IP based service architecture

• US 7,266,593 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wong, Curt, Faccin, Stefano, Mutikainen, Jari, Sivalingam, Kengatharan, Shreemanthula, Srinivas
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter; Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/792,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,384 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/237, 709/230, 379/900, 379/88.17, 370/352, 370/353, 370/252, 370/253
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/507 Filtering out customers affected by service problems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A communication system comprises an IP network offering services to users and an IPT provider network providing call related functions to users. A control protocol message is received and analyzed by a respective serving entity in the IPT provider network. Depending on the analyzing result, call related functions are performed by the respective serving entity. Moreover, a received control protocol message is analyzed by the IP network and, depending on the analyzing result, services are executed by the IP network.

Claims

1. An Internet Protocol communication system comprising:

a service provider network configured to offer services to users, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network; and

a bearer provider network configured to provide call related functions to users, wherein the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network, the service provider network being separate from the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks, the bearer provider network comprising serving entities which are configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message, and, depending on the analyzing result, perform call related functions, wherein

the service provider network is configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message and, depending on the analyzing result, execute services,

the bearer provider network comprises a subscriber database containing subscriber subscription information,

when a respective serving entity receives a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a user address is present in the control protocol message, fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from the subscriber database and sends a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and a terminating call indication towards the service provider network, and

the respective serving entity indicates an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call and sent to the service provider network, and the service provider network uses the other serving entity when routing the call towards the user equipment.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein, when a respective serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a user address in the control protocol message, and registers the user equipment to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein, when the service provider network receives, from the user equipment, another control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a service provider network user identification address in the control protocol message, and registers the user equipment to the service provider network in accordance with the service provider network user identification address.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein, when a respective serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a user address in the control protocol message, registers the user equipment to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address, fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from the subscriber database and generates a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and sends it to the service provider network for registering the user equipment to the service provider network.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein, when a respective serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for initiating a call, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a service provider network user identification address of a called party and an originating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwards the control protocol message to the service provider network.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein, when a respective serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for initiating a call, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a called party address is present in the control protocol message, it fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the called party address from the subscriber database and sends a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and an originating call indication towards the service provider network.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the respective serving entity adds a new control protocol header comprising the originating call indication to the control protocol message.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the service provider network, upon receiving the control protocol message sent from the respective serving entity, executes terminating services.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the respective serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the respective serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the respective serving entity adds a new control protocol header comprising the terminating call indication to the control protocol message sent to the service provider network.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control protocol comprises a session initiation protocol.

13. A user equipment for communicating in a communication system according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment is configured to use control protocol methods for attaching to said system.

14. A user equipment according to claim 13, wherein the user equipment is configured to use a control protocol message for registering to said system.

15. A user equipment according to claim 14, wherein the user equipment sends a control protocol message with a user address towards the bearer provider network for registering to the system.

16. A user equipment according to claim 14, wherein the user equipment sends a control protocol message with a user address towards the bearer provider network and another control protocol message with a service provider network user identification address related to the user address to the service provider network for registering to the system.

17. A user equipment according to claim 13, wherein the user equipment is configured to send a control protocol message towards the system for initiating a call.

18. A user equipment according to claim 17, wherein the user equipment sends a control protocol message for initiating a call comprising a service provider user identification address of a called party and an originating call indication towards the bearer provider network.

19. A user equipment according to claim 17, wherein the user equipment sends a control protocol message for initiating a call comprising an address of a called party towards the bearer provider network.

20. A user equipment according to claim 13, wherein the user equipment is configured to receive a control protocol message initiated from another party to invite the user equipment to a call from the system.

