Conferencing PSTN Gateway Methods And Apparatus To Facilitate Heterogeneous Wireless Network Handovers For Mobile Communication Devices

• US 20070070948A1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited, Mcmaster University
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited, Mcmaster University
• Inventors: Zhao, Dongmei, Kezys, Vytautas, Smadi, Mohammed, Todd, Terence
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) of a communication network maintains an inter-enterprise voice call via its WLAN interface (e.g. 802.11/VoIP/SIP) with another communication device in the communication network. Communications of the voice call are maintained solely within the communication network and not routed through a conferencing gateway. During the voice call, a handover of the voice call from the WLAN to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) (e.g. GSM/GPRS) may or may not be required. In response to identifying a handover indication during the voice call, the mobile device causes a request message (e.g. a SIP INVITE message) to be sent over the WWAN to the conferencing gateway for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN via its WWAN interface with a conference room of the conferencing gateway. The mobile device also causes a re-routing message (e.g. a SIP REFER message) to be sent over the WLAN to the communication device so that a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway may be established. The first and the second connection legs are connected together in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call. Advantageously, inter-enterprise voice calls in the communication network need not unnecessarily and unduly burden the conferencing gateway, unless and until a handover of the voice call between the WLAN and the WWAN is required. Variations and other PSTN conferencing gateway techniques are also described.

Claims

13. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a WLAN interface coupled to the one or more processors and adapted for wireless communications via a WLAN of a communication network;

a WWAN interface coupled to the one or more processors and adapted for wireless communications via a WWAN;

the one or more processor being operative to;

cause a voice call to be established, through the WLAN using the WLAN interface, with a communication device in the communication network, the voice call being maintained within the communication network and not routed via a conferencing gateway;

in response to identifying a handover indication for the voice call;

cause a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway, via the WWAN, for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN between the mobile communication device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface; and

cause a re-routing message to be sent to the communication device, via the WLAN, so as to establish a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with 802.11 standards and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the re-routing message comprises a REFER message having a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause the request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface by sending an Initial Address Message (IAM).

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause the re-routing message to be sent to the communication device by causing the communication device to send a request message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the re-routing message comprises a REFER message of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which causes the communication device to send an INVITE message of the SIP to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the conferencing gateway comprises an IP-PBX.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause the request message to be sent prior to causing the re-routing message to be sent.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause the re-routing message to be sent prior to causing the request message to be sent.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the first and the second connection legs are connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

cause a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway, via the WLAN interface of the mobile device, for establishing an intermediary connection leg through the WLAN via the WLAN interface between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway; and

after establishing the connection leg through the WLAN to the conference room of the gateway;

the first and the second connection legs being connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

24. A method for use in routing a voice call between a communication device in a communication network and a mobile communication device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) of the communication network, the method comprising the acts of:

causing the voice call to be established with the mobile communication device communicating via the WLAN, the voice call being maintained within the communication network and not routed via a conferencing gateway;

in response to a handover indication for the voice call, receiving a re-routing message for the voice call; and

in response to receiving the re-routing message, causing a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway for establishing a first connection leg between the communication device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway, for connection with a second connection leg between the mobile communication device communicating via a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with 802.11 standards and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of receiving the re-routing message comprises the further act of receiving a REFER message having a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of causing the request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway comprises the further act of sending an INVITE message of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to the conferencing gateway.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of receiving the re-routing message comprises the further act of receiving a REFER message having a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway, and the act of causing the request message to be sent comprises the further act of causing an INVITE message of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to be sent to the conferencing gateway.

29. The method of claim 24, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

30. A conferencing gateway for use in establishing and maintaining a voice call between a communication device in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a mobile communication device, the conferencing gateway comprising:

a first communication interface adapted for IP communications with a computer network which includes a wireless local area network (WLAN);

a second communication interface adapted for communications with the PSTN and a wireless wide area network (WWAN) via the PSTN;

a third communication interface adapted for communications with the PSTN;

a media gateway module coupled to the first, the second, and the third communication interfaces and adapted to convert media streams between such interfaces for a voice call;

a control module adapted to;

cause a first connection leg for the voice call to be established with the mobile communication device via one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface, the first communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device is operating in the WLAN and the second communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device is operating in the WWAN;

cause a second connection leg for the voice call to be established with the communication device in the PSTN via the third communication interface; and

in response to a handover of the voice call, cause a third connection leg to be established with the mobile communication device via the other one of the first communication interface and the second communication interface, the first communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device has switched to operation in the WLAN and the second communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device has switched to operation in the WWAN.

