LAN-based UMA network controller with local services support

• US 7,885,659 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Network Equipment Technologies Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Isacks, Kevin, Hardie, Terry, Pummill, Troy T., Harty, Talbot
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehra; Inder P
• Application Number:
  US11/432,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 370/329, 370/338, 370/401, 370/466, 370/230, 370/310, 370/328, 370/331, 370/351, 370/356, 455/414.1, 455/437, 455/456.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.1, 455/41.2, 455/67.11, 455/410, 455/411, 455/416, 455/422.1, 455/436, 455/439, 455/552.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

A method for managing Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) communications within a local area network and a LAN-based UMA network controller are disclosed. The method includes monitoring packets received from a first UMA device connected to the local area network and detecting whether they represent a call between the first UMA device and a second UMA device. The method also includes determining whether the second UMA device is connected to the local area network. If the packets represent a call between the first and second UMA devices and the second UMA device is connected to the local area network, packets representing audio data are maintained within the local area network.

Claims

1. A method for managing unlicensed mobile access (UMA) devices connected to a local area network (LAN), the method comprising:

monitoring packets exchanged by a first UMA device connected to the LAN;

detecting whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and a second UMA device;

determining whether the second UMA device is connected to the LAN;

maintaining within the LAN packets detected as representing a call between the first UMA device and the second UMA device if it is determined that the second UMA device is connected to the LAN;

generating placeholder audio packets; and

sending the placeholder audio packets to a UMA Network Controller (UNC) over an external network if packets representing a call between the first and second UMA devices are maintained within the LAN.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the placeholder audio packets are RTP packets.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a handover event whereby the second UMA device connects to a cellular base station; and

replacing the placeholder audio packets with packets representing call audio data from the first UMA device in response to detecting the handover event.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a call between the first and second UMA devices is not interrupted when the placeholder audio packets are replaced with said packets representing call audio data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether the first UMA device has successfully registered with a cellular network; and

storing a first identifier associated with the first UMA device in a device location table if the first UMA device has successfully registered with the cellular network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of determining whether the second UMA device is connect to the LAN further comprises:

searching the device location table for a second identifier associated with the second UMA device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising

storing identifiers associated with non-UMA communication devices connected to the LAN in the device location table;

detecting whether packets exchanged by the first UMA device represent a call between the first UMA device and one of said non-UMA communication devices using the device location table; and

maintaining within the LAN packets detected as representing a call between the first UMA device and said one of said non-UMA communication devices.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the non-UMA communication devices include SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), H.323, and TDM (time-division multiplexing) based communication devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether packets from the first UMA device represent a request for data services; and

providing data services to the first UMA device from a computing device connected to the LAN if said packets are detected as representing a request for data services.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether packets from the first UMA device represent call signaling data; and

forwarding packets detected as representing call signaling data to a UMA network controller over an external network.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call for the first UMA device from a UMA network controller connected to an external network;

detecting whether the first UMA device is connected on a call; and

sending the incoming call to a voicemail server if the first UMA device is detected as being connected on a call.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an incoming call for the first UMA device from a UMA network controller over an external network;

detecting whether the first UMA device is connected on a call; and

sending the incoming call to a predetermined location if the first UMA device is detected as being connected on a call.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined location is a telephone number, PBX extension, or SIP server.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing full UMA network controller services to the first and second UMA devices within the LAN.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assisting the first UMA device to complete a discovery process;

participating in an authentication process whereby the first UMA device is authenticated to elements of a core cellular network; and

registering the availability of the first UMA device at an address on the LAN.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising maintaining a list of devices authorized to communicate over an external network, and wherein the steps of assisting, participating, and registering are performed only if it is determined that the first UMA device is included in the list of authorized devices.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the packets maintained within the LAN include audio data packets.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the first UMA device is able to receive calls from a UMA Network Controller (UNC) at a network address of the LAN; and

sending registration packets to an IMS server if it is determined that the first UMA device is able to receive calls from the UNC at the network address.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving packets representing a call between the first UMA device connected to the LAN and a second device connected to the IMS server;

directing the packets to the IMS server at an external network address if the packets are received from the first UMA device; and

directing the packets to the first UMA device at the LAN address if the packets are received from the IMS server.

