Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling implementation of services in a mobile telecommunications network. A user database stores one or more user subscription profiles. Each user subscription profile is associated with services implemented in one or more network domains and includes a plurality of individual Operator Determined Barring indicators, ODBs, and respective status information. A network node includes a receiver configured to receive, from the user database, a user subscription profile, a master ODB indicating barring for a plurality of the services associated with the user subscription profile and master ODB status information. An ODB status determiner is configured to determine that the master ODB is active. An ODB initiator is configured to initiate, for the plurality of services, barring for all individual ODB indicators in the user subscription profile, irrespective of the received status information for the individual ODB indicators.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling implementation of services in a mobile telecommunications network. A user database stores one or more user subscription profiles. Each user subscription profile is associated with services implemented in one or more network domains and includes a plurality of individual Operator Determined Barring indicators, ODBs, and respective status information. A network node includes a receiver configured to receive, from the user database, a user subscription profile, a master ODB indicating barring for a plurality of the services associated with the user subscription profile and master ODB status information. An ODB status determiner is configured to determine that the master ODB is active. An ODB initiator is configured to initiate, for the plurality of services, barring for all individual ODB indicators in the user subscription profile, irrespective of the received status information for the individual ODB indicators.

Abstract: Method, apparatuses and computer programs for handling data related to users of a communications system comprising: a database server storing data related to users of the system, and a plurality of service servers. The database server modifies (1103) a first data stored therein for a user according to a received request (1101), and sends a second message (1109) notifying the data modification to a first service server comprising: an identifier of the user, the first data after the modification, and an identifier of a second service server of the system that handle data related to the user. The first service server sends a third message (2105) to the second service server requesting to modify a data held therein in relationship with said user. Features of the invention help in reducing signaling in layered systems, since additional data are communicated in the second message.

Abstract: Handling core network entities of a radio core communications network comprising a first network entity and a second network entity, where the second network entity differs from the first network entity in that it is capable of processing inter-working between messages exchanged with the radio core communications network and messages exchanged with an IP multimedia subsystem. In other words, one network entity is capable of performing inter-working while the other one not. The first and/or second network entities are provided with configuration information indicating a relationship between the two network entities. Messages relating to calls established between the at least one user terminal attached to the entity non capable of inter-working and a further user terminal attached to the IP multimedia subsystem are routed according to the configuration information.

Abstract: In a method for managing a directory (10) stored on at least one server (8), the directory (10) includes entries (12) arranged in a tree structure. Each entry (12) includes at least one attribute. An alias entry (12A) includes an attribute pointing to a target entry (12T). The method includes assigning to an application (14) an owner role in relation to an alias entry (12A). An application (14) is referred to as owner of the alias entry (12A). The method further includes requesting, by an application (14), deletion of the alias entry (12A), determining if a deletion condition is satisfied, and, if so, deleting the alias entry (12A). The deletion condition includes that the application (14) is the only owner of the alias entry (12A). A controller (30) for managing a directory (10), a server (8) including a directory (10), a system, and a computer program are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention related to handling core network entities of a radio core communications network comprising a first network entity and a second network entity. The said second network entity differs from the first network entity in that it is capable of processing interworking between messages exchanged with said radio core communications network and messages exchanged with an IP multimedia subsystem. In other words, one network entity is capable of performing inter-working while the other one not. The first and/or second network entities are provided (S200) with configuration information indicating a relationship between the two network entities. The invention then foreseen routing (S300) messages relating to calls established between the at least one user terminal attached to the entity non capable of inter-working and a further user terminal attached to said IP multimedia subsystem according to said configuration information.

Abstract: A data layered architecture (DLA) system includes a front end (FE) server and a common directory (CD). The FE server includes a processing unit which defines an FE time zone (FETZ) based on the FE server's geographical location and that defines a current date and time of the FETZ. The FE server includes a network interfacing unit which obtains from the CD through the network a subscriber default time zone (SDTZ), a subscriber service time zone (SSTZ), a service activation date (SAD) and a service activation time (SAT). The processing unit selects as service time zone (STZ) for executing the service the SSTZ, if a valid SSTZ exists, or the SDTZ, if a valid SSTZ does not exist, or the FETZ, if a valid SDTZ does not exist. Furthermore, the processing unit only executes the service after checking that the SAD and SAT of the STZ correspond to the current date and time of the FETZ.

