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Methods and apparatus for authorizing an access terminal (AT) requesting a service provided by an entity in an access network are disclosed. After being authorized for a communication session with the access network, the AT addresses an inquiry to a domain name server (DNS) for a contact of a servic

Methods and apparatus for authorizing an access terminal (AT) requesting a service provided by an entity in an access network are disclosed. After being authorized for a communication session with the access network, the AT addresses an inquiry to a domain name server (DNS) for a contact of a service selector (SS) administering the desired service. A controller in the access network (BSC/PCF) routs the inquiry to and returns a response from the DNS. The AT then addresses a service query containing the AT's capabilities to the SS. The BSC/PCF directs attributes allowing the SS to authorize the service. Upon the SS's acknowledgement of the attributes, the BSC/PCF forwards to the SS the service query. Upon authorization, the SS notifies the BSC/PCF, and if the AT is authorized, selects in accordance with the AT's capabilities an appropriate service provider (SP) to provide the service.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for service authorization and offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:receiving at a controller a service query addressed to a service selector; determining whether said service query addres

1. A method for service authorization and offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:receiving at a controller a service query addressed to a service selector; determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said if said determining is positive then: determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with said service query; and authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said providing from the controller the set of parameters to the service selector comprises:determining a source address from said service query; and sending said set of parameters to the selector indicated by said source address. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:receiving at the controller the set of parameters from an authentication, authorization and accounting server. 4. A method for service authorization and offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:transmitting from a subscriber station a service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; receiving at a controller said service query addressed to the service selector; determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with said service query; and authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector comprises:determining a source address from said service query; and sending said set of parameters indicated by said source address. 6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:requesting at a subscriber station an address of a service selector administering a desired service. 7. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:receiving at the controller said set of parameters from a server. 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said receiving at the controller said set of parameters from said server comprises:receiving at the controller said set of parameters from a server when the subscriber station establishes a communication with the communication system. 9. A method for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:receiving at a controller a service query addressed to a service selector; determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: providing from the controller a set of parameters and said service query to the service selector; authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters; selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with said service query; and providing service related information by the service provider. 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:receiving at the controller said set of parameters from a server. 11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein if said determining that said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message is positive then the method comprises:providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector; providing from the service provider at least one parameter from said set of parameters to the service provider; and providing service related information by the service provider. 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein if said determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time is negative then the method comprises:forwarding said service query to the service selector; selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with the service query; and providing service related information by the service provider. 14. A method for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:transmitting from a subscriber station a service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; receiving at a controller said service query addressed to the service selector; determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: providing from the controller a set of parameters and said service query to the service selector; authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters; selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with said service query; and providing service related information by the service provider. 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein if said determining that said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message is positive then the method comprises:providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector; providing from the service provider at least one parameter from said set of parameters to the service provider; and providing service related information by the service provider. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein if said determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time is negative then the method comprises:forwarding said service query to the service selector; selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with the service query; and providing service related information by the service provider. 18. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:receiving at a subscriber station an address of a service selector administering a desired service. 19. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:receiving at the controller said set of parameters from a server. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said receiving at the controller said set of parameters from a server comprises:receiving at the controller said set of parameters from the server when the subscriber station establishes a communication with the communication system. 21. An apparatus for service authorization in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:a controller configured to: receive a service query addressed to a service selector; determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: provide a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with the service query; and at least one service selector communicatively coupled to said controller configured to: receive said set of parameters from said controller; and authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters. 22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said controller is configured to provides said set of parameters to the service selector by being configured to:determine a source address from the service query; and provide the set of parameters indicated by the source address to the service selector. 23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:a server communicatively coupled to said controller configured to provide said set of parameters to said controller. 24. An apparatus for service authorization in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:a subscriber station configured to transmit a service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; a controller communicatively coupled to said subscriber station configured to: receive a service query addressed to the service selector; determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: provide a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with the service query; and at least one service selector communicatively coupled to said controller configured to: receive a set of parameters from said controller; and authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters. 25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said controller is configured to provide the set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with the service query by being configured to:determine a source address from the service query; and provide the set of parameters indicated by the source address to the service selector. 26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said subscriber station is further configured to:request an address of a service selector administering a desired service. 27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:a server configured to provide the set of parameters to said controller. 28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein said server is configured to:provide to said controller the set of parameters when said subscriber station establishes a communication with the communication system. 29. An apparatus for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:a controller configured to: receive a service query addressed to a service selector; determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: provide a set of parameters and the service query to the service selector; and at least one service selector communicatively coupled to said controller configured to: receive a set of parameters from said controller; receive a service query from said controller; authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters; select a service provider to provide the service in accordance with the service query; and at least one service provider configured to provide service related information. 30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:a server configured to provide a set of parameters to said controller. 31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein if said controller determines that said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message then:said controller is configured to provide a set of parameters to the service selector; and said service provider is configured to provide at least one parameter from the set of parameters to the service provider. 32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said service provider is further configured to:authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters. 33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein if said controller determines that the service query addressed to the service selector is not received for the first time then the controller is configured to:forward the service query to the service selector. 34. An apparatus for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:a subscriber station configured to transmit a service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; a controller communicatively coupled to said subscriber station configured to: receive a service query addressed to a service selector; determine whether the service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: determine whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: provide a set of parameters and the service query to the service selector; and at least one service selector communicatively coupled to said controller configured to: receive a set of parameters from said controller; receive a service query from said controller; authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters. select a service provider to provide the service in accordance with the service query; and at least one service provider configured to provide service related information. 35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said subscriber station is further configured to:request an address of a service selector administering a desired service. 36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:a server configured to provide a set of parameters to said controller. 37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said server is configured to:provide to said controller the set of parameters when said subscriber station establishes a communication with the communication system. 38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein if said controller determines that said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message then:said controller is configured to provide a set of parameters to the service selector; and said service provider is configured to provide at least one parameter from said set of parameters to the service provider. 39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 38, wherein said service provider is further configured to:authorize the service in accordance with the set of parameters. 40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein if said controller determines that the service query addressed to the service selector is not received for the first time then the controller is configured to:forward the service query to the service selector. 41. An apparatus for service authorization in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:means for receiving at a controller a service query addressed to a service selector; means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: means for providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with said service query; and means for authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 42. An apparatus for service authorization in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the apparatus comprising:means for transmitting from a subscriber station service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; means for receiving at a said controller said service query addressed to the service selector; means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: means for providing from the controller a set of parameters to the service selector in accordance with said service query; and means for authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters. 43. An apparatus for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:means for receiving at a controller a service query addressed to a service selector; means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: means for providing from the controller a set of parameters and said service query to the service selector; means for authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters; means for selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with said service query; and means for providing service related information by the service provider. 44. An apparatus for providing services in a communication system offering at least one service, each of said at least one service being administered by a distinct service selector, the method comprising:means for transmitting from a subscriber station service query addressed to a service selector administering a desired service; means for receiving at a controller said service query addressed to the service selector; means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector is received for the first time; and if said determining is positive then: means for determining whether said service query addressed to the service selector comprises a No-Op message, and if said determining is negative then: means for providing from the controller a set of parameters and said service query to the service selector; means for authorizing at the service selector said service in accordance with said set of parameters; means for selecting at the service selector a service provider to provide said service in accordance with said service query; and means for providing service related information by the service provider.