Convergence of telephone signaling, voice and data over a packet-switched network

• US 20010036173A1
• Filed: 02/06/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialogic, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Airslide Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Gottfried, Ofer, Arbetov, Vladimir, Geron, Roie, Durakovsky, Leonid, Shmulevich, Oren T
• Granted Patent: US 6,515,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

Cellular communications apparatus includes a plurality of cellular network switches, each switch adapted to transmit and receive signaling messages and media data, and a plurality of gateways. At least one gateway is associated with each of the plurality of network switches. The gateway is coupled to receive the signaling messages and media data transmitted by the associated switch and to convey the messages and data together over a common, packet-switched communication link to another of the gateways associated with another one of the network switches.

Claims

1. Gateway apparatus for coupling a cellular switching center to a packet-switched network, comprising:

a control unit, adapted to receive upstream signaling messages from the cellular switching center destined for a cellular signaling transfer point and to packetize the messages for transmission over the packet-switched network; and

a media gateway unit, adapted to receive from the cellular switching center upstream media data and to packetize the media data for transmission over the packet-switched network.

2. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the media data comprise voice signals.

3. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the media data are generated by a computer in communication with the cellular switching center.

4. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the media gateway unit and the control unit are located at a site of the cellular switching center from which they respectively receive the media data and the signaling messages.

5. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further adapted to receive message packets from the packet-switched network and to generate, responsive to the message packets, downstream signaling messages for delivery to the cellular switching center.

6. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit and the media gateway unit are adapted to packetize the signaling messages and the media data, respectively, in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP).

7. Apparatus according to

claim 6

, and comprising an IP router, which is coupled to route the packetized messages and data over the network.

8. Apparatus according to

claim 6

, wherein the control unit is adapted to extract routing information from the signaling messages received from the cellular switching center and to determine an IP address to which to send the packetized messages based on the routing information.

9. Apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein the routing information comprises Message Transfer Part (MTP) 3 information.

10. Apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein the routing information comprises Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)/Global Title Translation (GTT) information.

11. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the packet-switched network comprises a local area network (LAN) linking the control unit and the media gateway unit.

12. Apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein the control unit comprises a media gateway controller, which is coupled to control the media gateway unit via the LAN.

13. Apparatus according to

claim 11

, wherein the packet-switched network further comprises a wide-area network (WAN), coupled to the LAN so as to enable the cellular switching equipment to communicate via the WAN with other cellular switching equipment.

14. Apparatus according to

claim 13

, and comprising a router, which is configured to couple the WAN to the LAN.

15. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is configured to emulate circuit-switched signaling communications between the cellular switching center and other elements of a cellular network.

16. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and the signaling transfer point in the cellular network.

17. Apparatus according to

claim 16

, wherein the control unit is adapted to select for packetizing certain of the signaling messages that are to be transmitted over the packet-switched network, while other signaling messages are transmitted by the control unit over a circuit-switched link.

18. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and a Home Subscriber Service (HSS) in the cellular network.

19. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and a Home Location Register (HLR) in the cellular network.

20. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and a Service Control Point (SCP) in the cellular network.

21. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) in the cellular network.

22. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and a Short Message Service (SMS) center in the cellular network.

23. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the cellular switching center comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein the control unit is configured to emulate the signaling communications between the MSC and another MSC in the cellular network.

24. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive the signaling messages in accordance with a predetermined call control protocol of the cellular network and to pass the messages over the packet-switched network substantially without termination of the call control protocol.

25. Apparatus according to

claim 24

, wherein the call control protocol comprises a SS7 protocol.

26. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the control unit is adapted to read a destination field in the signaling messages and to transmit the messages to a destination address on the packet-switched network indicated by the destination field.

27. Apparatus according to

claim 26

, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a SS7 protocol, and wherein the destination field comprises a destination point code.

28. Apparatus according to

claim 15

, wherein the control unit is further adapted to track a state of a call placed by the cellular switching center and to control the media gateway unit responsive to the state of the call.

29. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the packet-switched network couples the cellular switching center, via the gateway apparatus, with other cellular switching equipment within a common network.

30. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the cellular switching center belongs to a first cellular network, and wherein the packet-switched network couples the cellular switching equipment, via the gateway apparatus, with cellular switching equipment in a second cellular network.

31. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further coupled to receive data messages from a cellular short message service (SMS) and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

32. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further coupled to receive data messages from a cellular Home Location Register (HLR) and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

33. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further coupled to receive data messages from a cellular Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

34. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further coupled to receive data messages from a Service Control Point (SCP) and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

35. Apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein the control unit is further coupled to receive data messages from a cellular Equipment Identity Register (EIR) and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

36. Cellular communications apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of cellular network switches, each switch adapted to transmit and receive signaling messages and media data; and

a plurality of gateways, at least one such gateway associated with each of the plurality of network switches and coupled to receive the signaling messages transmitted by the associated switch and to convey the messages over a common communication link to another of the gateways associated with another one of the network switches.

37. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the gateways are further coupled to receive the media data and to transmit the media data together with the signaling messages together over the common link.

38. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common communication link is part of a packet-switched communication network.

39. Apparatus according to

claim 38

, wherein the gateways are adapted to packetize the signaling messages and media data for conveyance over the packet-switched communication network in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP).

40. Apparatus according to

claim 39

, wherein the gateways are adapted to extract routing information from the signaling messages received from the associated network switches and to determine IP addresses to which to send the packetized messages based on the routing information.

41. Apparatus according to

claim 40

, wherein the routing information comprises Message Transfer Part (MTP) 3 information.

42. Apparatus according to

claim 40

, wherein the routing information comprises Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)/Global Title Translation (GTT) information.

43. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the switches are configured to transmit the signaling messages in accordance with a SS7 signaling protocol.

44. Apparatus according to

claim 43

, wherein the plurality of gateways have a common SS7 point code.

45. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the media data comprise voice signals.

46. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the media data are generated by a computer in communication with the cellular switching equipment.

47. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the cellular network switches are configured to communicate, in the absence of the gateways, over connections in a circuit-switched network, and wherein the gateways are configured to emulate circuit-switched communications with the associated cellular network switches.

48. Apparatus according to

claim 47

, wherein the gateways share a common address in the circuit-switched network.

49. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the cellular network switches comprise at least one mobile switching center (MSC).

50. Apparatus according to

claim 49

, and comprising a signaling transfer point (STP) and a signaling gateway associated with the STP, which is configured to exchange signaling messages over the common communication link with the gateway associated with the at least one MSC.

51. Apparatus according to

claim 49

, wherein the gateway associated with the at least one MSC is adapted to select certain of the signaling messages and media data to be conveyed over the common link, while other signaling messages and media data are transmitted by the MSC over separate circuit-switched links.

52. Apparatus according to

claim 49

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, configured to couple the MSC, via the associated gateway, with the other cellular network switches within a common cellular network.

53. Apparatus according to

claim 49

, wherein the MSC belongs to a first cellular network, and wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, configured to couple the MSC, via the associated gateway, with another cellular network switch in a second cellular network.

54. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, and comprising a cellular short message service (SMS) center and a SMS gateway, associated with the SMS center, wherein the SMS gateway is coupled to receive SMS data messages from the SMS center and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

55. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, and comprising a cellular Home Location Register (HLR) and a HLR gateway, associated with the HLR, wherein the HLR gateway is coupled to receive HLR data messages from the HLR and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

56. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, and comprising a cellular Home Subscriber Service (HSS) unit and a HSS gateway, associated with the HSS center, wherein the HSS gateway is coupled to receive HSS data messages from the HSS unit and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

57. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, and comprising an Equipment Identity Register (EIR) and an EIR gateway, associated with the EIR, wherein the EIR gateway is coupled to receive EIR data messages from the EIR and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

58. Apparatus according to

claim 36

, wherein the common link is a part of a packet-switched network, and comprising a cellular Service Control Point (SCP) and a SCP gateway, associated with the SCP, wherein the SCP gateway is coupled to receive SCP data messages from the SCP and to packetize the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

59. A method for coupling cellular switching equipment to a packet-switched network, comprising:

receiving upstream signaling messages and upstream media data from the cellular switching equipment; and

packetizing the messages and the data for transmission over a common link in the packet-switched network.

60. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein the media data comprise voice signals.

61. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein the media data are generated by a computer in communication with the cellular switching equipment.

62. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein receiving and packetizing the messages and the data comprises receiving and packetizing the messages and the data at a site of the cellular switching equipment.

63. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving message packets from the packet-switched network and generating, responsive to the message packets, downstream signaling messages for delivery to the cellular switching equipment.

64. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein packetizing the messages and the data comprises generating message and data packets in accordance with the Internet Protocol (IP).

65. A method according to

claim 64

, and comprising extracting routing information from the upstream signaling messages received from the cellular switching equipment, and routing the message and data packets to an address determined from the routing information.

66. A method according to

claim 65

, wherein the routing information comprises Message Transfer Part (MTP) 3 information.

67. A method according to

claim 65

, wherein the routing information comprises Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP)/Global Title Translation (GTT) information.

68. A method according to

claim 65

, wherein the address comprises an IP address.

69. A method according to

claim 65

, wherein the address comprises a SS7 address.

70. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein packetizing the media data comprises controlling a media gateway which packetizes the media data in accordance with information derived from the upstream signaling messages.

71. A method according to

claim 70

, wherein controlling the media gateway comprises monitoring a state of a call in accordance with a call control protocol, and controlling the media gateway responsive to the monitored state.

72. A method according to

claim 70

, wherein controlling the media gateway comprises monitoring a state of a call in accordance with a trunk maintenance protocol, and controlling the media gateway responsive to the monitored state.

73. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising transmitting the packetized messages and data over a wide-area network (WAN) to other cellular switching equipment.

74. A method according to

claim 73

, wherein transmitting the packetized messages and data comprises transmitting the packetized messages and data to other cellular switching equipment within a common cellular network.

75. A method according to

claim 73

, wherein the cellular switching equipment belongs to a first cellular network, and wherein transmitting the packetized messages and data comprises transmitting the packetized messages and data to cellular switching equipment in a second cellular network.

76. A method according to

claim 59

, wherein receiving the signaling messages and the media data comprises mimicking circuit-switched signaling communications between the cellular switching equipment and other elements of a cellular network.

77. A method according to

claim 76

, wherein the cellular switching equipment comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein mimicking the circuit-switched signaling communications comprises mimicking signaling communications between the MSC and a signaling transfer point (STP) in the cellular network.

78. A method according to

claim 77

, wherein packetizing the messages comprises sending the messages over the packet-switched network from a first packet gateway to a second packet gateway, both gateways having a common point code in the cellular network.

79. A method according to

claim 77

, wherein packetizing the messages and the data comprises selecting for packetizing certain of the signaling messages that are to be transmitted over the packet-switched network, while other signaling messages are transmitted by the cellular switching equipment over a circuit-switched link.

80. A method according to

claim 76

, wherein the cellular switching equipment comprises a mobile switching center (MSC), and wherein mimicking the circuit-switched signaling communications comprises mimicking signaling communications between the MSC and another MSC in the cellular network.

81. A method according to

claim 76

, wherein receiving the signaling messages comprises receiving signaling messages in accordance with a predetermined call control protocol of the cellular network and processing the messages for transmission over the packet-switched network substantially without termination of the call control protocol.

82. A method according to

claim 76

, wherein processing the messages comprises reading a destination field in the signaling messages, and determining a destination address for the messages on the packet-switched network indicated by the destination field.

83. A method according to

claim 82

, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a SS7 protocol, and wherein the destination field comprises a destination point code.

84. A method according to

claim 82

, and comprising tracking a state of a call placed by the cellular switching equipment, and conveying the state to the destination address.

85. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving data messages from a cellular short message service (SMS), and packetizing the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

86. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving data messages from a cellular Home Location Register (HLR), and packetizing the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

87. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving data messages from a cellular Equipment Identity Register (EIR), and packetizing the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

88. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving data messages from a cellular Third Generation (3G) Home Subscriber Service (HSS), and packetizing the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.

89. A method according to

claim 59

, and comprising receiving data messages from a cellular Service Control Point (SCP), and packetizing the data messages for transmission over the packet-switched network.