Intelligent network services in packet-switched network

• US 6,985,446 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hurtta, Tuija, Wallenius, Jukka, Tammela, Reino
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US09/555,022
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/426, 370/467, 455/466, 455/403, 455/405, 455/406, 379/15.1, 379/15.02, 379/221.08
• US Class Current: 370/249
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a network node for providing a packet-switched network user with a service via the intelligent network. In the packet network, a session is established for routing functionality of packets originating from and terminating at the user when the user registers to the network. To implement the services according to the intelligent network principles, a control record (SR) for the session is added to the packet network node(s) which control record recognises the events which trigger the connection to the intelligent network. Alternatively, the control record can be formed when the user activates the Packet Data Protocol PDP context.

Claims

1. A method for providing a packet-switched network user with a service via the intelligent network, the method comprising:

receiving the network registration of a user in the packet network;

establishing a session for routing functionality of packets originating from and terminating at the user;

forming for the session a control record by, which event management is controlled during the session and which has a functional connection to at least one service control function of an intelligent network service; and

defining at least one of the session events as an intelligent network event to the control record, the encounter of which causes the use of intelligent network control principles.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the session is modelled by a state model.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining information on at least one intelligent network event in subscriber information;

searching the information from the register including subscriber information when forming the control record; and

adding the intelligent network events in the subscriber information as intelligent network events of the session.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining at least one intelligent network event in the node serving the user; and

adding the intelligent network events maintained in the node as intelligent network events of the session.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the GPRS attach of the user is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packet data protocol context activation and deactivation are defined as intelligent network events of the control record.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the packet data protocol context modification is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the packet routing is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the service control function of the intelligent network in response to the encounter with the intelligent network event;

receiving a message requesting a report from the intelligent network, which message includes at least one criterion and a condition relating to the criterion, after the fulfilment of which the report is transmitted;

maintaining a criterion counter;

initialising said counter; and

starting the monitoring, during which the following steps are repeated;

a) increasing the counter in response to the transferred packet according to the criterion;

b) checking whether the condition given to the criterion is fulfilled, and if the condition fulfils, transmitting the report to the service control function of the intelligent network.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein

said message received from the intelligent network is a message requesting a periodical report;

and

the method further comprises;

initialising the counter after transmitting of the report message, and repeating the monitoring steps.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the message to the service control function of the intelligent network in response to the encounter with the intelligent network event;

receiving a charging message from the intelligent network, which message includes charging criteria;

maintaining the counter;

initialising said counter;

increasing the counter in response to the transferred packet; and

forming a charging record on the basis of the charging criteria and the value of the counter.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

using a prepaid connection;

searching the amount of money available for the user;

defining the charging price in response to increasing the value of the counter on the basis of the charging criteria and the value of the counter;

comparing the charging price with the available amount of money; and

if the charging price is smaller than the amount of money, continuing the packet transfer;

or

if the charging price is not smaller than the amount of money, terminating the packet transfer.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the allocation of logical and physical connections during the session is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the information on the GPRS attach of the user to the intelligent network;

receiving a certificate message from the intelligent network, which message includes a public key; and

authenticating the user with the public key.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the GPRS detach of the user is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

16. A method for providing a packet-switched network user with a service via the intelligent network, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a packet data protocol context to convey data packets,

forming for the packet data protocol context a control record, by which the event management of the packet data protocol context is controlled, which control record can be modelled by a state model and which has a functional connection to at least one service control function of an intelligent network service, and

by defining at least one of the packet data protocol context events as an intelligent network event to the control record, which event causes the use of intelligent network control principles.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the packet data protocol context activation and deactivation are defined as intelligent network events of the control record.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the set-up of a logical and physical connection is defined as an intelligent network event of the control record.

19. A packet network node comprising

an application part to establish and maintain a session for routing functionality of the packets originating from and terminating at a user;

the application part being arranged to form a control record for the session in such a manner that at least one of the session events is defined in the control record as an intelligent network event, the encounter of which causes the use of intelligent network control principles, and to use the intelligent network control principles in response to the encounter with the intelligent network event;

session management means for detecting the encounter with the intelligent network event; and

a connection part to transfer packets, to set up a connection to the packet network; and

to convey messages between the intelligent network and the application part.

20. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the application part is arranged to obtain the intelligent network events defined in the subscriber information;

and

the session management means are arranged to detect the encounter with the intelligent network events.

21. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the network node comprises a memory part in which at least one intelligent network event is defined;

and

the session management means are arranged to detect the encounter with an intelligent network event.

22. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, wherein the application part is arranged to form a control record for the session and to use the intelligent network control principles in response to the GPRS attach of the user.

23. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, wherein the application part is arranged to form a control record for the session and to use the intelligent network control principles in response to the packet data protocol context activation of the user.

24. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, the packet network node being a serving support node of the packet radio network.

25. A packet network node as claimed in claim 19, the packet network node being a gateway support node of the packet radio network.