Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (publ)

Tobias Austrell

Timo Forsman

Jan Anders Tellinger

Annika Jonsson

Emiliano Merino Vazquez

Anders Baer

Nuria Esteban Vares

Berta Isabel Escribano Bullon

Maria-Carmen Belinchón Vergara

Juan Manuel Fernandez Galmes

David Khan

Marlene Yared

Francisca Bejarano Garcia

Mattias Dahlqvist

Maria Carmen Belinchón Vergara

Annika Gerd Helena Jonsson

Maria-Carmen Belinchõn Vergara

Bernardo Perez De Villar Caamaño

David Heras Cano

Nuria Esteban VARÉS

Berta Isabel Escribano BULLÓN

System, methods, entities, and computer program for handling timers in a communication network are described. The communication network comprises a plurality of entities (-). The method in a first entity () comprises determining () whether a supervision condition for supervising a communication procedure is fulfilled. The method further comprises adding (), based on a result of the step of determining the supervision condition (), a timer validity information to a signaling message related to the communication procedure, and sending () the signaling message to a second entity (). The method in a second entity (-) comprises receiving () a signaling message associated with a communication procedure, the signaling message containing a timer validity information. The method further comprises determining () whether a further processing condition for performing further steps of the communication procedure is fulfilled, the further processing condition being associated with the timer validity information. The system, entities (-) and computer program associated with these methods are also described. Therefore an improved handling of time supervisions in a communication network is achieved in terms of accuracy of supervision timeout, and eliminating a triggering of unwanted remote actions after local timeout.

Handling of timers

There is provided a method of processing an IMS session originated by a UE after restart of a S-CSCF that was previously assigned to a user of the UE during registration with the IMS, when a further S-CSCF is currently assigned to the user. The method comprises, at a HSS, receiving a request to register a user identity of the user from the previously assigned S-CSCF, determining that the previously assigned S-CSCF is not the same as a S-CSCF currently assigned to the user, determining if IMS restoration procedures are supported for the UE, and, if IMS restoration procedures are not supported for the UE, sending a response to the previously assigned S-CSCF, the response identifying the further S-CSCF currently assigned to the user.

Methods and apparatus for processing an IMS session

A Serving Call Session Control Function, S-CSCF, within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, core network. Notifications are sent to a Home Subscriber Server, HSS, of the IMS core network, indicating IMS registration state changes of users. Delivery failure of a notification of an IMS registration state change sent to a HSS and relating to a given user is detected. An association between an identifier of the given user and an indication of said delivery failure is stored in order to indicate a loss of IMS registration state synchronization for the given user between the S-CSCF and the HSS. An event requiring an IMS registration state change for the user is detected. A determination is made that a delivery failure indication associated with the user's identifier is stored. The HSS is notified indicating the required IMS registration state change and of a previous loss of the IMS registration state synchronization.

Methods and apparatus for resolving data inconsistencies in an IMS network

A method of handling traffic within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network. The method comprises registering an IMS user with a first Serving Call Session Control Function, S-CSCF, of the IMS network. Subsequently, at the first S-CSCF, a decision is made or instruction received to transfer said user to an alternative, second S-CSCF within the IMS network. A notification is sent from said first S-CSCF to a further IMS node, the notification including an explicit instruction to select a second S-CSCF and, upon receipt of said notification at the further IMS node, an S-CSCF reselection initiated for the user in order to select a second S-CSCF.

Traffic control within an IP multimedia subsystem

Embodiments of the present invention provide a network entity of an IMS network, in which a registered user is being served by an assigned Serving-Call Session Control Function, S-CSCF. The network entity includes a memory storing data that includes an identity of at least one better-matching S-CSCF in the IMS network having capabilities better suited for serving the registered user than the assigned S-CSCF. The network entity is configured to obtain an indication of the availability of the better-matching S-CSCF, and when the better-matching S-CSCF entity is available to initiate a transfer so that the registered user is served by the better-matching S-CSCF. The network entity may be the assigned S-CSCF, or may be an I-CSCF. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of transferring a registered user to a better-matching S-CSCF.

Optimized user re-distribution over S-CSCF entities

One aspect provides a method of storing charging data in an IMS network. A message is received at a network entity. A charging priority value of the message relating to charging data associated with the message id identified. The charging priority value is included in a charging request message and the charging request message is forwarded to a charging control system. Other aspects provide IMS network entities configured to implement the method.

Prioritisation of charging in an IMS network

A method of handling IP Multimedia Public Identity registration within an IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises receiving at a Call Session Control Function a SIP REGISTER message including a completed IP Multimedia Public Identity Attribute-Value-Pair and no IP Multimedia Private Identity. The method further comprises deriving at the Call Session Control Function an IP Multimedia Private Identity using the IP Multimedia Public Identity and sending a Cx query from the Call Session Control Function to a Home Subscriber Server, the query including the IP Multimedia Public Identity and the derived IP Multimedia Private Identity. The Home Subscriber Server identifies a subsubscription using the IP Multimedia Public Identity, and determines that the derived IP Multimedia Private Identity is not associated with said subscription. The HSS the identifies a default IP Multimedia Private Identity associated with subscription associated with said subscription, and returns a Cx response to said Call Session Control Function including said default IP Multimedia Private Identity. The Call Session Control Function uses the received, default IP Multimedia Private Identity to further handle said SIP message.

IP multimedia subsystem user identity handling

A method and apparatus for providing location information to a CSCF in an IMS network. An S-CSCF registers a first contact associated with an IMPU, and receives location information associated with the first contact. A second contact associated with the same IMPU, and also with a mobile access, is then registered at the S-CSCF. The S-CSCF receives location information associated with the second contact.

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Älvsjö, Sweden

Tobias Austrell