20. An apparatus for managing unlicensed mobile access (UMA) devices connected to a local area network (LAN), the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to monitor packets exchanged by a first UMA device connected to the LAN;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and a second UMA device;

wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the second UMA device is connected to the LAN;

the controller is further configured to maintain within the LAN packets detected as representing a call between the first UMA device and the second UMA device if it is determined that the second UMA device is connected to the LAN; and

wherein the controller is further configured to generate placeholder audio packets; and

the controller is further configured to send the placeholder audio packets to a UMA Network Controller (UNC) over an external network if packets representing a call between the first and second UMA devices are maintained within the LAN.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the placeholder audio packets are RTP packets.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to detect a handover event whereby the second UMA device connects to a cellular base station and to replace the placeholder audio packets with packets representing call audio data from the first UMA device in response to detecting the handover event.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether the first UMA device has successfully registered with a cellular network;

and

the controller is further configured to store a first identifier associated with the first UMA device in a device location table if the first UMA device has successfully registered with the cellular network.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the second UMA device is connected to the LAN by searching the device location table for a second identifier associated with the second UMA device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the controller is further configured to store identifiers associated with non-UMA communication devices connected to the LAN in the device location table;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether packets exchanged by the first UMA device represent a call between the first UMA device and one of said non-UMA communication devices using the device location table; and

the controller is further configured to maintain within the LAN packets detected as representing a call between the first UMA device and said one of said non-UMA communication devices.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the non-UMA communication devices include SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), H.323, and TDM (time-division multiplexing) based communication devices.

27. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether packets from the first UMA device represent a request for data services;

and

the controller is further configured to provide data services to the first UMA device from a computing device connected to the LAN if said packets are detected as representing a request for data services.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether packets from the first UMA device represent call signaling data;

and

the controller is further configured to forward packets detected as representing call signaling data to a UMA network controller over an external network.

29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to receive an incoming call for the first UMA device from a UMA network controller connected to an external network;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether the first UMA device is connected on a call; and

the controller is further configured to send the incoming call to a voicemail server if the first UMA device is detected as being connected on a call.

30. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to receive an incoming call for the first UMA device from a UMA network controller over an external network;

wherein the controller is further configured to detect whether the first UMA device is connected on a call; and

the controller is further configured to send the incoming call to a predetermined location if the first UMA device is detected as being connected on a call.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the predetermined location is a telephone number, PBX extension, or SIP server.

32. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to provide full UMA network controller services to the first and second UMA devices within the LAN.

33. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the controller is further configured to assist the first UMA device to complete a discovery process;

wherein the controller is further configured to participate in an authentication process whereby the first UMA device is authenticated to elements of a core cellular network; and

the controller is further configured to register the availability of the first UMA device at an address on the LAN.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the controller is further configured to maintain a list of devices authorized to communicate over an external network, and wherein the controller assists in the discovery process, participates in the authentication process, and registers the availability only if the first UMA device is included in the list of authorized devices.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

determining whether the first UMA device is able to receive calls from a UMA Network Controller (UNC); and

sending registration packets to an IMS server at an external network address if it is determined that the first UMA device is able to receive calls from the UNC.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

receiving packets representing a call between the first UMA device and a second device connected to the IMS server;

directing the packets to the IMS server at the external network address if the packets are received from the first UMA device; and

directing the packets to the first UMA device at its address within the local area network if the packets are received from the IMS server.

37. A method for managing unlicensed mobile access (UMA) devices connected to a local area network, the method comprising:

storing identifiers associated with a first UMA device and a second UMA device connected to the local area network;

detecting packets carried by the local area network that contain the identifier of the first UMA device or the second UMA device;

determining whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and the second UMA device;

maintaining within the local area network audio data packets if it is determined that the packets represent a call between the first and second UMA devices

determining whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and a third UMA device not connected to the local area network; and

if it is determined that the packets represent a call between the first and third UMA devices then;

directing packets from the first UMA device to a UMA Network Controller (UNC) at an external network address; and

directing packets from the UMA Network Controller (UNC) to the first UMA device at a local area network address.

38. A method for managing unlicensed mobile access (UMA) devices connected to a local area network, the method comprising:

storing identifiers associated with a first UMA device and a second UMA device connected to the local area network;

detecting packets carried by the local area network that contain the identifier of the first UMA device or the second UMA device;

determining whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and the second UMA device;

maintaining within the local area network audio data packets if it is determined that the packets represent a call between the first and second UMA devices;

determining whether the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and a non-UMA connected to the local area network; and

if it is determined that the packets represent a call between the first UMA device and the non-UMA device then;

transcoding packets received from the non-UMA device to a first audio format of the first UMA device;

transcoding packets received from the first UMA device to a second audio format of the non-UMA device; and

delivering the packets to their respective destinations within the local area network.