METHOD FOR PROVIDING VoIP SERVICES FOR WIRELESS TERMINALS

• US 20100098040A1
• Filed: 12/27/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHU, YUE-CHUAN, Hua, Ningming
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for wireless telecommunication in a packet-based network comprising a Software Radio Port (SRP) which functions as a radio base station and a VoIP gateway to interconnect the wireless network with the VoIP packet network. Together with a Network Server Platform (NSP) and VoIP call-server, the SRP combines mobile call processing signaling with the VoIP call signaling to establish calls between the mobile and VoIP device or between mobiles. The SRP establishes the voice path to the mobile station over the air and the RTP media path to a party over a packet network for a call. These two paths are interconnected at the SRP so that an end-to-end voice path is established.

Claims

1. A device for processing Voice over IP (VoIP) data packets for wireless terminals, comprising:

an IP/Ethernet Interface for establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) path with a VoIP phone;

a VoIP Media Gateway interposed between an air interface and the IP/Ethernet Interface for media conversion and transportation;

a VoIP Media Gateway for controlling VoIP call processing; and

,

a Call Control in communication with said VoIP Media Gateway and said VoIP Media Gateway for controlling call processing for wireless terminals and coordinating with VoIP call processing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein signaling messages and a voice stream are received from a mobile station via the air interface receive.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the Call Control is configured for:

receiving signaling messages via the air interface;

instructing the VoIP Media Gateway to set up RTP paths to called parties; and

,

instructing the VoIP Signaling Gateway to set up VoIP calls to the called parties.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the VoIP Signaling Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the Call Control;

processing the messages from the Call Control; and

,

managing VoIP call-related activities.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the VoIP Media Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the Call Control;

processing the messages from the Call Control;

receiving a voice stream via the air interface; and

packetizing the voice stream into RTP data packets.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the IP/Ethernet Interface receives RTP data packets from the VoIP Media Gateway and messages from the Call Control and the VoIP Signaling Gateway, and sends the RTP data packets and the messages to a packet data network.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the IP/Ethernet Interface receives messages and RTP packets from a packet data network, sends the RTP packets to the VoIP Media Gateway, and sends the messages to the Call Control and the VoIP Signaling Gateway.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the Call Control is configured for:

receiving signaling messages from the IP/Ethernet interface and the VoIP Signaling Gateway; and

managing mobile station-related activities.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the VoIP Signaling Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the IP/Ethernet interface;

instructing the Call Control to manage mobile calls; and

managing VoIP call-related activities.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the VoIP Media Gateway is configured for:

receiving the VoIP data packets from the IP/Ethernet Interface; and

converting the VoIP data packets to a voice stream.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the air Interface receives a voice stream from the VoIP Media Gateway and receives signaling messages from the Call Control.

12. A method of providing a path between a Voice over IP (VoIP) device in a network and a mobile station, comprising:

tuning the mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) to establish a voice path wirelessly via a Software Radio Port (SRP);

engaging a VoIP call-server to set up a VoIP call;

generating a ringback tone to the mobile station;

establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media path for exchange of RTP data packets via said Software Radio Port (SRP); and

interconnecting the voice path and the RTP media path over a packet network via said Software Radio Port (SRP).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the VoIP device comprises at least one of:

a VoIP phone or a VoIP Gateway.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the tuning is in response to receiving a call origination message from the mobile station and engaging a Network Server Platform (NSP) to set up a mobile call.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said tuning comprises:

sending a message to tune the mobile station to a specified digital traffic channel; and

detecting the mobile station as being tuned to the specified digital traffic channel.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said engaging comprises:

sending a VoIP call connection request to the VoIP call-server;

analyzing a called number; and

setting up a VoIP call via the VoIP call-server.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said generating comprises:

receiving a ringing indication from a called party;

generating the ringback tone in response to said receiving; and

transmitting the ringback tone to the mobile station.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said establishing comprises:

receiving a connect indication from a called party;

turning off the ringback tone;

setting up the RTP media path for exchange of the RTP data packets; and

informing a Network Server Platform (NSP) of the call connection.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said interconnecting comprises:

converting received voice frames to RTP packets to be sent to the packet network, and

converting received RTP packets to voice frames to be sent to the mobile station.

20. A method of providing a path between a Voice over IP (VoIP) device in a packet network and a mobile station, comprising:

processing a call connection request at a VoIP call-server;

initiating mobile call set-up at a Network Server Platform (NSP);

tuning the mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) to establish a first path wirelessly via a Software Radio Port (SRP);

establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media path for exchange of RTP data packets via the SRP; and

interconnecting the first path and the RTP media path over the packet network via the SRP.