Method of communication between ims nodes
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
InventorsAnders Baer, Jan Dahl, David Khan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of communication between two nodes providing online charging functionalities in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), network is described, wherein a first node is configured to operate as a Charging Triggering Function (CTF) and wherein a second node is configured to operate as an Online Charging Service (OCS). The method may alleviate drawbacks stemming from low availability of the OCS.
Claims16
A method of communication between two nodes providing online charging functionalities in an IP Multimedia Subsystem(IMS) network, wherein a first node is configured to operate as a Charging Triggering Function (CTF) and wherein a second node is configured to operate as an Online Charging Service (OCS) the method comprising:
- at the CTF node, receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request relating to a SIP session from a network node;
- at the CTF node, providing a notification indicating that the OCS service is not available;
- at the CTF node, if said notification comprises an indication that CCR requests relating to said SIP session should be buffered,
- storing Credit Control Request (CCR) information that corresponds to said SIP session, and that is to be sent to the OCS, in a memory buffer;
- handling requests relating to said SIP session, on assumption that corresponding CCR requests have been granted;
- transmitting said buffered CCR information to said OCS after being notified that the OCS is available;
- and
- at the OCS node, processing said previously buffered CCR information.
A method of handling a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request at an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) node configured to operate as a Charging Triggering Function (CTF) the method comprising:
- receiving a SIP request from a network node;
- providing a notification indicating that an Online Charging Service (OCS) is not available;
- and
- if said notification comprises an indication that Credit Control Requests (CCRs) relating to said SIP session should be buffered,
- storing CCR information that corresponds to said SIP session, and that is to be sent to the OCS, in a memory buffer;
- handling SIP requests relating to said SIP session on assumption that said CCR requests have been granted;
- and
- transmitting said buffered CCR information to said OCS after being notified that the service is available.
A method of handling a Credit Control Request (CCR) request at an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network node configured to operate as an Online Charging Service (OCS) the method comprising the steps of:
- sending a notification by means of a Credit Control Answer (CCA) reply to a Charging Triggering Function (CTF) indicating that the OCS service is not available, the notification comprising an indication that CCR requests relating to said SIP session should be buffered;
- receiving previously buffered CCR information from a CTF;
- and
- processing said previously buffered CCR information.
(canceled)
(canceled)
An apparatus comprising a first node configured to operate as a Charging Triggering Function (CTF) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the apparatus comprising:
- a first receiving unit for receiving SIP requests;
- a second receiving unit for receiving CCA replies;
- a first transmission unit for sending SIP messages;
- a second transmission unit for sending CCR requests;
- a memory configured to buffer CCR information;
- and
- a processing unit configured to, if a notification is provided indicating that an OCS service is unavailable and that CCR requests relating to said SIP session should be buffered,
- generate CCR information corresponding to a received SIP request and relating to a SIP session;
- store said CCR information in said buffer;
- handle SIP requests relating to said SIP session on assumption that said CCR requests are granted;
- and
- read said CCR information from said buffer and to transmit said CCR information in at least one CCR request to said OCS service when it is available.
An apparatus comprising a second node configured to operate as an Online Charging Service (OCS) in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the apparatus comprising:
- a receiving unit for receiving CCR requests;
- a transmission unit for sending CCA replies;
- a memory;
- and
- a processing unit configured to,
- transmit by means of a Credit Control Answer (CCA) reply, a notification of unavailability to a CCR request received from a CTF, wherein the notification comprises an indication that CCR requests relating to said SIP session should be buffered;
- and
- process a CCR request relating to a SIP session, wherein the CCR request is received from a CTF node and comprises an indication that the included CCR information was buffered by said CTF node.
-13. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.