Exchange and use of globally unique device identifiers for circuit-switched and packet switched integration

• US 9,049,121 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Allen, Andrew, Buckley, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Jr., Otis L
• Application Number:
  US13/758,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130156025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/39 Globally routable user-agent uniform resource identifier [GRUU] for the session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

According to one aspect, a system and method of exchanging GRUUs (Globally Routed User Agent URI (Uniform Resource Identifier)) between a first telephony-enabled device and a second telephony enabled device using a circuit-switched message is provided. Once exchanged, the telephony enabled devices can exchange SIP (session initiated protocol) communications routed by the GRUUs. Any one of the telephony-enabled devices can add a media component to the SIP communications. According to another aspect, a system and method of generating GRUUs is provided. According to another aspect, a system and method of handing off communications to a packet switched network from a circuit switched network is provided.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile device for use in a network for indicating to a network component that a circuit switched (CS) call with the mobile device and a packet switched (PS) communication session originate from the same mobile device, the method comprising at the mobile device:

sending a cellular telephony protocol message including an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) in an information element of the cellular telephony protocol message; and

sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to the network, the SIP message including the IMEI in a format of a Unified Resource Name (URN) in an instance identifier (ID) contained within the SIP message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies the mobile device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending the cellular telephony protocol message from the mobile device to a cellular network.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending the SIP message from the mobile device to a PS network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies the mobile device as a participant in the CS call over a cellular network and as a source in the PS communication session over a PS network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the CS call comprises a voice call and the PS communication session comprises at least one of streaming video data and a Voice over IP (VolP) communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with an unstructured supplementary service data message protocol.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with a short message service message protocol.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with a multimedia message service message protocol.

10. A mobile device for use in a network for indicating to a network component that a circuit switched (CS) call with the mobile device originates from a mobile device and that a packet switched (PS) communication session originates from the same mobile device, the mobile device comprising a wireless radio, the mobile device being configured to:

send, by the wireless radio, a cellular telephony protocol message including an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) in an information element of the cellular telephony protocol message; and

send, by the wireless radio, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to the network, the SIP message including the IMEI in a format of a Unified Resource Name (URN) in an instance identifier (ID) contained within the SIP message.

11. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies the mobile device.

12. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

send, by the wireless radio, the cellular telephony protocol message from the mobile device to a cellular network.

13. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the mobile device is further configured to:

send, by the wireless radio, the SIP message from the mobile device to a PS network.

14. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the IMEI uniquely identifies the mobile device as a participant in the CS call over a cellular network and as a source in the PS communication session over a PS network.

15. The mobile device according to claim 10, wherein the CS call comprises a voice call and the PS communication session comprises at least one of streaming video data and a Voice over IP (VolP) communication.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with an unstructured supplementary service data message protocol.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with a short message service message protocol.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the cellular telephony protocol message is configured in accordance with a multimedia message service message protocol.