Abstract: A system and method which overcome the limitations of online charging systems which do not natively support redirection functionality. In an embodiment of the invention a SCIM provides the added redirection functionality to online charging systems which do not natively support redirection functionality. The SCIM supports redirection of a user session to a process application in a manner which allows the user to easily continue with the activity the user was engaged. If selected criteria are met the SCIM can update credit control answers (CCA) with redirection information to redirect the session to an application.

Abstract: A system and method which overcomes the limitations of the present modes of operating a SCIM by improving efficiency of information transfer in application chains while assuring that service logic is not affected. Initial filtering criteria for applications are extended to include criteria which define types of information to be processed by the application. The SCIM then determines whether each received request meet the criteria for each application. The SCIM filters out certain messages from applications to which the messages are irrelevant thereby dynamically varying the applications through which messages are passed in response to message characteristics. The system and method avoid the need to send request and response through applications to which their content is irrelevant.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that integrate pipeline processing into a SCIM are provided. Such a system can include a plurality of applications, executing on one or more application servers. Each application server operates on one or more microprocessors. The system can further include a SCIM, which is operable to manage activation of the plurality of applications in one or more application chains. Each application chain can include pipeline blocks comprising two or more back-to-back applications and the two or more applications in each pipeline block can be activated in a same order in a forward and a backwards direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method which overcome the limitations of CAMEL systems which do not natively support reauthorization functionality. The system and method provide a mediation mechanism by which an online charging systems that supports reauthorization functionality can run using the mediation mechanism over CAMEL system. The mediation mechanism provides a means for added user credits to be utilized and allows the user to continue with the activity in which the user was engaged. This is advantageous both to the user and the service provider.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that provide unified user interaction across different network interfaces are provided. A system can include a service control interaction manager (SCIM) which is operable to manage communication between one or more call parties and one or more applications. In a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, when the one or more IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) applications connect a call party to a media resource, the SCIM is configured to connect the call party to a mobile switching center (MSC) internal resource function, receive a message from the one or more IMS applications which indicates an announcement to play to the call party and/or information to be collected from the call party, mediate the message into native customized applications for mobile networks enhanced logic (CAMEL) operations for the GSM network, and play the announcement and/or collect information indicated in the message.

Abstract: A system and method which overcome capacity and latency limitations of online charging systems. In an embodiment of the invention an online mediation system includes a SCIM, a Local-OCS and an SDR Processor. The SCIM includes smart offloading functionality which can determine, based on network events and account status, whether a session should be offloaded. Where a session should be offloaded, the SCIM initializes and mediates an offloaded charging session with the Local-OCS. In an embodiment, the SCIM includes smart offloading functionality which make a determination within an offloaded session based on additional network events, the used units and the account status whether a session should continue to be offloaded. Where a session should not continue to be offloaded, the SCIM terminates the offloaded charging session with the Local-OCS and initializes and mediate a charging session with an online OCS.

Abstract: A system and method which overcomes the limitations of the present modes of operating a SCIM by improving efficiency of information transfer in application chains while assuring that service logic is not affected. Initial filtering criteria for applications are extended to include criteria which define types of information to be processed by the application. The SCIM then determines whether each received request meet the criteria for each application. The SCIM filters out certain messages from applications to which the messages are irrelevant thereby dynamically varying the applications through which messages are passed in response to message characteristics. The system and method avoid the need to send request and response through applications to which their content is irrelevant.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide unified playing of announcements across different network interfaces. A system to extend an IMS SCIM to enable application servers using MSCML to play announcements to execute on WIN (CDMA) networks include an application server, including IMS applications. The system includes a SCIM to manage communication between call parties and the applications. In a CDMA network, which an open dialogue the SCIM is configured to respond to the IMS applications that then can play the announcement, receive a second message which indicates the announcement to play from the IMS applications, buffer the announcement indicated, and respond with a message to the IMS applications as if the announcements have been played.

Abstract: A system and method which overcome capacity and latency limitations of online charging systems. In an embodiment of the invention an online mediation system includes a SCIM, a Local-OCS and an SDR Processor. The SCIM includes smart offloading functionality which can determine, based on network events and account status, whether a session should be offloaded. Where a session should be offloaded, the SCIM initializes and mediates an offloaded charging session with the Local-OCS. In an embodiment, the SCIM includes smart offloading functionality which make a determination within an offloaded session based on additional network events, the used units and the account status whether a session should continue to be offloaded. Where a session should not continue to be offloaded, the SCIM terminates the offloaded charging session with the Local-OCS and initializes and mediate a charging session with an online OCS.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that improve communication with a media server are provided. Such a system can include a plurality of applications, executing on one or more application servers. The system can also include a media server which is operable to play announcements requested by the plurality of applications to one or more parties in a call; and a SCIM. The SCIM is operable to buffer requests from the plurality of applications to play the announcements. When an application in a chain of applications requests that an announcement be played to a party, the SCIM can buffer the request, communicate with each remaining application in the chain of applications and buffer any requests to play an additional announcement to the party, open a connection to the media server, and instruct the media server to play each announcement associated with each buffered request.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method which overcome the limitations of CAMEL systems which do not natively support reauthorization functionality. The system and method provide a mediation mechanism by which an online charging systems that supports reauthorization functionality can run using the mediation mechanism over CAMEL system. The mediation mechanism provides a means for added user credits to be utilized and allows the user to continue with the activity in which the user was engaged. This is advantageous both to the user and the service provider.

