WO2014203006A1

WO2014203006A1 - Method, system and device for configuring user profiles in ims networks

Info

Publication number: WO2014203006A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/051914
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rogelio Martinez; Juan Miguel Santos; Enrique Collado
Original assignee: Vodafone Ip Licensing Limited; Vodafone España, S.A.U.
Priority date: 2013-06-21
Filing date: 2014-06-23
Publication date: 2014-12-24
Also published as: ES2525401A2; ES2525401B1; ES2525401R1

Abstract

A method and system with a server (13) for configuring user profiles in an IMS network (11) providing services, having associated at least a user (10) subscribed with a user profile which has a first configuration (103) defining a first set of application servers (AS1, AS2, AS3) that depends on the service, the server (13) receiving a notification from the user (10) when certain service is requested, changing the user profile from the first configuration (103) to a second configuration (102, 104) which defines a second set of application servers (AS1, AS4, ASc) different from the first set of application servers (AS1, AS2, AS3) and used by the IMS network (11), instead of the first set of application servers (AS1, AS2, AS3), in a time period during which the requested service is provided to the user (10), returning the user profile to the first configuration (103) when the requested service is terminated.

Description

METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR CONFIGURING USER PROFILES IN

IMS NETWORKS

D E S C R I P T I O N

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention has its application within the telecommunications sector and, especially, relates to IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network entities and services. More particularly, the invention described herein deals with the industrial area engaged in providing IMS Core network with Servers, which can be located in the home network or in an external third-party network, for reconfiguring User Profiles on real time and on demand based on the user's scenario.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The IP Multimedia Subsystem or IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem (IMS) is an architectural framework for delivering IP based multimedia services: file transfer, video, voice, and for example, conference calls.

The specification of Conferencing service using the IP Multimedia (IM) Core Network (CN) Subsystem is standardized by 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), as disclosed in 3GPP2 X.S0029-0. Version 1 .0. Version Date: May 2007. The known steps involved in IMS conference call scenario can be summarized as follows: A User Equipment (UE) which is the conference initiator uses a conference factory URI to initiate a conference with the IMS Multimedia Resource Function Control/Application Server (MRFC- AS).

The MRFC-AS assigns a conference URI to the conference and configures the MRFP (Multimedia Resource Function Processor). The conference call is setup and the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) data begins flowing between the conference initiator UE and the MRFP.

The conference initiator then uses the refer procedure to add more users to the conference. The new users establish a call to the conference URI passed in the refer message.

When the conference is in progress, RTP media streams are being mixed and propagated to all the participants.

The conference user drops out of the conference. All users are notified for this exit from the conference.

When a user (the conference initiator UE) wants to schedule a conference between several people, the conference initiator provides them typically with a conference number and password that all attendants have to dial at the moment of entering the conference call. That implies that the conference initiator must have sent these data before establishing the conference call with all the participants, and they need to have these data (conference number and password) at the time the conference call begins.

US6754322 discloses a way to define a conference online which uses a multiport conference unit which allows the participants to join the conference by just calling to the conference initiator's telephone number and avoids the need for the conference initiator to distribute, and participants to receive, a special conference bridge telephone number or access code. This solution is based on a local infrastructure connected to the PSTN network and uses IN technology instead of IMS, which restricts the number of triggers (services) a user can have to one. Furthermore, US6754322is not describing the interface used to activate this teleconferencing system but it discloses a proprietary facility associated to the switch on charge of changing the user^'s profile.

The IMS Core Network (CN) comprises the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or User Profile Server Function (UPSF), which is a master user database that supports the IMS network entities that actually handle calls. HSS also contains the subscription-related information (User Profiles).

EP1313333 describes a method for writing in real time the user profile data from an administration server or a service server of the network operator into the home data file of a remote user profile database intelligent network (IN) services and/or intelligent network nodes.

