Associated device discovery in IMS networks

• US 9,999,084 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aylus Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aylus Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Naqvi, Shamim A., Dorbala, Prasad S., Wong, Ellis L., Ganmukhi, Mahesh N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopata, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/663,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 370255
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

A method of associating multiple user endpoints (UEs) with a single IMS session in an IMS network having a serving node for controlling at least one IMS session for a user and at least a first access network for providing access to UEs. The method involves associating a first UE with the user and with an IMS session; discovering a second UE in a proximity of the first UE; discovering information about the second UE; communicating the information about the second UE to the serving node; the serving node utilizing computer-implemented policy logic to determine whether to associate the second UE with the user and the IMS session; and if the policy logic determines that the second UE is to be associated, the serving node associating the second UE with the IMS session while retaining the association with the first UE.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile device to act as a switch, the method comprising:

a first mobile device,

creating a first data session between the first mobile device and a data network;

establishing a Personalized Area Network (PAN);

allowing one or more proximate devices to discover and register in the PAN;

creating one or more PAN sessions between one or more proximate registered devices and the PAN;

wherein, while the first data and PAN sessions are in progress, the first mobile device receives or makes circuit-switched voice calls utilizing a circuit-switched cellular network without disrupting the first session or PAN session.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is a tablet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data network is a cellular wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data network is a wifi network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the wifi network is further connected to a private data network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein disrupting a session comprises suspending a session, terminating a session, halting a session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing or discovering a Personalized Area Network comprises using broadcast short-range radio signals, using information broadcast from other devices, using messages received from other devices, or by polling other devices.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-range radio signals utilize wifi technology.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-range radio signals utilize Bluetooth technology.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a second proximate device discovers the Personalized Area Network and registers in a second PAN session.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said second proximate device receives an address from the Personalized Area Network that makes second proximate device addressable in second session.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said second mobile device receives an address from entities in the data network that makes it addressable in the first session.

14. A first mobile device configured to act as a switch in connection with a data network comprising:

a first transceiver to communicate with the data network;

a second transceiver to communicate using short-range radio signals; and

logic stored in a computer readable medium configured to perform the following functions;

create a first session using first transceiver with the data network;

create a second session using second transceiver;

allow devices proximate to first mobile device to become aware of and register with the second network session;

provide a switch between the first and second network sessions; and

wherein, during the first and second sessions, first mobile device allows the plurality of devices registered in the second session to be given addresses that make them addressable in first session and/or second session, and, furthermore, first mobile device may simultaneously receive or make voice calls using a circuit switched network without disrupting the first and/or second sessions.