Methods, systems, and computer program products for supporting database access in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment

• US 20060161512A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Bonds, Thomas L. Jr., Wallace, Robert L., Schaedler, Richard E., Tejani, Aziz A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2539 Hiding addresses; Keeping addresses anonymous
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• 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 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• 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 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for supporting database access in an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment are disclosed. At least one call state control function (CSCF) entity generates subscriber-related queries according to an abstracted profile (AP) protocol. At an abstracted profile server (APS), a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query is received, subscriber information is gathered related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database, a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query is generated based on the gathered subscriber information and the reply message is forwarded to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.

Claims

1. A system for supporting database access in Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment, the system comprising:

(a) at least one call state control function (CSCF) entity for generating subscriber-related queries according to an abstracted profile (AP) protocol; and

(b) an abstracted profile server (APS) for receiving a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query and for;

(a) gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database;

(b) generating a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(c) forwarding the reply message to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the APS is adapted to gather subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database by:

(a) generating, in response to a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, at least one corresponding query to a subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database; and

(b) receiving respective replies to the at least one corresponding query.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the APS is adapted to gather subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database by:

(a) receiving the subscriber information from at least one subscriber information database as the subscriber information is updated; and

(b) storing the subscriber information at the APS.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the APS is adapted to gather subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database by:

(a) polling at least one subscriber information database for the subscriber information at intervals independent of the receipt of the CSCF-generated subscriber-related query; and

(b) storing the subscriber information locally to the APS.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database comprises a DIAMETER protocol.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database comprises a RADIUS protocol.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database comprises a mobile application part (MAP) protocol.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database comprises a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP).

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one CSCF and the APS are part of an IMS cluster node.

10. An abstracted profile server (APS) for supporting database access in Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment, the APS being configured for:

(a) gathering subscriber information from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database, wherein the native protocol includes at least one of RADIUS, DIAMETER, MAP, and LDAP;

(b) generating a reply message to a subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(c) forwarding the reply message to a source of the subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded using a protocol other than the native protocol of the subscriber information database.

11. A method for supporting database access in Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment, the method comprising:

(a) generating, from at least one call state control function (CSCF) entity, subscriber-related queries according to an abstracted profile (AP) protocol; and

(b) at an abstracted profile server (APS);

(i) receiving a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query;

(ii) gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database;

(iii) generating a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(iv) forwarding the reply message to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database includes:

(a) generating, in response to the CSCF-generated subscriber-related query, at least one corresponding query to a subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database; and

(b) receiving respective replies to the at least one corresponding query.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database includes:

(a) receiving the subscriber information from at least one subscriber information database as the subscriber information is updated; and

(b) storing the subscriber information at the APS.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database includes:

(a) polling at least one subscriber information database for the subscriber information at intervals independent of the receipt of the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query; and

(b) storing the subscriber information at the APS.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database is a DIAMETER protocol.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database is a RADIUS protocol.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database is a mobile application part (MAP) protocol.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the native protocol of the subscriber information database is a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP).

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one CSCF and the APS are part of an IMS cluster node.

20. A method for supporting database access in an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network environment, the method comprising:

at an abstract profile server (APS);

(a) receiving a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query;

(b) gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database;

(c) generating a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(d) forwarding the reply message to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.

21. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) gathering subscriber information from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database, wherein the native protocol includes at least one of RADIUS, DIAMETER, MAP, and LDAP;

(b) generating a reply message to a subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(c) forwarding the reply message to a source of the subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded using a protocol other than the native protocol of the subscriber information database.

22. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) generating, from at least one call state control function (CSCF) entity, subscriber-related queries according to an abstracted profile (AP) protocol; and

(b) at an abstracted profile server (APS);

(i) receiving a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query;

(ii) gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database;

(iii) generating a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(iv) forwarding the reply message to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.

23. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

at an abstract profile server (APS);

(a) receiving a CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query;

(b) gathering subscriber information related to the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query from at least one subscriber information database using a native protocol of the subscriber information database;

(c) generating a reply message for the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query based on the gathered subscriber information; and

(d) forwarding the reply message to a respective CSCF that generated the CSCF-generated, subscriber-related query, the reply message being forwarded according to the AP protocol.