Abstract: A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) device of a network having a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) device. The PCEF device includes a processing unit that detects a tunneled packet and the packet's Internet Protocol version type and determines whether activation of PCC rules in accordance with the IP version type of the tunneled packet is required from the PCRF device. The PCEF device includes a network interface unit in communication with the processing unit and the network that requests from the PCRF device required activation of PCC rules and identifies the IP version type of the tunneled packet to the PCRF device with the request and receives from the PCRF device the PCC rules activation. The processing unit enforces the PCC rules on the tunneled packet. Methods of handling and enforcing rules at a PCEF device of a network and at a PCRF device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of initiating the provisioning of subscriber data in at least a Home Subscriber Server of an IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises receiving an authentication request or Session Initiation Protocol message in respect of a given subscriber who is making use of a user terminal to access the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. If it is determined that subscriber data is not currently provisioned for the subscriber in a Home Subscriber Server function or receiving such a determination, the following steps are performed: 1) causing a first notification to be sent to the user terminal indicating that the registration attempt is rejected, and 2) sending a second notification to a subscriber provisioning system informing the provisioning system of the registration attempt.

Abstract: A method for operating a communication network includes at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2) in which a user equipment (12) can simultaneously be registered and, for each of the at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2), a serving entity (14-1, 14-2) in the control plane. The method including the steps of assigning (s16) a master role to one serving entity (14-2) and a slave role to the other serving entity (14-1) or entities; and when a serving entity (14-1) to which a slave role is assigned has to perform control plane signalling (s18), transmitting (s20), by the serving entity, a signalling message to the serving entity (14-2) to which the master role is assigned, so as to perform (s22) the control plane signalling Servers acting as serving entities, systems including such servers, and computer programs executable on the servers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) device of a network having a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) device. The PCEF device includes a processing unit that detects a tunneled packet and the packet's Internet Protocol version type and determines whether activation of PCC rules in accordance with the IP version type of the tunneled packet is required from the PCRF device. The PCEF device includes a network interface unit in communication with the processing unit and the network that requests from the PCRF device required activation of PCC rules and identifies the IP version type of the tunneled packet to the PCRF device with the request and receives from the PCRF device the PCC rules activation. The processing unit enforces the PCC rules on the tunneled packet. Methods of handling and enforcing rules at a PCEF device of a network and at a PCRF device are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for collecting user activity information in a telecommunications system. A first telecommunications node (120) handling signaling of the terminal of a user sends a message (516) notifying a registration event (515) of the user to a second node (130) handling registration information of said user. The message comprises an information element (ACT) indicating whether the user has been involved in a service provided during a registration period comprised between a previous registration event (501) of said user and said notified registration event. At reception of the message, the second node updates registration information (430) and activity information (440) of the user. By including service usage information in registration notification messages, the operator of the telecommunications system can obtain information about the rate of service usage in the system without requiring implementation of neither new nodes nor new messages to be exchanged by new or existing nodes.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a mechanism whereby a Public Service Identity identifying a service, which runs in an application service, may be created in a network both dynamically by the application server and statically by an O & M system, the means and method for the dynamic creation harmonizing with those for the static creation, and allowing a similar behavior of the network with minimum impact when the service is invoked. Therefore, the present invention provides a new method, a new central entity in the network, and enhanced Home Subscriber Server and application server, all co-operating to carry out the different embodiments for the invention.

Abstract: A service request (SRV) comprising a second identifier belonging to a collection of identifiers identified by a first identifier (WPSI-I) is rejected or allowed to proceed depending on whether the current usage data stored in relationship with the first identifier reaches a value established by usage limit data stored in relationship with said first identifier. Current usage data is updated according to service requests comprising a second identifier belonging to said collection and allowed to proceed. The usage limit data can state maximum number of simultaneous communications, or maximum number of second identifiers belonging to said collection, and can be dynamically updated according to traffic load conditions in an apparatus of the telecommunications system. The invention prevents overloading resources in telecommunications systems when the number of eventual users can not be foreseen.

Abstract: A method of initiating the provisioning of subscriber data in at least a Home Subscriber Server of an IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises receiving an authentication request or Session Initiation Protocol message in respect of a given subscriber who is making use of a user terminal to access the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. If it is determined that subscriber data is not currently provisioned for the subscriber in a Home Subscriber Server function or receiving such a determination, the following steps are performed: 1) causing a first notification to be sent to the user terminal indicating that the registration attempt is rejected, and 2) sending a second notification to a subscriber provisioning system informing the provisioning system of the registration attempt.

Abstract: A method of securing a mobile wireless telecommunication device to restrict access to data stored in the device. The method including registering the device with a network-based server associated with a given user. In the event that the user wishes to restrict access to data stored on the device when the user does not have access to the device, but has access to an alternative communication device, the user is authenticated, via said alternative communication device, to an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and, on the basis of such authentication, the user is allowed to access the server and send to the server an instruction to lock the mobile wireless telecommunication device.

Abstract: A service request (SRV) comprising a second identifier belonging to a collection of identifiers identified by a first identifier (WPSI-I) is rejected or allowed to proceed depending on whether the current usage data stored in relationship with the first identifier reaches a value established by usage limit data stored in relationship with said first identifier. Current usage data is updated according to service requests comprising a second identifier belonging to said collection and allowed to proceed. The usage limit data can state maximum number of simultaneous communications, or maximum number of second identifiers belonging to said collection, and can be dynamically updated according to traffic load conditions in an apparatus of the telecommunications system. The invention prevents overloading resources in telecommunications systems when the number of eventual users can not be foreseen.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for collecting user activity information in a telecommunications system. A first telecommunications node (120) handling signaling of the terminal of a user sends a message (516) notifying a registration event (515) of the user to a second node (130) handling registration information of said user. The message comprises an information element (ACT) indicating whether the user has been involved in a service provided during a registration period comprised between a previous registration event (501) of said user and said notified registration event. At reception of the message, the second node updates registration information (430) and activity information (440) of the user. By including service usage information in registration notification messages, the operator of the telecommunications system can obtain information about the rate of service usage in the system without requiring implementation of neither new nodes nor new messages to be exchanged by new or existing nodes.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a mechanism whereby a Public Service Identity identifying a service, which runs in an application service, may be created in a network both dynamically by the application server and statically by an O & M system, the means and method for the dynamic creation harmonizing with those for the static creation, and allowing a similar behaviour of the network with minimum impact when the service is invoked. Therefore, the present invention provides a new method, a new central entity in the network, and enhanced Home Subscriber Server and application server, all co-operating to carry out the different embodiments for the invention.