IMS Application Server Subscriber Data Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subscriber data management systems face challenges in managing both transparent and non-transparent subscriber data across Circuit Switched (CS) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks, especially when a user accesses the IMS network via a CS access network, as existing solutions fail to seamlessly map and provision service settings, leading to inconvenient operations and limitations in controlling supplementary services.
Innovation Solution
An IMS Application Server is used to receive subscriber data from a Home Subscriber Server, which includes information identifying a CS network's Home Location Register and instructions for handling subscriber service data, allowing the Application Server to send mapped messages to the HLR for updating service settings, ensuring consistent data management across both domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If subscriber data is managed separately in CS and IMS networks, then each network can independently control its services, but data consistency and seamless service provisioning across networks deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the service data management functions of both CS and IMS networks into a unified management framework. The HSS in the IMS network stores both IMS service data and CS service data, while the HLR in the CS network stores references to this centralized data. This consolidation ensures data consistency across networks while maintaining the ability to independently control services through network-specific access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The HSS in the IMS network is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the IMS home subscriber server and the CS home location register. This multi-functional design allows a single database to support both IMS and CS services, ensuring data consistency while enabling independent service control through appropriate interface protocols.
2Ease of operation
If an Application Server maps and provisions service settings to the HLR, then service provisioning across CS and IMS networks is improved, but signaling requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Application Server acts as an intermediary between the HSS and HLR, performing the mapping and provisioning of service settings. It receives service data from the HSS, maps it to the appropriate CS network format, and provisions it to the HLR. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a single point of intelligence for cross-network service management, rather than requiring complex direct interactions between multiple network elements.
3Productivity
If existing solutions are used for CS access to IMS services, then Voice Over IP services can be offered during PS bearer build-out, but seamless service delivery and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning of service data in the HSS before the user actually accesses IMS services via CS network. The HLR is pre-configured with references to the HSS and appropriate service settings. When the user initiates a service request, the pre-provisioned data enables immediate and seamless service delivery without requiring real-time data translation or additional signaling, thus maintaining high service quality during the transition period.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of managing subscriber data in a communications network. Subscriber data is sent from A Home Subscriber Server in an IMS network to an Application Server in the IMS network. The subscriber data includes information identifying a Home Location Register in a Circuit Switched network and instructions for handing subscriber service data. A message is then sent from the Application Server to the identified Home Location Register, the message comprising at least part of the instructions, and an address of the Application Server.