21. A user equipment according to claim 13, wherein the control protocol comprises a session initiation protocol.

22. An Internet Protocol communication system comprising:

a service provider network configured to offer services to users, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network; and

a bearer provider network configured to provide call related functions to users, wherein the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network, the service provider network being separate from the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks, the bearer provider network comprising serving entities which are configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message, and, depending on the analyzing result, perform call related functions, wherein

the service provider network is configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message and, depending on the analyzing result, execute services,

when a respective serving entity receives a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment, it analyzes the control protocol message, and, if a user identification address and a terminating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwards the control protocol message to the service provider network, and

the respective serving entity indicates an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call and sent to the service provider network, and the service provider network uses the other serving entity when routing the call towards the user equipment.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the service provider network, upon receiving the control protocol message sent from the respective serving entity, executes terminating services.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein the respective serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

25. A system according to claim 22, wherein the respective serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

26. A method of communicating in an Internet Protocol communication system, the method comprising:

offering services to users through a service provider network;

providing call related functions to users using a bearer provider network, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network and the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network;

separating the service provider network and the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized maimer across multiple bearer provider networks;

receiving a control protocol message by a respective serving entity in the bearer provider network;

analyzing the received control protocol message by the respective serving entity;

depending on the analyzing result, performing call related functions by the respective serving entity;

analyzing a received control protocol message by the service provider network;

depending on the analyzing result, executing services by the service provider network, wherein when a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment is received in said receiving;

analyzing the control protocol message;

if a user identification address and a terminating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwarding the control protocol message to the service provider network;

receiving the control protocol message sent from a respective serving entity by the service provider network;

executing terminating services by the service provider network; and

indicating an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network is in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network, and the other serving entity is used by the service provider network when routing the call towards the user equipment.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein, when in said receiving a control protocol message for registering a user equipment is received, the method further comprises:

analyzing a user address in the control protocol message; and

registering the user equipment to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

receiving, from the user equipment, another control protocol message for registering the user equipment, by the service provider network;

analyzing a service provider network user identification address in the control protocol message by the service provider network; and

registering the user equipment to the service provider network in accordance with the service provider network user identification address.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein, when a control protocol message for registering a user equipment is received in said receiving, the method further comprises:

analyzing a user address in the control protocol message;

registering the user equipment is registered to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address;

fetching a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from a subscriber database in the bearer provider network;

generating a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address; and

sending the control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address towards the service provider network for registering the user equipment to the service provider network.

30. A method according to claim 26, wherein, when a control protocol message for initiating a call is received in said receiving, the method further comprises:

analyzing the control protocol message; and

if a service provider network user identification address of a called party and an originating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwarding the control protocol message to the service provider network.

31. A method according to claim 26, wherein, when a control protocol message for initiating a call is received in said receiving, the method further comprises:

analyzing the control protocol message; and

if a called party address is present in the control protocol message, fetching a service provider network user identification address related to the called party address from a subscriber database in the bearer provider network and a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and an originating call indication is sent towards the service provider network.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

adding a new control protocol header comprising the originating call indication to the control protocol message.

33. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

indicating the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

34. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

indicating the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

35. A method according to claim 26, wherein the control protocol comprises a session initiation protocol.

36. A method of communicating in an Internet Protocol communication system, the method comprising:

offering services to users through a service provider network;

providing call related functions to users using a bearer provider network, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network and the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network;

separating the service provider network and the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks;

receiving a control protocol message by a respective serving entity in the bearer provider network;

analyzing the received control protocol message by the respective serving entity;

depending on the analyzing result, performing call related functions by the respective serving entity;

analyzing a received control protocol message by the service provider network;

depending on the analyzing result, executing services by the service provider network wherein, when a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment is received in said receiving;

analyzing the control protocol message;

if a user address is present in the control protocol message, fetching a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from a subscriber database in the bearer provider network and a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and a terminating call indication is sent towards the service provider network;

receiving the control protocol message sent from a respective serving entity by the service provider network;

executing terminating services by the service provider network; and

indicating an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network is in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network, and the other serving entity is used by the service provider network when routing the call towards the user equipment.

37. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

indicating the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

38. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

indicating the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

39. A method according to claim 36, further comprising:

adding a new control protocol header comprising the terminating call indication to the control protocol message sent towards the service provider network.

