Abstract:
A composite service enabling data processing system utilizing lightweight messaging can include channel servlets enabled to establish multiple, different channels of access to a common session for a composite service. The system also can include a location registry including a table of entries associating the different channels of access with the common session for the composite service. The system yet further can include a model servlet configured for coupling to a model for the common session, for modifying state data in the model for the common session, and to synchronize views for each of the different channels of access to the common session responsive to changes detected in the model. Finally, the system can include a lightweight messenger coupled to a selected one of the channel servlets and configured to transmit lightweight messages encapsulating changes to the model to a companion lightweight messenger in an end point for a channel of access to the common session established by the selected one of the channel servlets.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of next generation networking (NGN) and more particularly to the deployment and delivery of composite services over an NGN network.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Next generation networking (NGN) refers to emerging computing networking technologies that natively support data, video and voice transmissions. In contrast to the circuit switched telephone networks of days gone by, NGN networks are packet switched and combine voice and data in a single network. Generally, NGN networks are categorized by a split between call control and transport. Also, in NGN networks, all information is transmitted via packets which can be labeled according to their respective type. Accordingly, individual packets are handled differently depending upon the type indicated by a corresponding label.  
         [0005]     The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an open, standardized, operator friendly, NGN multimedia architecture for mobile and fixed services. IMS is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) implementation based upon a variant of the session initiation protocol (SIP), and runs over the standard Internet protocol (IP). Telecom operators in NGN networks offer network controlled multimedia services through the utilization of IMS. The aim of IMS is to provide new services to users of an NGN network in addition to currently available services. This broad aim of IMS is supported through the extensive use of underlying IP compatible protocols and corresponding IP compatible interfaces. In this way, IMS can merge the Internet with the wireless, cellular space so as to provide to cellular technologies ubiquitous access useful services deployed on the Internet.  
         [0006]     Multimedia services can be distributed both within NGN networks and non-NGN networks, alike, through the use of markup specified documents. In the case of a service having a visual interface, visually oriented markup such as the extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML) and its many co-species can specify the visual interface for a service when rendered in a visual content browser through a visual content channel, for instance a channel governed by the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). By comparison, an audio interface can be specified for a service by voice oriented markup such as the voice extensible markup language (VoiceXML). In the case of an audio interface, a separate voice channel, for instance a channel governed according to SIP.  
         [0007]     In many circumstances, it is preferred to configure services to be delivered across multiple, different channels of differing modalities, including the voice mode and the visual mode. In this regard, a service provider not always can predict the interactive modality through which a service is to be accessed by a given end user. To accommodate this uncertainty, a service can be prepared for delivery through each anticipated modality, for instance by way of voice markup and visual markup. Generating multiple different markup documents to satisfy the different modalities of access, however, can be tedious. In consequence, merging technologies such as the XHTML+VoiceXML (X+V) have been utilized to simplify the development process. Specifically, X+V represents one technical effort to produce a multimodal application development environment. In X+V, XHTML and VoiceXML can be mixed in a single document. The XHTML portion of the document can manage visual interactions with an end user, while the VoiceXML portion of the document can manage voice interactions with the end user. In X+V, command, control and content navigation can be enabled while simultaneously rendering multimodal content. In this regard, the X+V profile specifies how to compute grammars based upon the visual hyperlinks present in a page.  
         [0008]     Processing X+V documents, however, requires the use of a proprietary browser in the client devices utilized by end users when accessing the content. Distributing multimedia services to a wide array of end user devices, including pervasive devices across NGN networks, can be difficult if one is to assume that all end user devices are proprietarily configured to handle X+V and other unifying technologies. Rather, at best, it can only be presumed that devices within an NGN network are equipped to process visual interactions within one, standard channel of communication, and voice interactions within a second, standard channel of communication.  
         [0009]     Thus, despite the promise of X+V, to truly support multiple modalities of interaction with services distributed about an NGN or, even a non-NGN network, different channels of communications must be established for each different modality of access. Moreover, each service must be separately specified for each different modality. Finally, once a session has been established across one modality of access to a service, one is not able to change mid-session to a different modality of access to the same service within the same session. As a result, the interactions across different channels accommodating different modalities of interaction remain unsynchronized and separate. Consequently, end users cannot freely switch between modalities of access for services in an NGN network.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deploying and delivering a service to be accessed through different channels of access in an NGN network, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for deploying and delivering composite services in an NGN network. As used herein, a composite service is a service deployed across an NGN network that has been enabled to be accessed through multiple, different modalities of access in correspondingly different channels in a common session while maintaining the synchronization of the state of the service between the different channels of access.  
         [0011]     In a first embodiment of the invention, a composite service enabling data processing system utilizing lightweight messaging can be provided. The system can include channel servlets enabled to establish for a common session, multiple different communication channels for corresponding different channels of access to a composite service. The system also can include a location registry including a table of entries associating the different channels of access with the common session for the composite service.  
