Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly includes a rack which is translatable and disposed within a rack housing. The vehicle steering assembly also includes a pinion shaft operatively coupled to the rack. The vehicle steering assembly further includes a bearing in contact with the pinion shaft and disposed within the rack housing. The vehicle steering assembly yet further includes a snap ring partially disposed within a groove defined by the rack housing, the snap ring in contact with the bearing in a first condition, the snap ring having an ear portion defining a hole, wherein the snap ring is moveable from the first condition to a second condition, the first condition pressing the bearing to hold the bearing in place, the second condition allowing the bearing to be removed from the rack housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a storage medium, a transducer including an electrode positioned along an axis and having a curved end positioned adjacent to the storage medium, a wear-resistant coating surrounding the electrode, and an actuator for providing relative movement between the storage medium and the transducer.

Abstract: IMS gateway systems and methods are disclosed for providing budget control in an IMS network. IMS networks allow for media changes (e.g., audio to audio/video) during an IMS session. An IMS gateway system described herein receives a session control message (e.g., SIP INVITE message) responsive to the media change during the session. The IMS gateway system identifies media information for the new media in the session control message. The IMS gateway system generates a corresponding charging request message, and includes media information for the new media in the charging request message. The IMS gateway system then transmits the charging request message to an online charging system (OCS) to provide for charging of the session based on the new media for the session.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide converged service control and converged charging in legacy networks and IMS networks. A converged service control system of the invention includes a protocol interface and a service controller. The protocol interface receives call messages from the legacy networks and the IMS networks, and converts the call messages to a common protocol. The service controller then processes the call messages in the common protocol to provide service control to the legacy networks and the IMS networks. The service controller is also enabled to provide online and offline charging for the legacy networks and the IMS networks.

Abstract: IMS gateway systems and methods are disclosed for providing mid-session status checking in an IMS network. An IMS gateway system described herein includes a budget control system and a status checking system. When a session has been established in the IMS network, the budget control system performs budget control for the session. Concurrently, the status checking system periodically checks the status of the session. Responsive to the status checking system determining that the session is active, the budget control system continues to perform the budget control for the session. Responsive to the status checking system determining that the session has terminated, the budget control system terminates the budget control for the session. By periodically checking the status of the session, the IMS gateway system advantageously avoids a runaway changing scenario in the IMS network.

Abstract: An interactive voice response system (102) includes a protocol interface (134) that is adapted to communicate with a plurality of divergent telecommunications networks for voice communications (104, 106, 108, 110). These networks are, for example, a wireline telecommunications network, a CDMA network, a GSM network, and a voice over IP network. A controller (136) is coupled to the protocol interface to receive a plurality of common call control messages from, and to supply a plurality of common call control messages to, the protocol interface. The protocol interface converts control messages from each one of the plurality of divergent telecommunications networks into the plurality of common call control messages for the controller. The controller generates and receives the common call control messages to cause a prompt and collect interaction with a caller that is using a device that is coupled to one of the networks.

Abstract: Converged charging systems and methods are described. A converged charging system includes an offline charging system, an online charging system, a common rating function, and a common charging gateway function. When in operation, the online charging system receives online charging information for a first call and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the first call. The online charging system then transmits a rated charging data record (CDR) for the first call to the common charging gateway function. The offline charging system receives offline charging information for a second call, and accesses the common rating function to determine a rating for the second call. The offline charging system transmits a rated CDR for the second call to the common charging gateway function. The common charging gateway function buffers the rated CDRs for both online and offline calls, and then transmits the rated CDRs to a billing system.

Abstract: IMS gateway systems and methods are disclosed for providing online charging in an IMS network. A call control system of the IMS gateway system receives a message from a CSCF for a call session. The call control system identifies an OCS routing address from the message, and identifies a corresponding OCS routing address from the subscriber database. The call control system compares the OCS routing address from the message with the OCS routing address from the subscriber database. If the two OCS routing addresses match, then the call control system validates the OCS routing address from the message and/or the subscriber database, and transmits a charging request to the appropriate OCS based on the validated OCS routing address. If the two OCS routing addresses do not match, then the call control system transmits a charging request to the appropriate OCS based on the OCS routing address from the subscriber database.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing online charging in an IMS network. An IMS gateway system receives a first message from a CSCF through a first interface for a call session, and processes the first message to determine whether to contact an OCS for online charging for the call session. If the determination is to contact the OCS, then the IMS gateway system generates a second message that comprises a charging request to transmit to the OCS. The IMS gateway system then maps fields of the first message in the first protocol to fields in the second message in a second protocol used by the OCS, and transmits the second message to the OCS through a second interface. The second message provides the OCS the proper information to perform online charging functions for the call session.

Abstract: IMS call control nodes and methods are disclosed for providing online charging in an IMS network. An IMS call control node receives a call message from a CSCF through a first interface for a call session, and determines whether to execute Application Server (AS) logic or gateway logic responsive to the call message. If the processing system determines that the call message should be processed with the AS logic, then the processing system executes the AS logic to perform a service and to contact the OCS for online charging for the service. If the processing system determines that the call message should be processed with the gateway logic, then the processing system executes the gateway logic to perform call session control and to contact the OCS for online charging for the call session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing billing request and response messages to a billing server for serving calls by a particular subscriber. When the subscriber originates a call, an original billing request message is transmitted to an agent server. The agent server determines which billing server serves that subscriber and forwards the billing message to the selected billing server. The billing server responds to the request message with billing request data. Advantageously, this arrangement minimizes the problems of updating a large number of subscriber identification/billing server identification databases.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for charging and billing of Circuit Switch, Packet Switch, and IP Multimedia Subsystems in third generation telecommunication systems. The charges for a call are computed by a rating engine, a software system comprising data tables and a program for calculating charges from the parameters of the call, such as the calling and called numbers, the length of the call, and special charge items such as priority service. For calls whose billing cannot be deferred, referred to as on-line billing calls, the rating engine is accessed immediately. For calls whose billing can be deferred, referred to as off-line billing calls, the rating engine performs its function only when the rating engine is not busy rating on-line billing calls, for example, during periods outside the busy hour. Advantageously, only a single rating engine is required, and the capacity of that single rating engine is determined only by the busy-hour volume of on-line billing calls.