Control device for enabling functions of a service equipment within an internet communication network

The present invention relates to communication networks having IP type core networks (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"), and more specifically, by means of communication terminals to services that make such networks available to their users. Regarding access.

Here, the "communication network having an IP type core network" is a network having an end-to-end IP network in which a user has an IP link and an IP type core network that can be accessed by another technology via a gateway. Means both. Such networks are, for example, technologies such as IMS networks (representing "IP Multimedia Subsystem" (3GPP)) or MMD (representing "Multimedia Domain" (3GPP2)) (representing "Session Initiation Protocol"). It is a network that depends on SIP.

In addition, the term "communication terminal" is used here to connect to at least one IP network, perhaps using one or more gateways, to exchange data with another device in the form of a signal. Refers to any communication device that uses wave or wired, fixed or mobile (or portable). Thus, the communication terminal may be a terrestrial or mobile phone, or a desktop or laptop computer, or a personal digital assistant (ie PDA) with a communication module, or a provider that delivers services and includes user agent functionality. It may be a server having a communication module to which it may belong.

As is known to those of skill in the art, some Internet core networks are primarily "proxy" servers (ie "SIP proxies") for SIP signaling "smart" routing, application servers, and (calling or calling or). Includes service equipment such as MRF (ie, "media resource function") entities that are tasked with providing communication-related services to the called terminal. Among these services, in detail, prepaid, or CMM services (Corporate Mobility Managerrepresenting Virtual Office), messaging, meetings, portals, kiosks, ringtone downloads, or push to talk. Can be given.

More precisely, if a terminal needs to access a service at the time of initiation by either the user of the terminal or the core network, it makes an access request to the network of which the terminal is a client for the above service. Must be sent. After this request is received, the network is tasked with, for example, (at least) an application server (one or one) dedicated to that service, that is, managing and controlling the provision of the requested service to the calling terminal. Route the request to multiple (or one of them) using a SIP proxy server.

Here, the term "service" is used in any way to exchange media data streams such as voice streams (VoIP for "voice over IP"), video streams or text streams (eg "chatting") whose purpose is. It means that it refers to any service that is at least partially related to communication. It is important to note that streams can be interactive, whether in real time or not.

Providing these services often requires the implementation of complementary functions (but not limited to) such as billing by one of the service devices associated with the communication service. Currently, in the same core network, several service devices can generally perform the same complementary functions. This is especially true for so-called "online" billing, which is used to contact servers that manage user credits in real time. Thus, in the core network, the SIP proxy and some application (s) servers can perform the online billing function.

<p> The disadvantage is that neither the SIP proxy nor the application (s) server can know if it has to perform its own complementary function or if another service device has to do it. There is. Currently, the SIP proxy in charge of communication always implements its complementary online billing function. Often, it happens that the application (s) servers that are called to provide the called service perform their own complementary online billing function in parallel. This can lead to interference. In addition, this doubles the interaction (signaling exchange) with the server that manages online billing, thus doubling the computing (or CPU) resources used, and at the same time delays in establishing a session. Invite.</p><p> Of course, there is a unique solution that consists of providing a service device, such as a SIP proxy, with a local table that specifies which application (s) servers are suitable for performing complementary functions. However, each time a core network provides a new service (and therefore when a new application (s) server is added to that core network), or a new application (s) server Whenever a version is attached to its core network, the local table for each SIP proxy needs to be updated, which requires coordination of maintenance (or OAM). In addition, if an application (s) server that is tasked with performing complementary functions withdraws from the session, the SIP proxy may act as an alternative to that server to perform the complementary functions. Can not.</p><p> Since no known solution is sufficiently satisfactory, it is therefore an object of the present invention to remedy this situation.</p>

