Description

A type of system and method for implementing service interoperability

Technical field

This invention involves a type of system for implementing service interoperability, specifically service interoperability based on P2P networking principles, and a method of implementing service interoperability based upon this system.

Technical background

As global communications technology has rapidly developed over recent years, operators, carriers and internet service providers (ISPs) have kept pace with this development and have attracted users by offering new, varied services and flexible business models based on this new communications technology.

In general, operators and carriers deploy various types of service networks based on different communications technology. The term "service network" here refers to the provision of networks consisting of nodes, translation nodes and consumer nodes for a particular type of service; these nodes may be either hardware or software entities. If communication is carried out between users within different types of service network, issues of service interoperability will arise. "Service interoperability" refers to the use of protocol conversion mechanisms to cause networks using different technologies or different protocols to appear as a single uniform entity.

For example, in the existing technology shown in Figure 1, Service Network A is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) , while Service Network B is an internet protocol (IP) network. If a user within the PSTN wishes to communicate by voice with a user within the IP network, for example by making a VoIP (Voice over IP) telephone call, a PSTN gateway is required to parse the audio stream in the IP packets and convert the audio stream into time division multiplexing (TDM) signals.

Service interoperability problems may arise even when communication is carried out between users of different operators within the same type of service network, or between users of services provided by different service providers with the same operator. An example of the first situation is if communication is carried out between users within the China Telecom (CTC) network and users within the China Netcom (CNC) network; while an example of the second situation is if communication is carried out between users of the IP network-based MSN network and users of the similarly IP-based QQ network .

The technical solution in existing technologies used to solve the problems described above regarding communication between users within two or more different service networks, or communication between users of different operators within the same type of service network, or even communication between users of a single operator using services provided by different service providers, is implemented through control of the core parts of the service networks, as shown in Figure 2. "Core parts of the service networks" here refers to the parts of the service network controlled or managed by the operator or service provider. In Figure 2, interoperability

for Service Network A and Service Network B is implemented using their respective core parts.

For example, for users of the IP network-based MSN service and the similarly IP network-based QQ service to communicate, a uniform server must be deployed between the service provider for MSN (Microsoft) and the service provider for QQ (Tencent) ; this uniform server performs conversion of the signals recognized by the MSN servers and the QQ servers .

A partial merger of the service networks of two or more operators may occur when the core parts of the service networks are controlled, but operators are unwilling to accept this type of merger. This is because each operator has its own user base, and this type of service network merger may lead to a reduction in the loyalty of users to their respective operators, increasing the risk of an operator losing its user base. As a result, operators are unwilling to implement service interoperability for the core parts of their service networks. Similar concerns also exist with regard to users of different service providers with a single operator.

However, such failure to implement service interoperability causes inconvenience to users . For example, if a user wishes to communicate simultaneously with friends on MSN and friends on QQ, the user must have both MSN and QQ clients open. The user must therefore install client software for both types of service, and this can cause a variety of unnecessary difficulties for the user.

Content of the invention

As a result of the situation described above, the main object of

this invention is to provide a system and method for implementing service interoperability, so that interoperability between network services can be achieved without the need for controlling the core parts of the service network.

In order to achieve this object, the specific technical solution according to the invention is achieved as follows: A type of system to implement service interoperability which includes a minimum of two service networks, in which the system also includes a minimum of one service interoperability node, each of which is individually connected to a minimum of two of said service networks, and each service interoperability node is an edge entity for each connected service network.

Said service interoperability nodes form a P2P network, and this P2P network is a network located in the application layer.

The edge entities of the service networks are the edge nodes, customer premise equipment (CPE) or client end software of said service networks.

The system also includes a minimum of one strategy platform, and these platforms are connected to the individual service interoperability nodes and provide control and management of these service interoperability nodes. The strategy platform is located on a central server or distributed across said P2P network. The strategy platform also includes a minimum of one registration agent, used to perform registration of each service interoperability node which applies to join said P2P network; a minimum of one connection agent, used to ensure that each of said service interoperability

nodes connects to the P2P network with the same probability; and a minimum of one management agent, used to carry out management of the service interoperability nodes connected to the P2P network through the use of various management strategies.

The registration agent, connection agent and management agent exist independently of one another or a minimum of two of these agents are integrated.

The strategy platform is located on a central server or distributed across said P2P network.

This invention also proposes a method of implementing service interoperability, used within said system to implement service interoperability, which includes the following steps:

(1) A service network sends a message to a service interoperability node to which it is connected;

(2) The service interoperability node converts the message;

(3) The service interoperability node issues the converted message to another service network to which it is connected.

In step (1), the service network sends messages via its core parts to a service interoperability node to which it is connected.

In step (3) , the service interoperability node sends the converted messages to another service network to which it is connected, and the messages are sent via the core parts of that service network.

It is therefore apparent that the system and method for service interoperability provided by this invention has the following

advantages and characteristics:

(1) From a network edge perspective, the service interoperability provided by this invention achieves network interoperability and avoids the core parts of the networks, and is therefore able to be deployed in different operator or service provider networks.

(2) The service interoperability according to the invention carries out management and deployment of the non-core parts of the networks, and is able to reduce the cost of network management and deployment.

(3) The embodiment of service interoperability according to the invention is based on P2P networks, and allows the introduction of a wider range of fairer business models on the basis of these P2P networks, thereby increasing user appeal.

Explanation of the drawings

More detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are given below with the aid of the drawings, as follows:

Figure lisa schematic diagram of network service interoperability implemented using existing technologies.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of network service interoperability implemented by controlling the core parts of the network as in existing technologies.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the service interoperability system according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a specific exemplary embodiment according to the invention.

