Method, system and apparatus for handling terminal capabilities

Abstract

The present invention relates to telecommunication systems providing multiple services which could require possible adaptations based on the capabilities of the terminal used to access those services. Master databases in the telecommunication system take the responsibility to map between terminal and user identifiers. Applications and services are thus able to query terminal related capability information based on a user identity. In accordance with the invention, a Terminal Capabilities database (TC-DB) is introduced in order to establish a temporary relationship between a user and a terminal operated by such user. When a user attaches to the network, a terminal identifier is sent to the network that forwards that identity to the TC-DB. For retrieval of terminal capabilities the application servers send a request message to the TC-DB by using the user identity as a correlating key.

1 . A method for providing capabilities of a terminal equipment operated by a user, the method carried out at a network entity holding user profiles for users of a telecommunication network and comprising:
 receiving a user identity for a user operating a terminal equipment and a terminal equipment identifier identifying the terminal equipment;   associating the received user identity with the received terminal equipment identifier and with a user profile for the user;   receiving a request from an application server for providing the capabilities of the terminal equipment currently in use by the user identified by the user identity;   obtaining the terminal equipment identifier associated with the user identity;   fetching from a terminal capabilities database a list of capabilities stored for the terminal equipment identifier; and   sending the list of capabilities to the application server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity holding the user profiles is a Home Location Register (HLR) or a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier comprises receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier at the HSS from a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier comprises receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier at the HLR or HSS from a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a GPRS network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier comprises receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier at the HLR from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a GSM network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier comprises receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier at the HLR or HSS from a WLAN Support Node (WSN) of a WLAN network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network entity holding the user profiles is an Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier comprises receiving the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier at the AAA server from a Network Access Server (NAS) of a network. 
     
     
         9 . A network entity holding user profiles for users of a telecommunication network, the network entity comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the network entity to:
 receive a user identity for a user operating a terminal equipment and a terminal equipment identifier identifying the terminal equipment; 
 store the received user identity in association with the received terminal equipment identifier and with a user profile for the user; 
 receive a request from an application server for providing the capabilities of the terminal equipment currently in use by the user identified by the user identity; 
 obtain the terminal equipment identifier associated with the user identity and fetch from a terminal capabilities database a list of capabilities stored for the terminal equipment identifier; and 
 send the list of capabilities to the application server. 
   
     
     
         10 . The network entity of  claim 9 , wherein the network entity is a Home Location Register (HLR) or Home Subscriber Server (HSS). 
     
     
         11 . The network entity of  claim 10 , wherein the network entity is configured to receive the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier from a Serving Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF) of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network. 
     
     
         12 . The network entity of  claim 10 , wherein the network entity is configured to receive the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier from a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) of a GPRS network. 
     
     
         13 . The network entity of  claim 10 , wherein the network entity is configured to receive the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a GSM network. 
     
     
         14 . The network entity of  claim 10 , wherein the network entity is configured to receive the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier from a WLAN Support Node (WSN) of a WLAN network. 
     
     
         15 . The network entity of  claim 9 , wherein the network entity is an Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server. 
     
     
         16 . The network entity of  claim 15 , wherein the network entity is configured to receive the user identity and the terminal equipment identifier from a Network Access Server (NAS) of a network.