Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Unwired Planet, LLC

Mark Alan Hollis

Leslie Gary Graf

Christian Norman Groves

Ian Rytina

Juan Noguera-Rodriguez

Stephen Christopher Terrill

Brian C Williams

Lars Kari

Paul Hollis

Barry Dingle

Nebosja Dikic

David De Nicolo

Stephen Terrill

Phil Hodges

Sune Ramström

Sune Ramstr&ouml;m

The present invention relates generally to telecommunication services, and in particular, to communicating priority indications between telecommunication nodes in a telecommunication system having a separated call control and bearer control architecture. The present invention provides a number of solutions which map or assign the call level priority to the bearer level.

System and method of communicating a priority indication in a call control/bearer control telecommunication system

In order to address the problem of allowing a GGSN of a UMTS core network to work towards multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs) co-located with P-CSCF nodes using the COPS protocol, a policy control function coordinator (PCF-C) is implemented between the GGSN and the P-CSCF. A single COPS connection is established between the GGSN and the PCF-C while a COPS connection is established between the PCF-C and each of the P-CSCF nodes. Decisions made at the PCFs are routed to the GGSN via the PCF-C, and responses generated at the GGSN are routed to the appropriate PCFs via the GGSN. This architecture avoids conflicts which might otherwise arise with the COPS protocol.

Policy co-ordination in a communications network

In a telecommunications network, a method of controlling a media gateway to handle a multiplex session, using a media gateway controller, the media gateway and the media gateway controller communicating using a standardised interface protocol, e.g. H.248, providing for a set of command messages each of which contains: a context field for identifying a context of the media gateway; a termination field for identifying one or more terminations of the media gateway; at least one descriptor for defining properties of the context; and optionally a package identity and at least one associated property. The method comprises, at the media gateway controller, generating a command message said structure and containing a multiplex descriptor including a package identifier, the package identifier identifying a package implemented at the media gateway for handling a multiplex session, sending the generated command message from the media gateway controller to the media gateway, and, at the media gateway, establishing the context identified in the message according to the specified package. Preferably, the multiplex descriptor includes at least one property which is one of a circuit assignment map and a contiguous or non-contiguous service type.

Decomposed switching node and method of operating the same

The present invention relates to the information transmission rate between telecommunications nodes. More particularly the invention relates to the control of the rate at which information is transmitted between access nodes separated by a core network. The present invention provides an information rate control function adapted to authorize and/or establish a communication rate for transmission of information including: determining a plurality of maximum information transmission rates along a path of communication established between the plurality of access nodes; selecting a lowest one of the plurality of maximum information transmission rates, and; authorizing and/or establishing communication at a rate no greater than the selected lowest rate. The invention is suitable for use in the transmission of voice information to and from mobile terminals in third-generation mobile access networks across an ATM core network.

Information transmission rate control across a core network

In a method for the control of a connection in a communication network comprising a plurality of nodes (MSC, TSN, MG), a connection (CO) is established stepwise between nodes (MSC, TSN, MG). At least two of the nodes (MSC, TSN, MG) are adapted to insert an entity into the connection (CO), the entity affecting the connection quality, or to remove an entity affecting the connection quality from the connection. An indicator is forwarded between nodes controlling the connection (CO) wherein the indicator indicates whether the connection (CO) comprises an entity affecting the connection quality. A node which decides to insert an entity into the connection or remove an entity adjusts the indicator accordingly before forwarding it to a further node (MSC, TNS, MSC') controlling the connection (CO). A node (MSC, TSN, MSC&#x2032;) controlling the connection (CO) checks the value of the indicator when it performs a decision to insert or remove an entity. Nodes and program units for performing the method are also described.

Method and node for the control of a connection in a communication network

A method of negotiating a call capability between signalling points in a telecommunications system. The method comprises sending a capability preference or prioritised list of preferences from an originating signalling point to a terminating signalling point or signalling transfer point, at the Call Control level. A capability acceptance is returned from the terminating signalling point or signalling transfer point to the originating signalling point at the Call Control level, if the terminating signalling point or signalling transfer point accepts a preference sent by the originating signalling point.

