Method for providing VoIP services for wireless terminals

• US 7,664,103 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Yue-Chuan, Hua, Ningming
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US11/691,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for wireless telecommunication in a packet-based network comprising a Software Radio Port (SRP) which functions as a radio base station and a VoIP gateway to interconnect the wireless network with the VoIP packet network. Together with a Network Server Platform (NSP) and VoIP call-server, the SRP combines mobile call processing signaling with the VoIP call signaling to establish calls between the mobile and VoIP device or between mobiles. The SRP establishes the voice path to the mobile station over the air and the RTP media path to a party over a packet network for a call. These two paths are interconnected at the SRP so that an end-to-end voice path is established.

Claims

1. A software radio port device for processing Voice over IP (VoIP) data packets for wireless terminals, the device comprising:

an air interface for establishing a voice path wirelessly with a mobile station;

an IP/Ethernet Interface for establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) path with a VoIP phone;

a VoIP Media Gateway interposed between the air interface and the IP/Ethernet Interface for media conversion and transportation;

a VoIP signaling Gateway for controlling VoIP call processing; and

,

a Call Control for controlling call processing of wireless terminals and coordinating with VoIP call processing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the air interface receives signaling messages and a voice stream from the mobile station.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the mobile station receives signaling messages and a voice stream from the air interface.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the Call Control is configured for:

receiving signaling messages from the air interface;

instructing the VoIP Media Gateway to set up RTP paths to called parties; and

,

instructing the VoIP Signaling Gateway to set up VoIP calls to the called parties.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the VoIP Signaling Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the Call Control;

processing messages from the Call Control; and

,

managing VoIP call-related activities.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the VoIP Media Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the Call Control;

processing messages from the Call Control;

receiving a voice stream from the air interface; and

packetizing the voice stream into RTP data packets.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the IP/Ethernet Interface receives RTP data packets from the VoIP Media Gateway and messages from the Call Control and the VoIP Signaling Gateway, and sends the RTP data packets and the messages to a packet data network.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the IP/Ethernet Interface receives messages and RTP packets from a packet data network, sends the RTP packets to the VoIP Media Gateway, and sends the messages to the Call Control and the VoIP Signaling Gateway.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the Call Control is configured for:

receiving signaling messages from the IP/Ethernet interface and the VoIP Signaling Gateway; and

managing mobile station-related activities.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the VoIP Signaling Gateway is configured for:

receiving messages from the IP/Ethernet interface;

instructing the Call Control to manage mobile calls; and

managing VoIP call-related activities.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the VoIP Media Gateway is configured for:

receiving the VoIP data packets from the IP/Ethernet Interface; and

converting the VoIP data packets to a voice stream.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the air Interface receives a voice stream from the VoIP Media Gateway and receives signaling messages from the Call Control.

13. A wireless telecommunication system for providing VoIP service to wireless terminals comprising:

a software radio port device for establishing a voice path wirelessly with a mobile station and establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) path with a VoIP phone via a packet network;

a network server platform;

a VoIP-enabled communication device;

a VoIP proxy server for managing requests/messages from the VoIP-enabled communication device; and

a PSTN/VoIP Gateway for interconnecting a VoIP network with Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the network server platform comprises:

an IP interface;

a Mobile Switching Center/Visitor'"'"'s Location Register (MSC/VLR) configured to provide call control operations for mobiles;

a Home Location Register (HLR) for storing mobile subscriber authentication data; and

a VoIP Call-Server Control to provide VoIP call processing control operations.

15. A method of providing a two-way voice path between a VoIP device in a network and a mobile station wherein a call originates at the mobile station, the method comprising:

initiating mobile call set-up;

tuning the mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) to establish a voice path wirelessly via a Software Radio Port (SRP);

engaging a VoIP call-server to set up a VoIP call;

generating a ringback tone to the mobile station;

establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media path for exchange of RTP data packets via said Software Radio Port (SRP); and

interconnecting the voice path and the RTP media path over a packet network via said Software Radio Port (SRP).

