Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090196285 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVISIONING DUAL MODE WIRELESS CLIENT DEVICES IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - Method and apparatus for provisioning a wireless multi-modal client device in a telecommunications system includes determining a provisioning environment within and a provisioning condition under which the client device is operating, determining a state of a configuration file of the client device and obtaining an updated configuration file based on the provisioning environment and provisioning conditions. The provisioning environment is determined by detecting one or more wireless networks accessible by the client device such as an IP-based network and a PSTN-based network. Connection to the IP-based network is made via WiFi and to the PSTN-based network via GSM/GPRS. The wireless networks defining the provisioning environment have characteristic timing intervals for configuration file updating. There is also an incremental timer that determines the elapsed time for each characteristic timing interval and switches between characteristic timing intervals depending upon the provisioning environment that the client device is operating within. | 08-06-2009 |
20090268713 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Method and apparatus for testing in a communication network is described. One example of the invention relates to a method of testing in a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) network. At least one test script is obtained from the VOIP network at an enhanced terminal adapter. The enhanced terminal adapter is configured to couple at least one communication device to the VOIP network. The at least one test script is executed within a scripting framework of the enhanced terminal adapter to interact with at least one component coupled to the VOIP network. Results of the execution of the at least one test script are transmitted from the enhanced terminal adapter to the VOIP network. | 10-29-2009 |
20100189095 | Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network - Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network includes establishing a default maximum bandwidth setting at a LAN egress port when voice-type traffic is not present in a LAN portion of the data network, detecting voice-type traffic, reducing the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to effect a change in a rate of non voice type traffic and monitoring non voice type traffic and voice quality statistics to determine if the rate of non voice type traffic entering the data network has changed. Once the desired change has occurred, performing a linear increase of the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to a first value while monitoring voice quality statistics, determining if voice quality has degraded during increase of the bandwidth setting and repeating the last two steps if voice quality has not degraded. | 07-29-2010 |
20100316202 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEW SUBSCRIBER ACCESS TO TELEPHONY FEATURES - A method and apparatus for gaining access to communication services includes receiving an initial inquiry for communication service access, collecting equipment information based upon the initial inquiry, sending a non-voice communication to said equipment and receiving a request from said equipment to obtain communication service access. The apparatus includes a system having one or more controllers for performing communication service access. | 12-16-2010 |
20110320547 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHARING MESSAGES AMONG MEMBERS OF A USER GROUP IN AN INTERNET PROTOCOL ENVIRONMENT - A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. When a member of a user group sends a messages to another member of the user group, the message is posted to a group message board so that all members of the group can view the message. This could include sending information to each of the telephony devices for all members of the group so that each telephony device could display the message on a display screen. The displayed messages could also indicate who sent each message and to whom each message was directed. As a result, each member of the group can view messages passing back and forth between all members of the group. | 12-29-2011 |
20120300767 | Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network - Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network includes establishing a default maximum bandwidth setting at a LAN egress port when voice-type traffic is not present in a LAN portion of the data network, detecting voice-type traffic, reducing the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to effect a change in a rate of non voice type traffic and monitoring non voice type traffic and voice quality statistics to determine if the rate of non voice type traffic entering the data network has changed. Once the desired change has occurred, performing a linear increase of the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to a first value while monitoring voice quality statistics, determining if voice quality has degraded during increase of the bandwidth setting and repeating the last two steps if voice quality has not degraded. | 11-29-2012 |
20130294444 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOICE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN A DATA NETWORK - Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network includes establishing a default maximum bandwidth setting at a LAN egress port when voice-type traffic is not present in a LAN portion of the data network, detecting voice-type traffic, reducing the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to effect a change in a rate of non voice type traffic and monitoring non voice type traffic and voice quality statistics to determine if the rate of non voice type traffic entering the data network has changed. Once the desired change has occurred, performing a linear increase of the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to a first value while monitoring voice quality statistics, determining if voice quality has degraded during increase of the bandwidth setting and repeating the last two steps if voice quality has not degraded. | 11-07-2013 |
20140029473 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NEW SUBSCRIBER ACCESS TO TELEPHONY FEATURES - A method and apparatus for gaining access to communication services includes receiving an initial inquiry for communication service access, collecting equipment information based upon the initial inquiry, sending a non-voice communication to said equipment and receiving a request from said equipment to obtain communication service access. The apparatus includes a system having one or more controllers for performing communication service access. | 01-30-2014 |
