US 8,355,487 B2 · Multiple maximum durations defined for sessions over a communication network

Abstract

Communication networks and associated methods and systems are disclosed that provide dynamically-configurable maximum durations for sessions over a communication network. For a session, the communication network determines the traditional static maximum duration and the calculated maximum duration (for prepaid sessions). In addition to these maximum durations, the communication network also determines a dynamic maximum duration for the session based on duration criteria. The communication network then selects one of the maximum durations based on the duration criteria, and monitors the session based on the selected maximum duration. By defining the duration criteria in a particular manner, a new dynamically-configured maximum duration for sessions may be used instead of relying only on the static maximum duration and the calculated maximum duration (for prepaid sessions).

Claims38

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a session control function of a communication network adapted to receive a setup message from a party to initiate a prepaid session;
the session control function is further adapted to identify a first maximum duration for the prepaid session that is statically defined in the communication network, to calculate a second maximum duration for the prepaid session based on a prepaid account balance for the party, and to determine a third maximum duration for the prepaid session based on duration criteria after the prepaid session is initiated, wherein the duration criteria comprise pre-defined policies that control how maximum durations are dynamically determined on a session-by-session basis at initiation of the sessions;
the session control function is further adapted to select one of the first, second, or third maximum duration for the prepaid session, and to monitor the duration of the prepaid session based on the selected maximum duration responsive to the prepaid session being established over the communication network.

A system comprising:

a session control function of a communication network adapted to receive a setup message from a party to initiate a postpaid session;
the session control function is further adapted to identify a first maximum duration for the postpaid session that is statically defined in the communication network, and to determine a second maximum duration for the postpaid session that is dynamically-configurable based on the duration criteria after the postpaid session is initiated, wherein the duration criteria comprise pre-defined policies that control how maximum durations are dynamically determined on a session-by-session basis at initiation of the sessions;
the session control function is further adapted to select one of the first or second maximum duration for the postpaid session, and to monitor the duration of the postpaid session based on the selected maximum duration responsive to the postpaid session being established over the communication network.

A method of providing dynamically-configurable maximum durations for postpaid sessions over a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a setup message for a postpaid session from a party to the postpaid session;
identifying a first maximum duration for the postpaid session that is statically defined in the communication network;
determining a second maximum duration for the postpaid session based on duration criteria after the postpaid session is initiated, wherein the duration criteria comprise pre-defined policies that control how maximum durations are dynamically determined on a session-by-session basis at initiation of the sessions;
selecting one of the first or second maximum duration for the postpaid session;
and
monitoring the duration of the postpaid session based on the selected maximum duration responsive to the postpaid session being established over the communication network.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple maximum durations defined for sessions over a communication network

Life of this patent

Multiple maximum durations defined for sessions over a communication network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38