         [0012]     The system yet further can include a model servlet configured for coupling to a model for the common session, for modifying state data in the model for the common session, and to synchronize views for each of the different channels of access to the composite service responsive to changes detected in the model. Finally, the system can include a lightweight messenger coupled to a selected one of the channel servlets. The lightweight messenger can be configured to transmit lightweight messages encapsulating changes to the model to a companion lightweight messenger in an endpoint for a channel of access to the common session established by the selected one of the channel servlets.  
         [0013]     In another embodiment of the invention, a composite services enablement method can include establishing multiple channels of access to a common session for a composite service, lightweight messaging a change of state for the common session over one of the channels of access for a corresponding view, and updating the corresponding view with the change of state. In one aspect of the invention, lightweight messaging a change of state for the common session over one of the channels of access for a corresponding view can include maintaining the state for the common session in a model for the common session, creating listeners for changes of the state for the service, detecting a change in the state for the service in the listeners, encapsulating the change of state in a lightweight message, and forwarding the lightweight message to the corresponding view. Moreover, forwarding the lightweight message to the corresponding view can include forwarding the lightweight message to the corresponding view utilizing the lightweight messenger and the companion lightweight messenger over the Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol (BEEP).  
         [0014]     Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial illustration of an IMS configured for use with a data processing system arranged to deploy and deliver composite services in an NGN network utilizing lightweight messaging;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a data processing system arranged to deploy and deliver composite services in an NGN network utilizing lightweight messaging; and,  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a process for delivering composite services in an NGN network utilizing lightweight messaging. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for delivering composite services in an NGN network utilizing lightweight messaging. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, different channels of access to a service can be established for accessing a service through corresponding different modalities of access including voice and visual modes. Specifically, interactions with a service within a session can be provided across selected ones of the different channels, each channel corresponding to a different modality of access to the service. In the case of a voice modality and a visual modality, a separate markup document can be utilized in each selected channel according to the particular modality for that channel. Importantly, each channel utilized for accessing a service within a session can be associated with each other channel accessing the service within the same session. In consequence, the state of the service—stored within a model in a model-view-controller architecture—can be maintained irrespective of the channel used to change the state of the service. Moreover, the representation of the service can be synchronized in each view for the selected ones of the different channels.  
         [0020]     In accordance with the present invention, the synchronization of the view within a visual modality can be achieved through lightweight messaging. Specifically, the visual modality can be notified of changes in the state of the service through the exchange of lightweight messages encapsulating detected state changes. As such, an end user can interact with the service in a single session across different channels of access using different modalities of access without requiring burdensome, proprietary logic deployed within a client computing device.  
         [0021]     Advantageously, the system of the present invention can be embodied within an IMS in a NGN network. In illustration,  FIG. 1  is a pictorial illustration of an IMS configured for use with a data processing system arranged to deploy and deliver composite services in an NGN network. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a composite service enablement data processing system  200  can be arranged to deploy and deliver a composite multimedia service  180  in an NGN network  120 . As used herein, a “composite multimedia service” can be a service configured to be accessed through multiple different views of different modalities across correspondingly different channels of communications.  
         [0022]     More specifically, the composite multimedia service  180  can be accessed through several different modalities, including a visual mode, an instant messaging mode and a voice mode. Each modality of access can be produced by a developer  190  through the use of a service deployment tool  170 . The service deployment tool  170  can be configured to produce the different modalities of access for the composite multimedia service  180 , including visual markup to provide visual access to the composite multimedia service  180 , and voice markup to provide audible access to the composite multimedia service  180 .  
         [0023]     One or more gateway server platforms  110  can be coupled to the composite service enablement data processing system  200 . Each of gateway server platforms  110  can facilitate the establishment of a communication channel for accessing the composite multimedia service  180  according to a particular modality of access. For example, the gateway server platforms  110  can include a content server such as a Web server enabled to serve visual markup for accessing the composite multimedia service  180  over the NGN network  120  through a visual mode. Likewise, the gateway server platforms  110  can include a voice server enabled to provide audible access to the composite multimedia service  180  over the NGN network  120  through an audible mode.  
         [0024]     End users  130  can access the composite multimedia service  180  utilizing any one of a selection of client access devices  150 . Application logic within each of the client access devices  150  can provide an interface for a specific modality of access. Examples include a content browser within a personal computing device, an audible user interface within a pervasive device, a telephonic user interface within a telephone handset, and the like. Importantly, each of the provided modalities of access can utilize a separate one of multiple channels  160  established with a corresponding gateway server platform  110  over the network  120  for the same session with the composite multimedia service  180 . In this regard, a session with the composite multimedia service  180  can subsist across the multiple channels  160  to provide different modalities of access to the composite multimedia service  180  for one of the end users  130 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  provides a schematic illustration of the composite service enablement data processing system  200  of  FIG. 1 . The composite service enablement data processing system  200  can operate in an application server  275  and can include multiple channel servlets  235  configured to process communicative interactions with corresponding sessions  225  for a composite multimedia service over different channels of access  245 ,  250 ,  255  in an NGN network. In this regard, the channel servlets  235  can process voice interactions as a voice enabler and voice server. Likewise, the channel servlets  235  can process visual interactions as a Web application. As yet another example, the channel servlets  235  can process instant message interactions as an instant messaging server.  