1. A method for use in routing a voice call between a mobile communication device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) of a communication network and a communication device in the communication network, the method comprising the acts of:

causing the voice call to be established, via a WLAN interface of the mobile device, with the communication device in the communication network, the voice call being maintained within the communication network and not routed via a conferencing gateway;

in response to identifying a handover indication for the voice call;

causing a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway, via a WWAN interface of the mobile device, for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN between the mobile device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface; and

causing a re-routing message to be sent to the communication device, via the WLAN interface, so as to establish a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with 802.11 standards and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-routing message comprises a REFER message having a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface comprises the further act of sending an Initial Address Message (IAM).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the re-routing message to be sent to the communication device causes the communication device to send a request message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-routing message comprises a REFER message of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which causes the communication device to send an INVITE message of the SIP to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing gateway comprises an IP-PBX.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the request message to be sent is performed prior to the act of causing the re-routing message to be sent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the re-routing message to be sent is performed prior to the act of causing the request message to be sent.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second connection legs are connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway, via the WLAN interface of the mobile device, for establishing an intermediary connection leg through the WLAN via the WLAN interface between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway; and

after establishing the connection leg through the WLAN to the conference room of the gateway;

the first and the second connection legs being connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

12. The method of claim 1, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

31. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the second and third communication interfaces comprise Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) interfaces.

32. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the first communication interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

33. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the first communication interface is adapted for communications utilizing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

34. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the mobile communication device initially operates in the WLAN and the mobile communication device switches to operation in the WWAN.

34-1. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the mobile communication device initially operates in the WWAN and the mobile communication device switches to operation in the WLAN.

36. A method for use in establishing a voice call between a mobile communication device in a wireless communication network and a communication device in a public telephone network through a conferencing gateway, the method comprising the acts of:

causing a first connection leg for the voice call to be established between the mobile communication device in the wireless communication network and a conference room of the conferencing gateway;

causing a second connection leg to be established between a call coordinating processor and the communication device through the public telephone network; and

causing the second connection leg to be transferred from the call coordinating processor to the conference room of the conferencing gateway, so that the second connection leg for the voice call is established between the conference room of the conferencing gateway and the communication device through the public telephone network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established using a Session Initial Protocol (SIP), and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN), the voice call over the first connection leg is established using an ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

in response to identifying a handover indication, causing a third connection leg to be established between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

40. The method of claim 36, which is performed by the call coordinating processor.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the act of causing the second connection leg to be transferred comprises the further acts of:

causing a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established using a Session Initial Protocol (SIP), the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and wherein the act of causing the second connection leg to be transferred comprising the further acts of:

causing a REFER message of the SIP to be sent to the conferencing gateway, the REFER message having a REFER-TO header which includes a source identifier corresponding to the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

43. The method or claim 36, wherein the act of establishing the second call connection leg comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device; and

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent through the public telephone network.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the act of establishing the second connection leg comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device; and

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent from the call coordinating processor to the conferencing gateway.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the act of establishing the second call connection leg comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg, to be sent to the public telephone network;

receiving a response message through the public telephone network in response to the request message for the second connection leg; and

wherein the request message comprises an initial address message (IAM) and the response message comprises an address complete message (ACM).

46. The method of claim 36, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

47. A call coordinating processor adapted for use in establishing a voice call between a mobile communication device in a wireless communication network and a communication device in a public telephone network through a conferencing gateway, the call coordinating processor being operative to cause a first connection leg for the voice call to be established between the mobile communication device in the wireless communication network and a conference room of the conferencing gateway;

cause a second connection leg to be established between a call coordinating processor and the communication device through the public telephone network; and

cause the second connection leg to be transferred from the call coordinating processor to the conference room of the conferencing gateway, so that the second connection leg for the voice call is established between the conference room of the conferencing gateway and the communication device through the public telephone network.

48. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established using a Session Initial Protocol (SIP), and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

49. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN), the voice call over the first connection leg is established using an ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

50. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, which causes of the second connection leg to be transferred by causing a request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway.

51. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established using a Session Initial Protocol (SIP), the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and wherein the call coordinating processor causes the second connection leg to be transferred by causing a REFER message of the SIP to be sent to the conferencing gateway, the REFER message having a REFER-TO header which includes a source identifier corresponding to the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

52. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, which causes the second call connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

and in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent through the public telephone network.

53. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, which causes the second connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

and in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent from the call coordinating processor to the conferencing gateway.

54. The call coordinating processor of claim 47, which causes the second call connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent to the public telephone network;

receiving a response message through the public telephone network in response to the request message for the second connection leg; and

wherein the request message comprises an initial address message (IAM) and the response message comprises an address complete message (ACM).