Operating And Supporting Dual Mode User Equipment

• US 20070207784A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Keller, Ralf, Witzel, Andreas, Stumpert, Martin, Ewert, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and devices for enabling the handling of terminating speech calls to a dual mode user equipment by using a further access network for transmitting said data.

Claims

1. A method for handling an incoming call to a user equipment by a control node of a cellular telecommunication network, said method comprising the following steps:

receiving an indication of an incoming call to the user equipment in the control node,

determining that the called user equipment can be reached via a device of a further access network operating according to a session initiation protocol.

initiating the linking in on a route towards the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, of a device that transforms messages sent according to a call control signaling protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into messages according to the session initiation protocol, and

initiating the linking in on a route towards the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, of a device that transforms user plane transmitted according to a protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into user plane transmitted according to an internet protocol and vice versa.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

receiving in the control node an indication that the user equipment can be reached via a device operating according to a session initiation protocol,

determining an address of the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, and

sending an indication, that the user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, to a storage connected to the control node.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of

sending a message comprising an indication that the user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol to a database for storing subscriber data.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication that the user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, is received in a location area update message sent by the user equipment.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of

interrogating a database for storing subscriber data for routing information for reaching the called user equipment,

receiving a response from said database and

determining from analyzing the response that the user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the database is an AAA server, a home location register or a home subscriber server.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the control node is a mobile services switching center.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device that transforms messages sent according to a call control signaling protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into messages according to the session initiation protocol transforms messages is a media gateway control function.

9. The method Method according to claim 1, wherein the device that transforms user plane transmitted according to a protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into user plane transmitted according to an internet protocol is a media gateway or is located in a media gateway.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the device operating according to a session initiation protocol is a service initiation protocol proximity server or an interrogating call session control function.

11. A method for operating a user equipment that comprises a first transmission unit for communicating with a cellular telecommunications access network and a second transmission unit for communicating with a further access network the method comprising the steps of:

attaching to the cellular telecommunications network,

determining that the user equipment is currently located in an area that is covered by the further access network,

sending a session initiation protocol message for registering the user equipment at a server of the further access network,

receiving a session initiation protocol message confirming that the user equipment has been registered, and

sending a message comprising an indication that the user equipment can be reached via a device operating according to the session initiation protocol to a control node of the cellular telecommunications network via the cellular telecommunications access network.

12. A control node for a cellular telecommunication network comprising:

an input unit,

an output unit, and

a control unit, the control unit adapted;

to determine that a user equipment can be reached via a device of a further access network operating according to a session initiation protocol,

to initiate the linking in on a route towards the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, of a device that transforms messages sent according to a call control signaling protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into messages according to the session initiation protocol and vice versa, and

to initiate the linking in on a route towards the device operating according to a session initiation protocol, of a device that transforms user plane transmitted according to a protocol used in the cellular telecommunications network into user plane transmitted according to an internet protocol and vice versa.

13. The control node according to claim 12, wherein the control node is connected to a storage for storing subscriber data, wherein the input unit is adapted to receive an indication that a user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol and to signal it to the control unit, and

the control unit is adapted to initiate the sending of an indication that the user equipment can be reached via the device operating according to a session initiation protocol to the storage for storing subscriber data and to determine an address for sending data towards the user equipment.

14. The control node according to claim 13, wherein the indication sent to the storage for storing subscriber data comprises an address of the device operating according to a session initiation protocol.

15. The control node according to claim 12, that is implemented by means of a mobile services switching center or a gateway mobile services switching center server.

16. The control node according to claim 13, wherein the storage is a visitor location register.

17. The control node according to claim 12, wherein the control node is adapted to initiate the sending of a message to a database for storing subscriber data, the message comprising an indication that the user equipment can be reached via a device that operates according to a session initiation protocol.

18. The control node according to claim 12, wherein the control node comprises a media gateway control function.

19. A user equipment comprising:

a first transmission unit for communicating with a first access network of a telecommunications network,

a second transmission unit for communicating with a further access network, and

a control unit wherein the control unit is adapted

to receive an indication from the second transmission unit that the user equipment is currently located in an area covered by the further access network, and in response thereto

to initiate the registration of the user equipment at a server of the further access network via the second transmission unit,

to receive a confirmation that the registration was successful via the second transmission unit, and

to send an indication that the user equipment can be reached via a device operating according to a session initiation protocol to the telecommunications network via the first transmission unit.

20. The user equipment according to claim 19, wherein the first transmission unit is adapted to operate according to at least one of a Global System for Mobile Telecommunication, Code Division Multiple Access, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access. American Mobile Phone System, Digital-American Mobile Phone System, or Pacific Digital Cellular standards.

21. User equipment according to claim 19 wherein the second transmission unit is adapted to operate according to at least one of Bluetooth, ISDN, or Wireless Local Area Network recommendations.