Abstract: A service management system and a method of executing a policy. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a repository configured to contain device, system, subscriber and service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of systems and devices that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof and (2) a policy engine coupled to the repository and configured to employ the repository to identify end points relevant to a policy, identify services in which any of the end points play a role, identify subscribers having an identified device of the end points and a subscription to an identified service and cause the policy to be executed with respect to identified devices of identified subscribers and identified systems.

Abstract: A service management application and method. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a service description repository configured to contain service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of end points that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof, the end points being selected from the group consisting of devices and systems and (2) an application associable with the service description repository and configured to compare capabilities of at least one of the end points with required capabilities expressed in at least one role of at least one of the service descriptions and present a service offering to a subscriber based thereon.

Abstract: A normalization engine and a method of requesting a key or performing an operation pertaining to an end point. In one embodiment, the normalization engine includes: (1) a data manager configured to receive a request to execute an operation or obtain a key/value pair pertaining to an end point and determine a normalized version of the key in the key/value pair and (2) a normalization mapping repository configured to contain normalization mechanisms, the data manager further configured to employ the normalized version to obtain one of the normalization mechanisms from the normalization mapping repository, carry out the normalization mechanism and employ a data source corresponding to the end point to retrieve a device-specific value corresponding to the normalized version.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for identifying and calling functions to perform various tasks. One aspect provides a method of exposing a set of device-specific functions associated with a subscriber. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) identifying service descriptions associated with the subscriber, (2) mapping end points associated with the subscriber to roles in at least one of the service descriptions and (3) collecting at least one function associated with the at least one role in the at least one of the service descriptions.

Abstract: A service management system and method. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a service description repository configured to contain service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of systems and devices that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof and (2) a service management engine coupled to the service description repository and configured to employ the service description repository and at least one of the systems to deliver a service corresponding to at least one of the service descriptions via at least one of the devices.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for identifying and calling functions to perform various tasks. One aspect provides a method of exposing a set of device-specific functions associated with a subscriber. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) identifying service descriptions associated with the subscriber, (2) mapping end points associated with the subscriber to roles in at least one of the service descriptions and (3) collecting at least one function associated with the at least one role in the at least one of the service descriptions.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for invoking a function of a service in response to an event. One aspect provides a method of calling a function upon receipt of an event. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) identifying a subscriber associated with the event, (2) indentifying at least one service to which the subscriber has subscriptions, (3) retrieving at least one service description associated with the at least one service, (4) retrieving end points associated with the subscriber that play at least one role in the at least one service description, (5) inspecting the at least one service description to determine if the service description addresses the event and (6) retrieving a function associated with the event from the service description if the service description addresses the event.

Abstract: A service management application and method. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a service description repository configured to contain service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of end points that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof, the end points being selected from the group consisting of devices and systems and (2) an application associable with the service description repository and configured to compare capabilities of at least one of the end points with required capabilities expressed in at least one role of at least one of the service descriptions and present a service offering to a subscriber based thereon.

Abstract: A normalization engine and a method of requesting a key or performing an operation pertaining to an end point. In one embodiment, the normalization engine includes: (1) a data manager configured to receive a request to execute an operation or obtain a key/value pair pertaining to an end point and determine a normalized version of the key in the key/value pair and (2) a normalization mapping repository configured to contain normalization mechanisms, the data manager further configured to employ the normalized version to obtain one of the normalization mechanisms from the normalization mapping repository, carry out the normalization mechanism and employ a data source corresponding to the end point to retrieve a device-specific value corresponding to the normalized version.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for identifying functions and data with respect to a service. One aspect provides a method of exposing a service-specific function associated with a subscriber. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) determining services to which the subscriber has subscriptions, (2) retrieving service descriptions associated with the services and (3) retrieving at least one function associated with the service descriptions as a whole.

Abstract: A service management system and a method of executing a policy. In one embodiment, the service management system includes: (1) a repository configured to contain device, system, subscriber and service descriptions that define services in terms of a set of systems and devices that assume roles based on at least one of capabilities and attributes thereof and (2) a policy engine coupled to the repository and configured to employ the repository to identify end points relevant to a policy, identify services in which any of the end points play a role, identify subscribers having an identified device of the end points and a subscription to an identified service and cause the policy to be executed with respect to identified devices of identified subscribers and identified systems.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for provisioning and/or unprovisioning an end point. One aspect provides a method of provisioning an end point. In one embodiment, the method include: (1) mapping the end point into a role in a service associated with a subscriber and (2) calling at least one function associated with the role, the function causing values to be transmitted to the end point to provision the end point with respect to the service.