Intelligent network and packet data network interoperability

• US 6,724,748 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Martlew, Paul, Nyberg, Anna, Stille, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Keith M.
• Application Number:
  US09/282,832
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 370/271, 370/321, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/401, 370/442, 370/433, 370/498, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/461
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• 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 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for creating an interface between a packet-switched network and an IN, which is based on an interface between an associated circuit-switched network and an IN/CAMEL service. Meanwhile, the CAMEL application can also provide IN services to mobile subscribers while they are roaming in other networks (e.g., international roaming).

Claims

1. A method for establishing an interface between an intelligent network and a packet data network, comprising the steps of:

activating a communications session in said packet data network;

a node in said packet data network sending a notification signal to a node in said intelligent network, said notification signal identifying said communications session to said intelligent network;

said node in said intelligent network sending a control signal to said node in said packet data network, said control signal including information to limit a duration of said communications session in said packet data network, said control signal further including a maximum value of packet data for transmission;

if said duration of said communications session is limited to a value less than said maximum value of packet data for transmission, said node in said packet data network sending a second signal to said node in said intelligent network, said second signal including information associated with said duration; and

said node in said intelligent network using said duration information to determine a new maximum value of packet data for transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said node in said packet data network comprises a serving packet node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said node in said intelligent network comprises a service control function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification signal comprises sending initial data to a service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said initial data includes a service key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said control signal comprises a request from a service to apply prepaid charging limits to a call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said packet data network sends bit interval information to said intelligent network when a specified amount of data has been transmitted, said bit interval information used by said intelligent network to determine a new maximum value of packet data for transmission.

8. A system for establishing an interface between an intelligent network and a packet data network, comprising:

means for activating a communications session in said packet data network;

a node in said intelligent network; and

a node in said packet data network, said node in said packet data network including means for sending a notification signal to said node in said intelligent network, said notification signal identifying said communications session to said intelligent network, and said node in said intelligent network including means for sending a control signal to said node in said packet data network, said control signal including information to limit a duration of said communications session in said packet data network and a maximum value of packet data for transmission;

wherein said node in said packet data network includes means for sending a session clear signal to said node in said intelligent network if said duration of said communications session is limited to a value less than said maximum value of packet data for transmission, said session clear signal including information associated with said duration, and means for using said duration information to determine a new maximum value of packet data for transmission.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said node in said packet data network comprises a serving packet node.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said node in said intelligent network comprises a service control function.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said notification signal comprises sending initial data to a service.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said initial data includes a service key.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said control signal comprises a request from a service to apply pre-paid charging limits to a call.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said packet data network includes means for sending bit interval information to said intelligent network when a specified amount of data has been transmitted, and said intelligent network includes means for determining a new maximum value of packet data for transmission using said bit interval information.

15. A system for establishing an interface between an intelligent network and a packet data network, said system comprising:

means for activating a communications session in said packet data network;

a node in said intelligent network; and

a node in said packet data network, said note in said packet data network including means for sending a notification signal to said node in said intelligent network, said note in said intelligent network including means for sending a control signal to said node in said packet data network, said control signal including information to limit a duration of said communications session in said packet data network, said node in said packet data network adapted to send a session clear signal to said node in said intelligent network if said communications session terminates before the limit of said duration of said communications session.