<p> To that effect, the present invention is intended to perform functions related to providing at least one communication service to at least one (call or called) communication terminal in an Internet communication core network. We propose a control device for service equipment.</p><p> This controller processes the device when it receives a request to provide a service (provided by the device) for a given communication (of a session between the called terminal and the calling terminal). Decides (or rejects) to perform at least one function selected from among the functions to be performed, and then makes this decision (to perform each function selected by the device) to the other in the core network. For this communication (or session), at least some of the service devices signal information data to prevent them from performing the selected function for the duration of a given communication. It is characterized by including a control means configured to be inserted into a sessioning transmitted by the device (ie, in at least one of the signaling messages).</p><p> The apparatus of the present invention may include other properties that may be employed separately or in combination, and in detail, -Other service devices in the core network that interpret these informational data signaling this decision (to perform each function selected by the device) are preferably the same parent network (the parent to which the calling terminal belongs). A part of the network or the parent network to which the called terminal belongs) -If the control means is embedded in a service device located on the boundary of a communication network, it may be tasked to delete the decision information data contained in the signaling message coming from outside the network. , -The control means operates in so-called "back-to-back user agent" mode, and is therefore a "first" user agent and a "second" configured to manage and coordinate multiple SIP dialogs for the same communication. A "second" user agent (1) if it is embedded in a service device (such as an "application server") that contains a user agent, and if the "first" user agent receives a signaling message that contains decision information data. You may be tasked with instructing one or more of them to report (or transfer) this decision information data (so-called "back-to-back" mode of operation) to the SIP signaling it (or they) generate. -When the communication establishment protocol is a signaling message transmission management protocol called SIP, the control means incorporates information data into a dedicated header in the signaling message or a field in the signaling message header, for example, the so-called record root field. You may be tasked, -The control means may be tasked with incorporating complementary information data into at least some of the signaling messages, including the decision information data. For example, this complementary information data is the identifier of the service device on which the device is mounted and / or the service being performed (excludes or does not exclude billing for the session, billing for the service, etc.). Represents a type.</p><p> The present invention is also intended to perform functions related to providing at least one communication service to at least one communication terminal, and includes a control device of the type of control device disclosed above, an internet communication core. Disclose service equipment for networks.</p><p> Such service equipment is selected from, for example, a server with a "proxy" feature (or "SIP proxy"), an application (s) server, and an MRF type (or "media resource feature") entity. Alternatively, an entity having a SIP type communication establishment protocol may be configured.</p><p> The present invention is particularly suitable, but not exclusively, for Internet communication core networks such as IMS (representing "IP Multimedia Subsystem") and MMD (representing "multimedia domain").</p><p> Other characteristics and advantages of the invention are described in detail below, as well as the only figure to which an MRF entity with a SIP proxy, application (s) servers, and controls of the invention is connected. It will become clear as soon as you look at the attached drawing, which gives a very schematic picture of your IP core network. The accompanying drawings not only help to complete the invention, but also contribute to the definition of the invention, if necessary.</p><p> An object of the present invention is a service device that is installed in an Internet core network and is capable of performing at least one function related to providing at least one communication service to at least one (incoming or calling) communication terminal. Is to be able to notify other service equipment that it is itself tasked with performing this function for the duration of a given communication.</p><p> The following assumes, for non-limiting examples, that the Internet (or IP) communication core network is of the IMS or MMD type, or a derivative thereof (such as the network defined by the TISPAN group of ETSI). .. However, the invention is not limited to this type of core network. The present invention relates to, in fact, all Internet core networks belonging to or coupled to IP communication networks such as PSTN or PLMN networks.</p>

As very outlined in the only figure, the core network NC is at least one server, at least one application (s) with a "proxy" feature (or "SIP proxy") PSi. Even if it contains at least one MRF (ie "media resource function") entity MRk tasked with providing services for communication to the server ASj and / or the (invoked or called) terminal (s) Tn. Good.

In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, firstly, the variable i is equal to 1 or 2, but may be given any value other than zero, and secondly, the variable j can be 1 or 2. Equal but any non-zero value may be given, third, the variable k is equal to 1, but any non-zero value may be given, and fourth, the variable n is Equal to 1 or 2, but may be given any non-zero value.

In the following, it is assumed that the communication terminal Tn is a desktop computer or a laptop computer. However, the present invention is not limited to communication services involving this type of called terminal and calling terminal. The present invention can connect to at least one IP network, perhaps using one or more gateways, to exchange data with another device in the form of a signal, wireless or wired, fixed or Concerning communication services involving any communication device that uses mobile (or portable). Therefore, the present invention probably belongs to a provider that includes a terrestrial telephone or mobile telephone, a desktop computer or laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (ie, PDA) equipped with a communication module, or a user agent function and distributes a service. It may be a server provided with a communication module.

The present invention relates to at least some of the service devices PSi, ASj and MRk, and preferably to all of them (as shown), from the calling or called terminal Tn. When it receives a request to provide an intervening communication service, it decides (or rejects) to perform at least one of the functions processed by the device, and then the core. Informational data that signals that decision directed to at least some of the other service devices in the network NC is signaled (ie, transmitted) by those service devices for a given communication (or session). Insert into at least some of the signaling messages) to allow those service devices to prohibit themselves from performing the selected function for the duration of a given communication. It is proposed to equip the controller A with the tasked control module MC.

In the following, for non-limiting examples, it is assumed that the function for which the decision is made is the online billing control function. However, the present invention is not limited to this usage pattern. In that case, the service device, firstly, contacts the online billing server, and secondly, the end user's credit is soon or exhausted, and, as a result, communicates. Notify the end user that the service will be stopped or interrupted soon or immediately, and thirdly, if the online credit goes to zero, the communication service will be terminated or, conversely, the user will be online. After recrediting the account with the billing server, it is said to be suitable for implementing the online billing control function if it has an internal function that allows the communication service to be restarted.

In addition, in the following, signaling messages will be sent (in any form) between service devices, especially interactively and in real time, regardless of the nature of the data and the transport protocol used to transport the data. It is assumed to comply with the SIP type communication establishment protocol (representing "session initiation protocol") used to create and manage data exchange sessions.

