Service provision in a communication system

• US 7,623,469 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Paavonen, Tapio, Kuure, Pekka
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US11/011,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/466, 455/466
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A method enables obtaining parameters relating to a service provided in a communication system. The method comprises storing a first set of parameters relating to a service, the first set of parameters being valid when the service is controlled by a first network. The method further comprises determining whether a second set of parameters is needed, the second set of parameters relating to said service and being valid when said service is controlled by a second network. The method further comprises obtaining the second set of parameters, when needed. A communication device is configured to execute the method.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving with a processor a first set of parameters relating to a service, wherein the first set of parameters is valid when the service is controlled by a first network;

determining with a processor whether a second set of parameters is needed after a session is established by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service, wherein the second set of parameters relating to said service is valid when said service is controlled by a second network; and

initiating obtaining with a processor the second set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first set of parameters comprises at least one parameter corresponding to at least one parameter of the second set of parameters.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises determining whether the service is controlled by the first network or by the second network.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

using the first set of parameters to establish a party of the service, if the service is controlled by the first network.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein becoming the party of the service comprises at least one of requesting the service, joining the service or being invited to become a party of the service.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

using at least one of the parameters of the second set of parameters in establishing a party of the service, when the service is controlled by the second network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises comparing domain parts of uniform resource identifiers.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises comparing a network identifier of the network controlling the service with a network identifier of the first network.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining the second set of parameters, when it is determined the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the first network.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining a type of the service provided.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises at least one of negotiating the second set of parameters, requesting the second set of parameters, or receiving the second set of parameters.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing at least one second set of parameters.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the storing the at least one second set of parameters comprises storing parameters that relate to service sessions participated in by a user.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the obtaining comprises verifying whether the at least one second set of parameters stored includes a second set of parameters relating to the network controlling the service, when a determination is made that the second set of parameters is needed.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first set of parameters relating to the service, wherein the first set of parameters is valid when the service is controlled by a home network.

16. The method according to claims 1, further comprising:

receiving the first set of parameters via an over-the-air interface.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the first set of parameters using at least one of cell broadcast, short message service, unstructured supplementary services data, general user datagram protocol transport service, hypertext transfer protocol, and synchronization markup language.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the first set of parameters by at least one of entering parameters during device manufacturing, entering parameters manually, entering parameters electronically, and using a pre-configured identity module.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the first set of parameters from a home network.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the first set of parameters from the home network when either of the service is subscribed or when parameters of the service change.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining said parameters comprises obtaining parameters relating to at least one of a service supported by a server in a session initiation protocol controlled network, a service supported by a server in an Internet multimedia subsystem, a multiparty conferencing service, and a push-to-talk over cellular service.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining said parameters comprises obtaining at least one of a timer parameter, a parameter for automatic login, a parameter supporting simultaneous sessions, and a parameter supporting a pre-established session.

23. The method according to claims 1, further comprising:

discarding the second set of parameters after a termination of a service session in which the second set of parameters is related.

24. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving with a processor a first set of parameters relating to a service, wherein the first set of parameters is valid when the service is controlled by a first network;

determining with a processor whether a second set of parameters is needed after a session is established by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service, wherein the second set of parameters relating to said service is valid when said service is controlled by a second network; and

initiating obtaining with a processor the second set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service.

25. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to receive a first set of parameters relating to a service, wherein the first set of parameters is valid when the service is controlled by a first network;

a processor configured to determine whether a second set of parameters is needed after a session is established by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service, wherein the second set of parameters relating to said service is valid when said service is controlled by a second network; and

a processor configured to initiate obtaining the second set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the service is controlled by the first network or by the second network by determining whether the service is controlled by the first network or by the second network.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to use the first set of parameters to establish a party of the service, if the service is controlled by the first network.

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to use at least one of the parameters of the second set of parameters in establishing a party of the service, when the service is controlled by the second network.

29. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a memory configured to store at least one second set of parameters.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the transceiver is configured to receiving the first set of parameters via an over-the-air interface.

31. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to process discard the second set of parameters after a termination of a service session in which the second set of parameters is related.

32. A method, comprising:

receiving with a receiver a request for provision of a service to a user of a client, wherein the service is controlled by a network of a communication system that uses at least one controlling network dependent parameter;

verifying whether the user of the client belongs to a network controlling provision of the service;

determining with a processor whether the client needs a set of parameters after a session is established, that relate to the service, when the user of the client belongs to a network other than the network controlling the provision of the service by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service; and

providing the set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service and determination is made that the client needs to be provided with the set of parameters.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the verifying comprises comparing a network identification of the network controlling the provision of the service with a network identification of the user of the client.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the determining comprises determining the type of the service provided.

35. The method according to claim 32, further comprising:

storing user information relating to provided service sessions.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether user information relating to the user of the client is stored.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the providing comprises providing the set of parameters, when it is determined the user information relating to the user of the client is not stored.

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein the providing of the set of parameters comprises negotiating the set of parameters with the client.

39. The method according to claim 32, wherein the providing of the set of parameters comprises transmitting the set of parameters to the client.

40. The method according to claim 32, wherein the receiving comprises receiving at least one of a request from the user of the client to initiate the service to other users, a request to invite the user of the client to become a party of the service and a request from the user of the client to join the service initiated by another user.

41. The method according to claim 32, wherein controlling provision of said service comprises controlling a provision of at least one of a service supported by a server in a session initiation protocol controlled network, a service supported by a server in an Internet multimedia subsystem, a multiparty conferencing service, and a push-to-talk over cellular service.

42. The method according to claim 32, wherein the providing of said parameters comprises providing at least one of a timer parameter, a parameter for automatic login, a parameter supporting simultaneous sessions, and a parameter supporting a pre-established session.

43. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving with a receiver a request for provision of a service to a user of a client, wherein the service is controlled by a network of a communication system that uses at least one controlling network dependent parameter;

verifying whether the user of the client belongs to a network controlling provision of the service;

determining with a processor whether the client needs a set of parameters after a session is established by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service, that relate to the service, when the user of the client belongs to a network other than the network controlling the provision of the service; and

providing the set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service and determination is made that the client needs to be provided with the set of parameters.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request for provision of a service to a user of a client, the service being controlled by a network of the communication system that uses at least one controlling network dependent parameter; and

a processor configured to

verify that the user of the client belongs to a network controlling provision of the service,

determine whether the client needs to be provided with a set of parameters

that relate to the service after a session is established by comparing a network identifier of a network controlling the service with a network identifier of a user identity of a user becoming a party of the service, when it is verified the user of the client belongs to a network other than the network controlling a provision of the service, and

provide the set of parameters, when the network identifier of the network controlling the service is different from the network identifier of the user identity of the user becoming the party of the service and a determination is made that the client needs to be provided with the set of parameters.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to verify that the user of the client belongs to a network controlling provision of the service by comparing a network identification of the network controlling the provision of the service with a network identification of the user of the client.

46. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the client needs to be provided with a set of parameters by determining comprises determining the type of the service provided.

47. The apparatus according to claim 44, further comprising:

a memory configured to store user information relating to provided service sessions.