Abstract: The present invention faces the issues of registering more than one IMPI and more than one contact address within a single registration procedure in an IMS network. Thus, the present invention provides for a method and a HSS to allow the implicit registration of more than one IMPI, or the implicit registration of more than one contact address, or both, upon explicit registration of a subscriber with a given IMPI/IMPU pair and a given contact address. In particular, the invention provides for a method including the steps of configuring subscriber data for the subscriber at the HSS with at least one implicit registration set selected from: a set of IMPI's associated with a given IMPI or with a given IMPU, and a set of contact addresses per IMPI basis; downloading from the HSS towards the S-CSCF the implicit registration set; and building up a corresponding data model therein.

Abstract: The present invention faces the issue of exercising a parental control over children's activities in the IMS network, in terms of registering into the IMS network as well as in terms of call establishment, and provides for a new IMS subscription model supporting a hierarchy of IMPI's, so-called ‘primary’ IMPI's and so-called ‘secondary’ IMPI's, whereby only the primary IMPI's are allowed to register themselves, whereas the secondary IMPI's can only register themselves after having been previously registered by a primary IMPI. To this end, the present invention provides for a new method and an enhanced HSS to allow the implicit registration of one or more ‘secondary’ IMPI's upon the explicit registration of an IMS subscriber with a given IMPI/IMPU pair, wherein the given IMPI is a ‘primary’ IMPI and the given IMPU is associated with a registration set of IMPI's which includes said one or more ‘secondary’ IMPI's.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A single IMPI is determined, allowing the progress of a terminating call that addresses a given IMPU shared by more than one IMPI of an IMS subscription. A number of policies are applied per IMPI basis on how to progress the terminating call. A HSS is provided where the policies are configured and, a method is disclosed including IMPU with a number of policies. Additionally, the method may also include a step of configuring at the HSS the more than one IMPI with a priority indication usable to set the order in which the more than one IMPI are checked to determine at least one for which the policies allow to progress the terminating call.

Abstract: A generic method is described for storing data in the HSS (2) by the S-CSCF (1) of an IMS. When a SIP message containing new information relating to an IMPI/IMPU pair is received by the S-CSCF (1), a data package is created for storage at the HSS (2), containing the new information. An SAR command is sent to the HSS (2) containing an AVP including an instruction to the HSS (2) and the new data package. In one aspect a unique data package is controlled by the S-CSCF (1). When new information relating to the IMPI/IMPU is received in a SIP message, this is added to any previously sent data package to create a new data package. In another aspect the HSS (2) controls a unique data package, returning the data package to the S-CSCF (1) to be amended if necessary. In another aspect separate data packages are used.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide means and methods for recovery of the IMS where an S-CSCF has suffered a restart after a failure, software upgrade or other reasons. To this end, the present invention provides for a first method to be applied in a HSS holding subscriber data for subscribers of the IMS and a second method to be applied in a S-CSCF selected for serving a given subscriber, upon restart of a S-CSCF assigned for serving a given subscriber. Both first and second methods cooperating to submit from the S-CSCF towards the HSS contact data required by the S-CSCF to contact the given subscriber, or to contact a proxy server where the subscriber is accessible through; storing the contact data at the HSS; and providing from the HSS towards an IMS entity, which may be the previously assigned S-CSCF or a new S-CSCF, contact information elements selectable from the contact data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use by an Interrogating Call/Session Control Function (I-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In the method, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message is received by the I-CSCF, which the I-CSCF attempts to forward to a Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) of the IMS assigned to provide services to a user. If the attempt is determined to have failed, the I-CSCF sends a message to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the IMS to request capabilities information for selecting a S-CSCF, the request message also providing first information relating to the status of the assigned S-CSCF. On receipt of the capabilities information at the I-CSCF from the HSS, the I-CSCF selects a replacement S-CSCF to provide services to the user. Related methods are also disclosed for use by the HSS and S-CSCF.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide means and methods for recovery of an IP Multimedia Subsystem ‘IMS’ where a Home Subscriber Server ‘HSS’ holding subscriber data for subscribers of the IMS has suffered a restart. A first method of recovery is applied after detecting a HSS restart, and as receiving a registration from a given subscriber or an invitation to communicate with a given subscriber from another subscriber. A second method of recovery is applied after detecting a HSS restart, and as receiving a request from a given subscriber at a S-CSCF previously assigned for serving the given subscriber in the IMS.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use by an Interrogating Call/Session Control Function (I-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The method comprises, in response to receipt of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message, requesting capabilities information relating to a user from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the IMS. On receipt of the capabilities information from the HSS, a primary and a secondary Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) of the IMS are selected to provide services to the user. In one embodiment, the I-CSCF attempts to forward the SIP message to the primary S-CSCF with information relating to the secondary S-CSCF, such that the information can be provided subsequently to the HSS. If the attempt is determined to have failed, the SIP message can be forwarded to the secondary S-CSCF instead. Methods are also disclosed for use by the S-CSCF and the HSS.

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 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.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to carry out an effective handover between a first and a second serving call control servers in order to fit suitable server capabilities for servicing a user, as well as to provide a mechanism whereby a subscriber server may upgrade the selection criteria for assigning the second serving call control server. Therefore, the present invention provides a new method and enhanced servers for re-assigning the second serving call control server, whereby the still ongoing sessions for the user in the first serving call control server are kept alive, and where a serving call control server is arranged to report towards the subscriber server what portions of a user profile are not understood or not supported at said serving call control server.