Service chaining

Abstract

Systems and methods, including computer executable instructions, are provided for telephony service chaining. One method includes invoking a first application in a telephony session. The method includes retrieving a session context associated with the first application and using the session context an input to invoke a second application in the telephony session.

1 . A method for telephony service chaining, comprising:
 invoking a first application in a telephony session;   retrieving a session context associated with the first application; and   using the session context as an input to invoke a second application in the telephony session, wherein the first and second applications are different atomic applications.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes using a robot (BOT) to retrieve the session context. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second application are atomic applications. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the first atomic application includes invoking a push-to-talk (PTT) session including a buddy list feature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the method includes:
 storing a participant of the PTT session in a context repository; and   accessing the buddy list from the context repository.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method includes using the buddy list as input to invoke the second application selected from the group of:
 a conference service;   a location service;   a short message service; and   an email service.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the session context is used in throughout the telephony session and can be retained and re-instantiated at a later time. 
     
     
         8 . A method for telephony service chaining, comprising:
 invoking a first wireless application service as part of a telephony session;   creating a session ID associated with the first wireless application service;   using the session ID to establish a session context in a context repository;   receiving additional information to implement a second wireless application service; and   associating the second wireless application service and the additional information with the session ID and adding to the session context, wherein the first and second applications are different atomic applications.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method includes:
 accessing the session context using the session ID; and   using the session context as input to invoke the second wireless application service.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method includes:
 receiving additional information to implement a third wireless application service;   associating the third wireless application service and the additional information with the session ID to add to the session context;   accessing the session context using the session ID; and   using the session context as input to invoke the third wireless application service.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein invoking a first wireless application service includes invoking a push to talk (PTT) session; and
 wherein the method includes retrieving a group list from a group list management service in association with the PTT session and forwarding the group list to the first wireless application service.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein receiving additional information to implement the second wireless application service includes receiving selected names from among the group list. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second wireless application service is a location service, and wherein adding to the session context includes adding location information for selected names from among the group list. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third wireless application service is a conferencing service, and wherein:
 receiving additional information to implement the third wireless application service includes receiving selected locations; and   wherein using the session context as input to invoke the third wireless application service includes using phone numbers for names at the selected locations.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third wireless application service is an short message service, and wherein:
 receiving additional information to implement the third wireless application service includes receiving selected locations; and   wherein using the session context as input to invoke the third wireless application service includes using text message addresses for names at the selected locations.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third wireless application service is an email service, and wherein:
 receiving additional information to implement the third wireless application service includes receiving selected locations; and   wherein using the session context as input to invoke the third wireless application service includes using email addresses for names at the selected locations.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein creating a session ID includes creating the session ID using a call control XML application and forwarding the session ID to the first wireless application service; 
     
     
         18 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A service chaining system, comprising:
 an application server having access to a web service;   a wireless device with an application to request the web service from the application server over a network; and   wherein the application server includes program instructions which are executable to:
 retrieve a session ID in association with a first application invoked by the wireless device in a telephony session; 
 store session context for the first application based on the session ID in a context repository; and 
 use the session context as an input to invoke a second application in the telephony session, wherein the first and second applications are different atomic applications. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the application server includes program instructions which are executable to:
 expose an operator service as a web service; and   expose the web service to a development tool with the ability to associate a web service implemented in the development tool with a session ID.   
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the web service is implemented using call control XML. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the network is a global system for mobile general packet radio service network. 
     
     
         34 - 37 . (canceled)