Guard Timer Accelerates IMS Registration After User Call
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users experience prolonged wait times when attempting to make calls during IMS registration, due to the 128-second Timer F, which can take up to 5-10 minutes to complete, leading to a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'guard timer' (Timer F1) that expires within 5-10 seconds, triggered by user action during registration, to accelerate IMS restoration by prematurely expiring Timer F and initiating alternative registration attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Timer F duration is kept at 128 seconds to prevent network overload, then network stability is maintained, but user wait time for call establishment increases to 5-10 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the registration timeout mechanism into two distinct timers: Timer F (128 seconds) for general registration attempts to prevent network overload, and a new accelerated timer (5-10 seconds) triggered by user action. This segmentation allows the system to maintain network stability through Timer F while providing rapid response to user-initiated calls through the accelerated timer, thereby resolving the contradiction between network reliability and user wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the timer mechanism by making the timer selection dependent on user action. When a user attempts to place a call during registration, the system dynamically switches from the standard 128-second Timer F to an accelerated 5-10 second timer. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for user experience when needed while maintaining network stability during normal operation, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Loss of time
If Timer F duration is shortened to reduce user wait time, then call establishment speed improves, but network stability deteriorates due to simultaneous registration attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timer functionality into two distinct modes: the original 128-second Timer F for background registration attempts that maintains network stability, and a new accelerated timer (5-10 seconds) specifically for user-initiated call scenarios. This segmentation enables the system to provide fast response when users need to make calls without compromising the network stability provided by the longer Timer F for general registration traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the timer duration dependent on the specific operational context. When a user attempts to place a call, the system locally adjusts the timer duration to 5-10 seconds for that specific transaction, while other registration attempts continue to use the 128-second Timer F. This localized optimization provides fast call establishment when needed without affecting the overall network stability maintained by the longer timer for other operations.
3Reliability
If multiple registration attempts are made across different P-CSCF nodes, then registration success rate improves, but total wait time increases due to sequential attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the UE prepare and attempt registration with multiple P-CSCF nodes in advance, before the user actually needs to place a call. When a user initiates a call, the system can immediately utilize pre-prepared registration information from previous attempts, rather than waiting for Timer F to expire and sequentially trying different nodes. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the wait time for call establishment while maintaining high registration success rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the registration process by enabling the system to adaptively switch between different P-CSCF nodes based on real-time conditions and user actions. When a user attempts to place a call, the system dynamically selects from pre-tested registration paths rather than following a fixed sequential approach. This dynamic selection reduces total wait time while maintaining high registration success rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A timer may be used by a device during registration for one or more services of a telecommunication service provider. The function of the timer is to decrease the time that the device (and, hence, the user of the device) waits for successful registration in instances where the device becomes aware that the user clearly wants to use a service (e.g., make a call). The timer may be configured to start in response to the device receiving user input to establish a communication session during registration, and to stop in response to the device receiving a response indicating a successful registration. If the timer expires during registration, an IMS restoration procedure may be performed to attempt registration using a different approach, which, because of the relatively short duration of the timer, expedites the IMS restoration procedure to establish the session more quickly.