Capability negotiation in a telecommunications network

In order to address the problem of allowing a GGSNof a UMTS core network to work towards multiple Policy Control Functions (PCFs)co-located with P-CSCF nodesusing the COPS protocol, a policy control function coordinator (PCF-C)is implemented between the GGSNand the P-CSCFA single COPS connection is established between the GGSNand the PCF-C, whilst a COPS connection is established between the PCF-Cand each of the P-CSCF nodes. Decisions made at the PCFsare routed to the GGSNvia the PCF-C, and responses generated at the GGSNare routed to the appropriate PCFsvia the GGSN. This architecture avoids conflicts which might otherwise arise with the COPS protocol.

The present invention relates generally to the transport of information between telecommunications nodes. In one aspect, in a telecommunication system having a first network based on a first technology and a second network based on a second technology, the second network in communication with the first network, the present invention relates to providing a message encoding format profile functionality adapted to enable transport of encoded information along at least a portion of a path of communication established between the networks, including: mapping the encoded information from a first message having a first message encoding format to a second message having a second message encoding format wherein the mapping is performed in accordance with the following steps: a) determining message User-to-User Indication information; b) determining message Length Indicator information and; c) selecting a message encoding format based on the determination of steps a) and b), above. Preferably, the encoded information is AMR codec encoded information. The invention is suitable, for example, for use in the transmission of AMR encoded voice information to and from a mobile terminal in third-generation radio access networks across an ATM core network.

Transport of encoded information across a core network

A method of signalling in a telecommunications system that includes a Call Control level and a Bearer Control level, where the Call Control level includes a plurality of Media Gateway Controllers and the Bearer Control level includes a plurality of Media Gateways, each of which is controlled by a Media Gateway Controller. The method includes allocating to each Media Gateway at least one address that corresponds to one of a plurality of different addressing formats, and conveying these addresses between peer Media Gateway Controllers by encapsulating them using a Network Service Access Point addressing format.

Addressing in a communications network comprising call control level and bearer control level by utilizing network service access point (NSAP) addressing format

The present invention relates to a system and method of communicating operating capabilities in a telecommunication network or networks. The present invention stems from the realisation that mobile telecommunication network resources can be utilised with greater efficiency by maintaining mobile station attributes or operating capabilities at a network node associated with the mobile station. Preferably, the network node is a Visitor Location Register VLR. Additionally, the network node may be a Home Location Register HLR, a Mobile Switching Centre MSC or a Gateway Mobile Switching Centre GMSC. In particular, the invention may provide the creation of a list of operating capabilities at a network node upstream from the mobile station. Having done this, a comparison of this list with another list received from a remote telecommunication element to negotiate operating capabilities at a call set up is achieved without involving communication resources between the mobile station and the network node.

System and method of communicating operating capabilities in a telecommunication network

A signalling point of a telecommunications network comprises a Transport Independent Call Control (TICC) part . A signalling transport part is arranged to exchange call control signalling information with the TICC part and with a peer TICC part at a remote signalling point. A signalling transport converter is arranged logically between the TICC part and said signalling transport part and is arranged to present a standard interface to the TICC part and a specific interface to the signalling transport part , wherein said call control signalling is exchanged between the TICC part and the signalling transport part via the signalling transport converter

Signalling in a telecommunications network

A method of signalling in a telecommunications network comprises generating signalling messages at an Application Part or a User part of an originating signalling point, the messages having a maximum length of 272 octets. The generated signaling messages are transferred to a Message Transfer Part layer 3 (MTP3) of the originating signalling point, and on the basis of the destination signalling point of the received signalling message, it is determined whether or not the message is to be transmitted over an NNI-SAAL signalling link. If the message is to be transmitted over an NNI-SAAL signalling link, the message is transferred to an NNI-SAAL part of the originating signalling point. If the message is not to be transmitted over an NNI-SAAL signalling link, the message is transferred to an MTP2 part of the originating point.

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Mark Alan Hollis