Method and arrangement for signalling in a wireless IP multimedia network and a wireless IP multimedia network terminal device

• US 7,529,213 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Garcia-Martin, Miguel-Angel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US10/291,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20030108020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,366 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/312, 370/313, 370/328, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The technology described relates to telecommunication networks and more specifically to a method and an arrangement for signalling in a wireless IP multimedia network and to a wireless IP multimedia network terminal device and permits 3GPP Core Network IP Multimedia Subsystems and all associated products including mobile terminals, Media Gateway, Media Gateway Control Function, etc. to support DTMF tones.

Claims

1. A method for signaling in a wireless internet protocol (IP) multimedia network, wherein the method comprises:

establishing a session with at least a first media stream in the wireless IP multimedia network between two endpoints,

triggering a session initiation protocol (SIP) re-INVITE message that is received by a remote one of the endpoints,

establishing a new additional media stream associated with the session for sending representations of the dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digits in real-time transport protocol (RTP) packets between the two endpoints using an error-protected packet data protocol (PDP) context, and

transferring a representation of the DTMF digit corresponding each keystroke pressed by a user over the said error protected PDP context.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a mechanism is automatically set up so that when any DTMF key is pressed in the middle of the session, it is interpreted as an initiation of the DTMF service and as a first character of the DTMF service.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a terminal initiating or terminating the session does not know, in advance, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the DTMF interaction is finished, the method also comprises:

triggering a new SIP re-INVITE message that removes or sets to inactive the additional media stream used for the DTMF digits.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a new SIP re-INVITE message is triggered in response to the user pressing a pre-determined key in a terminal.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to sending any actual representations of the DTMF digits, the user presses a key in a terminal associated with one of the endpoints to instruct the terminal of the need to send DTMF tones.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a terminal initiating or terminating the session does not know, in advance, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein after a key in the terminal is pressed, a SIP re-INVITE message to be received by the remote endpoint is triggered, said SIP re-INVITE message containing a new session description adding a new audio media stream, said new audio media stream including support for an RTP payload for DTMF digit representations.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein an additional, strongly error protected PDP context is established for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the two endpoints.

10. A method according to claim 3, wherein an existing PDP context is used for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the two endpoints.

11. An arrangement for signaling in a wireless internet protocol (IP) multimedia network, the wireless IP multimedia network having a terminal A initiating a session with a terminal B with at least a first media stream through the wireless IP multimedia network,

wherein in the arrangement includes electronic circuitry configured to:

trigger a session initiation protocol (SIP) re-INVITE message that is received by the terminal B,

establish a new additional media stream for sending representations of the dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digits in real-time transport protocol (RTP) packets between the terminals A and B using an error-protected packet data protocol (PDP) context, and

transfer a representation of the DTMF digit corresponding each keystroke pressed by the user over the error-protected PDP context.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured so that when any DTMF key is pressed in the middle of the session, it is interpreted as an initiation of the DTMF service and as a first character of the DTMF service.

13. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a terminal initiating or terminating the session does not know, in advance, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

14. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to trigger a new SIP re-INVITE message when the DTMF interaction is finished, said new SIP re-INVITE message removing or setting to inactive the additional media stream used for the representations of the DTMF digits.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to trigger a new SIP re-INVITE message in response to a user pressing a pre-determined key in one of the terminals A and B.

16. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to detect a user pressing a key on one of the terminals A and B prior to sending any actual representations of the DTMF digits, said pressing a key instructing the one terminal of the need to send DTMF tones.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein a terminal initiating or terminating the session does not know, in advance, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

18. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein after a key in the one terminal is pressed, the electronic circuitry is further configured to trigger a SIP re-INVITE message to be received by the other terminal, said SIP re-INVITE message containing a new session description adding a new audio media stream, said new audio media stream including support for the RTP payload for DTMF digits.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to establish an additional, strongly error-protected PDP context for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the terminals A and B.

20. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to use an existing PDP context for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the terminals A and B.

21. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the electronic circuitry is further configured to re-generate the DTMF tones from the received RTP data.

22. A wireless internet protocol (IP) multimedia network terminal device comprising:

means for initiating a multimedia session with at least a first media stream between the terminal and a remote endpoint through a wireless IP multimedia network,

means for triggering a session initiation protocol (SIP) re-INVITE message that is received by the remote endpoint,

means for establishing a new additional media stream for the multimedia session for sending representations of the dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) digits in real-time transport protocol (RTP) packets between the terminal and the endpoint using an error-protected packet data protocol (PDP) context, and

means for transferring a representation of the DTMF digit corresponding to each keystroke pressed on terminal by a user of the terminal over the said error protected PDP context.

23. A terminal device according to claim 22,further comprising means for interpreting when any DTMF key is pressed in the middle of the call as an initiation of the DTMF service and as a first character of the DTMF service.

24. A terminal device according to claim 22, wherein the terminal does not know, in advance of initiating or terminating the session, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

25. A terminal device according to claim 22, wherein the arrangement has means for triggering a new SIP re-INVITE message when the DTMF

26. A terminal device according to claim 25, wherein the means for triggering is configured to trigger a new SIP re-INVITE message in response to the user pressing a pre-determined key in a terminal.

27. A terminal device according to claim 22, wherein the arrangement has means for detecting the user pressing a key in the terminal prior to sending any actual representations of the DTMF digits said pressing a key instructing the terminal of the need to send DTMF tones.

28. A terminal device according to claim 27, wherein the terminal does not know, in advance of initiating or terminating the session, if sending or receiving DMTF digits is required or not.

29. A terminal device according to claim 27, wherein after a key in the terminal is pressed, the means for triggering is arranged to trigger a SIP re-INVITE message to be received by the remote endpoint, said SIP re-INVITE message containing a new session description adding a new audio media stream, said new audio media stream including support for the RTP payload for DTMF digits.

30. A terminal device according to claim 29, wherein the means for establishing is configured to establish an additional, strongly error protected PDP context for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the two endpoints.

31. A terminal device according to claim 29, wherein the means for establishing is configured to use an existing PDP context for the added new media stream for sending representations of the DTMF digits in RTP packets between the two endpoints.