Service templates for an IP multimedia subsystem

• US 8,230,073 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sells, Roy, Leeder, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIAH, RAZU A
• Application Number:
  US11/336,141
• Time in Patent Office: 2,377 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-207, 709223-229, 370/230.1, 370/338, 370/352
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications

Abstract

The present invention provides a call/session control function for an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem where a service template may be invoked in lieu of a single multimedia service. The service template identifies a number of multimedia services and associated logic for invoking the multimedia services, once the service template is invoked. In operation, a signaling message is received and appropriate filtering criteria are retrieved for the signaling message. Filtering criteria define a set of rules identifying any multimedia services that need to be invoked in light of receiving the signaling message. The filtering criteria will identify a service template, and perhaps other multimedia services to invoke directly. If a service template is invoked, the service template is obtained and the logic controlling invocation of the associated multimedia services is applied to effect invocation of the multimedia services.

Claims

1. A method for providing a call/session control function in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem comprising:

providing a plurality of service templates, each service template identifying a plurality of multimedia services and associated logic for invoking the multimedia services;

receiving a signaling message associated with a call or session involving a user element;

selecting one of the plurality of service templates for the signaling message; and

invoking the multimedia services identified by the one of the plurality of service templates according to the associated logic.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the service template appears as a multimedia service.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

accessing filtering criteria to be applied for the signaling message, the filtering criteria comprising rules for invoking at least one multimedia service and the service template;

applying the filtering criteria for the signaling message to select the at least one multimedia service or the one of the plurality of service templates, wherein;

when the one of the plurality of service templates is selected, the multimedia services identified by the one of the plurality of service templates are invoked according to the associated logic; and

when the at least one multimedia service is selected, the at least one multimedia service is invoked.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the rules of the filtering criteria are based on external information that is not contained within the signaling message, and the filtering criteria are applied in light of the external information to select the at least one multimedia service or the one of the plurality of service templates.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the rules of the filtering criteria are further based on internal information, which is contained in the signaling message.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the filtering criteria is defined on a per network basis and applied to all signaling messages for a defined network.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the filtering criteria is defined on a group basis and applied to all signaling messages for a defined group of user elements or users.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein invoking a given multimedia service comprises determining an application server to provide the multimedia service and forwarding the signaling message to the application server.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing message and protocol adaptation to the signaling message prior to forwarding the signaling message to the application server, wherein the application server resides on a network using a different communication protocol than a network supporting the call/session control function.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the application server will process the signaling message to provide the given multimedia service and further comprising:

receiving the signaling message from the application server; and

forwarding the signaling message toward a destination.

11. A system for providing a call/session control function in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem comprising:

a communication interface; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

provide a plurality of service templates, each service template identifying a plurality of multimedia services and associated logic for invoking the multimedia services;

receive a signaling message associated with a call or session involving a user element;

select one of the plurality of service templates for the signaling message; and

invoke the multimedia services identified by the one of the plurality of service templates according to the associated logic.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the service template appears as a multimedia service.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

access filtering criteria to be applied for the signaling message, the filtering criteria comprising rules for invoking at least one multimedia service and the service template;

apply the filtering criteria for the signaling message to select the at least one multimedia service or the one of the plurality of service templates, wherein;

when the one of the plurality of service templates is selected, the multimedia services identified by the one of the plurality of service templates are invoked according to the associated logic; and

when the at least one multimedia service is selected, the at least one multimedia service is invoked.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the rules of the filtering criteria are based on external information that is not contained within the signaling message, and the filtering criteria are applied in light of the external information to select the at least one multimedia service or the one of the plurality of service templates.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the rules of the filtering criteria are further based on internal information, which is contained in the signaling message.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the filtering criteria is defined on a per network basis and applied to all signaling messages for a defined network.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the filtering criteria is defined on a group basis and applied to all signaling messages for a defined group of user elements or users.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein to invoke a given multimedia service, the control system is further adapted to determine an application server to provide the multimedia service and forward the signaling message to the application server.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the control system is further adapted to provide message and protocol adaptation to the signaling message prior to forwarding the signaling message to the application server, wherein the application server resides on a network using a different communication protocol than a network supporting the call/session control function.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the application server will process the signaling message to provide the given multimedia service and the control system is further adapted to:

receive the signaling message from the application server; and

forward the signaling message toward a destination.