Conferencing PSTN gateway methods and apparatus to facilitate heterogeneous wireless network handovers for mobile communication devices

• US 7,986,665 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited, Mcmaster University
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Zhao, Dongmei, Smadi, Mohammed, Todd, Terence D., Kezys, Vytautas Robertas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERNBANE, LAURENCE J
• Application Number:
  US11/534,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 455/554.1, 455/555, 370/261, 370/331, 370/352, 370/466
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A mobile communication device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) of a communication network maintains an inter-enterprise voice call via its WLAN interface (e.g. 802.11/VoIP/SIP) with another communication device in the communication network. During the voice call, a handover of the voice call from the WLAN to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) (e.g. GSM/GPRS) is identified. In response to identifying a handover indication, the mobile device causes a request message (e.g. a SIP INVITE message) to be sent over the WWAN to the conferencing gateway for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN via its WWAN interface with a conference room of the conferencing gateway. The mobile device also causes a re-routing message (e.g. a SIP REFER message) to be sent to the communication device, so that a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room may be established.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile communication device for use in routing a voice call between the mobile device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a communication device connected in a local area network (LAN) which includes the WLAN, with use of a conferencing gateway which combines media streams of connection legs of the voice call, the method comprising the acts of:

causing the voice call to be established, via a WLAN interface of the mobile device, with the communication device connected in the LAN using a session initiation protocol (SIP), so that the voice call is maintained within the LAN without being routed via a conferencing gateway;

in response to identifying, at the mobile device, a handover indication for the voice call;

sending, during the voice call via a WWAN interface of the mobile device, a request message to the conferencing gateway, for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN between the mobile device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface; and

sending, during the voice call via a WLAN interface of the mobile device, a SIP REFER message to the communication device, so as to establish a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with IEEE 802.11.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the SIP REFER message comprises a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of causing the request message to be sent to the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface comprises the further act of sending an Initial Address Message (IAM).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of sending the SIP REFER message to the communication device causes the communication device to send a request message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of sending the SIP REFER message to the communication device causes the communication device to send a SIP INVITE message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the conferencing gateway comprises an IP-PBX.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of sending the request message is performed prior to the act of sending the SIP REFER message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of sending the SIP REFER message is performed prior to the act of sending the request message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second connection legs are connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request message to the conferencing gateway, via the WLAN interface of the mobile device, for establishing an intermediary connection leg through the WLAN via the WLAN interface between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway; and

after establishing the connection leg through the WLAN to the conference room of the gateway;

the first and the second connection legs being connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

12. The method of claim 1, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

13. A mobile communication device configured to route a voice call with use of a conferencing gateway which combines media streams of connection legs of the voice call, the mobile device comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured for wireless communications via a WLAN which is part of a local area network (LAN);

a wireless wide area network (WWAN) interface coupled to the one or more processors and configured for wireless communications via a WWAN;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause a voice call to be established, through the WLAN using the WLAN interface, with a communication device connected in the LAN using a session initiation protocol (SIP), so that the voice call is maintained within the LAN without being routed via the conferencing gateway;

in response to identifying, by the one or more processors, a handover indication for the voice call;

send, during the voice call via the WWAN interface, a request message to the conferencing gateway, for establishing a first connection leg through the WWAN between the mobile communication device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface; and

send, during the voice call via the WLAN interface, a SIP REFER message to the communication device, so as to establish a second connection leg between the communication device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with IEEE 802.11.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the SIP REFER message comprises a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to send the request message to the conferencing gateway via the WWAN interface by sending an Initial Address Message (IAM).

17. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein by sending the SIP REFER message to the communication device, the one or more processors cause the communication device to send a request message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the SIP REFER message causes the communication device to send SIP INVITE message to the conferencing gateway to establish the second connection leg.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the conferencing gateway comprises an IP-PBX.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to send the request message prior to sending the SIP REFER message.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to send the SIP REFER message prior to sending the request message.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the first and the second connection legs are connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

send a request message to the conferencing gateway, via the WLAN interface of the mobile device, for establishing an intermediary connection leg through the WLAN via the WLAN interface between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway; and

after establishing the connection leg through the WLAN to the conference room of the gateway;

the first and the second connection legs being connected in the conference room of the conferencing gateway for the voice call.

24. A method in a communication device connected in a local area network (LAN) for use in routing a voice call between the communication device and a mobile communication device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) which is part of the LAN, with use of a conferencing gateway which is configured to combine media streams of connection legs of the voice call in a conference room, the method comprising the acts of:

causing the voice call to be established, using a session initiation protocol (SIP), with the mobile device which is communicating via the WLAN, so that the voice call is maintained within the LAN without being routed via the conferencing gateway;

in response to a handover indication for the voice call, receiving, at the communication device during the voice call, a SIP REFER message from the mobile device; and

in response to receiving the SIP REFER message, sending a SIP INVITE message to the conferencing gateway for establishing a first connection leg between the communication device and a conference room of the conferencing gateway, for connection with a second connection leg between the mobile device communicating via a wide area wireless network (WWAN) and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the voice call comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session, and wherein the WLAN interface operates in accordance with IEEE 802.11.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the SIP REFER message has a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of sending the request message to the conferencing gateway comprises the further act of sending a SIP INVITE message to the conferencing gateway.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the act of receiving the SIP REFER message comprises the further act of receiving the SIP REFER message with a REFER-TO header corresponding to a source identifier of the conferencing gateway, and the act of sending the request message comprises the further act of sending a SIP INVITE message to the conferencing gateway.