20150113148 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MULTI-MODAL COMMUNICATIONS - A system and method for provisionable, multi-modal communications, including detecting a provisioning condition, selecting a communications mode based on the provisioning condition from a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode, and displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode. The first usage mode includes a first communications channel supporting a first communication data consisting of instant messages (IM) and in-network voice data. The second usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a second communication data consisting of IM, in-network voice data and out-of-network voice data. The third usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a third communication data comprising video data. | 04-23-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110158090 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR CONDITION-TRIGGERED POLICIES - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for determining condition-triggered policies. The method occurs at a Diameter node. The method includes receiving a notification of a network condition. The method further includes determining, based on the network condition, policy information for a plurality of associated subscribers. | 06-30-2011 |
20110167150 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR DETECTING INITIATION OF A SERVICE DATA FLOW USING A Gx RULE - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for detecting a service data flow using a Gx rule are disclosed. According to one method, a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node sends to a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) node, a Gx rule for triggering the PCEF node to generate a notification message upon initiation of a service data flow. The PCEF node receives and installs the Gx rule and uses the Gx rule to detect and report initiation of a service data flow. | 07-07-2011 |
20110167471 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PROVIDING GROUP POLICY CONFIGURATION IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK USING A FAKE USER - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing group policy configuration in a communications network using a fake user are disclosed. The method is performed at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. According to one method, first policy profile information associated with a first subscriber identifier is obtained from a policy profile database, where the first subscriber identifier is associated with a first subscriber. Second policy profile information associated with a second subscriber identifier is obtained from the policy profile database, where the second subscriber identifier is associated with a group of subscribers that also includes the first subscriber. At least a portion of the second policy profile information is applied to the first subscriber. | 07-07-2011 |
20110202653 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR SERVICE DETECTION OVER AN RX INTERFACE - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating service data flow (SDF) event information. The method includes steps occurring at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. The method also includes communicating, via an Rx interface, a request to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node to be notified when an SDF event occurs. The method further includes receiving notification from the DPI node that the SDF event has occurred. | 08-18-2011 |
20110225306 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR TRIGGERING A SERVICE NODE TO INITIATE A SESSION WITH A POLICY CHARGING AND RULES FUNCTION - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for initiating a session. The method includes steps occurring at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. The method also includes determining, independent of contact from a service node, that the service node requires policy information. The method further includes in response to determining that the service node requires policy information, communicating a session independent trigger message to the service node, wherein the trigger message comprises information instructing the service node to initiate a session with the PCRF node to obtain the policy information from the PCRF node. | 09-15-2011 |
20110225309 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PERFORMING PCRF-BASED USER INFORMATION PASS THROUGH - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for performing PCRF-based IP CAN session information pass-through are disclosed. According to one method, a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) receives Internet protocol connectivity access network (IP CAN) session information from an access network-aware gateway. The PCRF forwards at least a portion of the IP CAN session information to a deep packet inspection (DPI) node. | 09-15-2011 |
20120084425 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PROVIDING NESTED POLICY CONFIGURATION IN A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing nested policy configuration in a communications network are disclosed. The method is performed at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. According to one method, first policy profile information associated with a first identifier is obtained from a policy profile database, where the first identifier is associated with a first subscriber and where the first policy profile information includes a second identifier. Second policy profile information associated with the second subscriber is obtained, using the second identifier obtained with the first policy profile information, from the policy profile database. | 04-05-2012 |
20120221899 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR POLICY AND CHARGING RULES FUNCTION (PCRF) FAULT TOLERANCE - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for PCRF fault tolerance are disclosed. One exemplary method for PCRF fault tolerance includes sending, from the PCRF to a Diameter peer, a message concerning Diameter application session state information associated with Diameter application sessions currently or previously managed by the PCRF. The method further includes receiving, by the PCRF, a message from the Diameter peer in response to the message concerning the Diameter application session state information. The method further includes, determining, by the PCRF and based on the response, whether the Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF is accurate. The method further includes, in response to determining that the Diameter application session state information maintained by the PCRF is not accurate, requesting, by the PCRF, Diameter application session state information. | 08-30-2012 |
20120224677 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR SERVICE DATA FLOW (SDF) BASED SUBSCRIPTION PROFILE REPOSITORY (SPR) SELECTION - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for SDF based subscription profile repository selection. The method includes receiving a first signaling message. The first signaling message includes service data flow information for identifying a service data flow. The method also includes selecting, using the service data flow information, an SPR from a plurality of SPRs, the SPR containing policy information associated with the service data flow. | 09-06-2012 |
