Abstract: The invention relates to method of executing a service in a Media Gateway Control Function for establishing a call between a calling party's terminal served by a Mobile Switching Centre, and an IP Multimedia Subsystem Service. The Media Gateway Control Function is arranged to query a Service Control Point on which an overlay process is loaded. The correct SCP is identified by the MGCF using a correlation identifier originally published by the SCP itself after having received an IN service trigger from an MSC or GMSC. The MGCF will receive call related data from the SCP, such as the original dialled number. This data is used by the MGCF to populate information elements in a SIP Invite message. The invention gives a solution for providing GSM specific information, e.g. dialled number, location information, to an IMS service. This information may not be available to the IMS service through present methods.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for indicating the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services to which a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message relates. One or more communication service identifiers are added to the SIP message as a Feature Tag.

Abstract: Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database, and communications network. The control entity advantageously has or has access to memory for storing information, and typically includes an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network, a processor unit for processing the request, and an output device for sending messages. The processor unit is arranged to determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier (CSI) the CSI identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network. And if the request does not comprise a valid Communication Service Identifier, to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing location information for subscribers connected to a packet-switched mobile access network in connection with emergency calls made over a multimedia service network. An emergency request is received at the multimedia service network from a subscriber containing the calling number of the subscriber. In response thereto, a media gateway control function in the multimedia service network sends a location query including the calling number to a mobile positioning center in the mobile access network, which then can retrieve location information for the subscriber. After receiving location information from the mobile positioning center, the media gateway control function selects an emergency center and sends a location indication for the subscriber thereto in a circuit-switched control message for initiating an emergency call, according to prevailing standards.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a solution for providing IMS services and in particular mid-call services to users having circuit-switched controlled terminals and being not adapted to provide IMS services to the users. In particular, it is proposed to introduce a new node type called Mobile Access Gateway Control Function (MAGCF). This new node combines the logical functionality of a cellular switching center and the logical functionality of packet-based logic. The invention discusses a concept of the MAGCF handling mid-calls, which comprises identification of the received mid-call request, generating in accordance to the identified mid-call a corresponding message, tracking the status of the performed mid-calls.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of executing a service in a Media Gateway Control Function (12) for establishing a call between a calling party's terminal (8) served by a Mobile Switching Center (2), and an IP Multimedia Subsystem Service (20). The Media Gateway Control Function (12) is arranged to query a Service Control Point (10) on which an overlay process is loaded. The correct SCP (10) is identified by the MGCF (12) using a correlation identifier originally published by the SCP itself after having received an IN service trigger from an MSC or GMSC. The MGCF will receive call related data from the SCP, such as the original dialled number. This data is used by the MGCF to populate information elements in a SIP Invite message. The invention gives a solution for providing GSM specific information, e.g. dialled number, location information, to an IMS service. This information may not be available to the IMS service through present methods.

Abstract: A Home Subscriber Server for handling IP Multimedia Subsystem subscriptions comprises means for maintaining associations between public user identities and Service Profiles, where two or more public user identities can be associated with a common Service Profile, and means for identifying to a network node all public user identities that are associated with a common Service Profile.

Abstract: Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network The invention relates to a control entity for setting up a session in a communications network, comprising an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network, a processor unit for processing the request, and an output device for sending messages. The control entity further comprising or having access to a memory for storing information. The processor unit is arranged to determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier, CSI, the Communication Service Identifier identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network. And if the request does not comprise a valid Communication Service Identifier to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A Home Subscriber Server for handling IP Multimedia Subsystem subscriptions comprises means for maintaining associations between public user identities and Service Profiles, where two or more public user identities can be associated with a common Service Profile, and means for identifying to a network node all public user identities that are associated with a common Service Profile.

Abstract: A method of reserving credit for a mobile subscriber in respect of an IP multimedia service. The method comprises, following initial registration of the subscriber to the IP Multimedia service but prior to invocation of an IP Multimedia service, using the early session establishment procedure to reserve a credit amount at a charging control node and to notify an IP Multimedia Serving Element of the credit reservation, whereupon, at invocation of said IP multimedia service, the IP Multimedia Serving Element is able to proceed immediately with the session establishment.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer program for storing by a database server a plurality of data entries containing data related to a plurality of applications. The database server receives a request to modify the content of a data entry and checks a validation rule related to the entry before performing the modification. The validation rule contains information usable for determining valid data contents that can be stored in said entry, and information for building the validation rule is received from one or more application servers serving said applications. When a back end database server system stores data related to a plurality of applications, data validation check mechanisms are simplified, as information for performing validity checks are received from the application servers in the database system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a communication established between terminals through COMM EST 310 a telecommunications system. When a malfunction event related to a communication (310) established between terminals is detected (320), a determination (330) is made in the telecommunications system of a faulty terminal and a non-faulty terminal, according to the malfunction event. Subsequently, the telecommunications systems determines (340) whether a terminal is registered for a user identifier which was registered through the faulty terminal, or which is related to it by subscription and, in that case, it establishes (350) a new communication between said registered terminal and the non-faulty terminal. The user of the non-faulty terminal can rely on the telecommunications system to recover automatically the lost communication, without trying to attempt a new communication request with an uncertain result.

