Out-of-coverage service termination using proxy

• US 20060111098A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Abdel-Kader, Sherif, Kezys, Vytautas Robertas
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/421
• 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 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method and system that employs a proxy server associated with a mobile device in a wireless network, wherein the proxy server monitors whether the mobile device is still in coverage. The media service operates on top of a connectionless peer-to-peer packet-based transport protocol. If the proxy server detects that the device has lost coverage for more than a predetermined length of time, then it sends an out-of-coverage message to the other termination point engaged in the media service. The out-of-coverage message may instruct the termination point to release or cancel the service.

Claims

1. A method of terminating a media service in a system having a wireless device, a remote termination point, and a wireless network, the media service operating peer-to-peer over a connectionless packet-based transport protocol, the wireless network including a proxy server associated with the wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a ping message from the proxy server to the wireless device to determine whether the wireless device remains in coverage;

determining that the wireless device is out-of-coverage based upon a lack of a response from the wireless device; and

sending a service release message from the proxy server to the remote termination point to alert the remote termination point to the out-of-coverage condition.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further including a steps of setting up a media path between the wireless device and the remote termination point and establishing the media service over said media path.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the proxy server comprises a service control server configured to perform said step of setting up the media path.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein said service control server comprises a SIP proxy server.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein said service release message comprises a SIP BYE message.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of sending said ping message is performed periodically.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of determining is performed if no response message is received from the wireless device within a predetermined time period.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of sending said ping message is performed about once every second and wherein said predetermined time period is between about three and ten seconds.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the connectionless packet-based transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).

11. A proxy server for use in a wireless network in association with a mobile device engaged in a media service with a remote termination point over the wireless network, the media service operating peer-to-peer over a connectionless packet-based transport protocol, the proxy server comprising:

a ping component for sending a ping message to the mobile device to determine whether the mobile device remains in coverage;

a timer for determining whether the mobile device is out-of-coverage based upon expiry of a predetermined time period without a response from the mobile device; and

an out-of-coverage handler for sending a service release message to the remote termination point in response to said determination of an out-of-coverage condition.

12. The proxy server claimed in claim 11, wherein said proxy server includes a session setup component for setting up a media path between the mobile device and the remote termination point and establishing the media service over said media path.

13. The proxy server claimed in claim 12, wherein said proxy server comprises a SIP proxy server.

14. The proxy server claimed in claim 13, wherein said service release message comprises a SIP BYE message.

15. The proxy server claimed in claim 11, wherein said ping component sends said ping message periodically.

16. The proxy server claimed in claim 15, wherein said ping component sends said ping message about once every second.

17. The proxy server claimed in claim 11, wherein said predetermined time period comprises between about three and ten seconds.

18. The proxy server claimed in claim 11, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call.

19. The proxy server claimed in claim 11, wherein the connectionless packet-based transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).