Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a communication connection, comprising determining a unique connection ID, storing the unique connection ID in a first communication entity and providing the unique connection ID to a second communication entity for establishing of a communication connection.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method including accepting, after storage of a registration message including first address information received from a first serving entity capable of access technology-independent service control, a de-registration request message including second address information identical to the first address information from a second serving entity capable of access technology-independent service control.

Abstract: A network node, such as a network control node like a CSCF or an application server, executing forking forward only the first successful response message arriving from a forking branch, which enables the charging function in the forking node and in nodes in the backward direction from this point to apply charges only for the “winning” branch. By including a special Reason header sent in a BYE request of “unused” successfully contacted branches, charging function in nodes in the forward direction from the forking point are allowed to suppress charges for such unused branches. This is applicable both for online and offline charging methods as defined, for example, by 3GPP.

Abstract: There are provided measures for trustworthiness decision making for access authentication, for example relating to the trustworthiness of non-3GPP access networks within a 3GPP-compliant packet data system, exemplary comprising receiving an indication about a provisional trustworthiness of an access network, which provides packet data access for a roaming user, with respect to a visited network of said user from a network element of said visited network, determining the applicability of local breakout or home routing for each subscribed access point name of said user, and deciding about a final trustworthiness of said access network based upon the received provisional trustworthiness indication and the determined routing applicability for each subscribed access point name of said user.

Abstract: An accounting function in a network between originating and terminating networks is disclosed. A transit network node is provided with an appropriate indication regarding its role in inter-operator accounting, for example if it should act as an intermediary node or not. A transit network node configured to function in an appropriate manner to function in an intermediary role in the inter-operator accounting is also disclosed. The intermediary role can be optional.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementation of split charging in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem, allowing subsystem users to negotiate at setup and at a modification of a session initiation protocol session which user will be charged for each multimedia component of the subsystem. A method includes transmitting a first message to a user equipment for initiating one of a multimedia call setup and a call modification, the first message including a split charging offer request and a first split charging ratio, and receiving a second message from the user equipment, the second message comprising a second split charging ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementation of split charging in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem, allowing subsystem users to negotiate at setup and at a modification of a session initiation protocol session which user will be charged for each multimedia component of the subsystem. A method includes transmitting a first message to a user equipment for initiating a call, the first message including a split charging offer request and a first split charging offer ratio, and receiving a second message from the user equipment, the second message comprising a second split charging offer ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a communication connection, comprising determining a unique connection ID, storing the unique connection ID in a first communication entity and providing the unique connection ID to a second communication entity for establishing of a communication connection.

Abstract: There are provided measures for trustworthiness decision making for access authentication, for example relating to the trustworthiness of non-3GPP access networks within a 3GPP-compliant packet data system, exemplary comprising receiving an indication about a provisional trustworthiness of an access network, which provides packet data access for a roaming user, with respect to a visited network of said user from a network element of said visited network, determining the applicability of local breakout or home routing for each subscribed access point name of said user, and deciding about a final trustworthiness of said access network based upon the received provisional trustworthiness indication and the determined routing applicability for each subscribed access point name of said user.

Abstract: It is disclosed a method including accepting, after storage of a registration message including first address information received from a first serving entity capable of access technology-independent service control, a de-registration request message including second address information identical to the first address information from a second serving entity capable of access technology-independent service control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementation of split charging in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem, allowing subsystem users to negotiate at setup and at a modification of a session initiation protocol session which user will be charged for each multimedia component of the subsystem. A method includes transmitting a first message to a user equipment for initiating one of a multimedia call setup and a call modification, the first message including a split charging offer request and a first split charging ratio, and receiving a second message from the user equipment, the second message comprising a second split charging ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementation of split charging in an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem, allowing subsystem users to negotiate at setup and at a modification of a session initiation protocol session which user will be charged for each multimedia component of the subsystem. A method includes transmitting a first message to a user equipment for initiating a call, the first message including a split charging offer request and a first split charging offer ratio, and receiving a second message from the user equipment, the second message comprising a second split charging offer ratio.

Abstract: An accounting function in a network between originating and terminating networks is disclosed. A transit network node is provided with an appropriate indication regarding its role in inter-operator accounting, for example if it should act as an intermediary node or not. A transit network node configured to function in an appropriate manner to function in an intermediary role in the inter-operator accounting is also disclosed. The intermediary role can be optional.

Abstract: A network node, such as a network control node like a CSCF or an application server, executing forking forward only the first successful response message arriving from a forking branch, which enables the charging function in the forking node and in nodes in the backward direction from this point to apply charges only for the “winning” branch. By including a special Reason header sent in a BYE request of “unused” successfully contacted branches, charging function in nodes in the forward direction from the forking point are allowed to suppress charges for such unused branches. This is applicable both for online and offline charging methods as defined, for example, by 3GPP.

Abstract: A method for tracing a session or call in a network environment, comprising the step of transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to another control pane network element or a user plane network element. According to a first aspect, a trace report is generated in the S-CSCF of the called party. This overcomes the lack of being able to provide detailed information about the interworking between the User Equipment (UE) and the IMS, in setting up IP multimedia sessions. According to a second aspect trace reports are generated in all the network functions involved in session setup.

Abstract: A method for tracing a session or call in a network environment, comprising the step of transmitting a trace invocation from a control plane network element to another control pane network element or a user plane network element. According to a first aspect, a trace report is generated in the S-CSCF of the called party. This overcomes the lack of being able to provide detailed information about the interworking between the User Equipment (UE) and the IMS, in setting up IP multimedia sessions. According to a second aspect trace reports are generated in all the network functions involved in session setup.