There is therefore a need to modify or reconfigure in real time the user profile in IMS networks for specific services and certain time period, depending on the user's enviroment, activity or aim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention serves to solve the aforesaid problem by providing a server with realtime access to the HSS which is capable of modifying the User Profile HSS depending on the inputs that this server receives from the user. Thus, the present invention allows the definition of temporal configurations of user profiles depending on the user's enviroment and/or intention (ie.e, the context of the UE), so thar users can have available certain functionality for the period they need, having the possibility of returning easily to their prior configuration of user profile. From the moment on which the temporal configuration of user profile is used, the traffic sent to the single number defined in the initial (e.g. , default) user profile (e.g. MSISDN of the user) is redirected as defined in said temporal profile. Once the user has finished accomplishing the functionality, the server reestablishes the prior (e.g. , default) profile with the usual configuration this user has. Everytime that a user wants to perform a certain functionality that requires a different configuration on his/her user profile, the server is notified and perform the subsequent change in the account asociated to the user, stored in the HSS. This notification can be implemented in several ways and be sent through different channels depending on the application of the invention: automatic/on demand, by means of an application running in the UE (e.g. , an app in the smartphone), or via protocols such as USSD, SMS, http...

The server can be contacted by a Service Point Trigger (as specified in 3GPP TP 29.228) and modifications to the service-specific- data of the User Profile can be made in the Originating Session Case as well as in the Terminating Session Case.

The proposed IMS application-server based application can (temporarily) modify IMS customer (user) profiles in the network based on the configuration provided through an API (e.g. from an application on a conference call host's mobile handset). User profile reverts back when the user's context changes.

In the context of the present invention, the user's context is everything related to a user and his/her environment: date and hour, aim in a certain moment, which device is being used by this user, which coverage the user has, ... , or any combination of user's variables configurable by the network operator thanks to the flexibility provided by IP world. Any kind of process or information channel can be defined through which a change in the user profile can be triggered: an application in the device that the user can manage, an application in the device capable of reading some parameters of the smartphone, a web access, ...

In a particular embodiment, in addition to the functionality for the modification of the user profile, the proposed server can also automate the setup of a conference call bridge in the IMS network. In other words, the server changes the users profile from a standard HSS user profile to that of a conference bridge when the user is in a particular context (e.g. in a call to a particular number). One advantage from the users' point of view is that (approved) participants in the conference can be added to a conference call simply by dialling the normal phone number of the conference call host at the correct time, rather than using a previously shared set of conference call details.

An aspect of the invention refers to a method for modifying User Profiles in IMS networks, which comprises the steps of:

- receiving in a server a notification from a user when the requests the use of certain functionality or service that entails a change on the configuration of the user profile,

- changing by the server the user profile from a first configuration (e.g. , a previously defined configuration of the user profile or the one configured initially by default) to a second (temporal) configuration which defines a (second) set of application servers different from the (first) set of application servers defined by the first configuration of the user profile; once changed, instead of the first set of application servers, this second configuration (defining the second set of application servers) is the only one to be used by the IMS network as configuration of the user profile during the requested service or functionality is provided to the user;

- and, when the requested service is terminated (either by the user or by the network), returning to the first configuration of the user profile through the server, which changes the user profile from the second configuration to the first configuration.

The first set of application servers (e.g. , default configuration of the user profile) typically depends on the requested service while the second set of application servers (temporal configuration of the user profile) depends on the context of the user. Another aspect of the invention deals with a network entity which is a Server for modifying User Profiles and comprises processing means for performing the method described before. And another aspect of the invention deals with an IMS system which comprises at least one network entity performing the method described before.

A further aspect of the invention refers to a computer program product which comprises program code means to be loaded into processing means of a network node running a server in order to execute the described method.

The method and system in accordance with the above described aspects of the invention have a number of advantages with respect to prior art, summarized as follows:

- Regarding US6754322, the present invention uses just a specific user's single identifier (e.g. , MSISDN, a mail account, a secondary - mobile or fixed- number, the user alias in a social network, ... ) to setup a conference online, instead of using a conference call identifier, since this invention allows his/her profile to be modified online by request from the user for the conference call. There is no need for an additional conference number; every user involved in the conference call just requires the number used for normal calls to the initiator user: the MSISDN. During the time in which the conference is scheduled, attendants only have to make a call to the phone number of the organizer. The present invention avoids every participant has to be aware of the number and password of the conference, the only thing they have to know is the contact of the person that has invited them to the conference call.

- Moreover, unlike US6754322, the present invention is based on the network operator's infraestructure and thus, the present invention can be available for any kind of user (enterprise or consumer). The present invention connects with IP world, which allows to define any kind of channel available to the users to change easily their profile whenever they need: mobile application, web, USSD, SMS, ... Regarding EP1313333, the first difference is that the present invention is based on IMS network instead of using IN technology. Another significant difference is that EP1313333 is focused on voice services managed on IN, while the present invention based on IMS can host a wider set of multimedia applications (chat, File transfer, video, ... ). Furthermore, the present invention not only is able to modify some parameters of the user profile in real time, but also can constantly update these parameters depending on the user's enviroment, activity or aim (context of the client). In other words, this invention is not only a method for modifying the home repository for a certain subscriber in real time, but also provides IMS with a functionality (located at an AS) that gives the system the chance to trigger this modification every time something changes on the user's context.