In this case, the service access request sent by the terminal Tn to the SIP proxy PSi is in the form of a "SIP INVITE" type SIP establishment message. As a reminder, the INVITE message contains an "SDP" that describes the various media supported by the calling terminal and, following the receipt of the INVITE message, negotiates between the devices to determine which media will be used during the session. Occurs.

In the illustrated embodiment, the variable i is between 1 and 3 (including 1 and 3) (PS1 and PS3), but may be given any non-zero value.

In an IMS or MMD network, a SIP proxy PSi that is not located on the boundary of the network is generally installed in a device called S-CSCF (representing "serving call session control function").

Preferably, the application (s) server ASj is an entity called by the SIP proxy PSi following the receipt of a service access request that first decides to perform (or not perform) its online billing function. .. This means that the application (s) server dedicated to the service knows and manages the media communication channels that enable communication with the end user's terminal, and is charged with exchanging data with that terminal. It is preferable because it is not a SIP proxy PSi that is tasked with calling its application (s) server ASj and coordinating requests between the requesting terminal Tn and the application server.

Following the decision to "process" the function (here, the individual online billing function), the decision information data placed in the signaling message by the control module CM is in any form, in detail, a mark, or a code, or It may appear in the form of digits or words.

Further, the control module CM may incorporate the decision information data into a new dedicated (and standardized) signaling message header, or into an existing field in the signaling message header, for example. In the first case, adding a new header to the signaling message is instantaneous, as the SIP protocol is text-based. In the second case, the header field in which the decision information data is embedded may be the so-called "record root" field.

In addition, the decision information data may be incorporated into the SIP signaling message by the control module CM, which initiates the SIP dialog, for example, in the case of a call or instant message.

It is important to note that the control module CM may be tasked with incorporating complementary information data into at least some of the signaling messages containing the decision information data. Such complementary information data is, for example, the service performed on the service device on which it is installed and / or performed (such as billing for services, with or without billing for sessions). It may represent an identifier in the core network NC of the type.

Each signaling message containing decision information data is propagated to at least some other service equipment by the SIP proxy PSi that called the application (s) server ASj [or MRF, or the SIP proxy itself] that generated it. To. Preferably, the SIP proxy PSi installs this signaling message on the core network NC of the parent network of either the calling terminal involved in the communication (or session) or the called terminal involved in the communication (or session). Communicate to all IMS service devices (PSi', ASj', and MRk) that are in the session, that is, all service devices located on the calling or calling side of the session.

In this way, all service equipment is tasked with the application server (or MRF, or SIP proxy) performing an online billing function for a given communication (and for a portion of the session involved). You will be informed that you do, and therefore, in principle, do not need to handle the task. The expression "in principle" here means that a service device must either take over the execution of online billing on behalf of another service device, or process that execution in parallel. Used for specific situations. When such a situation arises, the service device is notified, for example, by complementary information data specifying the type of online billing performed.

Controller A is on a network boundary (SIP proxy represents IMS or MMD network (representing "proxy call session control function") P-CSCF type or (representing "query call session control function") I-CSCF type If it is installed on the SIP proxy PSi located either on the access side or on the network side located in the network / user interface, as if it were installed on the device, its control module CM Is preferably configured to remove decision information data contained in signaling messages coming from outside those networks (and thus from a terminal or another network).

This option is intended to eliminate deception, and in detail, "hackers" trade with false information to benefit from features (in this case, communications) without authorization (in this case, free of charge). Intended to prevent.

In addition, some application (s) servers can operate in so-called "back-to-back user agent" mode. In such cases, as is known to those skilled in the art, they can manage and coordinate multiple SIP dialogs for a single communication, the "first" user agent and the "second". The first user agent, including the user agent, is tasked with receiving signaling messages coming from the terminal, and the second user agent (s) takes into account the signaling messages received by the first user agent. Put in and be tasked with generating messages for other terminals. This configuration is known by the term "back-to-back user agent".

In this configuration, when the first user agent receives a signaling message containing decision information data, the control module CM of device A installed on the application (s) server is the second user agent (s). The task is tasked with instructing (s) to report (or transfer) this decision information data to the SIP signaling it produces (or produces).

Some complementation, such as the identifier of a service or device that decides to perform a portion of the service (if the service falls into several types) and / or the identifier of the function (service) performed by that device It should be noted that the informational information data may be stored by the device receiving the signaling message containing the above data. This memory may be performed using, for example, what one of ordinary skill in the art would call a tor ticket, which is performed by some of the receiving devices for at least some of the communications.

The control device A of the present invention, and in particular the control module CM thereof, may be configured in the form of an electronic circuit, a software (or computing) module, or a combination of a circuit and software.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the control device and service device described above provided only as examples, and the invention is otherwise defined by those skilled in the art. Includes all variants that can be predicted within the framework.

<figref num="1">A very schematic representation of an IP core network to which MRF entities with the controls of the present invention are connected.</figref>