IMS Data Channel Signaling for Content-Aware Session Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication networks lack the ability to indicate whether data channel (DC) content is available, leading to unnecessary signaling overhead and resource reservation during IMS sessions, especially when networks do not have DC content to offer.

Innovation Solution

An IMS network node provides an indication in a SIP message to UEs about available DC content, allowing them to establish data channels only when content is present, thereby avoiding unnecessary resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network establishes data channels for IMS sessions without indicating DC content availability, then the UE can potentially access content, but unnecessary signaling overhead and resource reservation occur when no DC content is available

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDC content delivery reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary action by indicating DC content availability before the UE establishes data channels. The network node provides an indication in a SIP message about whether DC content is available, allowing the UE to make informed decisions about channel establishment and avoid unnecessary signaling when content is not available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network implements feedback by providing the UE with information about DC content availability through SIP messages. This feedback mechanism allows the UE to adjust its behavior accordingly - establishing data channels only when content is available - thereby reducing unnecessary signaling overhead while maintaining reliable content delivery when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the UE establishes data channels without prior indication of DC content availability, then content access is enabled, but network resources are wasted when no DC content exists

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDC content access capabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network node performs preliminary action by indicating DC content availability before the UE establishes data channels. This allows the UE to maintain its content access capability while avoiding the establishment of unnecessary data channels when content is not available, thereby preventing network resource wastage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE uses the indication information to make self-service decisions about data channel establishment. When the indication shows DC content is available, the UE establishes channels to access content; when not available, the UE skips channel establishment. This self-service approach optimizes resource usage while preserving content access capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If the network provides indication of DC content availability in SIP messages, then unnecessary signaling is reduced, but the network must implement additional indication mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork node complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node leverages existing SIP message structures to carry DC content availability indications, making the solution universal. By utilizing multi-functionality of existing protocol elements rather than creating entirely new signaling mechanisms, the network achieves improved signaling efficiency while minimizing the increase in network node complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250301024A1Methods, user equipment and internet protocol multimedia subsystem network node for handling communication in a communication network

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by an IMS network node (12) for handling an IMS session of one or more UEs in a communication network 1. The IMS network node provides to a UE (100) an indication in a SIP message, indicating available data channel content or not for an IMS session.