IMS Roaming Awareness via HSS Propagation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current IMS systems lack the ability to determine a subscriber's roaming status in real-time, which hinders accurate charging and service authorization, especially in online charging scenarios where correlation of charging information is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A method that makes the IMS core network aware of a subscriber's roaming condition by propagating roaming information within the IMS core network and to application servers, allowing for differentiated charging and service authorization based on the subscriber's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the HGGSN model is used for IMS roaming, then the subscriber can access IMS services through the home network access point, but the IMS core network cannot determine the subscriber's roaming status in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the HGGSN sends roaming information to the HSS, which then propagates this information to the S-CSCF and other IMS core network elements. This intermediary information flow enables real-time roaming status detection without requiring changes to the fundamental HGGSN model architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where roaming information is continuously updated and propagated from the HGGSN through the HSS to the IMS control elements. This feedback mechanism ensures that the IMS core network maintains real-time awareness of the subscriber's roaming status, enabling accurate charging and service authorization.
2Productivity
If charging information correlation is performed, then offline charging can work, but online charging cannot function because OCS systems cannot perform correlation in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the HSS pre-process and store roaming information before charging operations occur. This allows the OCS system to access pre-prepared roaming status data during online charging, eliminating the need for real-time correlation operations and enabling both online and offline charging to function efficiently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the IMS core network becomes roaming-aware, then proper service authorization and differentiated charging can be implemented, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the HSS a universal node that handles both subscriber profile management and roaming information propagation functions. By making the HSS multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for roaming awareness, thereby implementing service authorization and differentiated charging capabilities while minimizing increases in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing access to an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) for a subscriber communicating in an access communication network and requesting access to the IP multimedia subsystem through a home interface entity located in the home communication network (HN) of the subscriber (UE), wherein the IP multimedia subsystem is a packet switched based domain located in the home communication network.