Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling user services in a communication network with a plurality of terminal users. An initiating user terminal (200) executes a group discovery process with the terminals (202) to form a user group. Capabilities are exchanged with the terminals, including at least one of: functional resources, available services, equipment information, applications or data programs, and current traffic or connection characteristics When a group service request (R) is received from a user terminal (D) in the group, functions and actions required for the requested service are assigned to functional resources in the terminals based on the exchanged terminal capabilities. The requested group service can then be consumed by means of these functional resources without involving an operator controlled group management server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for offering a service to at least one client in a communication network for a specific client context, by means of a service provisioning unit. A history of client activities involving service usage in associated client contexts, is recorded in an activity database. Service templates are composed for associated client contexts based on the recorded history of client activities. When a context detector detects that the specific client context prevails, a service configurator selects a service template for the detected client context and configures a customised service from the selected service template. The customised service can then be offered to the at least one client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a group manager of a central service node, for enabling services or media in a communication network. A monitoring unit detects and monitors activities and conditions of communication entities in the network. A context collecting unit collects individual context data relating to a plurality of monitored entities in order to survey the current situation of each respective entity. A group defining unit then defines a group of correlated entities that are found to be correlated or similar with respect to at least some feature or characteristics based on the collected individual context data, by selecting context parameters of relevance to the group and using one or more membership conditions determined for the group. If the monitored entities have changed their status in a predetermined way that affects the group, the group defining unit will update the group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a group manager (900) of a central service node, for enabling services or media in a communication network A monitoring unit (900a) detects and monitors activities and conditions of communication entities (E) in the network. A context collecting unit (900b) collects individual context data relating to a plurality of monitored entities in order to survey the current situation of each respective entity. A group defining unit (900c) then defines a group of correlated entities that are found to be correlated or similar with respect to at least some feature or characteristics based on the collected individual context data, by selecting context parameters of relevance to the group and using one or more membership conditions determined for the group. If the monitored entities have changed their status in a predetermined way that affects the group, the group defining unit (900c) will update the group.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for context-based management of cached content includes policy and context servers. The policy server makes policy decisions controlling, e.g., usage of a content cache by a user, based on a contextualized policy that includes one or more context-dependent policy rules. The context server collects context information for the user and generates the contextualized policy by inserting the updated context-parameter(s) into the context-dependent policy rule(s). The policy server thus obtains or otherwise updates the contextualized policy responsive to a policy decision request received from a caching agent operating as a policy enforcement point, and returns a policy decision to the caching agent. In support, the context server may be configured to collect context information for the user at least in part by receiving context information from a user agent associated with the user.

Abstract: A distribution method and apparatus for distributing multimedia files from service providers (20) to subscribers (30) is described herein. A multimedia communication system (10) includes multiple service providers (20). Each service provider (20) includes a media server (22) and promotion server (26), where the promotion servers (26) of different service providers (20) inter-connect via a resale gateway(40). A promotion server (26) in a first service provider (20) monitors the inventory of multimedia files stored in the corresponding media server (22), identifies the multimedia files having at least one use requirement that satisfies a predetermined criteria, and promotes the identified multimedia files. The promotion server (26) may promote the identified multimedia files to subscribers (30A) of the first service provider(20A) using a weight-based approach.

Abstract: Implantable and/or wearable medical data acquisition devices (30) associated with an individual, each having NFC communication capability, collect medical data. Each device has a unique identifier. The medical data are read from the devices via a secure link by an NFC reader or transceiver (26) in a wireless communication system mobile station (10) having a unique identifier. The medical data are selectively transmitted via a secure link from the mobile station to a Presence and Group Management (PGM) server (32, 34) configured to manage data services for medical groups. Secure access to the medical data by medical professionals is restricted according to a policy system (36). Encryption keys are managed on a group basis by a group key management server (32), assigning the medical data acquisition devices (30) and mobile station (10) to groups based on their unique identifiers. The PGM server (32, 34) may send alerts and/or information to the user via the mobile station (10).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for checking an aggregated web service requested by a terminal user (200). A web service authentication node (208) receives and stores a published description of the aggregated web service, as offered from a primary web service provider (204) and involving one or more sub-services offered from one or more secondary web service providers (206a,b). When the authentication node (208) receives a request made by the user for the aggregated web service, it is checked whether the sub-services and secondary service providers of the aggregated web service are acceptable for the user according to a policy of the user. If all sub-services and secondary service providers are deemed acceptable or safe, the aggregated web service can be authenticated. Otherwise, the request is rejected or the user is warned that the aggregated web service is deemed unsafe. Thereby, access to sensitive user data by secondary service providers can be controlled and made visible.

Abstract: Embodiments for method and a system for an on online auction system involving a computer server is closed. Values representing a relationship between a seller and a plurality of bidders are determined based on social connections of the seller and social connections of the bidders. An auction method is selected based on the values representing a relationship between the seller and the bidders. The selected auction method is performed for the purpose of selling an item of the seller at a winning bid quoted by any of the bidders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for offering a service to at least one client in a communication network for a specific client context, by means of a service provisioning unit. A history of client activities involving service usage in associated client contexts, is recorded in an activity database. Service templates are composed for associated client contexts based on the recorded history of client activities. When a context detector detects that the specific client context prevails, a service configurator selects a service template for the detected client context and configures a customised service from the selected service template. The customised service can then be offered to the at least one client.

Abstract: Embodiments for method and a system for an on online auction system involving a computer server is closed. Values representing a relationship between a seller and a plurality of bidders are determined based on social connections of the seller and social connections of the bidders. An auction method is selected based on the values representing a relationship between the seller and the bidders. The selected auction method is performed for the purpose of selling an item of the seller at a winning bid quoted by any of the bidders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling user services in a communication network with a plurality of terminal users. An initiating user terminal (200) executes a group discovery process with the terminals (202) to form a user group. Capabilities are exchanged with the terminals, including at least one of: functional resources, available services, equipment information, applications or data programs, and current traffic or connection characteristics When a group service request (R) is received from a user terminal (D) in the group, functions and actions required for the requested service are assigned to functional resources in the terminals based on the exchanged terminal capabilities. The requested group service can then be consumed by means of these functional resources without involving an operator controlled group management server.