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: The invention related to handling core network entities of a radio core communications network comprising a first network entity and a second network entity. The said second network entity differs from the first network entity in that it is capable of processing interworking between messages exchanged with said radio core communications network and messages exchanged with an IP multimedia subsystem. In other words, one network entity is capable of performing inter-working while the other one not. The first and/or second network entities are provided (S200) with configuration information indicating a relationship between the two network entities. The invention then foreseen routing (S300) messages relating to calls established between the at least one user terminal attached to the entity non capable of inter-working and a further user terminal attached to said IP multimedia subsystem according to said configuration information.

Abstract: There are services that can be invoked by the subscribers, or triggered by a network entity, and wherein this invocation or trigger may depend on date or time of the day, namely, time-dependent services. Regarding the execution of these time-dependent services, there might be two problems with the determination of the execution time. The first problem is caused by the nature of so called “Data Layered Architectures” where the service execution servers, referred to as “Front-Ends” and the database servers storing the subscriber data, referred to as “Common Directory” are geographically spread over different time zones. As a consequence, the “Front-End” executes the service according to its own time zone rather than at the time zone where the subscriber is currently located or at home. The second problem is cause by the subscriber when he is roaming in an area located in a different time zone than his home time zone.

Abstract: Method, apparatuses and computer programs for handling data related to users of a communications system comprising: a database server storing data related to users of the system, and a plurality of service servers. The database server modifies (1103) a first data stored therein for a user according to a received request (1101), and sends a second message (1109) notifying the data modification to a first service server comprising: an identifier of the user, the first data after the modification, and an identifier of a second service server of the system that handle data related to the user. The first service server sends a third message (2105) to the second service server requesting to modify a data held therein in relationship with said user. Features of the invention help in reducing signaling in layered systems, since additional data are communicated in the second message.

Abstract: In a method for managing a directory (10) stored on at least one server (8), the directory (10) includes entries (12) arranged in a tree structure. Each entry (12) includes at least one attribute. An alias entry (12A) includes an attribute pointing to a target entry (12T). The method includes assigning to an application (14) an owner role in relation to an alias entry (12A). An application (14) is referred to as owner of the alias entry (12A). The method further includes requesting, by an application (14), deletion of the alias entry (12A), determining if a deletion condition is satisfied, and, if so, deleting the alias entry (12A). The deletion condition includes that the application (14) is the only owner of the alias entry (12A). A controller (30) for managing a directory (10), a server (8) including a directory (10), a system, and a computer program are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide subscriber registers of a mobile network with higher performance and memory capacity whilst keeping recovery procedures, such as redundancy and restoration procedures, up to reasonable levels and measurements of network performance, signalling load and response time. The present invention provides for a new clustered architecture for subscriber registers, wherein each subscriber register comprises a number of processing blades, each processing blade handling a reduced number of subscribers, and wherein more processing blades can be added without affecting other components in the subscriber register. Failures and unavailability are expected to often occur on a processing blade basis, so that recovery procedures may be carried out for a reduced number of subscribers, thus being completed with lower signalling load and response times.

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: The present invention is aimed to provide subscriber registers of a mobile network with higher performance and memory capacity whilst keeping recovery procedures, such as redundancy and restoration procedures, up to reasonable levels and measurements of network performance, signalling load and response time. The present invention provides for a new clustered architecture for subscriber registers, wherein each subscriber register comprises a number of processing blades, each processing blade handling a reduced number of subscribers, and wherein more processing blades can be added without affecting other components in the subscriber register Failures and unavailability are expected to often occur on a processing blade basis, so that recovery procedures may be carried out for a reduced number of subscribers, thus being completed with lower signalling load and response times.