The present invention is a benefit to the mobile network operator in terms of efficency of resources, since the calls are redirected to the proper Application Server only in the scenario in which this redirection of traffic is needed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complete the description that is being made and with the object of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, accompanying said description as an integral part thereof, is a set of drawings wherein, by way of illustration and not restrictively, the following has been represented: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the generic system architecture for the modification/reconfiguration of user profiles in IMS networks, according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the system architecture for modifying user profiles in a specific IMS conference service scenario, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of the main steps of the method for modifying user profiles in a specific IMS conference service scenario, according to a further possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a diagram of traffic flow in the system of Figure 2 during the time period that the conference is scheduled, according to another possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a diagram of the system and traffic flow for modifying user profiles in a multidevice RCS service scenario, according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a diagram of traffic flow in the system of Figure 5 during the time period that communication services supported by RCS are establisehd between users, according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a diagram of traffic flow for modifying user profiles in a billing service scenario, according to another possible embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is focused on a system for reconfiguring user profiles in multimedia service using IMS networks.

Figure 1 shows a possible architecture implementation of the system. A user 10 is defined in an IMS network 1 1 so that the user 10 can use those services to which he/she has subscribed in the IMS network 1 1 . The user has a first user profile in the HSS 12 with a first configuration 103 which establishes that the calls directed to the user's number have to go through certain pre- configured Application Servers, e.g. : AS1 , AS2, AS3.

In a certain moment and only for a limited period of time the user 10 may want to use an IMS service that entails a different customer configuration on the IMS network 1 1 . In this moment, the user 10 interacts 100 with a Server 13 which has the capability to change the user profile of this user 10 in the HSS 12, switching from the first (default) user profile to a second user profile which has a temporal use. In Figure 1 , the specific IMS service requires a temporal user profile which, for example, establishes that the calls to the user's number have to go through the following determined Application Servers, e.g. : AS1 , AS4. Therefore, the Server 13 sends a message 101 to setup the second (temporal) user profile with the determined Application Servers. During the time that the user 10 is enjoying a specific application related to the IMS service, the user profile used in the IMS network 1 1 remains with the (temporal) second configuration 102 associated with the Application Servers AS1 and AS4, instead of using the user profile preconfigured previously or by default with the Application Servers AS1 , AS2 and AS3. Once the user 10 has finished, the Server 13 sets the prior and "by default" first configuration 103 for this user 10, so that he/she can use again the subscribed IMS services as usual, using the first user profile.

Figure 2 illustrates a possible network scenario in which the system shown in Figure 1 is used for conference service. The user 10 is subscribed in the IMS network 1 1 and, for example, he/she has terminating services for all calls on the application servers, AS1 , AS2 and AS3, established by the first configuration 103 of the user profile. The user 10 also has access to the Server 13 which receives 200 the details of the conference: organizer, the time in which the conference call is scheduled and participants to be invited. At the time the conference is supposed to start, the Server 13 changes 201 the profile of the organizer in the HSS to a second configuration 104, for example, sent by the organizer user 10 through an app that is in his/her mobile phone (UE) and communicates directly with the Server 13. In a certain moment when the user 10 wants to perform a conference call with several participants, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, this user 10 creates an invitation message, e.g. , mail, SMS, to the participants 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and sends it 202 through an application of his/her UE. The number to be used by the participants 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D in order to access the Conference Call is the same number of the user 10 for all of them. From this moment, everytime a call comes, the Server 13 matches the calling number with the list of participants 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D invited to the conference call. If the calling number is on the list, the caller is automatically added to the conference: if not, depending on user's preferences, the caller can be redirected to Voice Mail or notified that the user 10 is busy. Once the conference is terminated and every participant disconnects from the organizer, the latter, the user 10, notifies the Server 13 again through his/her mobile application by sending another message to set the user profile to the prior first configuration 103, restoring it in the HSS 12.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the traffic flow between the network entities of the system described above, representating a possible implementation of the main steps of the user profiles reconfiguration method applied in the conference call service using IMS networks. In a first step of service initialization 31 , the conference call is created by the organizer user 10 and the Server 13 receives from this user 10 the data defining said conference: scheduled time, the organizer's identity and the list of attendants to the conference. At the starting instant of the scheduled time, the Server 13 interacts with the HSS 12 to switch 32 the user profile from a first (the default) configuration to a (temporal) second configuration to be used during all the time spent for the conference. When any of the participants 20A belonging to the list of attendants wants to join to the conference, the participant 20A just have to call to the MSISDN number of the organizer user 10. During the time that the conference is scheduled, every call received at the MSISDN number of the organizer user 10 by anyone from the list of attendants is added 34 to the conference call and redirected to a Multiparty Conference Server implemented by the Media Resource Function (MRF) 14. Thus, the Server 13 has really changed the user profile to one that uses a conference bridge when the user 10 is in a particular context, e.g. in a call to his/her number. Every incoming call to this number is terminated in the Server 13 itself, which redirects it to the MRF 14 playing the function of the Conference Server ASc as defined in the temporal second user profile.

