Optimal gateway discovery while roaming

• US 20020058515A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Eriksson, Goran A. P., Holler, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/455
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/59 using proxies for addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• 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

A method of retrieving an address of a previously unknown resource based on the location of the invoking user by consulting a known resource is provided. A user terminal, while roaming, may select an optimal gateway for providing multimedia communications to the terminal by first sending a service request to the terminal'"'"'s home gateway. In response, the home gateway determines the optimal gateway for use by the user based on the location of the invoking user. The address of the optimal gateway, as determined by the home gateway, is sent to the invoking user terminal, wherein the user sends a service request to the optimal gateway.

Claims

1. A method of locating a preferred gateway for use by an invoking party, the method comprising:

sending, by the invoking party, a service request to the invoking party'"'"'s home gateway;

determining, by the home gateway, a preferred gateway for use by the invoking party; and

sending, by the home gateway, a response to the invoking party indicating the preferred gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party is based on predefined preferences.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party is based on the location of the invoking party.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service request sent to the invoking party'"'"'s home gateway comprises information regarding the invoking party'"'"'s location.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the location of the invoking party is retrieved by the home gateway from a location database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party is based on the location of the invoking party and the located of the called party or parties.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party further comprises:

retrieving, from a gateway database, information indicating the preferred gateway.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party further comprises:

requesting information indicating the preferred gateway from a clearinghouse.

9. A method of invoking a service gateway by an invoking party while roaming, the method comprising the steps of:

sending, by the invoking party, a service request to the invoking party'"'"'s home gateway;

determining, by the home gateway, a preferred gateway for use by the invoking party;

sending, by the home gateway, a response to the invoking party indicating the preferred gateway; and

sending, by the invoking party, a service request to the preferred gateway.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party is based on predefined preferences.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party is based on the location of the invoking party.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party further comprises:

retrieving, from a gateway database, information indicating the preferred gateway.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the preferred gateway for use by the invoking party further comprises:

requesting information indicating the preferred gateway from a clearinghouse.