Network system with dynamic service profile updating functions

• US 20010053694A1
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Yamamura, Shinya, Igarashi, Yoichiro, Murata, Kazunori, Kakemizu, Mitsuaki, Wakamoto, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A network system which provides each terminal user with differentiated service, dynamically changing service profiles even in the middle of a communication session. A service control database maintains service profile definitions. When a mobile node registers with a foreign agent to initiate a communication session, a service profile setting controller in the mobile node'"'"'s home server sets up a service profile for the mobile user. When an event occurs within a service profile updating controller, it indicates that some control condition specified in the service profile is met. The service profile updating controller then makes access to the service control database to obtain a new service profile. The mobile node'"'"'s foreign server forwards it to the foreign agent, to which the mobile node is attached. The service profile that has been established in relevant network nodes, including the home agent and foreign agent, is dynamically updated with the new one.

Claims

1. A network system which controls communication between a user terminal and a peer terminal thereof over a network including a mobile domain, comprising:

(a) a home agent, coupled to the peer terminal, which maintains the location of the user terminal and tunnels packets for delivery to the user terminal;

(b) a foreign agent which detunnels and delivers the packets to the user terminal that is visiting a foreign network;

(c) a service control database which maintains a customizable service profile defining what class of service to provide to the user terminal;

(d) a home server located in a first administrative domain to which the user terminal belongs, comprising;

service profile setting means for retrieving the service profile from said service control database when the user terminal initiates a communication session, and distributing and setting the retrieved service profile to said home agent and foreign agent as an initial service profile, and

service profile updating means for generating an event signal when a control condition described in the retrieved service profile is met, obtaining a new service profile from said service control database in response to the event signal, and distributing the new service profile so as to replace the initial service profile being set in said home agent and foreign agent; and

(e) a foreign server located in a second administrative domain, which forwards the initial service profile and new service profile from said home server to said foreign agent.

2. The network system according to

claim 1

, wherein said home server generates the event signal for the update of the service profile by detecting at least one of:

an event related to user authentication,

an event related to authorized use of network resources, and

an event related to accounting functions.

3. The network system according to

claim 1

, further comprising a network control mechanism which informs said home server of an event that is detected therein, while supervising and managing the network.

4. The network system according to

claim 3

, wherein said service profile updating means in said home server obtains and distributes the new service profile in response to the event informed by said network control mechanism.

5. The network system according to

claim 1

, wherein said home agent performs route optimization when a packet from the peer terminal is intercepted and tunneled to the user terminal, keeps a record about the peer terminal that has been subjected to the route optimization, and refers to the record to identify the peer terminal when a service profile change request is received from said home server.

6. The network system according to

claim 1

, wherein said home server allocates said home agent when the user terminal initiates the communication session.

7. The network system according to

claim 6

, further comprising another foreign agent located within the second administrative domain, and which sends a service profile change request message to the user terminal'"'"'s previous foreign agent when the user terminal has moved and registered with said another foreign agent.

8. The network system according to

claim 6

, further comprising:

another foreign server which covers a third administrative domain, and

another foreign agent which is located within the third administrative domain,

wherein said home server sends a service profile change request message to both the user terminal'"'"'s previous foreign server and said another foreign server when the user terminal has moved and registered with said another foreign agent.

9. The network system according to

claim 1

, wherein said foreign server allocates said home agent when the user terminal initiates the communication session.

10. The network system according to

claim 9

, further comprising another foreign agent which is located within the second administrative domain, and which sends a service profile change request message to the user terminal'"'"'s previous foreign agent when the user terminal has moved and registered with said another foreign agent.

11. The network system according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

another foreign server which is located in a third administrative domain, and

another foreign agent which covers another foreign network within the third administrative domain,

wherein said home server sends a service profile change request message to both the user terminal'"'"'s previous foreign server and said another foreign server when the user terminal has moved and registered with said another foreign agent.

12. The network system according to

claim 1

, further comprising an address translation server which provides a service using predetermined address translation rules,

wherein said service profile updating means in said home server produces and distributes the new service profile when an event related to the address translation rules occurs during the service.

13. The network system according to

claim 1

, further comprising conflict avoiding means for avoiding a conflict between said service profile updating means activated by the event signal detected in said home server and a person who is attempting to modify the service profile stored in said service control database.

14. The network system according to

claim 13

, wherein said conflict avoiding means deactivates the event signal in case of conflict, and after the modification of the service profile is finished, redistributes the service profile and reactivates the event signal.

15. A service control database comprising:

service profile storage means for storing a customizable service profile defining what class of service to provide to a user terminal; and

service profile management means for managing the service profile stored in said service profile storage means.

16. A home server located in an administrative domain to which a user terminal belongs, comprising:

service profile setting means for retrieving a service profile from a service control database when the user terminal initiates a communication session, and distributing and setting the retrieved service profile to network nodes that tunnel and detunnel packets for delivery to the user terminal; and

service profile updating means for generating an event signal when a control condition described in the retrieved service profile is met, obtaining a new service profile from said service control database in response to the event signal, and distributing the new service profile so as to replace the initial service profile being set in the network nodes.

17. A foreign server located in an administrative domain outside the home location of a user terminal, comprising:

terminal service means for providing the user terminal with administrative service; and

service profile forwarding means for forwarding a service profile to a network node within the same administrative domain.

18. A home agent located in an administrative domain to which a user terminal belong, comprising:

peer terminal interface means for interfacing with a peer terminal communicating with the user terminal;

tunneling control means for maintaining the location of the user terminal that is visiting a foreign network, and tunneling packets for delivery to the user terminal; and

service profile updating means for updating a service profile which defines what class of service to offer to the user terminal.

19. A foreign agent located in an administrative domain outside the home location of a user terminal, comprising:

terminal service means for providing the user terminal with administrative service;

detunneling control means for tunneling packets for delivery to the user terminal; and

service profile updating means for updating a service profile which defines what class of service to offer to the user terminal.