Suppressing CAMEL Service Invocation in IMS Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In existing IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networks using CAMEL services, there is a waste of network resources and time due to the lack of efficient information sharing between nodes, leading to unnecessary checks for CAMEL service invocation on new communication legs.

Innovation Solution

A method where a first node handling terminating services retrieves CAMEL information and transmits a portion of it to a Call Session Control Function (CSCF) node, which adds this information to SIP requests, allowing a second node handling originating services to conditionally invoke CAMEL services based on the received information, thereby optimizing the use of network resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CAMEL service information is retrieved at each node independently, then each node can make accurate service decisions, but network resources are wasted due to redundant CAMEL service checks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice decision accuracyVSAvoidnetwork resource waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The first node (handling terminating services) performs the CAMEL service check in advance and stores the result. This preliminary action prevents the second node from performing redundant checks, thereby maintaining service decision accuracy while reducing network resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an information sharing mechanism where the first node acts as an intermediary that provides pre-retrieved CAMEL service information to the second node. This intermediary approach eliminates redundant operations while ensuring accurate service decisions at the second node.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If CAMEL service information is shared between nodes, then network resources are optimized, but the system complexity increases due to additional information transmission and coordination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork resource efficiencyVSAvoidinformation sharing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary CAMEL service information (specifically the indicator whether CAMEL services should be invoked) from the first node and transmits it to the second node. By taking out only the essential information rather than sharing complete service data, the system reduces complexity while maintaining resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the second node independently checks CAMEL service invocation, then service accuracy is maintained, but processing time is increased due to redundant checks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice invocation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The first node performs the CAMEL service invocation check in advance and communicates the result to the second node. This preliminary action eliminates the need for the second node to perform redundant checks, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining service invocation accuracy through the use of the pre-determined indicator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9350768B2Suppressing CAMEL service invocation for diverting users

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method is provided for establishing a new communication leg of a communication session in an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network architecture that includes CAMEL services. The method enables IMS network nodes to selectively invoke or suppress invocation of CAMEL services based on signaling received in SIP requests.