Subscriber permissions and restrictions for switched connections in a communications network
AssigneeAlcatel Canada Inc.
InventorsHenri R. Vandette, Steve Morin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communications network which enables service providers to optionally place limitations on the switched connection requests that subscribers may place through the network. This is accomplished by enabling node administrators to configure, on a per subscriber basis. throughput and other connection limits for all incoming and outgoing switched connections a subscriber may attempt to establish or receive. The limits are checked by an edge network node when the call is requested and the call is accordingly established or refused.
Claims18
A method of implementing subscriber-based controls on connections in a switched connection network, comprising:
- (a) provisioning a throughput limitation in respect of a subscriber to the network, the throughput limitation being included in a service agreement between the subscriber and a service provider;
- (b) requesting the establishment of a switched connection call involving the subscriber;
- (c) filtering the call based on the throughput limitation associated with the subscriber;
- and
- (d) establishing or refusing to establish the call based on the outcome of the filtering step.
A method of implementing subscriber-based controls on connections in a switched connection communications network, comprising:
- (a) provisioning a throughput limitation database in respect of one or more subscribers to the network, the throughput limitation database storing throughput limitations included in a service agreement between the one or more subscribers and a service provider;
- (b) signaling a call set-up message in order to establish a switched connection associated with a given subscriber;
- (c) receiving the call set-up message at an edge network node associated with customer premise equipment of the given subscriber and comparing at least one throughput request provided by the call set-up message against at least one corresponding throughput limitation stored in the database with respect to the given subscriber;
- and
- (d) progressing the call set-up message or refusing to establish the switched connection based on the outcome of the comparison.
A network node in a switched connection network, comprising:
- a throughput limitation database in respect of one or more subscribers to the network, the throughput limitation database storing throughput limitations included in a service agreement between the one or more subscribers and a service provider;
- and
- processing means for receiving a switched connection call set-up message associated with customer premise equipment of a given network subscriber and comparing at least one throughput request incorporated in the call set-up message against at least one corresponding throughput limitation stored in the database with respect to the given subscriber, and in response to said comparison progressing the call set-up message or refusing to establish the call.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.