Method and devices for supporting message services to a dual mode mobile station via a session initiation protocol

• US 8,340,713 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ewert, Joerg Christian, Witzel, Andreas, Stumpert, Martin, Keller, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/577,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,986 Days
• Field of Search: 455/465, 455/552.1, 455/456.1, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and devices for supporting the sending of a message to a dual mode mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for providing a mobile station with a message, wherein the mobile station is adapted to co-operate with a first access network comprising a plurality of devices operating according to a session initiation protocol and a second access network wherein the second access network is a cellular access network, said method comprising the following steps:

receiving via said second access network a request for sending the message to the mobile station,

determining that the mobile station can be reached via the first access network, wherein the first access network does not support the message service,

identifying one device of said plurality of devices by means of one of an identification of the mobile station, a location information of the mobile station, an ENUM database or a location area identifier,

sending the message to a control node of a cellular telecommunications network,

converting the message into at least one message that can be transmitted according to a Session Initiation Protocol, and

the control node sending the message towards the mobile station via said first access network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sending the message towards the mobile station comprises:

sending the message to said identified one device of said plurality of devices operating according to session initiation protocol, and

forwarding from said identified one device of said plurality of devices the contents of the message to the mobile station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sending is implemented by sending the message via said second access network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the location area identifier including an identification of a proxy of the session initiation protocol or access point or

the mobile station identification being stored in a database in association with the identification of the proxy of the session initiation protocol.

5. A method for a Short Message Service Center for providing a mobile station with a message, wherein the mobile station is adapted to co-operate with a first access network comprising a plurality of devices operating according to a session initiation protocol and a second access network wherein the second access network is a cellular access network, said method comprising the following steps:

receiving via said second access network a request for sending the message to the mobile station,

receiving data indicating that the mobile station can be reached via the first access network, wherein the first access network does not support the message service,

receiving data identifying one device of said plurality of devices by means of one of an identification of the mobile station, a location information of the mobile station, an ENUM database or a location area identifier,

converting the message into at least one message that can be transmitted according to a Session Initiation Protocol, and

sending the message to a control node of a cellular telecommunications network via said first access network.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of sending comprises converting the message into at least one message that can be transmitted according to a Session Initiation Protocol, sending the message to said identified one device of said plurality of devices operating according to a session initiation protocol.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of sending is implemented by sending the message via said second access network.

8. A database for storing subscriber data for a telecommunications network comprising a first access network not supporting a message service and a plurality of devices operating according to a session initiation protocol and a second access network wherein the second access network is a cellular access network, wherein the database comprises:

means to receive an indication that a mobile station can be reached via the first network,

means to send an alert message to a message service support node for indicating that a message can be delivered,

means to provide data indicating that the mobile station can be reached via the first access network, wherein the first access network does not support the message service,

means for converting the message into at least one message that can be transmitted according to a Session Initiation Protocol, and

means to provide data identifying one device of said plurality of devices utilizing an identification of the mobile station, a location information of the mobile station, an ENUM database or a location area identifier.

9. A system for telecommunications connected to a first access network offering services via a plurality of devices operating according to a session initiation protocol and a second access network wherein the second access network is a cellular access network, the system comprising:

a service node for supporting a message service,

a control node for performing call control functions and

a function for converting signalling messages,

a database for storing subscriber data,

the database being adapted to send an indication to the service node that a message can be sent towards the mobile station on reception of an indication that a mobile station is reachable via the first access network, the message being converted into at least one message that can be transmitted according to a Session Initiation Protocol,

the database being further adapted to provide data indicating that the mobile station can be reached via the first access network, wherein the first access network does not support the message service, and

the database comprising means to provide data identifying one device of said plurality of devices by means of an identification of the mobile station, a location information of the mobile station, an ENUM database or a location area identifier.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first access network is one of a wireless local are network, a bluetooth network, a short range radio network, a fixed network, or an optical network.