Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient way of resolving telephone numbers and other entity/device identifiers into Internet addresses as well as accommodating portability of those telephone numbers and other entity/device identifiers without having to substantially modify or rework the domain naming system (DNS) infrastructure or established number portability schemes. Self-contained, additional functionality is implemented on a DNS server which allows smooth IP address resolution of telephone numbers or other entity/device identifiers by taking advantage of existing portability databases without impacting the existing networks that create and maintain such portability databases.

Abstract: An efficient interface for service exchange is provided between a circuit-switched communications network and a domain naming system (DNS) in a packet-switched communications network. A node in the circuit-switched communications network receives from a first entity a request for a first service involving a second entity associated with a second entity identifier. A message is sent from the circuit-switched network node to a DNS server in the packet-switched network requesting a second service related to the second entity identifier. The result of the second service from the DNS server is used in providing the first service.

Abstract: In a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a system and method of dynamically allocating an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a mobile terminal (MT) operating in the network. A Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) requests IP addresses over the Gi interface from a Radius server in an IP-based network. A Conditional PDP Address (CPA) parameter is stored in the MT's Home Location Register (HLR) as part of the user subscriber data, and is passed to the GGSN during the GPRS Attach procedure. The CPA parameter indicates whether the subscriber is entitled to a backup IP address in case of failure to obtain one over the Gi interface, and whether the MT is a user of a real-time application. A timer in the GGSN sets a maximum time period (Ti) that the GGSN will wait for a response from the server, and a counter (Ni) sets the maximum number of requests that are sent.

Abstract: An efficient interface for service exchange is provided between a circuit-switched communications network and a domain naming system (DNS) in a packet-switched communications network. A node in the circuit-switched communications network receives from a first entity a request for a first service involving a second entity associated with a second entity identifier. A message is sent from the circuit-switched network node to a DNS server in the packet-switched network requesting a second service related to the second entity identifier. The result of the second service from the DNS server is used in providing the first service.

Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient way of resolving telephone numbers and other entity/device identifiers into Internet addresses as well as accommodating portability of those telephone numbers and other entity/device identifiers without having to substantially modify or rework the domain naming system (DNS) infrastructure or established number portability schemes. Self-contained, additional functionality is implemented on a DNS server which allows smooth IP address resolution of telephone numbers or other entity/device identifiers by taking advantage of existing portability databases without impacting the existing networks that create and maintain such portability databases.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a prepaid subscriber service to a mobile subscriber in an integrated wireless telecommunications network having a circuit-switched portion and a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) packet-switched portion. A prepaid subscriber class (PPSC) is stored in a home location register (HLR), and the PPSC is sent from the HLR to a serving mobile switching center (MSC) when the subscriber registers in the circuit-switched portion of the network. The PPSC is sent from the HLR to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) when the subscriber registers in the packet-switched portion of the network. Also, the PPSC may be sent from the SGSN to a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) in order to indicate that the subscriber is a prepaid subscriber. When the mobile subscriber begins a packet-switched data session, the SGSN, GGSN, or both periodically send partial call data records (CDRs) to a prepaid center (PPC).

Abstract: Packet data are efficiently communicated from a packet data network to a mobile subscriber by way of a mobile communications network. When the mobile communications network receives a message from the packet data network intended for the mobile subscriber, an available mobile communications network packet address is dynamically assigned from a pool of packet addresses to the mobile subscriber. Thereafter, packets included in the data message are routed to the mobile subscriber using that dynamically-allocated address. When the address is no longer needed, it is returned to the pool. Each packet address in the pool includes a corresponding indication that designates whether that address is allocated or available for allocation. A correspondence is established between a name associated with the mobile subscriber (e.g., an Internet domain name), and a mobile subscriber identifier (e.g., an IMSI). A dynamically-assigned packet address is associated with the corresponding mobile subscriber name and identifier.

Abstract: In a method of routing a short message with high or low priority from a service center to a mobile station in a public land mobile network providing both packet data service and circuit switched service, a choice is made, in advance, as to whether the short message should be received by the mobile station either via a specific one of the services or via any of the services. Based upon this choice in step, the priority of the short message sent from the service center, and an indication of whether the mobile station is reachable via one, both or none of the services, a route via one of the services, a route via both services or no route at all is selected. If a route via one of the services is selected, the short message is routed in accordance with the selected route. If a route via both services is selected, the route via the service having a higher preference than the other service is selected, and the short message is routed in accordance with the route via said service having the higher preference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solution for prepaid access to an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and particularly a third generation (3G) network. A user has a prepaid account configured in his terminal and in a Prepaid Server (PPS). When the user wants to access the network, an access server requests that the PPS authenticates the terminal and, if accepted, responds with a message informing the access server of how much the terminal can utilise network resources before a re-authentication is necessary. When this limit is met, the access server re-requests authentication until the user disconnects or the account is exhausted, in which case the user is denied further access.

Abstract: In a method of routing a short message with high or low priority from a service centre to a mobile station in a public land mobile network providing both packet data service and circuit switched service, a choice is made, in advance, as to whether the short meassage should be received by the mobile station either via a specific one of the services or via any of the services. Based upon said choice in step, the priority of the short message sent from the service centre, and an indication of whether the mobile station is reachable via one, both or none of the services, a route via one of the services, a route via both services or no route at all is selected. If a route via one of the services is selected, the short message is routed in accordance with the selected route. If a route via both services is selected, the route via the service having a higher preference than the other service is selected, and the short message is routed in accordance with the route via said service having the higher preference.

Abstract: The address of a latest Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) is provided to a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) by a special Update SGSN Address Request message which is sent from the SGSN to the GGSN. For a subscriber whose subscription permits, the address of the latest SGSN node is sent in the Update SGSN Address Request message for a qualified packet data protocol (PDP) context. A qualified PDP context (1) has a static PDP address; and (2) is not activated. The Update SGSN Address Request message can be sent from the SGSN to the GGSN in either a GPRS Attach scenario or an Inter-SGSN Routing Area Update Scenario. In response to the Update SGSN Address Request message, the GGSN sends an Update SGSN Address Response message which advises whether the updating of the address for the SGSN at the GGSN has been successful.