METHOD, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENT SERVICES TO DIFFERENT USERS OF AN AGGREGATE ENDPOINT IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM (IMS) NETWORK

• US 20110106971A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: SIEGEL, Steven Alan, JOHNSON, Leticia, PARLAMAS, Stephanie, LAMBROS, Nancy
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0093 signalling arrangements in networks

Abstract

Different services are provided to different users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network. The different users or groups of users are differentiated based on service profiles designated by different PUIDs for the different users or groups of users of each of the users or groups of users. Different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint are provided, depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users.

Claims

1. A method for providing different services to different users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an interne protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, comprising:

differentiating, at a server within the network, between the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint based on based on an identifier for each of the users or groups of users, wherein the identifier indicates a service profile to be processed for each of the users or groups of user; and

providing different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier upon which differentiation between different users or groups of users is based is included in a header in packets transmitted by a user, such that services are provided on a per-user basis.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein for a message originating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is placed into the header by the aggregate endpoint, an entry point into the network, or an application server.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein for a message terminating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is included in the header at an application server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregate endpoint is an Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein some groups of users are served by a single aggregate endpoint, while other groups of users are served by multiple aggregate endpoints.

5. The method of claim ‘

, wherein the identifier is a Public User Identifier (PUID).

8. A computer readable medium having instructions encoded thereon for execution on a computer for differentiating between users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to:

differentiate between the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint based on based on an identifier for each of the users or groups of users, wherein the identifier indicates a service profile to be processed for each of the users or groups of users; and

provide different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the identifier upon which differentiation between different users or groups of users is based is included in a header in packets transmitted by a user, such that services are provided on a per-user basis.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein for a message originating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is placed into the header by the aggregate endpoint, an entry point into the network, or an application server, and for a message terminating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is included in the header at an application server.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the identifier is a Public User Identifier (PUID).

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the aggregate endpoint is an Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX).

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein some groups of users are served by a single aggregate endpoint, while other groups of users are served by multiple aggregate endpoints.

14. An apparatus for providing different services to different users or groups of users of an aggregate endpoint in an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, comprising:

an interface for receiving a message from a user or group of users, the message including an identifier identifying the user or group of users, the identifier indicating a service profile to be processed for the user or groups of users; and

a processor for differentiating between the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint based on the identifier, wherein the identifier indicates a service profile to be processed for each of the users or groups of users, and providing different services for transmission and/or receipt of packets for the different users or groups of users of the aggregate endpoint depending upon the differentiation between the different users or groups of users.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identifier upon which differentiation between different users or groups of users is based is included in a header in packets transmitted by a user, such that services are provided on a per-user basis.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein for a message originating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is placed into the header by the aggregate endpoint, an entry point into the network, or an application server.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein for a message terminating at the aggregate endpoint, the identifier is included in the header at an application server.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the identifier is a Public User Identifier (PUID).

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the aggregate endpoint is an Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange (IP-PBX).

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein some groups of users are served by a single aggregate endpoint, while other groups of users are served by multiple aggregate endpoints.