Figure 4 shows in detail the netwotk entities and traffic dealing with organizer user 10 during the scheduled time of conference call. All the voice calls 400 made to John's number, which is the MSISDN of the user 10, are redirected to the Conference Server ASc which joins the caller to the conference if this caller is in the list of participants 20A, 20B, 20C defined by the user 10. For instance, once joined to the conference, the participant 20B establishes a traditional call through a circuit switching (CS) network 15. During all this time, the IMS network 1 1 is using the second configuration 104 of the user profile provided by the HSS 12, this second configuration 104 determines that the application server which the voice calls are to be redirected to is the Conference Server ASc, implemented by the MRF.

Therefore, the facility to easily enable temporary services for the customers located in their own service identifier, i.e. , the MSISDN, allows the customers to use IMS services in a more friendly way and, in addition, these customers can have specific profiles depending on their enviroment or intention.

Other possible applications of the proposed AS could be:

- Defining criteria for selecting conference call participants.

- Defining a period of time in which the calls received by users can be taken in other kind of devices.

- Activating VoiceMail or other incoming call services.

- Defining a temporal promotion of free usage of a service. - Other billing and configuration related custom isations, e.g. , the definition of technical aspects that could facilitate difference billing approaches.

Figure 5 shows a network scenario where a user (10) is defined in an

IMS network (1 1 ) so that the user (10) can enjoy Rich Communications Services or Suite Enhanced, RCS, RCS-e, services, for example: network interoperable chat, file sharing & transfer, videocalling ... The user profile in the IMS network (1 1 ) is the initial or default one for RCSe chat, file video, etc. The requested RCS-e service is based on an application in the user's device (10A, 10B). If the user (10) wants to use RCSe services in several UEs or devices (10A, 10B), the network operator/provider has to put a specific functionality in place in order to support a multidevice scenario. A possible solution would be to define a trigger to a server on charge of this functionality in the default configuration of the user profile, but this entails that every transaction for all RCSe users go through this server. In order to be more efficient, the user profile is modified (501 ) by the server (13) only when detecting that the user (10) is using several devices (10A, 10B). In this case, the trigger for the modification of the user profile from the default first configuration (503) to a temporal second configuration (504) is the detection of several devices (10A, 10B) in use by the user (10), detection which is notified by firstly subscribing the server (13) to third party registration. Note that the user's devices (10A, 10B) are registered (500A, 500B) in the IMS network (1 1 ) so that the server (13), subscribed to the registration service, can be notified (505A, 505B) by the IMS network (1 1 ) of the registration of the user's devices (10A, 10B). From this moment, as shown in Figure 6, the user (10) can interoperate with any user (60) supporting RCSe communications (600), e.g. , chat, file transfer, videocalling, etc. , using any of the registered devices (10A, 10B) and using the second configuration (504) for more efficient multidevice support. Figure 7 shows a network scenario where a user (10) is defined in an IMS network (1 1 ) so that the user (10) can use any of those services to which the user (10) has subscribed with a determined billing profile. The default profile determined by the first configuration (703) of the user profile stored in the HSS (12) establishes that the calls to the user's number have to go through the following Application Servers: AS1 , AS2, AS3. In this example, when the first configuration (703) is applied, the application server AS3 is in charge of generating CDRs (700) to billing subsystem. As a marketing initiative, the network operator can define a time period in which the operator wants to give the client a promotion of calls for free, e.g. , all calls from 9 pm to 12 pm are not charged. During this time period, which defines the context of the user in the example, the signalling of the calls generated by the user (10) does not go through the application server AS3 in charge of defining the CDRs; instead, during the time period defined for free calls promotion, the second configuration (704) of the user profile, which does not include the application server AS3 in charge of defining the CDRs, is applied. Thus, no charging data record or CDR is generated and the user (10) is enjoying calls for free. Once the promotion is over, the network desactivates or terminates this service of calls for free and the server (13) can reestablish the previous default billing profile within the first configuration (703) for the user (10).

