SIP-based multimedia communication system capable of providing mobility using lifelong number and mobility providing method

• US 20050125543A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Bahg, Young-Jick, Kim, Kyung-Sook, Park, Hyun-Seo, Kang, Sook-Yang
• Granted Patent: US 7,555,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

The SIP-based multimedia communication system for providing mobility using lifelong numbers provides mobility through SIP network service domains and a global domain. The SIP network service domain comprises a user agent and an SIP network server. The user agent transmits request/response messages between users to set up, correct, and cancel calls, and when contact information of the user agent is registered and registration of the contact information is cancelled, requests to be informed of state changes in registration information. The SIP network server performs message routing between user agents and informs the contact information of the user agents during message routing. The global domain manages the SIP network service domains and allocates global SIP identifiers, that is, lifelong numbers to users to provide user-centered mobility.

Claims

1. An SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)-based multimedia communication system, comprising

SIP network service domains that provide mobility based on a logical SIP identifier allocated to each of users, and

a global domain that integratively manages the SIP network service domains and allocates a global SIP identifier that is a lifelong number to each user to provide user-centered mobility,

wherein each of the SIP network service domain comprises:

a user agent that transmits request/response messages between users to set up, correct, and cancel a call, and when contact information of the user agent is registered and registration of the contact information is cancelled, requests to be informed of a state change in registration information; and

an SIP network server that carries out message routing between user agents and informs of the contact information of the user agents during message routing.

2. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the global domain includes an SIP network server that maps the global SIP identifier with logical SIP identifiers in each of the SIP network service domains, which have been registered corresponding to the global SIP identifier, to provide the user-centered mobility.

3. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the SIP network server of each of the SIP network service domains maps the logical SIP identifiers on user agents that are practical physical locations of each user.

4. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the user agent constructs an SIP message targeting the global SIP identifier which is a lifelong number of a communication peer.

5. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the SIP network server of the global domain determines a routing path of an SIP message, which is constructed targeting the global SIP identifier, to various feature servers included in the global domain according to a user profile of the global SIP identifier.

6. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the SIP network server of the global domain maps the SIP message, constructed targeting the global SIP identifier, on logical SIP identifiers registered as the global SIP identifier, and transmits the SIP message to the SIP network server of each of the SIP network service domains respectively providing the mapped logical SIP identifiers, to thereby provide personal mobility.

7. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the global domain stores the user profile of the global SIP identifier to allow the user to be provided with the same service irrespective of the location of the user (here, the location of the user means one of the SIP network service domains and a user agent included in the SIP network service domain), to thereby provide service mobility.

8. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the various feature servers include a park server that temporarily stores call information on a session when the session is moved.

9. The SIP-based multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the various feature servers include a B2BUA (back-to-back user agent) that intervenes in a session between two users when a terminal is moved to carry out call control and media relay.

10. A mobility providing method in an SIP-based multimedia communication system that includes SIP network service domains including user agents and providing mobility based on a logical SIP identifier allocated to each user, and a global domain integratively managing the SIP network service domains and allocating a global SIP identifier to each user to provide user-centered mobility, comprising:

a) an SIP network server of the global domain receiving an SIP message for SIP-based multimedia communication;

b) mapping global SIP identifier of a communication peer to registered logical SIP identifiers, which is included in the received SIP message; and

c) transmitting the received SIP message to an SIP network server of the SIP network service domains corresponding to the mapped logical SIP identifiers.

11. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein b) comprises:

i) determining whether the communication peer is a subscriber of the global service using the global SIP identifier;

ii) determining whether a call feature server is set up in a user profile of the user when the communication peer is determined to be the subscriber;

iii) transmitting the received SIP message to the call feature server when it is determined that the call feature server is set up in the user profile; and

iv) mapping the global SIP identifier to logical SIP identifiers when it is determined that the call feature server is not set up in the user profile.

12. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 11, wherein iv) comprises:

(a) determining whether the SIP network server of the global domain can carry out parallel forking;

(b) selecting an optimal logical SIP identifier from the logical SIP identifiers registered as the global SIP identifier when it is determined that the SIP network server cannot carry out parallel forking; and

(c) mapping the global SIP identifier to logical SIP identifiers when the SIP network server can carry out parallel forking or the optimal SIP identifier is selected.

13. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein (b) comprises selecting the optimal logical SIP identifier in consideration of information including the priority, the kind of media, the kind of call, and time, on the basis of the user profile.

14. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein (b) is repeated until a logical SIP identifier registered as the global SIP identifier is selected when registration of the selected optimal logical SIP identifier is expired.

15. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the global domain includes a park server that temporarily stores call information on a session when the session is moved, and the method comprises:

i) a second user agent between first and second user agents that execute a), b), and c) to provide a multimedia call session transmitting an SIP PUBLISH message to the park server in order to move the session to a third user agent;

ii) the third user agent transmitting an SIP SUBSCRIBE message to the park server to request information on a call of the second user agent, which is parked in the park server, and the park server transmitting an SIP NOTIFY message to the third user agent to deliver the information on the call;

iii) the third user agent transmitting an SIP INVITE to the first user agent to set up a new call; and

iv) the third user agent and the first user agent continuing the parked session.

16. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the first user agent transmitting an SIP BYE message to the second user agent to finish a previous call set up between the first and second user agents between iii) and iv).

17. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the SIP PUBLISH message includes information on the second user agent and the first user agent which is a peer of the session in progress.

18. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the global domain includes a B2BUA (back-to-back user agent) that intervenes in a session between two users when a terminal is moved to carry out call control and media relay, and the method comprises:

i) a first user agent located in a home network, executing a multimedia call session with a second user agent through the B2BUA;

ii) transmitting an SIP Re-INVITE to the B2BUA when the first user agent is moved to a foreign network;

iii) the B2BUA re-setting up a media route to the first user agent located in the foreign network; and

iv) the B2BUA continuing the session between the first and second user agents.

19. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 18, wherein i) comprises:

the first user agent transmitting an SIP INVITE message to the B2BUA;

the B2BUA transmitting the message received from the first user agent to the second user agent; and

the B2BUA setting up a call between the first and second user agents to carry out a multimedia call session.

20. The mobility providing method in an SIP multimedia communication system as claimed in claim 18, wherein iv) comprises the B2BUA deleting a media route set up after the first user agent is moved.