29. The method of claim 24, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

30. A conferencing gateway for use in establishing and maintaining a voice call between a communication device in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a mobile communication device operable in either a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a wireless wide area network (WWAN) connected to the PSTN, the conferencing gateway comprising:

a first communication interface configured for communications with a local area network (LAN) which includes the WLAN, the communications including Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communications;

a second communication interface configured for communications with the PSTN;

a third communication interface configured for communications with the PSTN;

a media gateway module coupled to the first, the second, and the third communication interfaces and configured to combine media streams of the voice call from said interfaces in a conference room of the conferencing gateway;

a control module configured to communicate with a call coordinating processor to;

cause a first connection leg for the voice call to be established between the conference room and the mobile communication device via one of the first communication interface or the second communication interface, the first communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device is operating in the WLAN and the second communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device is operating in the WWAN;

cause a second connection leg for the voice call to be established between the conference room and the communication device in the PSTN via the third communication interface, through receipt of a SIP REFER message from the call coordinating processor which transfers the second connection leg that was initially established between the call coordinating processor and the communication device to the conference room and the communication device, for initially establishing the voice call and the media streams for voice communications between the mobile communication device operating in the WLAN and the communication device connected in the PSTN via the conference room; and

in response to a handover of the voice call, cause a third connection leg to be established with the mobile communication device via the other one of the first communication interface or the second communication interface, the first communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device has switched to operation in the WLAN and the second communication interface being utilized when the mobile communication device has switched to operation in the WWAN.

31. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the second and third communication interfaces comprise Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) interfaces.

32. The conferencing gateway of claim 30, wherein the first communication interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

33. A method in a call coordinating processor for use in routing a voice call between a mobile communication device operating in a wireless communication network and a communication device connected in a public telephone network, using a conferencing gateway which is configured to combine media streams of connection legs of the voice call, the method comprising the acts of:

causing, by the call coordinating processor, a first connection leg for the voice call to be established between the mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network and a conference room of the conferencing gateway using a session initiation protocol (SIP);

causing, by the call coordinating processor, a second connection leg to be established via the conferencing gateway between the call coordinating processor and the communication device in the public telephone network; and

sending, by the call coordinating processor, a SIP REFER message to the conferencing gateway for transferring the second connection leg from between the call coordinating processor and the communication device to the conference room and the communication device, for initially establishing the voice call and the media streams for voice communications between the mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network and the communication device connected in the public telephone network via the conference room.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established with use of the SIP, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN), the voice call over the first connection leg is established using an ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

in response to identifying a handover indication, causing a third connection leg to be established between the mobile device and the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the call coordinating processor is implemented within the same network processing component or server as the conferencing gateway.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established with use of the SIP, and wherein the act of sending the SIP REFER message for transferring the second connection leg comprises the further act of:

providing the SIP REFER message with a REFER-TO header which includes a source identifier corresponding to the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of causing the second call connection leg to be established comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device; and

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent through the public telephone network.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of causing the second connection leg to be established comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device; and

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent from the call coordinating processor to the conferencing gateway.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of causing the second call connection leg to be established comprises the further acts of:

receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent to the public telephone network;

receiving a response message through the public telephone network in response to the request message for the second connection leg; and

wherein the request message comprises an initial address message (IAM) and the response message comprises an address complete message (ACM).

42. The method of claim 33, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium which are executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

43. A call coordinating processor configured for use in establishing a voice call between a mobile communication device operating in a wireless communication network and a communication device connected in a public telephone network, using a conferencing gateway which is configured to combine media streams of connection legs of the voice call, the call coordinating processor being operative to cause a first connection leg for the voice call to be established between the mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network and a conference room of the conferencing gateway using a session initiation protocol (SIP);

cause a second connection leg to be established via the conferencing gateway between the call coordinating processor and the communication device in the public telephone network; and

send a SIP REFER message to the conferencing gateway for transferring the second connection leg from between the call coordinating processor and the communication device to the conference room and the communication device, for initially establishing the voice call and the media streams for voice communications between the mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network and the communication device connected in the public telephone network via the conference room.

44. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established with use of the SIP, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

45. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN), the voice call over the first connection leg is established using an ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol, and the public telephone network comprises a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

46. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN), the voice call over the first connection leg comprises a Voice over IP (VoIP) communication session established with use of the SIP, and wherein the call coordinating processor is further configured to provide the SIP REFER message with a REFER-TO header which includes a source identifier corresponding to the conference room of the conferencing gateway.

47. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, which causes the second call connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

and in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent through the public telephone network.

48. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, which causes the second connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

and in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent from the call coordinating processor to the conferencing gateway.

49. The call coordinating processor of claim 43, which causes the second call connection leg to be established by receiving, at the call coordinating processor, a request message for the voice call from the mobile communication device;

in response to receiving the request message for the voice call;

causing a request message for the second connection leg to be sent to the public telephone network;

receiving a response message through the public telephone network in response to the request message for the second connection leg; and

wherein the request message comprises an initial address message (IAM) and the response message comprises an address complete message (ACM).