Mobile application gateway for connecting devices on a cellular network with individual enterprise and data networks

• US 20070206563A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tango Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tango Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Lathan, Silver, Andrew, Landgren, Patricia, Schmid, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13206 User-to-user signaling, UUS
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 : Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 : Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A mobile application gateway for connecting devices on a cellular network with individual networks, such as enterprise voice and data networks and/or residential networks. The effects of the present invention are far reaching in terms of transferring effective call control from the cellular network into the control of the individual network such as the enterprise, and enabling new business models for the purchase of cellular service from a public cellular carrier by an enterprise. The invention may consist of a primarily of core network and services components based on the IMS network architecture, and is backward compatible to support legacy systems in place in current telecom and data networks.

Claims

1. A mobile application gateway configured to interconnect mobile communication devices on a cellular network with an enterprise voice and/or data network, wherein the gateway comprises a voice and data signaling gateway configured to provide routing functionalities, service functionalities as well as admission control.

2. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the mobile application gateway is configured as an IMS Proxy, Interrogating or Serving Call State Control Function, an IMS SIP Application Server, and/or an H.323 gatekeeper

3. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway provides the routing and service functionalities of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and/or a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (G-MSC).

4. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway is operable without including any radio network components.

5. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway supports call routing and service functionalities between a legacy, hybrid, or an IP PBX and a public cellular network.

6. The gateway as specified in claim 2 wherein the gateway enables a non-IMS compliant legacy PBX, hybrid PBX and/or IP-PBX to interface with an IMS-compliant network.

7. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to connect to a preferred predetermined cellular network.

8. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to be a Home Location Register (HLR) and/or a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

9. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to exchange signaling over IP, using a protocol such as SIGTRAN or SIP.

10. The gateway as specified in claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to convert a protocol, selected from the group of:

IETF SIP, 3GPP/2 SIP, GSM MAP, CAP, ANS1-41 and WIN protocols.

11. The gateway as specified in claim 10 wherein the gateway converts the protocol and maps to individual network elements in the enterprise network using a variety of protocols such as but not limited to SIP.

12. A communications system, comprising:

a cellular network configured to interconnect a mobile communication device;

an enterprise network; and

a mobile application gateway configured to interconnect the mobile network to a network element in the enterprise network.

13. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway comprises a voice gateway configured to provide routing functionalities, service functionalities as well as admission control.

14. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the mobile application gateway is configured as an IMS Proxy, Interrogating or Serving Call State Control Function, an IMS SIP Application Server, and/or an H.323 gatekeeper.

15. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway provides the routing and service functionalities of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and/or a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (G-MSC).

16. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway is operable without including any radio network components.

17. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway supports call routing and service functionalities between a legacy, hybrid, or an IP PBX and a public cellular network.

18. The gateway as specified in claim 14 wherein the gateway enables a non-IMS compliant legacy PBX, hybrid PBX and/or IP-PBX to interface with an IMS-compliant network.

19. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway is configured to connect to a preferred predetermined cellular network.

20. The gateway as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway is configured to be a Home Location Register (HLR) and/or a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).

21. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway is configured to exchange signaling over IP, using a protocol such as SIGTRAN or SIP.

22. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway is configured to convert a protocol, selected from the group of:

IETF SIP, 3GPP/2 SIP, GSM MAP, CAP, ANS1-41 and WIN protocols.

23. The communications system as specified in claim 12 wherein the gateway converts the protocol and maps to individual network elements in the enterprise network using a variety of protocols such as but not limited to SIP.

24. A computer readable medium including:

instructions for receiving a request to establish a voice communication link between an enterprise gateway server (GS-E) serving a legacy, hybrid or IP PBX or a network of said PBXs, and a carrier or cellular gateway server (GS-C);

instructions for completing the voice communication link; and

instructions for establishing a call between a user of the GS-E and a user of the GS-C.

25. A method of establishing a call between a subscriber of an enterprise gateway server (GS-E) serving a legacy, hybrid or IP PBX or a network of said PBXs, and a mobile telephone supported by a carrier or cellular gateway server (GS-C) in a carrier network having network nodes, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to establish a communication link between an enterprise gateway server (GS-E) and a carrier or cellular gateway server (GS-C);

completing the communication link; and

establishing a call between a subscriber of the GS-E and the mobile telephone of the GS-C.

26. The method as specified in claim 25 further comprising the step of the GS-E handling all call control to establish the call, wherein the GS-E interfaces with the network nodes using SS7 and/or SIP messaging.

27. The method as specified in claim 25 further comprising the step of the GS-E and the GS-C splitting all control to establish the call, wherein the GS-E interfaces with the network nodes using SS7 and/or SIP messaging.

28. The method as specified in claim 25 wherein the GS-E restricts calls to or from the mobile telephone as a function of parameters associated to the mobile telephone.

29. The method as specified in claim 28 wherein the parameters include time or a location of the mobile telephone.

30. The method as specified in claim 29 wherein the parameter is a function of whether the subscriber is logged into the PBX.