Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel-lucent USA Inc.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Shengqiang Wang

Ranjan Sharma

Yigang Cai

Viswanath Poosala

Harsha S Nagesh

Yijun Xu

Yang Chen

Charging systems and associated methods are disclosed that provide interim billing for a session in an IMS network. The charging system includes a charging data system that receives accounting messages from network elements serving the session in the IMS network, and generates partial CDRs for each network element based on the accounting messages. The charging data system also sets an aggregation/correlation timer. Responsive to an expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, the charging data system aggregates the partial CDRs for each network element to generate an aggregated CDR for each network element. The charging system further includes a charging gateway system that, in further response to the expiration of the aggregation/correlation timer, correlates the aggregated CDRs to generate an interim consolidated CDR for the session, and transmits the interim consolidated CDR to a billing system. The billing system may then provide interim billing for the session based on the interim consolidated CDR.

Interim billing for sessions in IMS networks

Apparatus and method for monitoring IP multicast delivery. One embodiment comprises an Optical Line Termination (OLT) device that includes a Network Termination (NT) device that connects to a core network, and a plurality of Line Termination (LT) devices that connect to an optical distribution network. The NT device generates an IP multicast monitoring stream directed to a group address, and transmits the monitoring stream to the LT devices. The LT devices then monitor for packets directed to the group address. When an LT device detects a loss of one or more packets directed to the group address, the LT device reports packet loss for the IP multicast monitoring stream to the NT device.

Monitoring of IP multicast delivery over an optical network

An apparatus, e.g. a wireless media access point, includes a transceiver, a non-transitory storage medium, and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver and the storage medium. The processor is configured by instructions stored on the storage medium to transmit a first multicast channel associated with a first group temporal key (GTK), and to simultaneously transmit a second multicast channel associated with a second GTK.

Internet protocol television via public Wi-Fi network

Apparatus and methods for reporting stream loss in internet gateway devices. One embodiment comprises an internet gateway device for installation at a customer premises. The internet gateway device identifies a request to join an IP multicast stream identified by a group address, and monitors for packets directed to the group address. The internet gateway device detects a stream loss responsive to a failure to receive a packet directed to the group address during a time interval, and reports the stream loss for the group address to a management system.

Monitoring of IP multicast streams within an internet gateway device

A content delivery system provides packet-level ratings of media content for use by client devices in rendering the media content thereon. A client device can store a permission level and compare the permission level with respective rating levels included in received media packets. The media content within the received media packets is rendered on the client device on the condition that the permission level compares favorably with the associated rating level and blocked on the condition that the permission level compares unfavorably with the associated rating level.

Rendering rated media content on client devices using packet-level ratings

An IMS charging collection function node for processing incoming accounting requests (ACRs) is provided. The node includes an ACR database that stores ACR messages, an Incomplete database that stores any ACR [Interim] or [Stop] received by the charging collection function node when a corresponding ACR [Start] is not stored in the ACR database, or also ACR[Start] when the remaining accounting requests, consisting of ACR [Interim] or [Stop] are not available with the charging collection function, a disk that stores ACRs; a first transformation engine that aggregates CDRs, a CDR aggregation database that stores aggregated CDRs, a second transformation engine that correlates CDRs, a CDR correlation database that stores correlated CDRs, and a third evaluation engine that cyclically evaluates the Incomplete database, wherein the IMS charging collection function node is communicatively and collaboratively coupled with other IMS charging collection function nodes across the IMS network to eliminate or reduce production of incomplete CDRs.

Fault-resilient method of generating complete correlated IMS charging data records

Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor the speed that a mobile device is traveling, such as when the user of the mobile device is driving or riding in a vehicle. A speed monitoring system described herein receives a request from a third party to monitor a speed of a mobile device. The system periodically queries a mobile network for a location of the mobile device over a time period, and receives responses from the mobile network indicating locations of the mobile device. The system then determines a speed of the mobile device based on the locations indicated during the time period, and may determine the speed limit the roadway the mobile device is traveling on. The system then sends a notification message to the third party that includes an indication of the speed of the mobile device and possibly the speed limit.

