Voice over IP mobility in IP/cellular networks interworking

• US 6,940,848 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Liu, Jen-chi, Liao, Wanjiun
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BRIAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/606,248
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/400, 370/401, 370/410, 370/395.2, 370/310, 370/338, 455/432.1, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/437, 455/440
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A mobile host is connected to a communication terminal through a first mobile switching center of a cellular network, a first gateway at a near end of the Internet, and a second gateway at a far end of the Internet. When the mobile host roams from an area controlled by the first mobile switching center to an area controlled by a second mobile switching center, a comparison is done between the first gateway connected to the first mobile switching center and a third gateway that is connected to the second mobile switching center. If the third gateway and the first gateway are different, the third gateway invokes a call transfer procedure to the first gateway to establish a connection between the second gateway and the third gateway, and release a connection between the first gateway and the second gateway.

Claims

1. A mobile voice communication method for enabling a mobile host to initiate a voice call with a communication terminal via Internet and cellular networks, said mobile host being connected to said communication terminal through a first mobile switching center of the cellular network, a first gateway at a near end of the Internet, and a second gateway at a far end of the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:

comparing, when said mobile host roams from an area controlled by said first mobile switching center to an area controlled by a second mobile switching center, said first gateway that is connected to said first mobile switching center with a third gateway that is connected to said second mobile switching center; and

invoking, if said third gateway and said first gateway are different, a call transfer procedure from said third gateway to said first gateway to establish a connection between said second gateway and said third gateway, and release a connection between said first gateway and said second gateway, wherein said call transfer procedure is invoked by said third gateway in a facility message sent to said first gateway, and wherein said call transfer procedure includes the steps of;

said first gateway sending said facility message with call transfer initiate invocation to said second gateway;

said second gateway sending a setup message with call transfer setup invocation to said third gateway when receiving said facility message;

said third gateway returning a connect message with call transfer result to said second gateway;

said second gateway issuing a release complete message with call transfer return result to said first gateway; and

said first gateway forwarding said release complete message to said third gateway when receiving said release complete message.

2. The mobile voice communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, before initiating said call transfer procedure, said second mobile switching center sends a location update indication with information of said first gateway to said third gateway for updating location information.

3. The mobile voice communication method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said third gateway is operatively connected to a gatekeeper, and, when receiving said location update indication, said third gateway initiates registration request and confirmation, and admission request and confirmation exchanges with said gatekeeper.

4. The mobile voice communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first gateway is operatively connected to a gatekeeper, and, when said call transfer procedure is completed, said first gateway initiate disengage request and confirmation exchanges with said gatekeeper.

5. The mobile voice communication method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, if said third gateway and said first gateway are identical, a regular location update procedure for mobile communication is performed.

6. A mobile voice communication system for enabling a mobile host to initiate a voice call with a communication terminal via Internet and cellular networks, comprising:

a plurality of mobile switching centers, provided by the cellular network for enabling said mobile host to establish a call connection; and

a plurality of gateways, provided by the Internet for connecting to the mobile switching centers,

wherein said mobile host is connected to said communication terminal through a first mobile switching center of the cellular network, a first gateway at near end of the Internet, and a second gateway at a far end of the Internet, and when said mobile host roams from an area controlled by said first mobile switching center to an area controlled by a second mobile switching center, and said first gateway that is connected to said first mobile switching center is different from a third gateway that is connected to said second mobile switching center, said third gateway invokes a call transfer procedure to said first gateway, so as to establish a connection between said second gateway and said third gateway, and release a connection between said first gateway and said second gateway, wherein said call transfer procedure is invoked by said third gateway in a facility message sent to said first gateway, and wherein in said call transfer procedure, said first gateway sends said facility message with call transfer initiate invocation to said second gateway;

said second gateway sends a setup message with call transfer setup invocation to said third gateway when receiving said facility message;

said third gateway returns a connect message with call transfer result to said second gateway;

said second gateway issues a release complete message with call transfer return result to said first gateway; and

said first gateway forwards said release complete message to said third gateway when receiving said release complete message.

7. The mobile voice communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein, before initiating said call transfer procedure, said second mobile switching center sends a location update indication with information of said first gateway to said third gateway for updating location information.

8. The mobile voice communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said third gateway is operatively connected to a gatekeeper, and, when receiving said location update indication, said third gateway initiates registration request and confirmation, and admission request and confirmation exchanges with said gatekeeper.

9. The mobile voice communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first gateway is operatively connected to a gatekeeper, and, when said call transfer procedure is completed, said first gateway initiate disengage request and confirmation exchanges with said gatekeeper.