Integrated service identity for different types of information exchange services
A service provisioning method includes providing a differentiated set of information exchange services to a user. In some embodiments, differentiation between or among the provided services may include differentiated access networks, differentiated physical network layers, and/or differentiated service providers. An integrated service identity may be generated and/or maintained by the service provider(s) or by a third party. The integrated services identity may enable the user to define preference settings applicable to the information exchange services, to process billable events and activity and to issue integrated statements encompassing all of the information exchange services provided to the user, and enabling the user to access customer support services for any of the information exchange services and further enabling the logging of all customer support activities to the integrated service identity.
1. A method of providing information services, the method comprising:
providing, by a service provider, a plurality of information services to a user, the plurality of information services including:
a first information service via a first access network; and
a second information service, which is different than the first information service and provided via a second access network, the second information service different than the first access network, wherein the first information service and the second information service are both selected from: a video content service, a digital voice service, an Internet access service, and a mobile phone service;
maintaining, by the service provider, an integrated identity for the user, the integrated identity encompassing the plurality of information services;
responsive to a first user input received by the service provider from the user via the first access network, recording integrated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated user settings are applicable to each of the plurality of information services; and
responsive to a second user input received by the service provider from the user via the second access network, recording differentiated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the differentiated user settings are applicable to the first information service and inapplicable to the second information service;
providing a processor-executable integrated identity application to a support system resource of the service provider, wherein the integrated identity application, when executed, causes the support system resource to perform operations including:
accessing the integrated identity;
accounting for billable activity of the user for each of the plurality of information services in accordance with a particular integrated user setting; and
generating differentiated invoices in accordance with a particular differentiated user setting.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the integrated identity is maintained, in an external database, by a third party manager via a virtual private network.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
accessing an integrated customer service log in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated customer service log is indicative of customer service interactions with the service provider.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first access network comprises a co-axial cable access network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service and wherein the mobile phone service includes a wireless data service.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service and wherein the mobile phone service excludes a wireless data service.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the video content service, the digital voice service, and the Internet access service, each received via the first access network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service received, by the user, via the second access network and wherein the second access network supports code division, multiple access communication.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operations include:
supporting a single logon for all user devices accessing any of the plurality of information services, wherein the user devices include a set top box, a voice over IP phone, and a computer.
10. A data processing system, comprising:
a processor;
computer readable storage including processor-executable integrated identity instructions received from a service provider providing a plurality of information services to a user, the plurality of information services including a first information service provided via a first access network and a second information service, which is different than the first information service and provided via a second access network, wherein the first information service and the second information service are both selected from: a video content service, a digital voice service, an Internet access service, and a mobile phone service, wherein the integrated identity instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
maintaining an integrated identity for the user, the integrated identity encompassing the plurality of information services;
responsive to a first user input received by the service provider from the user via the first access network, recording integrated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated user settings are applicable to each of the plurality of information services;
responsive to a second user input received by the service provider from the user via the second access network, recording differentiated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the differentiated user settings are applicable to the first information service and inapplicable to the second information service; and
providing a processor-executable integrated identity application to a support system resource of the service provider, wherein the integrated identity application, when executed, causes the support system resource to perform operations including:
accessing the integrated identity;
accounting for billable activity of the user for each of the plurality of information services in accordance with a particular integrated user setting; and
generating differentiated invoices in accordance with a particular differentiated user setting.
11. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the integrated identity is maintained, in an external database, by a third party manager via a virtual private network.
12. The data processing system of claim 11 , further comprising:
accessing an integrated customer service log in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated customer service log is indicative of customer service interactions with the service provider.
13. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the first access network comprises a co-axial cable access network.
14. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service and wherein the mobile phone service includes a wireless data service.
15. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service and wherein the mobile phone service excludes a wireless data service.
16. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the video content service, the digital voice service, and the Internet access service, each received via the first access network.
17. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of information services includes the mobile phone service received, by the user, via the second access network and wherein the second access network supports code division, multiple access communication.
18. The data processing system of claim 10 , wherein the operations include:
supporting a single logon for all user devices accessing any of the plurality of information services, wherein the user devices include a set top box, a voice over IP phone, and a computer.
19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
processor executable instructions;
a processor;
computer readable storage including processor-executable integrated identity instructions received from a service provider providing a plurality of information services to a user, the plurality of information services including a first information service provided via a first access network and a second information service, which is different than the first information service and provided via a second access network, wherein the first information service and the second information service are both selected from: a video content service, a digital voice service, an Internet access service, and a mobile phone service, wherein the integrated identity instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
maintaining an integrated identity for the user, the integrated identity encompassing the plurality of information services;
responsive to a first user input received by the service provider from the user via the first access network, recording integrated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated user settings are applicable to each of the plurality of information services;
responsive to a second user input received by the service provider from the user via the second access network, recording differentiated user settings in the integrated identity, wherein the differentiated user settings are applicable to the first information service and inapplicable to the second information service; and
providing a processor-executable integrated identity application to a support system resource of the service provider, wherein the integrated identity application, when executed, causes the support system resource to perform operations including:
accessing the integrated identity;
accounting for billable activity of the user for each of the plurality of information services in accordance with a particular integrated user setting; and
generating differentiated invoices in accordance with a particular differentiated user setting.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the integrated identity is maintained, in an external database, by a third party manager via a virtual private network.
21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20 , further comprising:
accessing an integrated customer service log in the integrated identity, wherein the integrated customer service log is indicative of customer service interactions with the service provider.