20120257499 | POLICY AND CHARGING RULES FUNCTION (PCRF) AND PERFORMANCE INTELLIGENCE CENTER (PIC) BASED CONGESTION CONTROL - A system for congestion control in a mobile communications network includes a monitoring module configured to monitor message traffic associated with a cell in a mobile communications network. The message traffic includes control plane and user plane messages. The monitoring module determines, based on the message traffic, whether a predetermined congestion threshold associated with the cell in the mobile communications network has been crossed. In response to the threshold being crossed, the monitoring module generates a cell congestion notification message that includes the identity of subscribers that are contributing to the congestion. A policy server receives the cell congestion notification message and generates a PCC rule that modifies the policy of the one or more identified subscribers and for communicating the PCC rule to a PCEF. | 10-11-2012 |
20130266002 | COMBOPHONE WITH QoS ON CABLE ACCESS - A method of providing QoS to a session from a client to a first network includes providing data packets from the client to be conveyed in a session from the client to a first network, inserting each of the data packets into an encapsulating packet, and transmitting the encapsulating packets through the second network to the first network, forming a tunnel through the second network. The method includes receiving the encapsulating packets at a terminating device in the first network. The terminating device removes the encapsulating headers to recover the data packets. The method includes determining an association between the packet headers of the data packets and the encapsulating headers, identifying data packets requiring QoS, and using the association to identify encapsulating packets corresponding data packets requiring Quality of Service. The method includes applying QoS to the encapsulating packets, corresponding to the session of data packets requiring the QoS, being conveyed through the tunnel. | 10-10-2013 |
20130316703 | CHARGING AND BILLING FOR CONTENT, SERVICES, AND ACCESS - Among other things, at a server, information is received from applications, services, or content being used on user devices about usage of communication services attributable to each of the applications, services, or content. The information about the amounts of attributable communication services is used in allocating charges for the services to one or more paying parties in accordance with one or more applicable business rules. | 11-28-2013 |
20140220927 | Advertiser Supported Bandwidth Platform - Among other things, a content item is received that is associated with an offer for wireless network credit. The wireless network credit is redeemable for free or discounted data usage of one or more metered wireless networks. In response to a selection input, the content item is presented to a user. Data is transmitted reflecting the presentation of the content item to a remote server to cause the remote server to add the mobile broadband credit to an account. | 08-07-2014 |
20160092907 | CHARGING AND BILLING FOR CONTENT, SERVICES, AND ACCESS - Among other things, at a server, information is received from applications, services, or content being used on user devices about usage of communication services attributable to each of the applications, services, or content. The information about the amounts of attributable communication services is used in allocating charges for the services to one or more paying parties in accordance with one or more applicable business rules. | 03-31-2016 |
20160094720 | CHARGING AND BILLING FOR CONTENT, SERVICES, AND ACCESS - Among other things, at a server, information is received from applications, services, or content being used on user devices about usage of communication services attributable to each of the applications, services, or content. The information about the amounts of attributable communication services is used in allocating charges for the services to one or more paying parties in accordance with one or more applicable business rules. | 03-31-2016 |
20160094972 | CHARGING AND BILLING FOR CONTENT, SERVICES, AND ACCESS - Among other things, at a server, information is received from applications, services, or content being used on user devices about usage of communication services attributable to each of the applications, services, or content. The information about the amounts of attributable communication services is used in allocating charges for the services to one or more paying parties in accordance with one or more applicable business rules. | 03-31-2016 |
20160094973 | CHARGING AND BILLING FOR CONTENT, SERVICES, AND ACCESS - Among other things, at a server, information is received from applications, services, or content being used on user devices about usage of communication services attributable to each of the applications, services, or content. The information about the amounts of attributable communication services is used in allocating charges for the services to one or more paying parties in accordance with one or more applicable business rules. | 03-31-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100103820 | FAIR USE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - A method of managing a plurality of subscribers using a communication network involving: obtaining network usage data for a plurality of service flows associated with the plurality of subscribers using the network; from the network usage data, determining which of the plurality of subscribers has been using an excess amount of bandwidth; determining that at least some part of the network is currently in a congested state; and in response to determining that at least some part of the network is currently in the congested state, sending a policy decision to a gateway device that controls bandwidth resources currently being provided to the identified subscriber, said policy decision instructing the gateway device to reduce network bandwidth that is currently being provided to support existing service flows for the identified subscriber. | 04-29-2010 |
20100121960 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MOBILITY MANAGEMENT IN NETWORK - A method implemented by a gateway device which handles sessions over a network to which the gateway device is connected and which also enforces conditions of service provided to those network sessions, the method involving: receiving from a policy server a policy rules package, wherein the policy rules package specifies a set of rules that are to be applied to certain sessions handled by the gateway device and a set of criteria for identifying among a plurality of subscribers a group of all subscribers to which the rules are to be applied by the gateway device; based on set of criteria in the policy rules package identifying all subscribers with currently active sessions to whom the policy rules are to be applied; and applying the set of rules to the sessions of the identified subscribers. | 05-13-2010 |
