Systems and methods for user sessions with dynamic service selection

Abstract

Under one aspect, a system generates dynamic call models within a network, allowing different user entities (UEs) to have different service experiences. The network includes application servers (ASs) and a switch that receives and then forwards UE service requests. The system includes storage media storing hierarchically organized data, which defines potential call models that map potential UE service requests onto ASs. At least two potential call models map a specified potential UE service request onto different ASs that can provide different service experiences. The system includes control logic for providing session control, which receives UE service requests from the switch, receives the hierarchically organized data from the storage media, generates a call model for each UE based on potential call models defined by the hierarchically organized data and on the requested service, and invokes a specified AS based on the generated call model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating dynamic call models within a network so that different user entities (UEs) can have different experiences, the network having application servers (ASs) associated therewith for providing services to the UEs based on service requests by the UEs, the network further including a switch for receiving service requests by the UEs and forwarding the requests, the method comprising:
 storing hierarchically organized data, the hierarchically organized data defining a plurality of potential call models, the potential call models mapping potential service requests by the UEs onto the ASs, at least two of the potential call models mapping a specified potential service request by a UE onto different ASs capable of providing, for a given service, different service experiences to the UE;   providing session control for the UEs by: receiving service requests by the UEs forwarded by the switch; receiving the stored hierarchically organized data; and   generating a call model for each UE based on the potential call models defined by the hierarchically organized data and on the service requested by that UE.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the call models is based on a service tree architecture that maps one of the potential service requests onto a plurality of AS options that includes the specified AS as one option. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein storing the hierarchically organized data includes storing a plurality of hierarchically organized data for different groups of UEs. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising forwarding service requests received by the switch based on a pre-configured trigger. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising obtaining the pre-configured trigger from a home subscriber subsystem (HSS). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving from at least one UE a message expressing a dynamic context of the at least one UE. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the dynamic context of the UE comprises an access network that becomes newly available to the UE. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forwarding the service request message with dynamic context information from the switch to the control logic based on a pre-configured trigger. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising generating a new call model for the UE based on the forwarded dynamic context message. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising generating the call model based on a change in policy by a network operator using control logic providing session control for the UEs and the switch. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing services to groups of UEs subscribing to one of a plurality of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), wherein at least some services that a first MVNO provides to a first subscribing group of UEs are different from at least some services that a second MVNO provides to a second subscribing group of UEs. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising generating call models for the first and second groups of UEs, wherein the hierarchically organized data maps service requests by the first subscribing group of UEs to ASs associated with the first MVNO, and wherein the hierarchically organized data maps service requests by the second subscribing group of UEs to ASs associated with the second MVNO. 
     
     
         26 . A system for generating dynamic call models within a network so that different user entities (UEs) can have different service experiences, the network having application servers (ASs) associated therewith for providing services to the UEs based on service requests by the UEs, the network including a switch for receiving service requests by the UEs and forwarding the requests, the system comprising:
 storage media for storing hierarchically organized data defining a plurality of potential call models, the potential call models mapping potential service requests by the UEs onto the ASs, at least two of the potential call models mapping a specified potential service request by a UE onto different ASs capable of providing different service experiences to the UE; and   one or more servers for providing session control for the UEs, the one or more servers being configured to (i) receive service requests by the UEs forwarded by the switch, (ii) receive the hierarchically organized data from the storage media, (iii) generate a call model for each UE based on the potential call models defined by the hierarchically organized data and on the service requested by that UE and (iv) invoke a specified AS based on the call model generated for that UE.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more servers is in direct communication with the ASs. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the storage media stores a plurality of hierarchically organized data for different groups of UEs. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the switch forwards service requests by the UEs based on a pre-configured trigger. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the switch obtains the pre-configured trigger from a home subscriber subsystem (HSS). 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the switch is configured to receive a message expressing a dynamic context of a UE. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the dynamic context of the UE comprises an access network that becomes newly available to the UE. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the switch forwards the service request message with dynamic context information to the control logic based on a pre-configured trigger. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more servers is further configured to generate a new call model for the UE based on the forwarded dynamic context message. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more servers is further configured to generate the call model based on a change in policy by a network operator using the control logic and the switch. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein a plurality of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) use the the one or more servers and the switch to provide services to groups of UEs subscribing to the MVNOs, and wherein at least some services that a first MVNO provides to a first subscribing group of UEs are different from at least some services that a second MVNO provides to a second subscribing group of UEs. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more servers is configured to use the hierarchically organized data to generate call models for the first and second groups of UEs, and wherein the hierarchically organized data maps service requests by the first subscribing group of UEs to ASs owned by the first MVNO, and wherein the hierarchically organized data maps service requests by the second subscribing group of UEs to ASs owned by the second MVNO. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the call models are based on a service tree architecture that maps one of the potential service requests onto a plurality of AS options that includes the specified AS as one option. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein different ones of the AS options provide different service experiences to different subscriber groups of UEs. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more servers includes a server providing combinational services. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the server providing combinational services is configured to exchange combinational capabilities between originating and terminating UEs. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the specified potential service request includes a request for a mobility service that maintains a continuous session for the UEs when a vertical handoff occurs across access networks available to the UEs. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a plurality of access networks are available to the UEs, each of the access networks having a service profile defining services supported by the respective access networks and service policies for determining what service or services are to be provided. 
     
     
         43 . A system for generating dynamic call models so that different UEs can have different IMS service experiences, the system comprising:
 an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network having ASs associated therewith for providing services to the UEs based on service requests by the UEs, the IMS network also including a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) for receiving service requests by the UEs and forwarding the requests;   a storage media for storing hierarchically organized data, the hierarchically organized data defining a plurality of potential call models, the potential call models mapping potential service requests by the UEs onto the ASs, at least two of the potential call models mapping a specified potential service request by a UE onto different ASs capable of providing different service experiences to the UE; and   control logic configured to (i) provide session control for the UEs, (ii) receive service requests by the UEs forwarded by the S-CSCF, (iii) receive the hierarchically organized data from the storage media; and (iv) generate a call model for each UE based on the potential call models defined by the hierarchically organized data and on the service requested by the UE and (iv) invoke a specified AS based on the call model generated for the UE.