Method, apparatus and system for provisioning a push notification session

Abstract

A system and method for provisioning a push notification session via a communications network between an application on a client terminal and a server corresponding to the application. In one aspect, a push provisioning entity transmits a message to the client terminal, whereby to configure the client terminal into a state in which it is able to request a push notification session with the server. An application on the client terminal can then request establishment of a push notification session by transmitting a push notification session request message to the push provisioning entity. The push provisioning entity generates a token for use in validating the push notification session, associates the generated token with the application and transmits the token to the application, which uses it to establish the push notification session.

1 . A method for provisioning a push notification session via a communications network between an application on a client terminal and a server corresponding to the application, the client terminal having a first operative state wherein said client terminal is enabled to request the push notification session with the server, and a second operative state, different to said first operative state, the method comprising:
 responsive to receiving a push notification provisioning request message from the client terminal, transmitting a message to the client terminal, whereby to configure the client terminal into the first operative state; and thereafter   responsive to receiving a push notification session request message from said application, performing the steps of:
 generating a token for use in validating said push notification session; 
 associating the generated token with the application; and 
 transmitting said token to said application for use in establishing said push notification session. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the client terminal comprises a plurality of applications, each application being capable of requesting a push notification session, and the method comprises generating a different token for each respective application in response to receipt of a push notification session request message originating therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which, responsive to receiving said push notification session request message, the method further comprises updating a record corresponding to the terminal, said record being maintained at a device remote from said client terminal and accessed prior to generating the token. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises selectively generating said token on the basis of a predetermined criterion, said predetermined criterion comprising one or more of:
 validation of a record corresponding to the server, said record being maintained at a device remote from said server and comprising data indicative of whether the server is authorised to conduct a said push notification session;   verification of an authentication credential associated with said application; and/or   verification of an authentication credential associated with said server.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising providing said token from the application directly to the server, whereby to establish said push notification session. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, responsive to a server access request from said application, the method comprises identifying a network node to transmit the received server access request, and transmitting the server access request thereto. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said network node is the server and/or a secure access provisioning entity associated with the server. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises selectively provisioning said push notification session in dependence on an authorisation state associated therewith, said authorisation state being indicative of whether said application is authorised by said secure access provisioning entity to conduct said push notification session. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the method comprises selectively monitoring said authorisation state in dependence on a session state of said push notification session, whereby to control said push notification session. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining an operational state of said server on the basis of a predetermined inactivity period associated therewith and/or data indicative of said operational state received from the server. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining a session state associated with said push notification session on the basis of a predetermined inactivity period associated therewith and/or a session status response message received from said server. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said session status response message is generated in response to transmission of a session status request message to the server. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , comprising deriving, from said session status response message, a state of the push notification session at the server and maintaining a validity of the token in dependence on said derived state. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , comprising deriving, from said session status response message, a state corresponding to a plurality of push notification sessions, each said push notification session corresponding to a different application residing on a different client terminal and having a different token associated therewith, and maintaining a validity of each of said different tokens in dependence on said derived state. 
     
     
         15 . A push provisioning entity for provisioning a push notification session via a communications network between an application on a client terminal and a server corresponding to the application, the client terminal having a first operative state wherein said client terminal is enabled to request the push notification session with the server, and a second operative state, different to said first operative state, the push provisioning entity comprising:
 a provisioning module for receiving a push notification provisioning request message from the client terminal, and transmitting a message to the client terminal, whereby to configure the client terminal into the first operative state; and   a session provisioning module for performing a push provisioning process, said session provisioning module being responsive to receiving a push notification session request message from said application whereby to perform said push provisioning process in respect of the received push notification session request message, the push provisioning process comprising:
 generating a token for use in validating said push notification session; 
 associating the generated token with the application; and 
 transmitting said token to said application for use in establishing said push notification session. 
   
     
     
         16 . A computer program or a suite of computer programs, comprising a set of instructions configured to cause a computer, or a suite of computers, to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method for enabling a push notification session between an application on a client terminal and a server corresponding to the application via a communications network, the method comprising:
 responsive to receiving a push notification session request message from the application, generating a first token associated with said push notification session for use in validating said push notification session;   transmitting said first token to the application;   responsive to receiving a token validation request comprising a second token from the server, determining whether the second token corresponds to the first token provided to the application for said push notification session; and   selectively transmitting an authorisation message to the server in dependence on said determination, whereby to enable said push notification session between the server and the application.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , in which, responsive to said determination, the method further comprises updating a record corresponding to said push notification session, said record being maintained at a device remote from said server and accessed prior to transmission of a notification message associated with said push notification session to said application, wherein said record comprising data indicative of a session state of said push notification session. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the method comprises selectively transmitting said authorisation message on the basis of a predetermined criterion, said predetermined criterion comprising one or more of:
 verification of an authentication credential associated with said server;   validation of a record corresponding to the server, said record being maintained at a device remote from said server and comprising data indicative of whether the server is authorised to conduct a said push notification session; and   verification of whether the server has been scanned for the presence of malicious software, the predetermined criterion being satisfied in the event that the scanning has occurred on the server.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein in the event that said second token is determined to be conflicting with said first token, the method further comprising terminating the establishment of said push notification session by marking a validity of said first token as invalid. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting a tear down message to said application, thereby terminating establishment of said push notification session. 
     
     
         22 . A computer program or a suite of computer programs, comprising a set of instructions configured to cause a computer, or a suite of computers, to perform the method of  claim 17 .