Local IMS Selection for Trusted Carrier Roaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern cellular communication networks face challenges in seamlessly integrating and managing multimedia communications between IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) of different communication providers, particularly during roaming scenarios, which can lead to increased complexity and costs due to differing SIM systems and relationships between carriers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of local IMS selection mechanisms, including call session control functions (CSCFs) that coordinate with trusted partner carriers' IMS cores through interfaces like Diameter and IP multimedia Subsystem Service Control Interfaces, allows for flexible integration and reduced complexity by enabling carriers to share networks without changing SIM systems, thereby simplifying roaming procedures and cost structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional roaming procedures are used between different communication providers, then multimedia calls can be established between IMS systems, but the complexity and costs increase due to differing SIM systems and carrier relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the visited IMS system acts as a mediator for trusted carriers. When a roaming subscriber from a trusted carrier accesses services, the visited IMS system directly interfaces with the home IMS system of the trusted carrier, bypassing traditional complex roaming procedures. This intermediary approach simplifies the roaming procedure while maintaining reliable multimedia call establishment between different communication providers.
2Ease of operation
If carriers integrate their networks completely, then traffic migration becomes seamless, but the charging and provisioning architecture becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different integration approaches for different carrier relationships. For trusted carriers, the system enables direct IMS-to-IMS interfacing with simplified procedures, while maintaining traditional roaming architectures for non-trusted carriers. This localized differentiation allows seamless traffic migration for trusted partners without requiring complete architectural changes across all carrier relationships, thus avoiding unnecessary complexity in charging and provisioning systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If local IMS selection is implemented for trusted carriers, then integration flexibility increases and complexity reduces, but compatibility with non-trusted carriers may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the IMS selection mechanism adaptive based on carrier trust relationships. The system dynamically determines whether to apply local IMS selection or traditional roaming procedures based on whether the visiting carrier is designated as a trusted partner. This dynamic approach provides integration flexibility for trusted carriers while automatically maintaining compatibility with non-trusted carriers through standard procedures, thus managing carrier relationships without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A first carrier may support inbound roaming requests for subscribers of a trusted second carrier. For example, the first carrier may receive an inbound roaming request from a UE. The first carrier may determine a second carrier that is a home carrier of the UE is a trusted carrier associated with the first carrier. In response, an IMS procedure associated with the UE may be performed including communicating, by a first CSCF node of the first carrier, with a first HSS of the second carrier, using a same protocol as used by the first CSCF node to communicate with a second HSS of the first carrier and communicating, by the first CSCF node, with a first AS of the second carrier, using a same protocol as used by the first CSCF node to communicate with a second AS of the first carrier.