Abstract: A system and method which overcome the limitations of online charging systems which do not natively support redirection functionality. In an embodiment of the invention a SCIM provides the added redirection functionality to online charging systems which do not natively support redirection functionality. The SCIM supports redirection of a user session to a process application in a manner which allows the user to easily continue with the activity the user was engaged. If selected criteria are met the SCIM can update credit control answers (CCA) with redirection information to redirect the session to an application.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that integrate threshold management into a SCIM/Service Broker are provided. Such a system can include a plurality of applications, executing on one or more application servers. The system can also include a SCIM/Service Broker which is operable to manage a threshold set by the applications. Each application can determine an application threshold, a current threshold and a met threshold. When an application receives a message from the SCIM/Service Broker, the application can determine if the met threshold exists and, if the met threshold exists, update the application threshold accordingly. The application can also determine if the application threshold has been met, and if the application threshold has been met, execute business logic associated with the application threshold and set a new application threshold. The application sends a request to SCIM/Service Broker requesting a new current threshold value be set.

Abstract: A service broker is described that performs orchestration of services to enable compilations of multiple applications for a single call or session. In particular, the service broker is extended with charging orchestration which allows the service broker to receive a single charging event and to orchestrate between activation of multiple charging services in response to the charging event.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that provide unified charging across different network interfaces are provided. A system can include an online charging system, executing on one or more microprocessors, a SCIM, which is operable to manage communication between a plurality of subscribers over a plurality of different network interfaces, and a set of interworking charging modules that use a unified charging structure to provide mappings between network protocol parameters and capabilities. The interworking charging modules can be configured to provide a same charging behavior to a plurality of different network protocols.

Abstract: A set of techniques are described for preventing the problem of voicemail tromboning. The techniques can be implemented with a service broker or other intermediate entity having a connection to a telecommunications network. The service broker can receive an incoming call from a switch in a home network of the subscriber. The service broker can then determine that a recipient device of the incoming call is roaming in a visited network. If it is determined that the subscriber is roaming, the service broker can contact a remote switch in the visited network and instruct the remote switch in the visited network to disable late call forwarding prior to relaying the incoming call message to the remote switch. The service broker can then be responsible for contacting the voicemail server in the home network of the subscriber so that the subscriber can still have access to voicemail.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that provide unified charging across different network interfaces are provided. A system can include an online charging system, executing on one or more microprocessors, a SCIM, which is operable to manage communication between a plurality of subscribers over a plurality of different network interfaces, and a set of interworking charging modules that use a unified charging structure to provide mappings between network protocol parameters and capabilities. The interworking charging modules can be configured to provide a same charging behavior to a plurality of different network protocols.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide unified playing of announcements across different network interfaces. A system to extend an IMS SCIM to enable application servers using MSCML to play announcements to execute on WIN (CDMA) networks include an application server, including IMS applications. The system includes a SCIM to manage communication between call parties and the applications. In a CDMA network, which an open dialogue the SCIM is configured to respond to the IMS applications that then can play the announcement, receive a second message which indicates the announcement to play from the IMS applications, buffer the announcement indicated, and respond with a message to the IMS applications as if the announcements have been played.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide unified user interaction across different network interfaces. A system to extend an IMS SCIM to enable application servers that use MSCML to execute on CAMEL (GSM) networks include an application server, including IMS applications using MSCML. The system includes a SCIM to manage communication between call parties and the applications. In a GSM network, when the IMS connects a call party to a media resource, the SCIM is configured to connect the call party to a MSC internal resource function, receive a message from the IMS applications which indicates an announcement to play to the call party and/or information to be collected from the call party, mediate the message into native CAMEL operations for the GSM network, and play the announcement and/or collect information indicated in the message.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that improve communication with a media server are provided. Such a system can include a plurality of applications, executing on one or more application servers. The system can also include a media server which is operable to play announcements requested by the plurality of applications to one or more parties in a call; and a SCIM. The SCIM is operable to buffer requests from the plurality of applications to play the announcements. When an application in a chain of applications requests that an announcement be played to a party, the SCIM can buffer the request, communicate with each remaining application in the chain of applications and buffer any requests to play an additional announcement to the party, open a connection to the media server, and instruct the media server to play each announcement associated with each buffered request.