Circuit-switched and multimedia subsystem voice continuity with bearer path interruption

• US 10,462,191 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mahdi, Kaniz
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassim, Khaled M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harley, Jason A
• Application Number:
  US13/620,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20130022039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/06 using auxiliary connections for control or supervision , e.g. where the auxiliary connection is a signalling system number 7 link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13201 Change-over of service during connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/02 Buffering or recovering information during reselection ; Modification of the traffic flow during hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14

Abstract

The present invention maintains calls during transfers between different types of subsystems, even when there is a bearer path interruption at the user element due to the original connection from the transferring-out subsystem being dropped before the new connection in the transferring-in subsystem is established. The call signaling leg toward the remote endpoint of the remote party is held, while the call signaling leg toward the user element is moved from the transferring-out subsystem to the transferring-in subsystem and a new bearer path is established via the transferring-in subsystem. During transfers with a bearer path interruption, a portion of the bearer path leading to the remote endpoint may be connected to a media resource function, which will provide an announcement to the remote party. Once the user element is accessible in the transferring-in subsystem, the bearer path is further transferred to the user element via the transferring-in subsystem.

Claims

1. A method of performing voice continuity in a network node, the method comprising:

receiving, via a call session control function (CSCF) at a continuity control function (CCF) of the network node, a first message from a client of a first subsystem, the first message including at least one transition indication indicating transition of an ongoing session from the first subsystem to a second subsystem, wherein the CCF anchors active circuit-switched subsystem (CS) calls and home multimedia subsystem (MS) sessions;

in response to receiving the first message, sending a first response from the CCF via a communication interface on the network node;

receiving, from a client of the second subsystem at the CCF, a second message via a target access leg, the second message comprising a CCF public service identities (PSI); and

sending, from the CCF via the communication interface, a session initiation protocol (SIP) 200 OK message to indicate voice continuity of the ongoing session has been successful,

wherein the ongoing session is anchored at the CCF in an MS, and wherein the network node is configured to invoke the CCF when a bearer path interruption occurs while transferring the ongoing session between a CS and the MS to maintain the ongoing session during the transfer.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of receiving the first message or sending the SIP 200 OK is on the target access leg.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ongoing session is established over an initial bearer path between a remote endpoint and a user equipment through a media gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the CCF employs a back to back user agent function (B2BUA).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIP 200 OK message is sent to one of at least a media gateway controller (MGC) or a mobile switching center (MSC).

6. A network node for performing voice continuity, wherein the network node comprises:

a communication interface; and

a control system to facilitate communications via the communication interface, wherein the control system is configured to;

receive, via a call session control function (CSCF) at a continuity control function (CCF) of the network node, a first message from a client of a first subsystem, the first message including at least one transition indication indicating transition of an ongoing session from the first subsystem to a second subsystem, wherein the CCF anchors active circuit-switched subsystem (CS) calls and home multimedia subsystem (MS) sessions;

in response to receiving the first message, send a first response from the CCF;

receive, from a client of the second subsystem at the CCF, a second message via a target access leg, the second message comprising a CCF public service identities (PSI); and

send, from the CCF, a session initiation protocol (SIP) 200 OK message to perform voice continuity such that the ongoing session is maintained while transferring the ongoing session from the first subsystem to the second subsystem,

wherein the ongoing session is anchored at the CCF in an MS, and wherein the network node is configured to invoke the CCF when a bearer path interruption occurs while transferring the ongoing session between a CS and the MS to maintain the ongoing session during the transfer.

7. The network node as set forth in claim 6, wherein at least one of receiving the first message or sending the SIP 200 OK message is on the target access leg, wherein the CSCF comprises a serving CSCF (S-CSCF), and wherein the target access leg is anchored at the CCF and extends through the S-CSCF.

8. The network node as set forth in claim 6, wherein the ongoing session is established over an initial bearer path between a remote endpoint and a user equipment through a media gateway.

9. A method of performing voice continuity in a user equipment, the method comprising:

sending, to a continuity control function (CCF) and via an interface on the user equipment, a first message including at least one transition indication corresponding to an ongoing session with the user equipment, wherein the CCF anchors active circuit-switched subsystem (CS) calls and home multimedia subsystem (MS) sessions;

receiving, via the interface, a first response acknowledging receipt of the first message; and

sending, via the interface, a second message in response to receipt of said first response to perform voice continuity such that the ongoing session is maintained while the user equipment transitions from a first subsystem to a second subsystem,

wherein the first message is sent from an MS client on the user equipment in response to the user equipment detecting a need to transition from the first subsystem to the second subsystem,

wherein the second message contains a CCF public service identities (PSI), wherein the CCF PSI enables initiating session transfers between the first and second subsystems, and

wherein the SETUP message is sent from a CS client on the user equipment to transfer the ongoing session from a multimedia subsystem to a CS subsystem, and wherein the CCF is invoked to maintain the ongoing session when a bearer path interruption occurs during the transfer.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second message is a SETUP message sent to the CCF via a call session control function (CSCF) configured to act as a proxy for the user equipment, and wherein the CSCF comprises at least one of a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) or an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF).

11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the ongoing session is initially established from the MS client on the user equipment toward a remote endpoint via an MS.

12. A user equipment for performing voice continuity, the user equipment configured to:

send, to a continuity control function (CCF), a first message including at least one transition indication corresponding to an ongoing session with the user equipment, wherein the CCF anchors active circuit-switched subsystem (CS) calls and home multimedia subsystem (MS) sessions;

receive a first response acknowledging receipt of said first message; and

send a second message in response to receipt of said first response to perform voice continuity such that the ongoing session is maintained while the user equipment transitions from a first subsystem to a second subsystem,

wherein the first message is sent from an MS client on the user equipment in response to the user equipment detecting a need to transition from the first subsystem to the second subsystem,

wherein the second message contains a CCF public service identities (PSI), wherein the CCF PSI enables initiating session transfers between the first and second subsystems, and

wherein the CCF is invoked to maintain the ongoing session when a bearer path interruption occurs during the transfer.

13. The user equipment as set forth in claim 12, wherein the second message is a SETUP message sent to the CCF via a call session control function (CSCF) configured to act as a proxy for the user equipment, wherein the CSCF comprises at least one of a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) or an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF).

14. The user equipment as set forth in claim 13, wherein the SETUP message is sent to the CCF from a CS client on the user equipment, and wherein the CCF is configured to perform voice continuity to transfer the ongoing session from a multimedia subsystem to a CS subsystem in response to receiving the SETUP message.

15. The user equipment as set forth in claim 14, wherein the ongoing session is initially established from the MS client on the user equipment toward a remote endpoint via the multimedia subsystem.