Enabling a packet-based communication client as a mobile terminal

• US 20060087991A1
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Christie, Samuel H. IV
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The present invention provides a service node to facilitate the integration of cellular and packet networks. In particular, the service node acts as a proxy for packet-based communications over a packet network for a packet communication client, and also emulates a call routing entity associated with a cellular network. In select embodiments, the call routing entity emulated by the service node may be a visited mobile switching center, home mobile switching center, or a home location register. In operation, calls being processed in the cellular network may be processed in part by the service node, which is emulating a particular call routing entity. For calls involving the cellular network that are ultimately terminated on the packet network, the service node supports efficient call processing or handling, depending on the call routing entity being emulated.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating integration between cellular and packet networks comprising:

a) at least one communication interface; and

b) a control system associated with the at least one communication interface and adapted to;

i) operate as a proxy to support packet-based communications with a packet communication client over the packet network; and

ii) emulate a call routing entity on the cellular network to support cellular communications over the cellular network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a visited mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a call routing message from a home mobile switching center, which is associated as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client; and

b) route a call associated with the call routing message to the packet communication client over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the bearer path further extends through the home mobile switching center.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the control system is further adapted to register the packet communication client with a home location register on the cellular network, such that the system appears as the visited mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client for incoming calls intended for the packet communication client over the cellular network.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the packet communication client is associated with a cellular number on the cellular network, and registration with the home location register associates the cellular number with the system, such that the incoming calls to the cellular number are directed to the system.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a registration message from the packet communication client over the packet network; and

b) register the packet communication client such that the control system can operate as the proxy for packet communications.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a home mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a call routing message from the cellular network as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client; and

b) route a call associated with the call routing message to the packet communication client over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the call is routed to the packet communication client over the packet network when the packet communication client is registered with the system.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a call routing message from the cellular network as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client;

b) access a home location register to determine how to route a call associated with the call routing message; and

c) route the call associated with the call routing message based on a response from the home location register.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the call associated with the call routing message is routed to a visited mobile switching center, which will operate to establish the call.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the call associated with the call routing message is routed to the packet communication client over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) receive a registration message from the packet communication client over the packet network; and

b) register the packet communication client such the control system can operate as the proxy for packet communications.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a home location register supporting cellular communication over the cellular network.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the control system is further adapted to:

a) interact with home mobile switching centers to facilitate call routing to appropriate visited mobile switching centers;

b) register mobile terminals associated with the visited mobile switching centers; and

c) register the packet communication client over the packet network.

17. A method for facilitating integration between cellular and packet networks from a common system comprising:

a) providing a proxy to support packet-based communications with a packet communication client over the packet network; and

b) emulating a call routing entity on the cellular network to support cellular communications over the cellular network.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a visited mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

a) receiving a call routing message from a home mobile switching center, which is associated as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client; and

b) routing a call associated with the call routing message to the packet communication client over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the bearer path further extends through the home mobile switching center.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising registering the packet communication client with a home location register on the cellular network, such that the common system appears as the visited mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client for incoming calls intended for the packet communication client over the cellular network.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the packet communication client is associated with a cellular number on the cellular network and registration with the home location register associates the cellular number with the common system, such that the incoming calls to the cellular number are directed to the common system.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

a) receiving a registration message from the packet communication client over the packet network; and

b) registering the packet communication client such the common system can operate as the proxy for packet communications.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a home mobile switching center supporting the packet communication client.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

a) receiving a call routing message from the cellular network as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client; and

b) routing a call associated with the call routing message to the packet communication client over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the call is routed to the packet communication client over the packet network when the packet communication client is registered with the common system.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

a) receiving a call routing message from the cellular network as the home mobile switching center for the packet communication client;

b) accessing a home location register to determine how to route a call associated with the call routing message; and

c) routing the call associated with the call routing message based on a response from the home location register.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the call associated with the call routing message is routed to a visited mobile switching center, which will operate to establish the call.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the call associated with the call routing message is routed to the packet communication device over the packet network, such that a bearer path for the call extends over the cellular network and the packet network.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

a) receiving a registration message from the packet communication client over the packet network; and

b) registering the packet communication client such that the common system can operate as the proxy for packet communications.

31. The method of claim 17 wherein the emulated call routing entity is a home location register supporting cellular communication over the cellular network.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

a) interacting with home mobile switching centers to facilitate call routing to appropriate visited mobile switching centers;

b) registering mobile terminals associated with the visited mobile switching centers; and

c) registering the packet communication client over the packet network.