Specific embodiments

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the service interoperability system according to the invention. The diagram shows a communication system which uses the P2P-based service interoperability according to the invention. This communication system includes two service networks, Service Network A and Service Network B. The system also includes 5 service interoperability nodes, which are known as IWF1~IWF5 respectively. IWFl is individually connected to Service Network A and Service Network B, and each of the nodes IWF2, IWF3, IWF4 and IWF5 is also individually connected to Service Network A and Service Network B in a similar fashion.

Said service interoperability nodes IWF1-IWF5 form a P2P (peer to peer) -based network. This P2P network is a network located in the application layer, and is unrelated to the specific low level network implementation technology used. Thus, said service nodes IWF1-IWF5 are able to form an application layer P2P network regardless of whether Service Network A and Service Network B use IP networks, ethernet, digital data networks (DDN), frame relay (FR) , asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) , multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) or other low level technologies.

The service interoperability nodes IWF1~IWF5 are the edge entities of Service Network A and Service Network B. "Edge entities" here refers to the translation nodes and consumer nodes within the service networks, and in general may be the edge nodes, client premise equipment (CPE) or client end software of Service Network A and Service Network B.

The service interoperability system also includes a strategy

platform which is individually connected to the service interoperability nodes IWFl, IWF2, IWF3, IWF4 and IWF5, and provides control and management of the service nodes IWF1~IWF5. The strategy platform also includes a registration agent, a connection agent and a control agent. When first established, each of the IWF service interoperability nodes first registers with said registration agent in order to apply to join the P2P network. The connection agent is used to ensure that each of the service interoperability nodes IWF1-IWF5 is able to connect to the P2P network with equal probability. The management agent provides management of service interoperability nodes IWF1~IWF5, which are connected to the P2P network, through the use of various management strategies.

The strategic platform is located on an independent central server, or on any one of the service interoperability nodes IWF1~IWF5, or is distributed across the P2P entities IWF1~IWF5. The registration agent, connection agent and management agent within the strategy platform may be mutually independent modules, or any two or all three of these agents may be integrated, and may exist as a single module .

The method for performing service interoperability in the system shown in Figure 3 may be formed by the following steps: Service Network A first sends a message to any one of the service interoperability nodes IWF1-IWF5 via its core parts; the service interoperability node which receives this message then converts the message into a message that can be recognized by Service Network B; and the service interoperability node which received the message then sends the converted message to the core parts of Service Network B.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a specific exemplary embodiment of this invention which shows a system based on the P2P service interoperability according to the invention. This system includes three networks: an IP network, a PSTN network belonging to AT&T Corporation and a PSTN network belonging to China Telecom (CTC) . Network interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B are also present within this system. IWF A is individually connected to the IP network and the AT&T Corporation PSTN network, and may be the edge entity for the IP network or the AT&T Corporation PSTN network; thus, IWF A is the edge node, client premise equipment (CPE) or client end software of the IP network or the AT&T Corporation PSTN network.

Similarly, IWF B is individually connected to the IP network and the China Telecom PSTN network, and may be the edge entity for the IP network or the China Telecom PSTN network; thus, IWF B is the edge node, client premise equipment (CPE) or client end software of the IP network or the China Telecom PSTN network.

Network interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B form a P2P network which is located in the application layer and is unrelated to the specific implementation technologies used in the IP network, the AT&T PSTN network or the CTC PSTN network to which they are connected.

Said system also includes a minimum of one strategy platform (not shown in Figure 4 ) . This strategy platform is individually connected to the service interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B, and provides management and control of service interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B. The strategy platform also includes a registration agent,

which is used to perform registration of service interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B as they apply to join said P2P network; a connection agent, which is used to ensure that both the service interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B are able to connect to the P2P network with equal probability; and a management agent, which is used to provide management of the service interoperability nodes IWF A and IWF B, which are connected to the P2P network, through the use of various management strategies.

The strategy platform can provide management of IWF A and IWF B according to various management strategies. For example, under one type of management strategy, if a user connects to the P2P network formed by IWF A and IWF B, the user must provide services for other peers in order to use the service obtained from peers on the P2P network. If the user provides services to other peers on the network, the user receives positive points, while the user receives negative points for using services provided by other peers; consequently, the user may choose to provide services for other peers or to use the services provided by other peers according to the user ' s actual situation .

Said strategy platform may be located on a single independent central server belonging to one of the three networks mentioned above, or may be located on either of the peers IWF A or IWF B, or may be distributed across the two P2P entities IWF A and IWF B.

If a user within said IP network makes a telephone call to a user within the China Telecom PSTN network, the following steps will generally be used: a personal computer on the IP network first sends

its service stream to the core parts of the IP network, and the core parts of the IP network then send this service stream to service interoperability node IWF B, which is connected to the IP network; service interoperability node IWF B, which is connected to the IP network and the CTC PSTN network, converts said service stream into a message stream that can be recognized by the CTC PSTN network; finally, service interoperability node IWF B sends the converted message stream to the CTC PSTN network to which it is connected, generally to the core parts of the CTC PSTN network.

The specific exemplary embodiment above demonstrates that, from a network edge perspective, the service interoperability system provided by this invention implements service interoperability and avoids the core parts of the networks, and can therefore be deployed within networks with different operators. The service interoperability system according to the invention uses management and deployment of non-core parts of the network, can reduce network management and deployment costs, and permits the introduction of a wide range of fairer business models based on P2P networking.