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the VoIP device comprises at least one of:

a VoIP phone or a VoIP Gateway.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the initiating mobile call set-up comprises receiving a call origination message from the mobile station and engaging a Network Server Platform (NSP) to set up a mobile call.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of tuning comprises:

sending a message to tune the mobile station to a specified digital traffic channel; and

detecting the mobile station as being tuned to the specified digital traffic channel.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of engaging comprises:

sending a VoIP call connection request to the VoIP call-server;

analyzing a called number; and

setting up a VoIP call via the VoIP call-server.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said generating comprises:

receiving a ringing indication from a called party;

generating the ringback tone in response to said receiving; and

transmitting the ringback tone to the mobile station.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said establishing comprises:

receiving a connect indication from a called party;

turning off the ringback tone;

setting up the RTP media path for exchange of the RTP data packets; and

informing a Network Server Platform (NSP) of the call connection.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of interconnecting comprises:

converting received voice frames to RTP packets to be sent to the packet network, and

converting received RTP packets to voice frames to be sent to the mobile station.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the network is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the network is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).

25. A method of providing a two-way voice path between a VoIP device in a network and a mobile station wherein a call originates at the VoIP device, the method comprising:

processing a call connection request at a VoIP call-server;

initiating mobile call set-up at a Network Server Platform (NSP);

tuning the mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) to establish a voice path wirelessly via a Software Radio Port (SRP);

alerting both the mobile station and the VoIP device;

establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media path for exchange of RTP data packets via the SRP; and

interconnecting the voice path and the RTP media path over a packet network via the SRP.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the processing the call connection request comprises receiving a call connection request message from the VoIP device and engaging the NSP to analyze a called number.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of tuning comprises:

sending a message to tune the mobile station to a specified digital traffic channel; and

detecting the mobile station as being tuned to the specified digital traffic channel.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of alerting comprises:

sending a message to the mobile station for alerting a mobile user; and

sending a ringing indication to the VoIP device via the VoIP call-server.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of establishing comprises:

receiving a connect indication from the mobile station;

sending the connect indication to the VoIP device via the VoIP call-server;

setting up the RTP media path for exchange of the RTP data packets; and

informing the call connection to the NSP.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of interconnecting comprises:

converting received voice frames to RTP packets to be sent to the packet network, and

converting received RTP packets to voice frames to be sent to the mobile station.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the network is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the network is a Private Branch Exchange (PBX).

33. A method of providing a two-way voice path between a first mobile station and a second mobile station wherein the first mobile station is associated with a first Software Radio Port (SRP) and the second mobile station is associated with a second SRP and wherein a call originates at the first mobile station, the method comprising:

initiating a call set-up for the first mobile station at the first SRP;

tuning the first mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) via the first SRP to establish a voice path wirelessly;

engaging a VoIP call-server to set up a VoIP call via the first SRP;

initiating mobile a call set-up for the second mobile station via a Network Server Platform (NSP);

tuning the second mobile station to a digital traffic channel (DTC) via the second SRP to establish a voice path wirelessly;

alerting the first mobile station and the second mobile station via the second SRP;

generating a ringback tone to the first mobile station via the first SRP;

establishing a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) media path for exchange of RTP data packets;

interconnecting a voice path between the first SRP and the first mobile station and the RTP media path over the packet network; and

interconnecting a voice path between the second SRP and second mobile station and the RTP media path over the packet network.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of initiating call set-up for the first mobile station at the first SRP comprises receiving a call origination message from the first mobile station and engaging the NSP to set up a mobile call.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of tuning the first mobile station to the DTC via the first SRP comprises:

sending a message to tune the first mobile station to a specified digital traffic channel; and

detecting the first mobile station as being tuned to the digital traffic channel.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of engaging the VoIP call-server to set up the VoIP call comprises:

sending a VoIP call connection request to the VoIP call-server; and

coordinating with the NSP to analyze a called number via the VoIP call server.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of alerting the first mobile station and the second mobile station comprises:

sending a message to the second mobile station for alerting a user; and

sending a ringing indication to the first SRP via the VoIP call-server.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of generating the ringback tone to the first mobile station via the first SRP comprises:

receiving a ringing indication from a called party;

generating the ringback tone in response to said receiving; and

transmitting the ringback tone to the first mobile station.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of interconnecting the voice path between the first SRP and the first mobile station and an RTP path over the packet network comprises:

converting received voice frames from the first mobile station to RTP packets to be sent to the packet network; and

converting received RTP packets to voice frames to be sent to the first mobile station.