1. A system for supporting a plurality of different applications utilizing a next generation network having a network layer, comprising:
application services middleware between the applications and the network layer and comprising a plurality of common infrastructure elements usable by the different applications, wherein the common infrastructure elements provide services associated with use of the network and services that are not associated with use of the network.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the common infrastructure elements provides a service to at least one application in Support of the application’s interaction with one or more end users.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the common infrastructure elements is accessible by an end user so as to provide a common infrastructure element to the end user for the different applications.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the different applications comprise both third party applications and network service provider applications.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include an end user authentication service configured to validate user andor device credentials for allowing access to the plurality of different applications.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a namingdirectory service configured to provide a common information repository, registry service, and application program interface to provide a list of available services from application service providers.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a profile service configured to provide end user and applications with access to user account information and management of that information as needed for the plurality of different applications.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a presence service configured to aggregate user and device reachability information across applications and networks and make the information available to approved requesters so that they can reach the users and devices appropriately.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a subscription service configured to allow end users to subscribe to and manage subscriptions to the plurality of different applications.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a session initial protocol (SIP) proxy service configured to process incoming SIP messages to help route requests to a destination user’s current location, authenticate and authorize users for services, provide provider call-routing policies, and provide features to users.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a SIP registrar service configured to provide a registration function that allows users to upload their current locations for use by proxy servers.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a media bridge service configured to support the transport of video, audio andor data streams between end users and service facilities in a conference.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a user interface service configured to provide an interface to end users to the plurality of different applications andor the common infrastructure elements.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a session control service configured to manage the overall context of complex multi-party, multi-media, multi-application sessions.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a notification service configured to provide for the plurality of applications to send messages to end users andor devices.
16. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a billing service configured to provide a consolidated billing function to the plurality of different applications.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a BandwidthQoS Brokerage Service con figured to allocate preferred service levels to users andor applications as requested, and to configure a network with the correct behavior for the defined service.
18. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a mobility management service configured to provide callsession continuity as a device moves between circuit and packet network domains.
19. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements include a location service configured to determine an end user’s geographical position in order to manage mobility.
20. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of common infrastructure elements comprise:
an end user authentication service configured to validate user andor device credentials for allowing access to the plurality of different applications;
a namingdirectory service configured to provide a common information repository, registry service, and application program interface to provide a list of available services from application service providers;
a profile service configured to provide end users and applications with access to user account information and management of that user account information for the plurality of different applications;
a presence service configured to aggregate user and device reachability across applications and networks and make the information available to approved requesters so that they can reach the users and devices appropriately;
a notification service configured to provide for the plurality of applications to send messages to end users andor devices;
a subscription service configured to allow end users to subscribe to and manage subscriptions to the plurality of different applications;
a billing service configured to provide a consolidated billing function to the plurality of different applications;
a session control service configured to manage the overall context of complex multi-party, multi-media, multi-application sessions;
a session initial protocol (SIP) proxy service con figured to process incoming SIP messages to help route requests to a destination user’s current location, authenticate and authorize users for services, provide provider call-routing policies, and provide features to users;
a SIP registrar service configured to provide a registration function that allows users to upload their current locations for use by proxy servers;
a media bridge service configured to support the transport of video, audio andor data streams between end users and service facilities in a conference;
a user interface service configured to provide an interface to end users to the plurality of different applications andor the common infrastructure elements;
a location service configured to determine an end user’s physical position in order to manage mobility;
a BandwidthQoS Brokerage Service configured to allocate preferred service levels to users andor applications as requested, and to configure a network with the correct behavior for the defined service; and
a mobility management service configured to provide callsession continuity as a device moves between circuit and packet network domains.
21. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising computer readable program code configured to provide an application services middleware as recited in claim 1.
22. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising computer readable program code configured to provide an application services middleware as recited in claim 2.
23. A system for supporting a plurality of different applications utilizing a next generation network having a network layer, comprising:
means for providing an application services middleware between the applications and the network layer and comprising a plurality of common infrastructure elements usable by the different applications, wherein the common infrastructure elements provide services associated with use of the network and services that are not associated with use of the network.
