SS7 ISUP to SIP based call signaling conversion gateway for wireless VolP E911

• US 9,357,078 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): KASSIM, KHALED M
• Application Number:
  US14/594,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20150124804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• 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 7/0066 Details of access arrangements to the networks where the access arrangement is a PSTN/ISDN access H04M7/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An SS7-based call protocol conversion gateway that translates between circuit-switched SS7 protocols and session initiation protocol (SIP) oriented protocol, allowing an E911 call initiated over a switched network to be routed by a VoIP network. The SS7-based call protocol conversion gateway provides a PSAP with MSAG quality (street address) information about a VoIP dual mode phone user without the need for a wireless carrier to invest in building out an entire VoIP core. Thus, wireless carriers may continue signaling the way they are today, i.e., using the J-STD-036 standard for CDMA and GSM in North America, yet see benefits of a VoIP network core, i.e., provision of MSAG quality location data to a PSAP.

Claims

1. An ANSI-41 J STD-036 to SIP call protocol conversion gateway server, comprising:

a physical receiver module configured to receive a wireless call using signaling system number 7 (SS7) ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling;

an SS7 based ISUP to SIP protocol conversion gateway adapted to convert said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling into session initiation protocol (SIP)-based call signaling; and

a physical transmitter module adapted to transmit said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-to-SIP converted call signaling associated with said VoIP 911 originating call to a physical voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) server for routing to a desired recipient VoIP device;

wherein said receiver receives routing instruction from said Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) server, said routing instruction being assigned based upon a location retrieved from a physical location information service/subscriber line database (LIS/SLDB).

2. The ANSI-41 J STD-036 to SIP call protocol conversion gateway server according to claim 1, wherein:

said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling relates to a wireless 911 call.

3. The ANSI-41 J STD-036 to SIP call protocol conversion gateway server according to claim 2, wherein:

said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling relates to a VoIP wireless 911 call.

4. The ANSI-41 J STD-036 to SIP call protocol conversion gateway server according to claim 1, wherein:

said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling relates to a VoIP wireless call made via a local area network.

5. The ANSI-41 J STD-036 to SIP call protocol conversion gateway server according to claim 4, wherein:

said local area network is a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network.

6. A method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, comprising:

receiving a wireless call including signaling system number 7 (SS7) ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling;

converting said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 TCAP-based call signaling into session initiation protocol (SIP) call signaling;

transmitting said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-to-SIP converted call signaling associated with said wireless call to a physical Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server for routing to a desired physical recipient VoIP device; and

receiving routing instruction from said physical VoIP server, said routing instruction being assigned based upon a location retrieved from a physical location information service/subscriber line database (LIS/SLDB).

7. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 6, wherein:

said physical recipient VoIP device is a wireless phone.

8. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 6, wherein:

said physical recipient VoIP device is a dual mode phone.

9. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 8, wherein:

said dual mode phone has a first mode operable in a cellular phone network, and a second mode operable in a wireless fidelity (WiFi) network.

10. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 6, wherein:

said SIP converted call signaling includes a SIP INVITE command.

11. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 6, wherein said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 TCAP-based call signaling comprises:

a TCAP OriginationRequest (ORREQ) message.

12. The method of converting a wireless call, passed over an SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, according to claim 11, wherein:

said ORREQ message contains a calling party'"'"'s number (CgPN) and a called party'"'"'s number.

13. A method of converting a wireless call passed over an ANSI-41 J STD-036 network, into a VoIP call, comprising:

receiving a wireless call from a wireless phone;

routing said wireless call using signaling system number 7 (SS7) ANSI-41 J-STD-036 transaction capability application part (TCAP)-based call signaling;

converting said SS7 ANSI-41 J-STD-036 TCAP-based call signaling into session initiation protocol (SIP) call signaling;

passing said wireless call using SIP call signaling to a physical Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server; and

receiving routing instruction from a physical VoIP server, said routing instruction being assigned based upon a location retrieved from a physical location information service/subscriber line database (LIS/SLDB).