Internet protocol multimedia subsystem component providing of packet-switched switching functions to serving mobile switching center feature server

• US 20040204095A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Xie, Hong, Ejzak, Richard Paul, Cyr, Bernard Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,031,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/560
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus in one example comprises a serving mobile switching center feature server and one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components. The serving mobile switching center feature server translates between a call control message originated by or terminated to a mobile telephone and an internet protocol based procedure message. The one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components serve to propagate the internet protocol based procedure message. The one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components provide packet-switched switching functions to the serving mobile switching center feature server based on the internet protocol based procedure message.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a serving mobile switching center feature server that translates between a call control message originated by or terminated to a mobile telephone and an internet protocol based procedure message; and

one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components that serve to propagate the internet protocol based procedure message;

wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components provide packet-switched switching functions to the serving mobile switching center feature server based on the internet protocol based procedure message.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol based procedure message comprises any one or more of session initiation protocol messages and session initiation protocol procedures;

wherein the session initiation protocol messages comprise one or more of session initiation protocol invite messages and session initiation protocol response messages.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the call control message comprises a call setup message to initiate a call, wherein the mobile telephone sends the call setup message to the serving mobile switching center feature server on a signaling path;

wherein the serving mobile switching center feature server supports a media path to carry a communication associated with the call.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a media coordinator, wherein the serving mobile switching center feature server sends the internet protocol based procedure message to the media coordinator;

wherein the media coordinator determines based on the internet protocol based procedure message whether the communication on the media path requires translation.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media resource function controller and a media resource function processor;

wherein if the media coordinator determines the communication on the media path requires translation the media coordinator signals the media resource function controller to translate the communication;

wherein the media resource function controller allocates translation resources of the media resource function processor on the media path.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a break out gateway control function;

wherein the media coordinator sends the internet protocol based procedure message to the break out gateway control function;

wherein the internet protocol based procedure message comprises a telephone number of a recipient of the call, wherein the break out gateway control function converts the telephone number of the recipient to connection information of an address to send the internet protocol based procedure message.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprises a gateway mobile switching center feature server, wherein the gateway mobile switching center feature server contacts a home location register to retrieve a temporary local directory number of the recipient of the call;

wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media gateway control function that translates between a call control message originated by or terminated to a public switched telephone network and the internet protocol based procedure message;

wherein the break out gateway control function comprises a first break out gateway control function, wherein based on the connection information of the address the first break out gateway control function sends the internet protocol based procedure message to any of a second break out gateway control function, an instance of the media gateway control function, and an instance of the gateway mobile switching center feature server.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mobile telephone comprises a first mobile telephone, wherein based on the connection information of the address the first break out gateway control function sends the internet protocol based procedure message to:

the instance of the media gateway control function if the address corresponds to the public switched telephone network and the first break out gateway control function is associated with the instance of the media gateway control function;

the second break out gateway control function if the address corresponds to the public switched telephone network and the first break out gateway control function is unassociated with the instance of the media gateway control function;

or

the instance of the gateway mobile switching center feature server if the address corresponds to a second mobile telephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gateway mobile switching center feature server, wherein the gateway mobile switching center feature server comprises an interface to a home location register for the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a media coordinator, wherein the media controller controls media functions for the serving mobile switching center feature server.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media resource function controller;

wherein the media resource function controller comprises an interface to the media functions for the media coordinator.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media resource function processor;

wherein the media resource function processor comprises media functions for the serving mobile switching center feature server, wherein the media functions comprise media translation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media gateway control function, wherein the media gateway control function comprises an interface to a public switched telephone network or another network for the serving mobile switching center feature server.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media gateway control function and one or more break out gateway control functions;

wherein the one or more break out gateway control functions comprise an interface to the media gateway control function for the serving mobile switching center feature server.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a media gateway, wherein the media gateway comprises a media translator to modify a communication between a public switched telephone network and an internet protocol based network for the serving mobile switching center feature server.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the serving mobile switching center feature server and the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components comprise a first mobile switching center, wherein the first mobile switching center employs session initiation protocol messages to communicate with a second mobile switching center.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet-switched switching functions comprise any one or more of session initiation protocol based call signaling, call routing, signaling interworking, and media processing.

18. A method, comprising the steps of:

selecting a mobile switching center that comprises mobile switching center feature services and circuit-switched switching services;

replacing a portion of the circuit-switched switching functions with one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components that support packet-switched switching functions; and

employing internet protocol based procedure messages to communicatively couple the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components with the mobile switching center feature services.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of replacing the portion of the circuit-switched switching functions with the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components that support packet-switched switching functions comprises the steps of:

delegating the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components to handle switching functions; and

retaining a portion of the mobile switching center to handle the mobile switching center feature services.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of employing the internet protocol based procedure messages to communicatively couple the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components and the mobile switching center feature services comprise the step of:

directing the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components to handle media translations by sending the internet protocol based procedure messages by the mobile switching center feature services

21. An article, comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media;

means in the one or more media for selecting a mobile switching center that comprises mobile switching center feature services and circuit-switched switching services;

means in the one or more media for replacing a portion of the circuit-switched switching functions with one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components that support packet-switched switching functions; and

means in the one or more media for employing internet protocol based procedure messages to communicatively couple the one or more internet protocol multimedia subsystem components with the mobile switching center feature services.