Abstract: The present invention provides methods of inter-technology handoff of a multi-mode mobile unit in a packet-switched communication system. One embodiment of the method includes establishing a call from a first application layer client in the first mobile unit using a first wireless communication link that operates according to a first wireless access technology. The method also includes sending, in response to detecting changing conditions of the first wireless communication link, a request to form a conference call including the first application layer client and inviting a second application layer client in the first mobile unit to join the conference call. The second application layer client uses a second wireless communication link that operates according to a second wireless access technology. The method further includes handing off the call from the first application layer client to the second application layer client.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: at least one access network operatively coupled to an access and data network; and a controller in the access and packet data network, the controller determining access of data flow from the access network through the access and data network. Embodiments allow access or packet data service providers to control which types of services are allowed over their respective access and packet data networks.

Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing online charging credit control in a visited network when a user is roaming. The visited network which is providing service to a roaming user includes a proxy online charging system (OCS) that communicates with a home OCS in a home network of the user. The proxy OCS transmits an online charging request message to a home OCS in a home network for the roaming user requesting charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS receives an online charging response message from the home OCS that includes the charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS then processes the charging information to perform credit control for one or more network elements in the visited network that is serving the session.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for supporting handoffs of a first mobile unit in a wireless communication system that supports multiple vocoder technologies. The method includes allocating, prior to completion of a handoff of the first mobile unit, a transcoder function to the first mobile unit. The method also includes detecting a change in a format of at least one packet received from the first mobile unit. The change indicates that the vocoder technology used by the first mobile unit to form packets has changed. The method also includes transcoding packets in response to detecting the change in the format.

Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing online charging credit control in a visited network when a user is roaming. The visited network which is providing service to a roaming user includes a proxy online charging system (OCS) that communicates with a home OCS in a home network of the user. The proxy OCS transmits an online charging request message to a home OCS in a home network for the roaming user requesting charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS receives an online charging response message from the home OCS that includes the charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS then processes the charging information to perform credit control for one or more network elements in the visited network that is serving the session.

Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing charging in LTE/EPC communication networks. In an LTE/EPC communication network, a PCRF stores charging rules for online and offline charging. To perform charging for a session, LTE network elements that are serving the session request charging rules from the PCRF. The PCRF identifies the charging rules, and assigns a unique LTE charging identifier for the session across all network elements in the LTE/EPC communication network. The LTE network elements receive the charging rules from the PCRF along with the LTE charging identifier for the session. The LTE network elements generate charging messages for the session, and insert the LTE charging identifier in the charging messages. The LTE network elements then transmit the charging messages to a charging system, such as an OCS or an OFCS. The OCS/OFCS may then correlate the charging messages for the session based on the LTE charging identifier.

Abstract: The method provides for a first network controller, operating according to a first radio technology, to form and send a relay message to a second network controller, operating according to a different, second radio technology. The relay message includes an embedded message for the second network controller. The embedded message may be a transition message requesting transition of a packet switched call for a mobile station handled by the first network controller to a call for the mobile station handled by the second network controller. The method further provides selection of another wireless element for service at a wireless unit, using a current wireless element. A wireless unit receives a message identifying at least one other wireless element, available to the wireless unit and to which a wireless element currently in communication with the wireless unit is also in communication with and the wireless unit selects another wireless element for possible future service based on the message.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: at least one access network operatively coupled to an access and data network; and a controller in the access and packet data network, the controller determining access of data flow from the access network through the access and data network. Embodiments allow access or packet data service providers to control which types of services are allowed over their respective access and packet data networks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of handing off a mobile unit that supports multiple quality-of-service (QoS) application layer clients that operate according to multiple wireless access technologies in a packet-switched communication system. The method includes receiving information indicating a request to hand off the mobile unit from a first access network that operates according to a first wireless access technology to a second access network that operates according to a second wireless access technology. The mobile unit established a first session according to the first wireless access technology at a first QoS level. The method also includes establishing, concurrently with the first session and in response to receiving the handoff request, a second session according to the second wireless access technology at the first QoS level. The method further includes communicating with the mobile unit at the first QoS level using the first and second sessions.

Abstract: A method of supporting access to a selected Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia application via an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is provided for a roaming mobile node (MN)—i.e., user equipment (UE)served by a wireless telecommunications system. The method includes: includes establishing a first IP tunnel between the UE and a local access gateway of a visited network, the first tunnel being anchored at the local access gateway; establishing a second IP tunnel between the UE and a home gateway of a home network, the second tunnel being anchored at the home gateway; receiving data packets at the local access gateway for the UE; filtering the packets received at the local access gateway to suitably classify corresponding traffic into one of a plurality of data flows supported within the first tunnel at varying Quality of Service (QoS) levels; and filtering the received packets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting bearer loss in an IP-based multimedia session. A multimedia session is initiated by an access terminal. A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) communicates the Session setup information and the bearer characteristics to a Signaling Gateway (SGW). The SGW uses this information to adjust the dormancy timers on the originating side so that the originating access link remains active during the call setup.

Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing charging in LTE/EPC communication networks. In an LTE/EPC communication network, a PCRF stores charging rules for online and offline charging. To perform charging for a session, LTE network elements that are serving the session request charging rules from the PCRF. The PCRF identifies the charging rules, and assigns a unique LTE charging identifier for the session across all network elements in the LTE/EPC communication network. The LTE network elements receive the charging rules from the PCRF along with the LTE charging identifier for the session. The LTE network elements generate charging messages for the session, and insert the LTE charging identifier in the charging messages. The LTE network elements then transmit the charging messages to a charging system, such as an OCS or an OFCS. The OCS/OFCS may then correlate the charging messages for the session based on the LTE charging identifier.

Abstract: Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing online charging credit control in a visited network when a user is roaming. The visited network which is providing service to a roaming user includes a proxy online charging system (OCS) that communicates with a home OCS in a home network of the user. The proxy OCS transmits an online charging request message to a home OCS in a home network for the roaming user requesting charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS receives an online charging response message from the home OCS that includes the charging information for the roaming user. The proxy OCS then processes the charging information to perform credit control for one or more network elements in the visited network that is serving the session.

Abstract: The apparatus and method are fast network SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources. The apparatus has an SIP/SDP based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call. The SIP/SDP based network controller is structured to negotiate, allocate and re-configure network resources.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for supporting handoffs of a first mobile unit in a wireless communication system that supports multiple vocoder technologies. The method includes allocating, prior to completion of a handoff of the first mobile unit, a transcoder function to the first mobile unit. The method also includes detecting a change in a format of at least one packet received from the first mobile unit. The change indicates that the vocoder technology used by the first mobile unit to form packets has changed. The method also includes transcoding packets in response to detecting the change in the format.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of handing off a mobile unit that supports multiple quality-of-service (QoS) application layer clients that operate according to multiple wireless access technologies in a packet-switched communication system. The method includes receiving information indicating a request to hand off the mobile unit from a first access network that operates according to a first wireless access technology to a second access network that operates according to a second wireless access technology. The mobile unit established a first session according to the first wireless access technology at a first QoS level. The method also includes establishing, concurrently with the first session and in response to receiving the handoff request, a second session according to the second wireless access technology at the first QoS level. The method further includes communicating with the mobile unit at the first QoS level using the first and second sessions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of best effort hand off that is implemented in a mobile unit capable of communicating with a network according to multiple wireless access technologies. The method includes performing a handoff of the mobile unit from a first wireless communication link established according to a first wireless access technology to a second wireless communication link established according to a second wireless access technology. The method also includes transmitting, over the second wireless communication link, a de-registration message requesting de-registration of the first wireless communication link in response to performing the handoff.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of inter-technology handoff of a multi-mode mobile unit in a packet-switched communication system. One embodiment of the method includes establishing a call from a first application layer client in the first mobile unit using a first wireless communication link that operates according to a first wireless access technology. The method also includes sending, in response to detecting changing conditions of the first wireless communication link, a request to form a conference call including the first application layer client and inviting a second application layer client in the first mobile unit to join the conference call. The second application layer client uses a second wireless communication link that operates according to a second wireless access technology. The method further includes handing off the call from the first application layer client to the second application layer client.

Abstract: A method of supporting access to a selected Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia application via an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is provided for a roaming mobile node (MN)—i.e., user equipment (UE) (10)—served by a wireless telecommunications system. The method includes: establishing a first IP tunnel (20) between the UE (10) and a local access gateway (30) of a visited network in which the UE (10) is roaming, the first tunnel (20) being anchored at the local access gateway (30); establishing a second IP tunnel (22?) between the UE (10) and a home gateway (40?) of a home network to which the UE (10) belongs, the second tunnel (22?) being anchored at the home gateway (40?); receiving data packets at the local access gateway (30) for the UE (10); filtering the packets received at the local access gateway (30) to suitably classify corresponding traffic into one of a plurality of data flows (20a, 20b, . . .

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: at least one access network operatively coupled to an access and data network; and a controller in the access and packet data network, the controller determining access of data flow from the access network through the access and data network. Embodiments allow access or packet data service providers to control which types of services are allowed over their respective access and packet data networks.