Adaptable network service access through dynamic request routing
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsDavid Price, Alan Darbyshire, Ricky Kaura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network in which multiple subscriber data servers are deployed with partitioned subscription data for users, a subscriber location function (SLF) is used to proxy queries to a subscriber data server (such as an HSS) in which subscription data for a user can be found. The SLF receives a query for the subscriber data server, looks up the address of appropriate subscriber data server and proxies the query to the appropriate subscriber data server. Preferably, the SLF is co-located with a subscriber data server.
Claims30
A method of handling queries for subscription data for a user of a communications network, comprising the steps of:
- a Subscriber Location Function (SLF) receiving a query for subscription data for a user from a network element of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the query comprising an identity of the user;
- the SLF looking up in a database the user identity to identify a subscriber data server in which the user's subscription data can be found;
- and
- the SLF proxying the query to the identified subscriber data server.
A Subscriber Location Function (SLF) for handling queries for subscription data for a user of a communications network, comprising:
- an input for receiving a query for subscription data for a user from a network element of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the query comprising an identity of the user;
- a database for looking up the user identity to identify a subscriber data server in which the user's subscription data can be found;
- and
- an output for proxying the query to the identified subscriber data server.
A non-transitory, machine readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions for handling queries for subscription data for a user of a communications network, wherein the plurality of instructions, in response to be executed, result in a computing device:
- receiving a query for subscription data for a user from a network element of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, the query comprising an identity of the user;
- looking up in a database the user identity to identify a subscriber data server in which the user's subscription data can be found;
- and
- proxying the query to the identified subscriber data server.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.