         [0026]     More specifically, the channel servlets  235  can be enabled to process HTTP requests for interactions with a corresponding session  225  for a composite multimedia service. The HTTP requests can originate from a visual mode oriented Web page over a visual channel  250 , from a visual mode oriented instant messaging interface over an instant messaging channel  255 , or even in a voice mode over a voice channel  245  enabled by HTTP facilitated by RTP. Similarly, the channel servlets  235  can be enabled to process SIP requests for interactions with a corresponding session  225  for a composite multimedia service through a voice enabler which can include suitable voice markup, such as VoiceXML and call control extensible markup language (CCXML) coupled to a SIPlet which, in combination, can be effective in processing voice interactions for the corresponding session  225  for the composite multimedia service, as it is known in the art.  
         [0027]     Each of the channel servlets  235  can be coupled to a model servlet  220 . The model servlet  220  can mediate interactions with a model  210  for an associated one of the sessions  225 . Each of the sessions  225  can be managed within a session manager  220  which can correlate different channels of communication established through the channel servlets  235  with a single corresponding one of the sessions  225 . The correlation of the different channels of communication can be facilitated through the use of a coupled location registry  230 . The location registry  230  can include a table indicating a host name of systems and channels active for the corresponding one of the sessions  225 .  
         [0028]     The model servlet  215  can include program code enabled to access a model  210  for a corresponding session  225  for a composite multimedia service providing different channels of access  245 ,  250 ,  255  through different views  260 . For instance, the model  210  can be encapsulated within an entity bean within a bean container. Moreover, the model  210  can store session data for a corresponding one of the sessions  225  irrespective of the channel of access  245 ,  250 ,  255  through which the session data for the corresponding one of the sessions  225  is created, removed or modified.  
         [0029]     Notably, changes in state for each of the sessions  225  for a composite multimedia service can be synchronized across the different views  260  for the different channels of access  245 ,  250 ,  255  through a listener architecture. The listener architecture can include one or more listeners  240  for each model  210 . Each listener can correspond to a different channel of access  245 ,  250 ,  255  and can detect changes in state for the model  210 . Responsive to detecting changes in state for the model  210  for a corresponding one of the sessions  225  for a composite multimedia service, a listener  240  can provide a notification to subscribing view  260  so as to permit the subscribing views  260  to refresh to incorporate the detected changes in state for the model  210 .  
         [0030]     Importantly, selected ones of the channel servlets  235  can include a lightweight messenger  265  communicatively coupled to a companion lightweight messenger  275  in an endpoint for selected ones of the channels of access  245 ,  250 ,  255 . In particular, the lightweight messenger  265  can include a server-side application programming interface (API) disposed in the Web container  275 , and the companion lightweight messenger  275  can include a client-side API disposed in a virtual machine in the endpoint. The API can be a transport layer API that allows the client to create a communications channel to the server over which messages can be exchanged. The underlying transport for the lightweight messenger  265  and companion lightweight messenger can be the Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol (BEEP) as defined in Request for Comment  3080 .  
         [0031]     In further illustration,  FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating a process for synchronizing state changes in a model across different views providing different modalities of access across different channels of access for a single session with a composite multimedia service utilizing lightweight messaging. Beginning in block  310 , a first channel of access can be opened for the composite multimedia service and a session can be established in block  320  with the composite multimedia service. Data for the session can be stored in a model for the session which can be established in block  330 . If additional channels of access are to be established for the session in decision block  340 , the process can continue in block  350 . In block  350 , an additional channel of access can be established for the same session for as many additional channels as required.  
         [0032]     When no further channels of access are to be established in decision block  340 , in block  360  a listener can be registered for each established channel of access for the session. Subsequently, in block  370  events can be received in each listener. In decision block  380 , when a model change is detected, in block  390 , the model change can be provided by way of a lightweight message to each lightweight messaging client for each endpoint for selected ones of the established channels of access. In consequence, the endpoints can receive and apply the changes to corresponding views for the selected ones of the established channels of access for the same session without first having to poll the composite services enabler for changes detected by the listeners. Additionally, network traffic can be reduced given the resource efficient mode of messaging.  
         [0033]     Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system.  
         [0034]     For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk—read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk—read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.  
         [0035]     A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.