20100306369 | VIDEO POLICY SERVER - A system for distributing digital content includes two or more digital content sources. Each source has a separate session manager that is distinct from other session managers associated with other digital content sources. The system further includes at least one set of network resources that receive digital content from the two or more digital content sources, modulate the digital content onto a carrier signal suitable for transmission over an access network, and transmit the carrier signal over the access network. The system also includes a receiving device for terminating the carrier signal. The receiving device generates a digital content stream corresponding to the digital content from the two or more digital content sources. The system further includes a policy server for allocating bandwidth of the network resources to the digital content sources, and for monitoring a utilization state of the network resources. | 12-02-2010 |
20100316064 | PCMM APPLICATION MANAGER - A method of assigning network resources between network endpoints includes providing a session initiation request to an application manager. The application manager is logically and physically decoupled from an application server associated with the network endpoints. This request initiates communication between the network endpoints through the set of network resources. The communication employs an application residing on an application server. The method also includes providing a PCMM message from the application manager to a policy server as a result of the session initiation request. The PCMM message includes at least some information, for example QoS information, embedded in the session initiation request. The method further includes selecting, via the policy server, a set of network resources for creating a path connecting the network endpoints. The policy server selects the set of network assets based on the PCMM message, for example to set QoS for the communication between the two endpoints. | 12-16-2010 |
20110016224 | METHOD FOR DYNAMIC RATE ADAPTATION BASED ON SELECTIVE PASSIVE NETWORK MONITORING - A method for managing a session over a network that involves multiple end points obtaining services via an application server, the method involving: after the end points have registered with the application server for the session, establishing initial policies for network traffic flows for each end point participating in the session; after establishing the initial policies, determining information about the network traffic flows for at least some of the multiple end points participating in the session; from the information determined about the network traffic flows, identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as a host server for the session; and after identifying which of the multiple end points is functioning as the host server, establishing new policies for network traffic flows for the multiple end points, wherein under the new policies fewer network resources are reserved for each of the multiple end points other than and as compared to the end point functioning as the host server. | 01-20-2011 |
20110022702 | MECHANISM FOR DETECTING AND REPORTING TRAFFIC/SERVICE TO A PCRF - A method implemented by a policy server operating on a network to which is connected a device that performs a data packet inspection function, the method involving: sending a first message over the network from the policy server to the device, the first message instructing the device to detect an occurrence of a particular network traffic or service taking place over a connection on the network and to send a notification to the policy server upon detecting the occurrence of that particular network traffic or service; at the policy server receiving a notification from the device that the device has detected the occurrence of that particular network traffic or service; and in response to receiving the notification, sending a second message over the network from the policy server to a network component, the second message containing information associated with the notification. | 01-27-2011 |
20110225281 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR POLICY ENFORCEMENT CORRELATION - Systems, methods, and computer readable media for policy enforcement correlation are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for policy enforcement correlation includes, at a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) node: receiving, from a first network node, first policy and charging related information associated with a first user of a telecommunication network; receiving, from a second network node, second policy and charging related information; correlating the first and second policy and charging related information; and, in response to correlating the first and second policy and charging information, issuing a policy and charging control (PCC)-related instruction. In one embodiment, the PCC-related instruction may be sent to the first network node, the second network node, a third network node, or some combination of the above. In one embodiment, the PCRF may receive policy and charging related information from, and may issue PCC related instructions to, policy and charging enforcement functions (PCEFs), deep packet inspection (DPI) nodes, or Diameter signaling routers (DSRs). | 09-15-2011 |
20110263238 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR AUTOMATIC, RECURRENT ENFORCEMENT OF A POLICY RULE - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for automatic, repetitive enforcement of a policy rule according to a schedule are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for automatic, recurrent enforcement of a policy rule includes providing, to a node for enforcing policy rules in a telecommunications network, an automatically recurrent policy rule, the policy rule defining an enforcement activation condition and including an enforcement recurrence attribute; and using, at the node, the enforcement activation condition and the enforcement recurrence attribute to recurrently activate the enforcement of the policy rule according to the enforcement recurrence attribute. | 10-27-2011 |
20120131165 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MOBILITY MANAGEMENT IN NETWORK - A method implemented by a gateway device which handles sessions over a network to which the gateway device is connected and which also enforces conditions of service provided to those network sessions, the method involving: receiving from a policy server a policy rules package, wherein the policy rules package specifies a set of rules that are to be applied to certain sessions handled by the gateway device and a set of criteria for identifying among a plurality of subscribers a group of all subscribers to which the rules are to be applied by the gateway device; based on set of criteria in the policy rules package identifying all subscribers with currently active sessions to whom the policy rules are to be applied; and applying the set of rules to the sessions of the identified subscribers. | 05-24-2012 |