24. A method of providing services for an application middle layer between a plurality of different applications and a network layer of a next generation network, comprising:
determining common services used by the plurality of different applications irrespective of whether the common services are associated with use of the next generation network;
abstracting the common services to provide a common interface to the services to the plurality of different applications; and
incorporating the abstracted common services into the application middleware as common infrastructure elements.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the steps of determining common services, abstracting the common services and incorporating the abstracted common services comprises:
scoping the middleware layer;
modeling the middleware services;
modeling domains for the middleware services; and
generating services provided by the middleware layer based on results of scoping the middleware layer, modeling the middleware services and modeling domains for the middleware services.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein scoping the middleware layer comprises:
identifying functionality and services provided to the applications;
identifying a set of services supported by the middleware layer; and
identifying a set of domains resident in the middleware layer.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein modeling the middleware services layer comprises:
modeling each of the identified services supported by the middleware layer;
developing a domain chart;
developing an activity diagram; and
wherein modeling domains comprises:
identifying domains needed for each identified service provided to the applications;
determining a union of the identified domains to identify a list of domains need for the middleware layer;
developing a mission statement for each domain; and
developing a class specification for each domain in the union.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A financial education planner kit comprising:
at least one income worksheet;
at least one expense account worksheet;
at least one savings account worksheet; and
a plurality of tokens representing monetary denominations, with a minimum of 10% thereof marked as saving tokens, said tokens being affixable on the aforesaid worksheets,
wherein said expense account worksheet and savings account worksheet have layouts enabling said tokens to be affixed thereto on a periodic basis.
2. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein the expense and savings account worksheets each include boxes or cells representing periodic units of time for affixing said tokens, said boxes or cells forming a calendar layout.
3. A financial education planner according to claim 2, wherein said boxes or cells are provided on the savings account worksheet at predetermined intervals on the worksheets.
4. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein the worksheets include columns for indicating a date; activity description; income; totals for expenses and savings, respectively; and a bonus.
5. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein the tokens are indicated with a suitable monetary denomination.
6. A financial education planner according to claim 5, wherein the tokens are provided as bubble or blister elements which burst with a noticeable effect when punctured.
7. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein, when the number of tokens accumulated on the savings account worksheet reaches a predetermined threshold, investment options for said accumulated tokens become available to the user.
8. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein the worksheets are provided as in a virtual and electronic form including electronic page files.
9. A financial education planner according to claim 8, wherein, when the number of tokens accumulated on the savings account worksheet reaches a predetermined threshold, investment options for said accumulated tokens become available to the user; and wherein the investment options include hyper-linking to web pages containing advice and information on said investment options.
10. A financial education planner according to claim 1, wherein additional worksheets are included to provide for a breakdown of the expenses into categories including at least one of a:
Gifts account
Education account
Long Term savings account
Entertainment account
11. A method for educating a person to be judicious in the dispensation of income, said method comprising the step of using a financial education planner which comprises
a worksheet for an expenditure account,
a worksheet for a savings account, and
tokens affixable on said worksheets to indicate respective expenditure and savings on a periodic basis,
wherein not more than 90% of the person’s income is allocated to the expense account with the balance of not less than 10% of the income allocated to the savings account.
12. A method for educating a person according to claim 11, wherein more than 10% of the person’s income is allocated to the savings account.
13. A method for educating a person according to claim 11, wherein a reward in the form of bonus issue of additional tokens is provided when accumulated savings reaches a predetermined threshold amount as indicated on the savings account worksheet at periodic intervals.
14. A method for educating a person according to claim 11, wherein a reward in the form of interest, represented by additional tokens, is provided when accumulated savings have been retained for a predetermined periodic interval of the savings account worksheet.
15. A method for educating a person according to claim 11, wherein options for investment are provided when the accumulated savings, represented by the number of tokens affixed to the savings account worksheet, attains a predetermined threshold.
16. A method for educating a person according to claim 13, wherein the reward is not disclosed to the person until the predetermined threshold is reached.
17. A method for educating a person according to claim 11, wherein a reward in the form of an approved purchase of a product or service desired by the person is enabled once a predetermined threshold amount of tokens is saved.
18. A method for educating a person according to claim 15, wherein the investment options include investment advice and information linked to a website.
19. The financial education planner according to claim 5, wherein the tokens are provided with an iconic image.
20. The financial education planner according to claim 6, wherein the noticeable effect is selected from the group consisting of a sound, a visual effect and a tactile effect.