METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING NETWORK CONVERGENCE OF APPLICATIONS AND DEVICES

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for providing network convergence of applications and devices across multiple types of networks are provided. The method includes receiving an identifier for a device and user credentials for an account. The account specifies network access privileges for a user. The method also includes authenticating the user credentials and storing the device identifier with the user credentials within the account upon successful authentication of the user credentials. The method further includes using the user credentials and an identifier of a respective selected device specified in the account to route a sign on request from the respective selected device to a network authentication element for providing a single sign on credential for a user of the respective selected device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network convergence infrastructure for providing consolidated system services in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for use in establishing and utilizing a network convergence service account in accordance with exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram describing a process for establishing and utilizing a network convergence service account via the network convergence infrastructure in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing customized content services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram describing a process for implementing the customized content services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a user interface screen depicting a main menu for use in implementing the customized content services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a user interface screen including options for managing users of the customized content services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a user interface screen depicting a sample personalized electronic programming guide created via the customized content services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing targeted advertising services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram describing a process for implementing the targeted advertising services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing targeted advertising services in alternative exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing IPTV caller identification services for calls terminating at a wireline communications device using a termination attempt trigger in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram describing a process for implementing the IPTV caller identification services for calls terminating at a wireline communications device using a termination attempt trigger in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing IPTV caller identification services for calls terminating at a wireless mobile communications device using a termination attempt trigger in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing IPTV caller identification services in alternative exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing communications messaging services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a process for implementing the communications messaging services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a high level view of the network convergence infrastructure for use in implementing emergency alerts and notifications, network visualization services, and neural network services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing emergency alerts and notification services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing network visualization services in exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 21 through 23 are user interface screens depicting network and media performance data facilitated via the network visualization services in exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram describing a process for implementing the network visualization services in exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of a portion of the network convergence infrastructure for implementing neural network (media content analysis, distribution, and re-allocation) services in exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of providing network convergence of applications and devices across multiple types of networks, comprising: receiving an identifier for a device and user credentials for an account, the account specifying network access privileges for a user;authenticating the user credentials;storing the device identifier with the user credentials within the account upon successful authentication of the user credentials; andusing the user credentials and an identifier of a respective selected device specified in the account to route a sign on request from the respective selected device to a network authentication element for providing a single sign on credential for a user of the respective selected device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein devices in the account include at least one of: a wireline telephone;a mobile telephone;a wireline computer;a wireless computer;a portable computing device; andan Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the device identifier includes at least one of: a telephone calling number;a subscriber identity module (SIM) number; anda globally unique identifier (GUID).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the devices in the account represent a community of devices for which users of the devices share a relationship.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network authentication element validates devices across a plurality of network types, including: circuit-switched networks; andpacket-switched networks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating user credentials is implemented at the time of provisioning the device for service.

7. A system for providing network convergence of applications and devices across multiple types of networks, comprising: a host system; anda systems consolidation application executing on the host system, the systems consolidation application performing a method, comprising:receiving an identifier for a device and user credentials for an account, the account specifying network access privileges for a user;authenticating the user credentials;storing the device identifier with the user credentials within the account upon successful authentication of the user credentials; andusing the user credentials and an identifier of a respective selected device specified in the account to route a sign on request from the respective selected device to a network authentication element for providing a single sign on credential for a user of the respective selected device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein devices in the account include at least one of: a wireline telephone;a mobile telephone;a wireline computer;a wireless computer;a portable computing device; andan Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV).

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device identifier includes at least one of: a telephone calling number;a subscriber identity module (SIM) number; anda globally unique identifier (GUID).

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the devices in the account represent a community of devices for which users of the devices share a relationship.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the network authentication element validates devices across a plurality of network types, including: circuit-switched networks; andpacket-switched networks.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein authenticating user credentials is implemented at the time of provisioning the device for service.

13. A computer program product for providing network convergence of applications and devices across multiple types of networks, the computer program product including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising: receiving an identifier for a device and user credentials for an account, the account specifying network access privileges for a user;authenticating the user credentials;storing the device identifier with the user credentials within the account upon successful authentication of the user credentials; andusing the user credentials and an identifier of a respective selected device specified in the account to route a sign on request from the respective selected device to a network authentication element for providing a single sign on credential for a user of the respective selected device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein devices in the account include at least one of: a wireline telephone;a mobile telephone;a wireline computer;a wireless computer;a portable computing device; andan Internet Protocol-based television (IPTV).

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the device identifier includes at least one of: a telephone calling number;a subscriber identity module (SIM) number; anda globally unique identifier (GUID).

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the devices in the account represent a community of devices for which users of the devices share a relationship.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the network authentication element validates devices across a plurality of network types, including: circuit-switched networks; andpacket-switched networks.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein authenticating user credentials is implemented at the time of provisioning the device for service.