Technique for Interconnecting Circuit-Switched and Packet-Switched Domains

• US 20100177764A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lippelt, Hans-Peter, Keller, Ralf, Witzel, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network

Abstract

A technique for providing circuit-switched cal services for a call stretching between a packet-switched domain and circuit-switched domain is provided. A possible server implementation of this technique includes a first interface adapted to receive packet-switched protocol messages requesting circuit-switched call services, a service component providing the requested call services, and a second interface adapted to pass call control towards the circuit-switched domain after the call services have been provided.

Claims

1. An application server for providing circuit-switched CS services for a call, the server comprising:

a first Interface for receiving Packet Switched protocol messages requesting CS services for a call stretching between a PS domain and a CS domain through an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) domain;

a service component for providing the requested CS services for the call; and

a second interface for passing call control towards the CS domain after the CS services have been provided;

wherein the application server is an IMS server adapted to directly pass the call control to the CS domain at an application layer.

2. The server of claim 1, further comprising

a converter for converting the content of the PS protocol messages in a format interpretable by the service component, wherein the service component provides the CS services in accordance with the converted content.

3. The server of claim 1, further comprising

decision logic for deciding if call control is to be passed back via the first interface or if call control is to be passed via the second interface towards the CS domain.

4. The server of claim 1, further comprising

at least one of a storage for subscriber data and a third interface for receiving subscriber data.

5. The server of claim 3, the decision logic taking into account subscriber data associated with the call.

6. The server of claim 4, the service component providing the CS services taking into account subscriber data associated with the call.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the PS protocol messages are SIP messages.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured as an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem service control (ISC) interface.

9. The server of claim 1, wherein the second interface is configured as at least one of an integrated services digital network user part (ISUP) interface and a bearer independent call control (BICC) interface.

10. The server of claim 1 the service component providing one or more functionalities of a mobile switching centre MSC or of an MSC server.

11. An Internet protocol multimedia subsystem IMS comprising

an application server for providing circuit-switched (CS) services for a call, the server comprising:

a first Interface for receiving Packet Switched protocol messages that are requesting CS services for a call stretching between a packet-switched PS-domain and a CS domain through an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) domain;

a service component for providing the requested CS services for the call; and

a second interface for providing call control towards the CS domain after the CS services have been provided;

wherein the application server is an IMS server adapted to directly pass the call control to the CS domain at an application layer.

12. The IMS of claim 11, further comprising an MSC-S co-located with the server.

13. A method of providing circuit-switched (CS) services for a call, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving packet switched (PS) protocol messages requesting CS services for a call stretching between a packet-switched domain and a CS domain through an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS);

providing the requested CS services for the call; and

passing call control towards the CS domain after the CS services have been provided,

wherein the steps are performed by an application server provided in the IMS and the call control is passed directly from the application server to the CS domain at an application layer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the steps are performed by a dedicated one of a plurality of application servers, each of the application servers being adapted for being linked into a path of the call.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising linking the dedicated application server, as first application server, into the call path.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising

deciding if call control is to be passed back to a component in the PS domain or if call control is to be passed towards the CS domain.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the decision is based on one or more of subscriber data associated with the call;

the requirement of linking further application servers into the call;

the content type of the call; and

a destination address of the call.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein a Switching between two or more of the following modes of operation is enabled:

mandatory passing of call control towards the CS domain;

mandatory passing of call control towards the PS domain; and

dynamically deciding if call control is to be passed towards the PS domain or if call control is to be passed towards the CS domain.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the provided CS services are telephony services.

20-21. -21. (canceled)