Methods and systems for converting an internet protocol (IP)-based message containing subscriber content to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)-based message including subscriber content

• US 20060056419A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Delaney, Robert John, Eichler, Todd Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.520
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/127 where the session control protocols comprise SIP and SS7

Abstract

A node in a converged network converts a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to a signaling system 7 (SS7) message. A SIP INVITE request is received by the node and the node determines whether the SIP INVITE request is destined for an SS7 user. If the INVITE request is destined for an SS7 user, the node determines whether the INVITE request contains MIME-encoded text and constructs a short message service (SMS) message containing the MIME-encoded text. The SMS message is routed to the SS7 user. In addition, the node constructs an initial address message (IAM) and routes the IAM to the SS7 user.

Claims

1. A method of converting a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to a signaling system 7 (SS7 ) message comprising:

(a) receiving a SIP INVITE request;

(b) determining whether the SIP INVITE request is destined for a PSTN subscriber;

(c) in response to determining that the INVITE request is destined for a PSTN subscriber;

(i) determining whether the INVITE request contains subscriber content;

(ii) in response to determining that the INVITE request contains subscriber content, constructing a PSTN-compatible message service message containing the subscriber content and forwarding the message service message to the PSTN subscriber;

(iii) constructing an initial address message (IAM); and

(iv) routing the IAM to a switching office associated with the PSTN subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the SIP INVITE request is destined for a PSTN subscriber includes consulting a routing table.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the INVITE request contains subscriber content includes examining at least one of a content-length field, a content-type field, a content-disposition field, and a content field of the INVITE request.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein constructing the PSTN-compatible message service message includes:

(a) determining whether the subscriber content is compatible with short messaging service (SMS);

(b) in response to determining that the subscriber content is compatible with SMS, formatting the PSTN-compatible message service message as an SMS message;

(c) in response to determining that the subscriber content is not compatible with SMS, formatting the PSTN-compatible message service message as a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message; and

(d) mapping SIP parameters of the INVITE request to SS7 parameters of the PSTN-compatible message service message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the PSTN-compatible message service message to the PSTN subscriber includes determining SS7 routing parameters based on SIP message parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein constructing the IAM message includes mapping SIP message parameters of the INVITE request to SS7 message parameters of the IAM message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the IAM message to the SS7 user includes determining SS7 routing parameters based on SIP message parameters.

8. A network gateway controller comprising:

(a) a first interface module operatively coupled to an Internet protocol (IP) network and capable of receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) message;

(b) a first mapping process for extracting parameters from the SIP message and mapping the extracted parameters to generate corresponding signaling system 7 (SS7 ) message parameters;

(c) a second mapping process for extracting parameters from the SIP message and mapping the extracted parameters to generate corresponding PSTN-compatible message service message parameters; and

(d) a second interface module operatively coupled to a network utilizing signaling system 7 (SS7 ) and capable of transmitting a message formatted in an SS7 protocol.

9. The network gateway controller of claim 8 wherein the first interface module includes a SIP discrimination process capable of determining whether the SIP message is destined for a SIP user or a PSTN subscriber.

10. The network gateway controller of claim 8 wherein the first mapping process is adapted to generate corresponding ISDN User Part (ISUP) messages.

11. The network gateway controller of claim 8 wherein the first mapping process is adapted to generate corresponding Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) messages.

12. The network gateway controller of claim 8 wherein the second mapping process is adapted to determine whether the extracted parameters are compatible with short messaging service (SMS).

13. The network gateway controller of claim 12 wherein in response to determining that the extracted parameters are compatible with SMS, the second mapping process is adapted to formatting the PSTN-compatible message service message as an SMS message.

14. The network gateway controller of claim 12 wherein in response to determining that the extracted parameters are not compatible with SMS, the second mapping process is adapted to formatting the PSTN-compatible message service message as an multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

15. The network gateway controller of claim 8 wherein the second mapping process is adapted to examine at least one of a content-length field, a content-type field, a content-disposition field, and a content field.