Abstract: A method is provided for use in a push to talk or conferencing type service involving a terminal and a controller, comprising, in response to the controller deciding to grant a talk request received from the terminal, sending to the terminal an indication of an allowed talk time for a granted talk burst, the indication being for use at the terminal to monitor the remaining allowed talk time during the granted talk burst. There is also provided a method for use in a push to talk or conferencing type service involving a terminal and a controller, comprising, in response to the controller deciding to grant a talk request received from the terminal, monitoring the remaining allowed talk time at the controller using an allowed talk timer and starting the allowed talk timer at the controller in response to receipt of talk burst data from the terminal.

Abstract: A system, method, and Proxy Call/Session Control Function (P-CSCF) for transporting signaling connectivity status information relating to a signaling connection between a terminal and the P-CSCF in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. In one embodiment, when the P-CSCF detects that the connectivity status has changed, the P-CSCF sends a SIP request such as a REGISTER request to a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) indicating the new status. Alternatively, the registration event package of the terminal may be extended to include the connectivity status, and the P-CSCF then sends the status in a PUBLISH request. In an alternative embodiment, the P-CSCF maintains a new SIP event package. The S-CSCF subscribes to the SIP event package and the P-CSCF notifies the S-CSCF upon a change of connectivity status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering a mobile node such as a User Equipment (UE) of a UMTS telecommunications network with a subsystem of the network such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) node provides policy and charging rules, and a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) enforces the rules for traffic flows. The UE sends a registration request to the GGSN, which selects a PCRF. When a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) receives the registration request, the P-CSCF selects a candidate PCRF and validates the selection. If the candidate PCRF is the PCRF selected by the GGSN, the registration is successful. If not, the P-CSCF may select another PCRF and repeat the validation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating recovery from the failure of a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) within an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. A Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) receives a SIP request sent by a User Equipment (UE) having an identity previously registered with the IMS network and for which a given S-CSCF was allocated. The P-CSCF determines whether the given S-CSCF has failed or is otherwise unreachable. If so, the P-CSCF sends a re-registration message to the UE. Receipt of the re-registration message at the UE forces the UE to perform an IMS registration procedure with the IMS network.

Abstract: A method of initiating an IP Multimedia Sub-system communication for a user that is not registered a priori with the IP Multimedia Subsystem. The method comprises receiving a communication request from said user at a Session Initiation Protocol Application Server via an interface to an external network or receiving an internally or externally generated stimulus requiring the establishment of an IP Multimedia Subsystem communication, allocating a Serving Call/State Control Function to the user, forwarding a SIP request from the Application Server to the allocated Serving Call/State Control Function, and establishing the requested communication.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of providing an XML Document Manager Server function to an XML Document Manager Client (2-1). The XML Document Manager Server function is enabled by a database component for storing at least one XML document and a logic component for causing at least one operation to be performed on one or more of the at least one XML documents. In the method, the logic component is provided by a first network entity (60-1), with which the XML Document Manager Client (2-1) communicates directly or indirectly to receive the XML Document Manager Server function, and the database component is provided by a second network entity (70) different to the first network entity (60-1).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a floor request in a push to talk type service in which a floor is required for a first terminal to distribute media to a second terminal. The first terminal sends a floor request message to a PoC Server. The message relates to at least two different types of media content and indicates how and to what extent the granting or denial of the different media types interrelate. The message may indicate, for example, that if a first media type is denied, the others should be denied; or that the granting or denial of the first media type should not affect the other media types. The message may also indicate other conditions and relationships. The PoC Server processes the request based on the indicated interrelationships and/or conditions, and grants or denies each media type.

Abstract: A method, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) client terminal, and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) application server for synchronizing data stored at the IMS client terminal with data stored at the SIP application server. When the IMS client terminal sends a request to the SIP application server, the server determines whether the request includes information identifying the current state of the data stored at the client. If so, the server determines whether to send further data to the client based upon the information included in the request.

Abstract: A method and device for distributing media from a network based content server to two or more clients participating in a burst-based service session. The method includes, following establishment of the burst-based service session, joining the content server to the session as a further participating client, sending a media grant to the content server, and delivering the requested media from the content server to the other participating clients.

Abstract: A method of distributing application server addresses in an IP Multimedia Subsystem. Upon allocation of an application server to a subscriber, the allocated or another application server sends at least one application server address to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The HSS stores the address(es) in association with the subscriber identity and sends the address(es) to a Serving Call/Session State Control Function (S-CSCF) allocated to the subscriber. The S-CSCF caches the address(es) in association with the subscriber identity and uses the address(es) to send subscriber-related messages to the allocated application server.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and application server for dynamically allocating an application server within an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). A Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) receives a user request and queries a central database to determine whether the user is allocated to an application server. If so, the S-CSCF forwards the request to the allocated application server. If the user is not already allocated to a server, the S-CSCF allocates the user to an application server and forwards the request to the newly allocated application server. The S-CSCF or the newly allocated application server sends a request to the central database to record the allocation.

Abstract: A method, application server, and Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) for allocating a SIP Application Server to a subscriber in an IP Multimedia Subsystem. A Home Subscriber Server (HSS) identifies for the subscriber, a set of provisioned initial filter criteria, which contains at least one generic SIP Application Server identity. The HSS sends the filter criteria to an S-CSCF allocated to the subscriber. The S-CSCF resolves the generic SIP Application Server identity into a plurality of application server addresses, with one of the addresses being allocated to the subscriber for use in provisioning a service to the subscriber. The S-CSCF caches the address allocated to the subscriber for subsequent use.

Abstract: A Home Subscriber Server for handling IP Multimedia Subsystem subscriptions comprises means for maintaining associations between public user identities and Service Profiles, where two or more public user identities can be associated with a common Service Profile, and means for identifying to a network node all public user identities that are associated with a common Service Profile.