METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FINDING APPLICATION MODULES IN A NETWORK

Abstract: Method and system for finding, via an intermediary search module, a "best match" application module in a network comprising application modules and user modules. Each application module registers characteristic parameters in the search module; a user module sends a search profile to the search module. Each application module (5) is connected to a first position module (7) that gathers geographical parameters and registers them in the search module related to that application module. Each of the user modules (10) is connected to a second position module (11) for gathering and registering in the search module geographical parameters related to the user module. The search module (8) comprises means for, on the one hand, calculating the "best match" from the characteristic parameters and the geographical parameters related to the application modules and, on the other hand, the parameters to be matched by the searched-for application module and the added geographical parameters of the user module.

Description: Method and system for finding application modules in a network BACKGROUND The invention relates to a method and system for finding an application module in a network containing application modules, search modules and user modules, the application module corresponding with a search profile based on the user module. The invention is aimed in particular, but not exclusively, at the use of a technique such as JINI (www.jini.org), in which an application module ("application service") registers with one or more service search modules ("lookup services"), stating the service name and offered service parameters. On the other side, user modules ("service users components") search for desired application services by making use of search modules, whereby the user modules give a search instruction with the desired service name, service category and/or parameters. This technology, proposed by JINI amongst others, offers a method to assemble data services - in particular mobile data services - simply from small network components (application services/application modules) . It is comparable with the Network Plug & Play concept. However, these techniques do not offer as standard any support for location dependency, i.e. support for enabling a user module to find an application module as a function of the location of the user module or of the application module. THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system in which support is offered in a transparent manner to enable a user module to find an application module as a function of the location of the user module or of the application module. Transparent is here understood to mean: without the need for drastic changes to the hardware or software, either on the user side or on the side of the application modules. 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K 0 Φ ø r X & μ- o tf o H rt ^ O O TJ rt ø J o Φ u3 K μ- M 0 M μ- ø Cυ r o 3 Φ l-S H μ- ro rt α u ^ CO tr rt Φ rt φ L 3 r-t- CO H s: 3 Cu ø d μ- o -— . O O ω ø- d l-S T μ- 0 CO Φ 0 er ti ¬ ro CU μ- TJ <l μ* •Q Hi ro rt Hi 0 Φ Ω fu H Cu ^ CL Φ er H "< r+ M Φ ro C x τr μ- μ- Φ er 0 o Cu μ- ti ¬ M CO d Φ <l ro er Φ ro rt Cυ u ø CL Ω 0 rt er d o ro Cu er rt φ o Φ α ro 0 Ω ro rt- H μ- u μ- φ Ω Hi er er o o Φ ro o 1 Hi reference to two embodiments. IMPLEMENTATION Figure 1 shows by way of example a first practical implementation of the invention; figure 2 shows a second implementation. Figure 1 shows schematically a system according to the invention that can be used by a tourist 1 searching for a taxi 2. The taxi 2 comprises a GPS ("Global Positioning System") module 3 for geometric localisation of the taxi 2, a GSM module 4 for mobile, wireless data transmission and a computer that runs a JINI (software) application module 5. By means of its GSM module 4 and the public GSM network, represented by a number of base stations 6, the taxi 2 registers via a position module 7 with a public "lookup service" represented by a search module 8, stating the attributes price and taxi capacity. Via the GSM module 4 and the GSM network, the position module 7 receives the geometric location information of the taxi 2 detected by the GPS module 3. To this location information the position module 7 adds the registration information in the search module 8, which results in combined registration with the search module 8. The registration information now comprises: taxi price, taxi capacity and taxi location. Even when the taxi 2 moves around, the position module 7 keeps the position parameters in the search module 8 up to date by means of periodical updates of the location information via the GSM network from the GPS module 3 in the taxi 2. The tourist 1 makes use of a wireless GSM terminal 9 that comprises an application module 10 with a "taxi button" as "user interface". The GSM terminal 9 comprises means for data transmission via the GSM network (represented by the base stations 6) , as well as means for location finding of the terminal 9 via "triangulation", i.e. location finding by measuring the field strength of at least three base stations 6, whose location is known. Via his/her terminal 9, the tourist 1 specifies as search parameters for example the maximum price and/or the number of passengers and then presses the "taxi button", whereupon the terminal 9 transfers the search parameters via the GSM network to the public search module 8. The terminal 9 also passes on, via the GSM network, the location of the terminal 9, obtained via "triangulation", to a position module 11, that adds this location information to the search parameters entered by the tourist 1. The location of the terminal 9 can, incidentally, also be passed on from the GSM network to the position module 11 instead of from the terminal 9, as is represented above. In this case, it is a simple matter to update the location of the tourist 1, even if he moves about, in the position module 11 without the tourist 1 needing to activate this himself. In connection with privacy concerns, however, objections may be raised to the use of this option. The above-mentioned actions give rise to a number of "supply parameters" in the search module that relate to the taxi, including its location, as well as a number of "demand parameters" that relate to the user, here the tourist 1, including his/her location. The search module now performs a "matching" operation by which a taxi (since in practice there are a large number of taxis, which all - automatically - send their supply parameters to the search module) is selected that matches the wish - defined by the tourist's demand parameters, including his/her location. The search module then sends via the GSM network a list of "best matches" to the terminal 9, and the tourist 1 selects one of the taxis and calls it up via the route: GSM network - search module 8 - GSM network - GMS module 4, stating the search parameters entered by the tourist 1 and the location of the tourist 1, furnished by the position module 11. Figure 2 shows a second application of a method/system according to the invention. A user 21 and a user 22 wish, by means of the system according to the invention, to contact supporters of a particular football club who live in the same neighbourhood. Both users have a PC terminal 23 and 24 respectively and a mobile (GSM) terminal 25 and 26 respectively. User 21 has a GPS module 27, connected to a data port of his PC, while the position of (the GSM terminal of) user 22 can be determined by "triangulation" via three GSM base stations 28, forming part of the public GSM network 29. User 21 registers, via the application activated on PC 23 module, GSM terminal 25 and the GSM network 29, with a search module 30 ("Lookup Service") and enters a search term, for example the name of the football club in question. In the background a (software) position module that is also activated on the PC 23 also passes on the location information, received from the GPS receiver 27, to the search module 30. User 22 registers by means of his PC 24 - activated by an application module - his GSM terminal 26 and the public GSM network 29, with the search module 30 and asks the question whether any more supporters of the particular football club live in the neighbourhood. The application module (user module) sends the search terms on to the search module, while at the same time the position module activates the GSM terminal 26 in order to specify the position information obtained from "triangulation". It should be noted that the position module may be located in the PC 24, as "plugin" for the application/user module, or - at the other end of the connection - as additional module with the search module. In the latter case, the position module requests the GSM terminal 26 to send its location information to the search module. A matching process is then performed in the search module 30 and the resulting "best match" is sent to the PCs 23 and 24 of the two users 21 and 22 respectively. It is clear that - for example in the latter example - one terminal can function as "server", viz. terminal 23, which by means of its application module registers with the search module 30 (including its position via its position module), after which terminal 24 can function as "client", namely for searching with the search module 30, by means of its user module and its position module, for "matching" application modules, in this case the application module plus position module that are active within the PC 23 of user 21. User 22 could for the same purpose first register with the search module, in which case the user would make use of an application module in PC 24 that, in the strict sense, has the character of a "server", instead of a "client". It is evident that in cases such as these, use will preferably be made of software modules that can function both as "server" and as "client". In both cases, however, use is made, according to the invention, of an additional position module that gathers the information about the geographical position of the user (of his GSM terminal or his GPS, etc.) and adds this to the search information.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for finding an application module in a network comprising application modules on the side of a service provider as well as user modules on the' side of a service user, by means of an intermediary search module, said application module corresponding as closely as possible to a search profile that is based on the user module, characterised by the following steps: a. each application module registers characteristic parameters in the search module; b. from each application module a first position module receives geographical parameters that are related to that application module and registers said geographical parameters together with the other parameters registered by the application module; c. a user module sends a search profile, comprising parameters to be matched by an application module to be found, to the search module; d. from the user module a second position module receives geographical parameters that are related to that user module and adds said geographical parameters to the search profile; e. the search module calculates the "best match" from, on the one hand, the characteristic parameters and the geographical parameters that are related to each of the application modules and, on the other hand, the parameters to be matched by the searched-for application module, including the geographical parameters that were added by the second position module. 2. System for finding an application module in a network comprising application modules on the side of a service provider as well as user modules on the side of a service user, by means of an intermediary search module, said application module corresponding as closely as possible to a search profile that is based on the user module, wherein each application module registers characteristic parameters in the search module, while a user module sends a search profile to the search module, comprising parameters to be matched by an application module to be found, wherein the search module calculates the "best match" from on the one hand the characteristic parameters that are related to each of the application modules and on the other hand the parameters to be matched by the searched-for application module, characterised in that each of the application modules (5) is connected to a first position module (7) for receiving from the relevant application module geographical parameters that are related to that application module and for registering said geographical parameters together with the other parameters registered by the application module in the search module; each of the user modules (10) is connected to a second position module (11) for receiving geographical parameters that are related to the relevant user module and for adding said geographical parameters to the search profile; wherein the search module (8) comprises means for calculating the "best match" from on the one hand, in addition to the characteristic parameters, also the geographical parameters related to each of the application modules and on the other hand, in addition to the parameters to be matched by the searched-for application module, also the geographical parameters that were added by the second position module to the search profile.

Inventors: ROOS VAN RAADSHOOVEN LEON, SCHEFFEL JAN, STAALMAN HANS, ROOS VAN RAADSHOOVEN, LEON, SCHEFFEL, JAN, STAALMAN, HANS
Applicants: KONINKL KPN NV, ROOS VAN RAADSHOOVEN LEON, SCHEFFEL JAN, STAALMAN HANS, KONINKLIJKE KPN N.V., ROOS VAN RAADSHOOVEN, LEON, SCHEFFEL, JAN, STAALMAN, HANS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: H04L29
IPC codes: H04L12, H04L29