Abstract: System, methods, entities, and computer program for handling timers in a communication network are described. The communication network comprises a plurality of entities (100-108). The method in a first entity (100) comprises determining (301) whether a supervision condition for supervising a communication procedure is fulfilled. The method further comprises adding (308), based on a result of the step of determining the supervision condition (301), a timer validity information to a signaling message related to the communication procedure, and sending (308) the signaling message to a second entity (102). The method in a second entity (102-108) comprises receiving (400) a signaling message associated with a communication procedure, the signaling message containing a timer validity information.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: System, methods, entities, and computer program for handling timers in a communication network are described. The communication network comprises a plurality of entities (100-108). The method in a first entity (100) comprises determining (301) whether a supervision condition for supervising a communication procedure is fulfilled. The method further comprises adding (308), based on a result of the step of determining the supervision condition (301), a timer validity information to a signaling message related to the communication procedure, and sending (308) the signaling message to a second entity (102). The method in a second entity (102-108) comprises receiving (400) a signaling message associated with a communication procedure, the signaling message containing a timer validity information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the traffic handled by an application server while the application server is in the process of restarting is disclosed. An application server has a plurality of internal processing units. When the application server is restarted, it signals a forwarding node to cease forwarding traffic to the internal processing units. When all of the nodes are ready, or at the expiration of a predetermined time interval, the application server signals the forwarding node to resume forwarding traffic to the internal processing units.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the traffic handled by an application server while the application server is in the process of restarting is disclosed. An application server has a plurality of internal processing units. When the application server is restarted, it signals a forwarding node to cease forwarding traffic to the internal processing units. When all of the nodes are ready, or at the expiration of a predetermined time interval, the application server signals the forwarding node to resume forwarding traffic to the internal processing units.