System for simultaneous registration of VoIP network for dual mode mobile telephone stations

• US 20060264213A1
• Filed: 05/19/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, Robin Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

The dual registration system tracks two serving Mobile Switching Centers for each subscriber. The registrations are differentiated as IP Multimedia Subsystem for voice call delivery purposes and CDMA Mobile Switching Center for IP access and other non-voice services. The registration message from the IP Multimedia Subsystem is enhanced via protocol extensions to include an indication that this registration is from the IP Multimedia Subsystem and is to indicate the target Mobile Switching Center for IP Multimedia Subsystem services, such as VoIP. The Home Location Register is enhanced to store two Mobile Switching Centers as the serving Mobile Switching Centers for the dual mode subscriber. The Home Location Register logic is extended to route service to the appropriate Mobile Switching Center depending on service offered, subscriber preferences, and the registration status.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of a registration request from said mobile subscriber station, for registering a serving Mobile Switching Center in a first memory location in a Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station as the serving apparatus for access for said mobile subscriber station; and

means, responsive to receipt of a registration request from said mobile subscriber station for IP access, for registering a serving IP based Mobile Switching Center in a second memory location in a Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station as the serving apparatus for IP access for said mobile subscriber station.

2. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 1 wherein said means for registering a serving Mobile Switching Center comprises:

means, responsive to receipt of a standard request for registration message from the dual mode mobile subscriber station at a serving Mobile Switching Center, for transmitting Mobile Switching Center identification information to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

means, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, for storing said identification information in said first memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

3. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said means for registering a serving Mobile Switching Center further comprises:

means, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station and responsive to receipt of Mobile Switching Center identification information indicative that said mobile subscriber station has roamed to a new serving Mobile Switching Center, for storing said identification information in said first memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station to replace data previously stored therein.

4. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 1 wherein said means for registering a serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center comprises:

means, responsive to receipt of a request for registration message from the dual mode mobile subscriber station at a serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center, for transmitting enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information, including an indication that said identification information is for a dual mode mobile subscriber station, to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

means, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, for storing said identification information in said second memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

5. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 4 wherein said means for transmitting said enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information comprises:

means for generating said registration message inclusive of protocol extensions to include an indication that this registration is from the IP-based Mobile Switching Center, which is the target Mobile Switching Center for IP-based Mobile Switching Center services.

6. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 4, further comprising:

means, responsive to receipt of a de-registering request message from said mobile subscriber station, for de-registering said dual mode mobile subscriber station at said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center.

7. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 4, further comprising:

means, located in said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center and responsive to receipt of a de-registering request message from said mobile subscriber station, for transmitting enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information, including an indication that said identification information is for a dual mode mobile subscriber station, to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

means, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, for deleting identification information from said second memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

8. The system for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 1, further comprising:

services delivery means for routing services provided by said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center to said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center and for routing services not supported by said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center to said serving Mobile Switching Center.

9. A method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station comprising:

registering, in response to receipt of a registration request from said mobile subscriber station for access, a serving Mobile Switching Center in a first memory location in a Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station as the serving apparatus for access for said mobile subscriber station; and

registering, in response to receipt of a registration request from said mobile subscriber station for IP access, a serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center in a second memory location in a Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station as the serving apparatus for IP services for said mobile subscriber station.

10. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 9 wherein said step of registering a serving Mobile Switching Center comprises:

transmitting, in response to receipt of a standard request for registration message from the dual mode mobile subscriber station at a serving Mobile Switching Center, Mobile Switching Center identification information to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

storing, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, said identification information in said first memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

11. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 10 wherein said step of registering a serving Mobile Switching Center further comprises:

storing, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station and responsive to receipt of Mobile Switching Center identification information indicative that said mobile subscriber station has roamed to a new serving Mobile Switching Center, said identification information in said first memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station to replace data previously stored therein.

12. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 9 wherein said step of registering a serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center comprises:

transmitting, in response to receipt of a request for registration message from the dual mode mobile subscriber station at a serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center, enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information, including an indication that said identification information is for a dual mode mobile subscriber station, to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

storing, in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, said identification information in said second memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

13. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 12 wherein said step of transmitting said enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information comprises:

generating said registration message inclusive of protocol extensions to include an indication that this registration is from the IP-based Mobile Switching Center, which is the target Mobile Switching Center for IP-based Mobile Switching Center services.

14. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 12, further comprising:

de-registering, in response to receipt of a de-registering request message from said mobile subscriber station, said dual mode mobile subscriber station at said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center.

15. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, from said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center and in response to receipt of a de-registering request message from said mobile subscriber station, enhanced Mobile Switching Center identification information, including an indication that said identification information is for a dual mode mobile subscriber station, to said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station; and

deleting, from said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station, identification information from said second memory location in said Home Location Register for said mobile subscriber station.

16. The method for maintaining multiple service registrations for a dual mode mobile subscriber station of claim 9, further comprising:

routing services provided by said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center to said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center and for routing services not supported by said serving IP-based Mobile Switching Center to said serving Mobile Switching Center.