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

• US 8,732,321 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2012
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Van Elburg, Johannes, Terrill, Stephen, Astrm, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
• Application Number:
  US13/478,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20120246289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/245, 709/223
• 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 control entity advantageously has or has access to memory for storing information, and typically includes 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 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 Communication Service Identifier, to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A subscriber database configured to be part of a communications network, the subscriber database including or having access to memory for storing subscription information, the subscriber database comprising:

an input device configured to receive a register message from a user terminal;

a processor unit configured to process the register message, and in response to receipt of the register message, to generate default Communication Service Identifier (CSI) information based upon subscription information stored in the memory;

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

2. The subscriber database of claim 1 wherein the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal the register message is received from.

3. The subscriber database of claim 1:

where the subscriber database is arranged to work in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network;

wherein the subscriber database is a home subscriber server (HSS).

4. A method for registering a user terminal in a communications network, the method being implemented by a subscriber database and comprising:

receiving a register message from a user terminal;

generating default Communication Service Identifier (CSI) information based upon subscription information in response to the receipt of the register message;

transmitting the generated default CSI information to at least one Control Entity in the communications network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the default CSI information is specific for the user terminal from which the register message is received.