IMS Network Registration via WebSocket Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

IMS networks face high costs and increased signalling overheads due to a low Active/Registered (A/R) user ratio, where many users are registered but not actively using the network, leading to unnecessary licence fees and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for establishing a bi-directional communications channel between a terminal and a network server using a websocket connection, allowing users to register only when actively using services, thereby reducing the A/R ratio and minimizing signalling overheads, implemented through a network connection manager that provisions and manages connections efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users are registered in the IMS network to enable service access, then service availability is improved, but licence fees and signalling overheads increase due to low active/registered user ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidlicence fees and signalling overheads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic registration where users automatically register with the IMS network only when service activity is detected, and deregister when inactive. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt registration status based on actual usage, maintaining service availability when needed while reducing licence fees and signalling overheads during inactive periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs automatic service activity detection that triggers self-service registration and deregistration without manual user intervention. The network automatically monitors service usage patterns and manages registration status accordingly, eliminating the need for manual registration management while optimizing the balance between service availability and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the network is dimensioned according to expected number of registered users, then capacity planning is improved, but network underutilization occurs due to small active/registered user ratio

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork utilizationVSAvoidnumber of registered users
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing dynamic registration based on actual service activity, the network size adjusts automatically to match the number of active users. This prevents network dimensioning based on static expected numbers, ensuring that the network capacity matches actual demand and eliminates underutilization while maintaining adequate capacity for active users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If automatic registration is implemented based on service activity, then signalling overheads are reduced, but registration management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignalling overheadsVSAvoidregistration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic registration system uses self-service mechanisms where service activity detection automatically triggers registration or deregistration actions. This eliminates manual registration management complexity while reducing signalling overheads, as the system autonomously manages registration status based on observed service usage without requiring complex manual intervention protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2797285B1Method and apparatus for network communication
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 VODAFONE IP LICENSING LTD
  • EP2797285B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2797285B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2797285B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for network communication utilising a network server 110 that comprises a network connection manager 120 and is suitable for the establishment of a bi-directional communications channel 125 between the network server 110 and a first terminal 100 that comprises a connection management client 104, wherein the network server 110 is configured to: associate at the network connection manager 120 the connection management client 104 with a registered network user; transmit to the first terminal 100 a provisioning document comprising a credential with which the connection management client 104 may authenticate itself to the network connection manager 120; and receive at the network connection manager 120 the credential, and establish the bi-directional communications channel 125 between the connection management client 104 and the network connection manager 120, such that the network connection manager 120 may use said channel 125 to activate an application on the first terminal 100.