Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration services for non-IMS devices

• US 8,346,944 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): Golabbakhsh, Ebrahim
• Application Number:
  US11/787,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/203, 709/228, 709/244, 455/412.1, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13339 Ciphering, encryption, security
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration service to a non-IMS subscriber terminal are disclosed. According to one method, activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal is identified. In response to identifying the activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal, an IMS network registration operation is performed on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

Claims

1. A method for providing Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) registration service to a non-IMS subscriber terminal, the method comprising:

(a) identifying non-registration activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal, wherein the non-IMS subscriber terminal lacks IMS registration signaling capabilities; and

(b) in response to identifying the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal, performing an IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal, wherein performing the IMS registration operation includes performing the IMS registration operation automatically in response to detecting the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal by identifying at least one of an ISUP, TCAP, MAP, INAP, and CAMEL message associated with the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-IMS subscriber terminal is associated with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) subscriber identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the PSTN subscriber identifier includes a PSTN directory number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal includes querying a presence server for the status of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising receiving, in response to querying the presence server, an update message from the presence server including a PSTN identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal includes subscribing to the non-IMS subscriber terminal with a presence server and receiving status of the non-IMS subscriber terminal from the presence server in response to a change in presence status of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving the status of the non-IMS subscriber terminal from a presence server includes receiving an update message from the presence server.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the update message includes a PSTN subscriber identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal includes monitoring signaling system seven (SS7) traffic to identify SS7 signaling messages associated with activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the SS7 signaling messages include messages selected from a group consisting of ISUP, TCAP, MAP, INAP and CAMEL messages.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal includes detecting a subscriber-initiated registration request from the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the subscriber-initiated registration request includes predetermined DTMF digits from the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined DTMF digits include an identifier associated with the non-IMS subscriber.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein performing an IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal includes sending a registration message to a call session control function (CSCF).

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the registration message includes a PSTN subscriber identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

16. A system for providing Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) service registration service to a non-IMS subscriber terminal, the system comprising:

(a) a call session control function (CSCF) for maintaining IMS registration information; and

(b) an IMS proxy for identifying non-registration activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal, wherein the non-IMS subscriber terminal lacks IMS registration signaling capabilities and performing an IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal to register the non-IMS subscriber terminal with the CSCF, wherein performing the IMS registration operation includes performing the IMS registration operation automatically in response to detecting the non-registration activity by identifying at least one of an ISUP, TCAP, INAP, and CAMEL message associated with the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the non-IMS subscriber terminal is identifiable by a PSTN directory number.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to perform the IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal in response to receipt of presence status information associated with the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

19. The system of claim 18 comprising a presence server adapted to provide the presence status information for the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to query the presence server for the status of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the presence server is adapted to send, in response to a query from the IMS proxy, an update message to the IMS proxy including a PSTN subscriber identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal and the status information associated with the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to subscribe to the non-IMS subscriber terminal with the presence server and wherein the presence server is adapted to send, as part of the subscription and in response to a status change of the non-IMS subscriber terminal, an update message to the IMS proxy including the PSTN subscriber identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal and the status information associated with the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to perform the IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal in response to monitoring signaling system seven (SS7) traffic and identifying SS7 signaling messages concerning the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the SS7 call signaling messages include messages selected from the group consisting of ISUP, TCAP, MAP, INAP, and CAMEL messages.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to perform the IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal in response to a subscriber-initiated registration request from the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the subscriber-initiated registration request includes predetermined DTMF digits from the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the predetermined DTMF digits include an identifier associated with the non-IMS subscriber.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein the IMS proxy is adapted to perform the IMS registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal by sending a registration message to the CSCF.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the registration message includes a PSTN subscriber identifier of the non-IMS subscriber terminal.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein the call session control function comprises a serving call session control function (S-CSCF).

31. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) identifying non-registration activity involving a non-IMS subscriber terminal, wherein the non-IMS subscriber terminal lacks IMS registration signaling capabilities; and

(b) in response to identifying non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal, performing an IMS network registration operation on behalf of the non-IMS subscriber terminal, wherein performing the IMS registration operation includes performing the IMS registration operation automatically in response to detecting the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal by identifying at least one of an ISUP, TCAP, INAP, and CAMEL message associated with the non-registration activity involving the non-IMS subscriber terminal.