Abstract: A method and communications network node for allocating a priority level to an Internet Protocol (IP) packet containing all or part of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message. One or more characteristics of the SIP message are determined, and the characteristics are mapped to a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value. The DSCP value is then applied to the IP packet header.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide means and methods for recovery of the IMS where an S-CSCF has suffered a restart after a failure, software upgrade or other reasons. To this end, the present invention provides for a first method to be applied in a HSS holding subscriber data for subscribers of the IMS and a second method to be applied in a S-CSCF selected for serving a given subscriber, upon restart of a S-CSCF assigned for serving a given subscriber. Both first and second methods cooperating to submit from the S-CSCF towards the HSS contact data required by the S-CSCF to contact the given subscriber, or to contact a proxy server where the subscriber is accessible through; storing the contact data at the HSS; and providing from the HSS towards an IMS entity, which may be the previously assigned S-CSCF or a new S-CSCF, contact information elements selectable from the contact data.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use by an Interrogating Call/Session Control Function (I-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In the method, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message is received by the I-CSCF, which the I-CSCF attempts to forward to a Serving Call/Session Control Function (S-CSCF) of the IMS assigned to provide services to a user. If the attempt is determined to have failed, the I-CSCF sends a message to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the IMS to request capabilities information for selecting a S-CSCF, the request message also providing first information relating to the status of the assigned S-CSCF. On receipt of the capabilities information at the I-CSCF from the HSS, the I-CSCF selects a replacement S-CSCF to provide services to the user. Related methods are also disclosed for use by the HSS and S-CSCF.

Abstract: A flexible technique for registering in an IMS domain (100) of a telecommunications network a non-IMS user device (110) of a user is proposed, wherein a registration control node (104) receives a notification of an event related to a network registration of a second user device (108) of the user in the network and the registration control node initiates, based on the notification, a transaction related to an IMS registration of the non-IMS user device in the IMS domain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing access domain selection for a user device accessing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. A Call Session Control Function (CSCF) in the IMS network stores an access domain indicator associated with a user s contact address. The access domain indicator is associated with the user s contact address when the user registers with the IMS network. The CSCF sends the access domain indicator to an Access Domain Selection (ADS) function in the IMS network, the access domain indicator to be used by the ADS function in selecting an access domain. This allows the ADS function to select the correct access domain to use when sending messages to the user device.

Abstract: Control entity and method for setting up a session in a communications network, subscriber database and communications network The invention relates to a control entity for setting up a session in a communications network, comprising an input device for receiving a request to set up a session in the communications network, a processor unit for processing the request, and an output device for sending messages. The control entity further comprising or having access to a memory for storing information. The processor unit is arranged to determine if the request comprises a valid Communication Service Identifier, CSI, the Communication Service Identifier identifying the type of communication service of the session that is to be established over the communications network. And if the request does not comprise a valid Communication Service Identifier to execute a default CSI procedure using default CSI information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A method of distributing application server addresses in an IP Multimedia Subsystem. Upon allocation of an application server to a subscriber, the allocated or another application server sends at least one application server address to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The HSS stores the address(es) in association with the subscriber identity and sends the address(es) to a Serving Call/Session State Control Function (S-CSCF) allocated to the subscriber. The S-CSCF caches the address(es) in association with the subscriber identity and uses the address(es) to send subscriber-related messages to the allocated application server.

Abstract: The invention relates to method of executing a service in a Media Gateway Control Function (12) for establishing a call between a calling party's terminal (8) served by a Mobile Switching Centre (2), and an IP Multimedia Subsystem Service (20). The Media Gateway Control Function (12) is arranged to query a Service Control Point (10) on which an overlay process is loaded. The correct SCP (10) is identified by the MGCF (12) using a correlation identifier originally published by the SCP itself after having received an IN service trigger from an MSC or GMSC. The MGCF will receive call related data from the SCP, such as the original dialled number. This data is used by the MGCF to populate information elements in a SIP Invite message. The invention gives a solution for providing GSM specific information, e.g. dialled number, location information, to an IMS service. This information may not be available to the IMS service through present methods.