Proxy for extending IMS services to mobile terminals with SMS capabilities

• US 20070156909A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Osborn, William, Robertson, Daniel, Bennett, Jesse
• Application Number:
  US11/374,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A SMS/MMS Proxy maintains SIP user identities in an IMS network on behalf of SMS capable mobile terminals to give legacy mobile terminals a presence in the IMS network. The SMS/MMS Proxy includes an application server to translate text messages received from a mobile terminal via a gateway into SIP transactions and uses the SIP user identities allocated to said mobile terminals to conduct SIP transactions on their behalf.

Claims

1. A method of providing IP services to non-SIP devices, said method comprising configuring a proxy to maintain SIP user identities in said IP network for non-SIP devices and to conduct SIP transactions using those user identities on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the proxy conducts SIP transactions responsive to messages received from non-SIP devices via a gateway.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said messages comprise text messages encapsulated within a SIP request by said gateway.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein configuring the proxy comprises configuring the proxy to interpret said text messages and translate said messages into corresponding SIP transactions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting said SIP transactions includes subscribing to a notification service on behalf of non-SIP devices.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising configuring the proxy to forward received notifications to said non-SIP devices.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting said SIP transactions includes establishing media connections for receiving or sending media on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising configuring the proxy to receive media and forward said media to said non-SIP devices.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising configuring the proxy to receive media from said non-SIP devices and to send said media to specified addresses for said non-SIP devices.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said SIP transactions include message transactions.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said message transactions are used to send control information to control a remote device.

12. A proxy for providing IP services to non-SIP devices, said proxy comprising:

a SIP client to establish communication with SIP devices connected to said IP network; and

an application server configured to maintain SIP user identities in said IP network for non-SIP devices and to conduct SIP transactions with SIP devices using those user identities on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

13. The proxy of claim 12 wherein the application server conducts SIP transactions responsive to messages received from non-SIP devices via a gateway.

14. The proxy of claim 13 wherein said messages comprise text messages encapsulated within a SIP request by said gateway.

15. The proxy of claim 14 wherein the application server is configured to interpret said text messages and translate said messages into corresponding SIP transactions.

16. The proxy of claim 12 wherein said application server conducts the SIP transactions by subscribing to a notification service on behalf of non-SIP devices.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the application server is further configured to forward received notifications to said non-SIP devices.

18. The proxy of claim 12 wherein said application server conducts said SIP transactions by establishing media connections for receiving or sending media on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

19. The proxy of claim 18 wherein the application server is further configured to receive media and forward said media to said non-SIP devices.

20. The proxy of claim 18 wherein the application server is further configured to receive media from said non-SIP devices and to send said media to specified addresses for said non-SIP devices.

21. The proxy of claim 12 wherein said SIP transactions include message transactions.

22. The proxy of claim 21 wherein said message transactions are used to send control information to control a remote device.

23. A method of providing IP services to non-SIP devices, said method comprising:

configuring a proxy to maintain SIP user identities for non-SIP devices in said IP network;

receiving messages via a gateway from said non-SIP devices;

translating said messages into SIP transactions; and

conducting said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said SIP user identities responsive to said text messages.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein conducting said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices comprises subscribing to notification services using said SIP user identities.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein conducting said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices comprises sending control information for controlling remote devices.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein sending control information for controlling remote devices comprises sending control information using the SIP MESSAGE method.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein conducting said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices comprises establishing media connections with SIP devices for sending or receiving media.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising sending control information for controlling a remote device on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said media connection.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising sending or receiving media on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said media connection.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein conducting said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices comprises providing notification services to SIP users on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein providing notification services to SIP users on behalf of said non-SIP devices comprises providing presence services to SIP users on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising receiving state information from said non-SIP devices relating to said notification services, and sending notifications to subscribing users responsive to changes in said state information.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said state information is contained in a text message from said non-SIP devices.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said messages from said non-SIP devices comprise text messages.

35. A proxy for providing IP services to non-SIP devices, said proxy comprising:

a SIP client to establish communication with SIP devices connected to said IP network; and

an application server configured to;

maintain SIP user identities in said IP network for non-SIP devices;

receive messages via a gateway from said non-SIP devices;

translate said messages into SIP transactions; and

conduct said SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said SIP user identities responsive to said text messages.

36. The proxy of claim 35 wherein said application server conducts SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices to subscribe to notification services using said SIP user identities.

37. The proxy of claim 35 wherein said application server conducts SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices to send control information for controlling remote devices.

38. The proxy of claim 37 wherein said application server sends control information using the SIP MESSAGE method.

39. The proxy of claim 35 wherein said application server conducts SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices to establish media connections using said SIP user identities for sending or receiving media.

40. The proxy of claim 39 wherein said application server is further configured to send control information for controlling a remote device on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said media connection.

41. The proxy of claim 39 wherein said application server is further configured to send or receive media on behalf of said non-SIP devices using said media connection.

42. The proxy of claim 35 wherein said application server conducts SIP transactions on behalf of said non-SIP devices to provide notification services to SIP users on behalf of said non-SIP devices.

43. The proxy of claim 42 wherein said application server receives state information from said non-SIP devices relating to said notification services, and sends notifications to subscribing users responsive to changes in said state information.

44. The proxy of claim 43 wherein said state information is contained in a text message from said non-SIP devices.

45. The proxy of claim 42 wherein said notification services comprise presence services.

46. The proxy of claim 35 wherein said messages from said non-SIP devices comprise text messages