Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network

• US 8,214,512 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Terrill, Stephen, Aström, Bo, Elburg, Johannes Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
• Application Number:
  US12/668,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,819 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/147 Signalling methods or messages providing extensions to protocols defined by standardisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network The invention relates to a control entity for setting up a session in a communications network, comprising an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network, a processor unit for processing the request, and an output device for sending messages. The control entity further comprising or having access to a memory for storing information. The processor unit is arranged to determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier, CSI, the Communication Service Identifier identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network. And if the request does not comprise a valid Communication Service Identifier to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A Control Entity for setting up a session in a communications network, comprising

an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network;

a processor unit for processing the request; and

an output device for sending messages;

wherein the Control Entity further comprises or has access to a memory for storing information;

wherein the processor unit is arranged to;

determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier (CSI), the CSI identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network; and

if the request does not comprise a valid CSI, execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory, said default CSI information being based upon subscription information;

wherein, for carrying out said default CSI procedure, said processor unit configured to;

add a default CSI to the request, in case the request does not comprise a CSI, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information;

or

test at least one parameter in the request and decide based on the at least one tested parameter and the default CSI information to add a default CSI to the request, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information, or not to add a default CSI to the request.

2. The Control Entity of claim 1, where the at least one parameter may be a combination of the type of request and the type of media, and, where in case the communications network is an IP Multimedia Subsystem network, the type of request may be one of INVITE request, MESSAGE request, REFER requests, SUBSCRIBE request, and the type of media may be one of audio, video.

3. The Control Entity of claim 1, where, in case the request comprises a CSI that is not recognized or supported by the control entity or the communications network, the default CSI procedure decides to allow or abort the request based on the default CSI information.

4. The Control Entity of claim 1, where the Control Entity is a Proxy Call Session Control Function that is arranged to act as a first point of contact within the communications network for a user terminal, and is arranged to receive a request from a user terminal for setting up a session in the communications network with a remote user terminal.

5. The Control Entity of claim 4, where the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal the request is received from.

6. The Control Entity of claim 1, where the Control Entity is a Serving Call Session Control Function that in use is arranged to provide services, and is arranged to receive a request from an application server for setting up a session in the communications network.

7. The Control Entity of claim 6, where the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal on behalf of which the request is made by the application server.

8. The Control Entity of claim 1, where the control entity is a Proxy Call Session Control Function and a Serving Call Session Control Function.

9. A method in a Control Entity in a communications network for setting up a session in a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for setting up a session in the communications network;

determining if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier (CSI), the CSI identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network; and

if the request does not comprise a valid CSI, executing a default CSI procedure using default CSI information, said default CSI information being based upon subscription information;

wherein said default CSI procedure comprises;

adding a default CSI to the request, in case the request does not comprise a CSI, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information;

or

testing at least one parameter in the request and deciding based on the at least one tested parameter and the default CSI information to add a default CSI to the request, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information, or not to add a default CSI to the request.

10. The method of claim 9, where the at least one parameter may be a combination of the type of request and the type of media, and, in case the communications network is an IP Multimedia Subsystem network,

the type of request maybe one of INVITE request, MESSAGE request, REFER requests, SUBSCRIBE request, and

the type of media may be one of audio, video.

11. The method of claim 9, where, in case the request comprises a CSI that is not recognized or supported by the control entity or the communications network, the default CSI procedure decides to allow or abort the request based on the default CSI information.

12. The method of claim 9, where the request is a request from a user terminal for setting up a session in the communications network with a remote user terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, where the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal the request is received from.

14. The method of claim 9, where the request is a request from an application server for setting up a session in the communications network.

15. The method of claim 14, where the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal on behalf of which the request is made by the application server.

16. An IP Multimedia Subsystem network, comprising a Control Entity for setting up a session in a communications network and a subscriber entity configured to be part of the communications network;

and

wherein said Control Entity comprises;

an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network;

a processor unit for processing the request; and

an output device for sending messages;

wherein the Control Entity further comprises or has access to a memory for storing information;

wherein the processor unit is arranged to;

determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier (CSI), the CSI identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network; and

if the request does not comprise a valid CSI, to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory, said default CSI information being based upon subscription information;

wherein, for carrying out said default CSI procedure, said processor unit is configured to;

add a default CSI to the request, in case the request does not comprise a CSI, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information;

or

test at least one parameter in the request and decide based on the at least one tested parameter and the default CSI information to add a default CSI to the request, where the default CSI is specified by the default CSI information, or not to add a default CSI to the request;

wherein said subscriber database comprises;

an input device for receiving a register message from a user terminal;

a processor unit for processing the register message; and

an output device;

the subscriber database further comprising or having access to a memory for storing subscription information;

wherein the subscriber database is configured to;

generate default CSI information based upon subscription information stored in the memory, in reaction to the receipt of the register message; and

transmit the generated default CSI information to at least one control entity in the communications network via the output device.

17. The IP Multimedia Subsystem network of claim 16, where the Control Entity is one of:

a Proxy Call Session Control Function that is arranged to act as a first point of contact within the communications network for a user terminal, and is arranged to receive a request from a user terminal for setting up a session in the communications network with a remote user terminal;

or

a Serving Call Session Control Function that in use is arranged to provide services, and is arranged to receive a request from an application server for setting up a session in the communications network.