Proxy-based communications architecture

Abstract

A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.

1 . An apparatus for delivery of network-based information and services via a telephone handset, comprising: 
 a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point, comprising: 
 at least one base station comprising: 
 a first communications facility;  
 a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to said network via said first communications facility; and  
 a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets; and a plurality of handsets, each handset comprising:  
 means for communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;  
 client means for providing an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset:  
 wherein said base station acts as a proxy to said network for said handsets;  
 wherein said base station stores at least a portion of said profile information; and  
 wherein each handset is dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection, via said client means, of a particular handset profile stored in said base station; and  
 
   at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;    wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said broadband enabled telephone system further comprising: 
 a web service comprising a multi-layered system for providing heterogeneous services to web service clients;    wherein said web service comprises a portal for providing a single access point to said broadband enabled telephone system for a plurality of different network-based services    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said network-based services comprising any of: 
 email, voice mail, Internet Messaging, address book, and local search.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said web service comprising: 
 a web layer for handling all incoming user requests from a client, marshalling and un-marshalling said requests, performing access control, and forwarding said requests to appropriate controllers for resolution;    a business/subscriber layer for consuming published data from the publishers and for personalizing said published data for said users;    a publisher layer for interacting with service providers and for retrieving information from said service providers; and    a database persistence layer for performing object relational mapping.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a toolkit for multicast, inter-process communication across LAN and/or WAN boundaries.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , said publishers comprising any of content managers/gateways, email manager/gateways, and IM managers/gateways.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , said information comprising any of: 
 email, weather, sports, address books, and instant message groups.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 means for publishing said information in well known repositories, which repositories comprise any of a database and shared memory.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 means for notifying interested parties, once said information is published, either by a publisher or an owner of said published information.    
     
     
         10 . A method for delivery of network-based information and services via a telephone handset, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a broadband enabled telephone system in which SIP messages are sent to and from a SIP end point, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one base station, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first communications facility;  
 providing a broadband network connection for establishing and maintaining broadband access to said network via said first communications facility; and  
 providing a second communications facility for interacting with, and maintaining profile information for, a plurality of handsets; and  
 
 providing a plurality of handsets, the step of providing each handset comprising the steps of: 
 said handset communicating with, and uniquely identifying itself to, said base station via said second communications facility;  
 providing a client comprising an interface to a handset user by which said user operates a handset to interact with said network via said base station and by which said user builds a profile which defines what information and services are provided to a user through a particular handset:  
 wherein said base station acts as a proxy to said network for said handsets;  
 wherein said base station stores at least a portion of said profile information; and  
 wherein each handset is dynamically personalized for a plurality of users by user selection, via said client, of a particular handset profile stored in said base station; and  
 
   providing at least one server for collecting, packaging, and delivering personalized content and services on demand to each of said telephone system handsets via said base station in accordance with profile information contained on said base station for said handsets;    wherein information and services available via said network are delivered to a plurality of users of a plurality of handsets through said broadband enabled telephone system.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , said step of providing a broadband enabled telephone system further comprising the step of: 
 providing a web service comprising a multi-layered system for providing heterogeneous services to web service clients;    wherein said web service comprises a portal for providing a single access point to said broadband enabled telephone system for a plurality of different network-based services    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , said network-based services comprising any of: 
 email, voice mail, Internet Messaging, address book, and local search.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , said step of providing a web service further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a web layer for handling all incoming user requests from a client, marshalling and un-marshalling said requests, performing access control, and forwarding said requests to appropriate controllers for resolution;    providing a business/subscriber layer for consuming published data from the publishers and for personalizing said published data for said users;    providing a publisher layer for interacting with service providers and for retrieving information from said service providers; and    providing a database persistence layer for performing object relational mapping.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a toolkit for multicast, inter-process communication across LAN and/or WAN boundaries.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , said publishers comprising any of content managers/gateways, email manager/gateways, and IM managers/gateways.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , said information comprising any of: 
 email, weather, sports, address books, and instant message groups.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 publishing said information in well known repositories, which repositories comprise any of a database and shared memory.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 notifying interested parties, once said information is published, either by a publisher or an owner of said published information.