Monitoring speed of a vehicle using a mobile network

A method is provided for transferring content between a first mobile device () and a second mobile device (). The method includes: internally storing the content on the first mobile device () using a first data representation for the internally stored content on the first mobile device (); establishing a common syntax and associated semantics for describing the content; creating a first external manifest () on the first mobile device () from the internally stored content on the first mobile (), the first external manifest () employing the common syntax and associated semantics to describe the content; transferring the content from the first external manifest () to a second external manifest () created on the second mobile device (), the second external manifest () also using the common syntax and associated semantic to describe the content; and, internally storing the content on the second mobile device () using a second data representation for the internally stored content on the second mobile device ().

Content synchronization between electronic devices

Systems and methods are disclosed that detect uninsured vehicles. An insurance monitoring system described herein receives a message over a mobile network from a mobile device embedded in a vehicle, where the message from the mobile device includes a vehicle identification for the vehicle. The insurance monitoring system queries an insurance database based on the vehicle identification to determine whether the vehicle is uninsured. If the vehicle is uninsured, then the insurance monitoring system sends a notification message to a law enforcement entity.

Network-based identification of uninsured vehicles

The apparatus may have: a telecommunication network having a tracking calling terminal and a tracked called terminal; a polled geofencing system associated with at least one predetermined area having a predetermined boundary, the tracked called terminal having a location relative to the predetermined boundary; and at least first and second predetermined ring-back tones having a functional relationship with the at least one predetermined boundary, the first predetermined ring-back tone being utilized when the tracked called terminal is within the predetermined boundary, and the second predetermined ring-back tone being utilized when the tracked called terminal is outside of the predetermined boundary; wherein the at least first and second predetermined ring-back tones alert the tracking calling terminal to a location, relative to the predetermined boundary as determined by the polled geofencing system, of tracked called terminal during a call setup between the designated tracked called terminal and the tracking calling terminal.

Polled geofencing and distinguished ring-back

An illustrative method provides information to a user on wireless communication coverage along at least one route. A wireless availability server receives a user request for coverage information where the request includes an origination and destination location provided by the user for at least one route. A set of routes connecting the origination and destination locations is determined. A query is made to a database containing wireless coverage data based on the origination and destination locations, and the set of routes. A response to the query contains wireless coverage information along the set of routes. A reply is transmitted to the user responding to the user request where the reply contains the wireless coverage information.

Providing information on wireless service coverage along routes being considered for a journey

An illustrative method provides information to a user on wireless communication coverage. A wireless availability server receives a user request for coverage information where the request includes specific geographic location data provided by the user. A determination is made if the location data is in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates. Upon a determination that the location data is not in the form of latitude and longitude coordinates, the location data is converted into corresponding latitude and longitude coordinates. A query is made to a database containing wireless coverage data based on the latitude and longitude coordinates. A response to the query contains wireless coverage information for the latitude and longitude coordinates. A reply is transmitted to the user responding to the user request where the reply contains the wireless coverage information.

Location specific information on wireless service coverage

Personalized location enabled indicators, such as ring backs or ring tones are described. Such capability can be provided by wireless service providers to offer their customers a host of unique location based ring tones and ring backs of both an audio and video nature. By way of example, a first calling party may be provided with a video ring back indicative of location, such as a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge when a second called party is in San Francisco, or a ring tone may indicate a called party is at work and busy, at home and not busy, or the like, with different ring tones for different classes of callers, such as coworkers, family, friends or specified individuals.

Methods and apparatus for providing location enabled ring tones or ring backs

Embodiments of the location based vehicle traffic signal alert system, according to the present method and apparatus, may alert drivers as to when vehicles are approaching the traffic signal lights while the signal is yellow or red. In addition, it may also warn drivers when the signal ahead is about to change colors, for example, from green to yellow or from yellow to red. In an alternative embodiment the signal alert system may also send a signal to the engine/brake system of the automobile to perform automatic throttle control or braking when the driver fails to attempt a required stop at the traffic light.

Location based vehicle traffic signal alert system

A vehicle speeding alert system is implemented on a GPS enabled wireless device in communication with a wireless network. The alert system periodically determines the speed of a vehicle by determining the speed of the wireless device carried therein, using GPS signals received by the wireless device. For example, speed can be calculated by dividing a certain distance that the wireless device travels by the time it takes to travel that distance. The vehicle's speed is then compared to the speed limit of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling. The speed limit is determined by comparing the wireless device's location to map data relating to the geographic area around the location. The map data may be stored on the wireless device, or obtained from a map database accessible over the network. If the vehicle speed is above the speed limit, a notification or alert is issued.

Growing community of inventors

Cary, NC, United States of America

Shengqiang Wang