenticates himself. Sufficiently strong authentication is necessary.
• [0127] 3. Assuming that authentication is successful, the User Profile Agent requests the User Profile of the user via the interface I1. It is worth noting that there is also a need for authentication, authorization and a secured channel between the User Profile Web Service and the User Service Web Portal.
• [0128] 4. The User Profile Agent consults the User Profile to find out what applications are relevant for the setting of the user's preferences.
• [0129] 5. The User Profile Agent interacts with the device currently used by the user to find out whether the wanted application is installed on the device. If not it will try to find in the domain where the device is connected to. If not, it will consult the home domain of the user.
• [0130] 6. For each application, the User Profile agent will perform the preference settings by installing the user's preferences captured in the UserApplicationSpecifics. The application is now personalized according the user's preferences.
• [0131] 7. The user finishes his works. The User Profile Agent is notified. This can be done by the user to User Profile Web Portal or by the logging out process.
• [0132] 8. The User Profile Agent will save the modified User Application Profile onto the User Profile Web Service.
• [0133] 9. The User Profile Agent will restore the original settings of the personalized applications.

[0134] The set up of preferences is hence concluded.

	APPENDIX
	Implementation of the methods offered by the User Profile
	Web Service in SOAP:
	SOAP Message structure: getUserApplicationProfile
	Request Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<getUserApplicationProfile
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<userID>The user's unique ID</userID>
	<applType>The ID of the application Type</applType>
	<applicationID>The application's unique
	ID</applicationID>
	<identification>Identification</identification>
	</getUserApplicationProfile>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	Response Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<getUserApplicationProfileResponse>
	<getUserApplicationProfileResult
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<UserApplicationProfile>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</UserApplicationProfile>
	</getUserApplicationProfileResult>
	</getUserApplicationProfileResponse>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	SOAP Message structure: setUserApplicationProfile
	Request Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<setUserApplicationProfile
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<userID>The user's unique ID</userID>
	<applType>The ID of the application Type</applType>
	<applicationID>The application's unique
	ID</applicationID>
	<identification>Identification</identification>
	<UserApplicationProfile>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</UserApplicationProfile>
	</setUserApplicationProfile>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	Response Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<setUserApplicationProfileResponse>
	<setUserApplicationProfileResult
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<Ack>True or False<Ack>
	</setUserApplicationProfileResult>
	</setUserApplicationProfileResponse>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	SOAP Message structure: getUserProfile
	Request Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<getUserProfile
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<userID>The user′s unique ID</userID>
	<application>
	<applType>First application Type</applType>
	<applicationID>First application ID</applicationID>
	</application>
	<application>
	<applType>Sec. application Type </applType>
	<applicationID>Sec. application ID</applicationID>
	</application>
	etc...
	<identification>Identification</identification>
	</getUserProfile>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	Response Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<getUserProfileResponse>
	<getUserProfileResult
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<UserProfile>
	<UserProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserProfileInfo>
	<ApplicationInfo>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</ApplicationInfo>
	<ApplicationInfo>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</ApplicationInfo>
	</UserProfile>
	</getUserProfileResult>
	</getUserProfileResponse>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	SOAP Message structure: setUserProfile
	Request Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<setUserProfile
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<userID>The user's unique ID</userID>
	<application>
	<applType>1st application Type</applType>
	<applicationID>1st application ID</applicationID>
	</application>
	<application>
	<applType>2nd application Type </applType>
	<applicationID>2nd application ID</applicationID>
	</application>
	etc...
	<identification>Identification</identification>
	<UserProfile>
	<UserProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserProfileInfo>
	<ApplicationInfo>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</ApplicationInfo>
	<ApplicationInfo>
	<UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationProfileInfo>
	<UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	<Structure1>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure1>
	<Structure2>
	<Field1>information</Field1>
	<Field2>information</Field2>
	etc...
	</Structure2>
	etc...
	</UserApplicationSpecificInfo>
	</ApplicationInfo>
	</UserProfile>
	</setUserProfile>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>
	Response Message:
	<?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“utf-8”?>
	<soap:Envelope
	xmlns:xsi=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance
	xmlns:xsd=http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema
	xmlns:soap=“http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/”>
	<soap:Body>
	<setUserProfileResponse>
	<setUserProfileResult
	xmlns=“http://operators.unique.namespace.identifier”>
	<Ack>True or False<Ack>
	</setUserProfileResult>
	</setUserProfileResponse>
	</soap:Body>
	</soap:Envelope>