Method And Apparatus For Controlling Services In An Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem

A method for controlling services in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the IMS comprising a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF), the method comprising:

• configuring, in the HSS, a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by the S-CSCF for processing of services of the user;
• transmitting the set of SP data from the HSS to the S-CSCF, and
• controlling, by the S-CSCF, processing of services of the user according to the set of SP data received from the HSS;
• wherein the configuring the SP comprises configuring new SP data used to identify, in the S-CSCF, a controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, the value of a time associated with the processing of services of the user;
• configuring, in the S-CSCF, a controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising:
• a rule value that maps to a value of the new SP data, and, in relationship with the rule value, values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, a time associated with the processing of services of the user;
• wherein the transmitting the set of SP data comprises transmitting the new SP data.

A method for controlling services in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the IMS comprising a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF), the method comprising:

• configuring, in the HSS, a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by the S-CSCF for processing of services of the user;
• transmitting the set of SP data from the HSS to the S-CSCF;
• wherein the configuring the SP comprises configuring new SP data used to identify, in the S-CSCF, a controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, a time associated to the processing of services of the user;
• wherein the transmitting the set of SP data comprises transmitting the new SP data.

A method for controlling services in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the IMS comprising a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF), the method comprising:

• receiving, by the S-CSCF and from the HSS, a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by the S-CSCF for processing of services of the user;
• wherein the received SP comprises new SP data usable to identify, in the S-CSCF, a controlling rule;
• controlling, by the S-CSCF, processing of services of the user according to the set of SP data received from the HSS;
• configuring, in the S-CSCF, the controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising:
• a rule value that maps to a value of the new SP data, and, in relationship with the rule value, values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, a time associated to the processing of services of the user.

An apparatus implementing a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the HSS is operative to:
• configure, in the HSS, a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF) for processing of services of the user;
• transmit the set of SP data from the HSS to the S-CSCF;
• wherein the configuring the SP comprises configuring new SP data used to identify, in the S-CSCF, a controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, the value of a time associated with the processing of services of the user;
• wherein the transmitting the set of SP data comprises transmitting the new SP data.

An apparatus implementing a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF) for an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the S-CSCF is operative to:
• receive, from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by the S-CSCF for processing of services of the user;
• wherein the received SP comprises new SP data usable to identify a controlling rule in the S-CSCF;
• control processing of services of the user according to the set of SP data received from the HSS;
• configure the controlling rule, the controlling rule comprising:
• a rule value that maps to a value of the new SP data, and, in relationship with the rule value, values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, a time associated to the processing of services of the user.

A system having an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the system comprising:

• a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) comprising first processing circuitry and first memory containing instructions executable by the first processing circuitry whereby the HSS is operative to:
• configure, in the HSS, a service profile (SP) in relationship with a subscription to the IMS of a user, the SP comprising a set of SP data usable by a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF) for processing of services of the user;
• transmit the set of SP data from the HSS to the S-CSCF;
• wherein the configuring the SP comprises configuring new SP data used to identify a controlling rule in the S-CSCF;
• wherein the transmitting the set of SP data comprises transmitting the new SP data;
• a Serving Call Session Control Function server (S-CSCF) comprising second processing circuitry and second memory containing instructions executable by the second processing circuitry whereby the S-CSCF is operative to:
• receive the set of SP data from the HSS, the set of SP data comprising the new SP data usable to identify the controlling rule in the S-CSCF;
• control processing of services of the user according to the set of SP data received from the HSS;
• configure the controlling rule, wherein the controlling rule comprises:
• a rule value that maps to a value of the new SP data, and, in relationship with the rule value, values for one or more timers for controlling, by the S-CSCF, a time associated to the processing of services of the user.