Method for diverting an ISUP talkpath to an IP talkpath

• US 6,775,270 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Hong, Rhodes, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, CHIRAG G
• Application Number:
  US09/628,980
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/467, 370/493, 370/494, 370/521
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A method for improving the sound quality of voice signals transmitted during a call between two digital wireless telephones by diverting the call from a circuit switched network to a data network is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a call setup procedure using the circuit switched network is modified so that the calling party may determine the following information: 1) whether the called party'"'"'s digital wireless telephone is able to support one of the voice compression algorithms supported by the calling party'"'"'s digital wireless telephone and 2) whether both wireless telephones have access to the same data network. If the called party'"'"'s digital wireless telephone is able to support one of the voice compression algorithms supported by the calling party'"'"'s digital wireless telephone and both wireless telephones have access to the same data network, the circuit switched network call setup procedure is abandoned before the called party answers the call and the call is completed using the data network. Completing the call by encoding voice signals using a common voice compression algorithm executed by the digital wireless telephones and by sending the encoded voice signals through a data network eliminates the drawbacks associated with the additional intermediate encoding which would have been required if the call had been completed using the circuit switched network.

Claims

1. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

sending a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device to a first line/network interface switch, said call request message identifying at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

receiving said call request message at said first line/network interface switch;

sending said call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network;

receiving said call request message at said second line/network interface switch;

sending said call request message from said second line/network interface switch to a called party'"'"'s audio device;

receiving said call request message at said called party'"'"'s audio device;

sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to said one of said first line/network interface switch and said calling party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

exchanging voice signals between said called party'"'"'s audio device and said calling party'"'"'s audio device via a data network, if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first line/network interface switch and said second line/network interface switch are mobile switching centers (MSCs).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sending said call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm;

and

wherein the step of sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to said calling party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include response information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

6. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

sending a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device to a first line/network interface switch, said call request message identifying at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

receiving said call request message at said first line/network interface switch;

sending said call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network;

receiving said call request message at said second line/network interface switch, said second line/network interface switch being associated with a called party'"'"'s audio device;

sending a response message from said second line/network interface switch to one of said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said first line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

exchanging voice signals between said called party'"'"'s audio device and said calling party'"'"'s audio device via a data network, if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first line/network interface switch and said second line/network interface switch are mobile switching centers (MSCs).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of sending said call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm;

and

wherein the step of sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to said calling party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include response information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

11. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request message at a first line/network interface switch;

modifying said call request message to identify at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said modified call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network;

receiving said modified call request message at said second line/network interface switch;

sending said modified call request message from said second line/network interface switch to a called party'"'"'s audio device;

receiving said modified call request message at said called party'"'"'s audio device;

sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to one of said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said first line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

exchanging voice signals between said called party'"'"'s audio device and said calling party'"'"'s audio device via a data network, if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first line/network interface switch and said second line/network interface switch are mobile switching centers (MSCs).

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying step is accomplished by modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm;

and

wherein the step of sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to said calling party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include response information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

16. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

sending a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device to a first line/network interface switch;

receiving said call request message at said first line/network interface switch;

modifying said call request message to identify at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said modified call request message from said first line/network interface switch to a second line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network;

receiving said call request message at said second line/network interface switch, said second line/network interface switch being associated with a called party'"'"'s audio device;

sending a response message from said second line/network interface switch to one of said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said first line/network interface switch via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

exchanging voice signals between said called party'"'"'s audio device and said calling party'"'"'s audio device via a data network, if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first line/network interface switch and said second line/network interface switch are mobile switching centers (MSCs).

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the modifying step is accomplished by modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm;

and

wherein the step of sending a response message from said called party'"'"'s audio device to said calling party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include response information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

21. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device, said call request message identifying at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said sending step includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

25. A method for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device;

modifying said call request message to identify at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said modified call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response message via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said modifying step is accomplished by modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

29. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to improve a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, by performing the steps of:

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device, said call request message identifying at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein said sending step includes the step of modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein said data network is an Internet protocol (IP) network.

33. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to improve a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, by performing the steps of:

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device;

modifying said call request message to identify at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said modified call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response message via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein said modifying step is accomplished by modifying at least one circuit control signaling message to include information identifying said at least one voice compression algorithm.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein each of said audio devices is one of a wired telephone, a wireless telephone, and an Internet protocol (IP) based computer telephone.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein said data network is an Internet provider (IP) network.

37. An apparatus for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable memory segment adapted to be connected to said processor;

a diversion module included within said computer readable memory, said diversion module comprising computer program code segments which, when executed by said processor, implement the following steps;

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device, said call request message identifying at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.

38. An apparatus for improving a quality of voice signals exchanged via a circuit switched network between audio devices, comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable memory segment adapted to be connected to said processor;

a diversion module included within said computer readable memory, said diversion module comprising computer program code segments which, when executed by said processor, implement the following steps;

receiving a call request message from a calling party'"'"'s audio device;

modifying said call request message to identify at least one voice compression algorithm supported by said calling party'"'"'s audio device;

sending said modified call request message to one of a called party'"'"'s audio device and a line/network interface switch associated with said called party'"'"'s audio device via the circuit switched network;

receiving a response message via the circuit switched network, said response message indicating whether said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm; and

enabling said calling party'"'"'s audio device and said called party'"'"'s audio device to exchange voice information via a data network if said called party'"'"'s audio device is able to support said at least one voice compression algorithm.