40. A serving entity in a bearer provider network providing call related functions to users and communicating with a service provider network offering services to users, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network and the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network, the service provider network being separate from the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks, wherein said serving entity is configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message, and, depending on the analyzing result, perform call related functions, wherein, when said serving entity receives a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment, it analyzes the control protocol message, and, if a user identification address and a terminating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwards the control protocol message to the service provider network, and wherein said serving entity indicates an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call and sent towards the service provider network.

41. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein, when said serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a user address in the control protocol message, and registers the user equipment to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address.

42. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein, when said serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a user address in the control protocol message, registers the user equipment to the bearer provider network in accordance with the user address, fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from a subscriber database in the bearer provider network and generates a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and sends it towards the service provider network for registering the user equipment to the service provider network.

43. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein, when said serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for initiating a call, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a service provider network user identification address of a called party and an originating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwards the control protocol message to the service provider network.

44. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein, when said serving entity receives, from a user equipment, a control protocol message for initiating a call, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a called party address is present in the control protocol message, it fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the called party address from a subscriber database in the bearer provider network and sends a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and an originating call indication towards the service provider network.

45. A serving entity according to claim 44, wherein said serving entity adds a new control protocol header comprising the originating call indication to the control protocol message.

46. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein said serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

47. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein said serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

48. A serving entity according to claim 40, wherein the control protocol comprises a session initiation protocol.

49. A serving entity in a bearer provider network providing call related functions to users and communicating with a service provider network offering services to users, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network and the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network, the service provider network being separate from the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks, wherein said serving entity is configured to receive a control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message, and, depending on the analyzing result, perform call related functions, wherein, when said serving entity receives a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment, it analyzes the control protocol message and, if a user address is present in the control protocol message, fetches a service provider network user identification address related to the user address from the subscriber database and sends a control protocol message with the service provider network user identification address and a terminating call indication towards the service provider network, and wherein said serving entity indicates an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call and sent towards the service provider network.

50. A serving entity according to claim 49, wherein said serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a parameter containing the address to a descriptor contained in the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

51. A serving entity according to claim 49, wherein said serving entity indicates the address of the other serving entity by adding a control protocol header containing the address to the control protocol message indicating the initiated call which is sent towards the service provider network.

52. A serving entity according to claim 49, wherein said serving entity adds a new control protocol header comprising the terminating call indication to the control protocol message sent towards the service provider network.

53. A service provider network offering services to users and communicating with a bearer provider network providing call related functions to users, wherein the service provider network is an Internet Protocol network and the bearer provider network is an Internet Protocol Telephony provider network, the service provider network being separate from the bearer provider network to allow the users to manage the services in a centralized manner across multiple bearer provider networks, wherein

said bearer provider network comprises a serving entity, wherein said serving entity receives a control protocol message indicating an initiated call to a user equipment, said serving entity analyzes the control protocol message, and, if a user identification address and a terminating call indication are present in the control protocol message, forwards the control protocol message to the service provider network, wherein the serving entity indicates an address of another serving entity in the bearer provider network in the control protocol message indicating an initiated call and sent towards the service provider network, and

said service provider network is configured to receive the control protocol message, analyze the control protocol message and, depending on the analyzing result, execute services.

54. A service provider network according to claim 53, wherein said service provider network is configured to receive control protocol messages from said serving entity in the bearer provider network.

55. A service provider network according to claim 54, wherein, when said service provider network receives, from said serving entity, the control protocol message indicating the initiated call towards the user equipment, said service provider network executes terminating services.

56. A service provider network according to claim 55, wherein, if the address of the other serving entity in the bearer provider network is indicated in the control protocol message, said service provider network uses the other serving entity when routing the call towards the user equipment.

57. A service provider network according to claim 53, wherein said service provider network is configured to receive control protocol messages from the user equipment.

58. A service provider network according to claim 57, wherein, when said service provider network receives, from the user equipment, a control protocol message for registering the user equipment, it analyzes a service provider network user identification address in the control protocol message, and registers the user equipment to the service provider network in accordance with the service provider network user identification address.

59. A service provider network according to claim 53, wherein the control protocol comprises a session initiation protocol.