Note that in this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

Claims

C L A I M S

1 . - A method for configuring user profiles in an IMS network (1 1 ) providing one or more services by means of application servers, each service having associated at least a user (10) subscribed to the service with a user profile which has a first configuration (103) establishing that calls directed to the user (10) go through a first set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS3) which are defined by the first configuration (103) of the user profile and depend on the service, the method characterized by comprising:

- receiving in a server (13) a notification from the user (10) when the user

(10) requests a service to which the user (10) is subscribed

- changing by the server (13) the user profile from the first configuration (103) to a second configuration (102, 104) which defines a second set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS4, ASc) different from the first set of application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS 3) and to be used by the IMS network (1 1 ) during a time period in which the requested service is provided to the user (10), instead of the first set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS3),

- changing by the server (13) the user profile from the second configuration (102, 104) to the first configuration (103) when the requested service is terminated (10).

2. - The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second configuration (102, 104) defines the second set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS4, ASc) based on a context of the user (10).

3. - The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the server (13) is notified by the user (10) through a protocol selected from USSD, SMS and HTTP.

4. - The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the Server (13) is notified by the user (10) through an application running in a terminal equipment of the user (10).

5. - The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the Server

(13) is notified by the user (10) through an IP server which sends the context of the user (10) to the Server (13).

6. - The method according to any preceding claim, wherein changing the user profile by the Server (13) comprises interacting between the Server (13) and the HSS (12) in which the user profile with the first configuration (103) is stored.

7. - The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the requested service is conference call.

8. - The method according to claim 7, further comprising matching by the Server (13) a calling party which calls to the user (10) with a list of participants (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) notified by the user (10) to create a conference call and, if the matching is successful, adding the calling party to the conference call.

9. - The method according to any claim 7-8, wherein the second configuration (104) of the user profile used during a time period scheduled for the conference call by the user (10) defines a set of application servers consisting of a multiparty conference server (ASc), implemented by an MRF

(14) of the IMS network (1 1 ), which every call directed to the user (10) during the scheduled time period goes through.

10.- A server (13) for configuring user profiles in an IMS network (1 1 ), characterized by comprising: - a receiver for receiving a notification from a user (10) when the user (10) requests a service to which the user (10) is subscribed and with which the user (10) has associated a user profile,

- a transmitter for sending:

- a message to change the user profile from a first configuration (103), defining a first set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS3) which calls directed to the user (10) go through, to a second configuration (102, 104) defining a second set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS4, ASc) different from the first set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS3) and to be used by the IMS network (1 1 ) during the requested service is provided to the user (10) instead of the first set of one or more application servers (AS1 , AS2, AS3),

- a message to change the user profile from the second configuration (102, 104) to the first configuration (103) when the requested service is terminated (10).

1 1 . - The server (13) according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter sends the message for changing the user profile to the HSS (12) in which the user profile with the first configuration (103) is stored.

12. - The server (13) according to any claim 10-1 1 , further comprising, if the requested service is conference call:

- matching means for checking whether a calling party which calls to the user (10) with a list of participants (20A, 20B, 20C, 20D) notified by the user (10) to create a conference call and, if so, adding the calling party to the conference call

- voice call redirecting means for directing calls to the user (1 0), during a time period scheduled for the conference call by the user (10), to a multiparty conference server (ASc) defined by the second configuration (104) of the user profile and implemented by an MRF (14) of the IMS network (1 1 ).

13. - The server (13) according to any claim 10-12, wherein the receiver receives a notification from a user (10) on demand, through an application running in a terminal equipment of the user (10), or through a protocol selected from USSD, SMS and HTTP.

14. - A system for configuring user profiles in IMS networks, comprising an application server (13) defined in accordance to any of claims 10-13 and a user (10) connected with the application server (13).

15.- A computer program product comprising program code means which, when loaded into processing means of a node with access to an IMS network (1 1 ), make said program code means execute the method according to any of claims 1 -9.