Conferencing and announcement generation for wireless VoIP and VoATM calls

• US 6,392,999 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Provenance Asset Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Chung-Zin, Strom, Kenneth Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M
• Application Number:
  US09/515,482
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 370/253, 370/260, 370/261, 370/265, 370/351, 370/352, 370/353, 370/400, 370/401, 370/526, 370/356, 370/354, 370/355, 370/357, 455/560, 455/561, 455/67.1, 455/428, 455/416, 455/401, 455/445, 379/93.26, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0072 Speech codec negotiation H04L65/1069 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1245 where a network other than PSTN/ISDN interconnects two PSTN/ISDN networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13294 CDMA, code division multiplexing, i.e. combinations of H04Q2213/13291 and/or H04Q2213/13292 with space division
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A telecommunication system routes wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device across a data-oriented network, without vocoding, for information delivery to a second communication device while implementing multi-party conferencing and tone/announcement generating functionality. Tone and announcement generation services are provided while the call path retains the wireless-specific digital frame format between the first wireless communication device and the terminating gateway. When tones are generated by the first wireless communication device, signaling messages are sent directly to the terminating gateway vocoder to initiate the generation of full rate DTMF tones at the terminating network. When tones and announcements are sent to the first wireless communication device, a resource server, working together with a feature server, generates a wireless-encoded version of the tone or announcement. This wireless-encoded version is then sent to the first wireless communication device, where an audible version of the tone or announcement is produced. When multi-party conferencing is initiated, the first call is established via wireless-specific digital frame communication. The first call is placed on hold while the second call is completed using a digital wireline format (e.g., PCM). Through vocoding, the first call'"'"'s connection is re-negotiated to match the digital wireline format of the second call. To complete the conference call, the two calls are combined in the conference circuit as a composite digital wireline traffic stream.

Claims

1. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a method for implementing multi-party conferencing, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first call between the first wireless communication device and the second communication device using a wireless-specific digital frame transmission mode to communicate across said data-oriented network;

establishing a second call between the first wireless communication device and a third communication device using a PCM frame transmission mode to communicate across said data-oriented network;

routing said first and second calls through a conference circuit;

converting said first call from said wireless-specific frame transmission mode to said PCM frame transmission mode for communication through said conference circuit; and

combining said first call and said second call in said conference circuit to effect conferencing.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said data-oriented network in said step of establishing said first call is a network that routes information using either a network laver datagram protocol such as IP, a lower level protocol such as ATM, or both.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of establishing said second call includes placing said first call on hold.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of establishing said second call includes connecting to said third communication device through a PCM conference bridge using H.323 umbrella standards that define conferencing over packet-based networks and an ITU G.711 standard that defines transmission of PCM traffic over an IP network.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said converting step includes converting said first call to G.711 speech coding using H.323 procedures while said first call is on hold.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said combining step includes bridging said first, second, and third communication devices using said conference circuit and G.711 standards.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said combining step includes wireless-to-PCM vocoding of said first call between said first wireless communication device and said conference circuit after said bridging is complete.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said combining step includes wireless-to-PCM vocoding of said first call between said first wireless communication device and said conference circuit and between said second communication device and said conference circuit after said bridging is complete.

9. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a system for implementing multiparty conferencing, comprising:

means for establishing a first call between the first wireless communication device and the second communication device using a wireless-specific digital frame transmission mode to communicate across said data-oriented network;

means for establishing a second call between the first wireless communication device and a third communication device using a PCM frame transmission mode to communicate across said data-oriented network;

a conference circuit;

means for routing said first and second calls through a conference circuit;

means for converting said first call from said wireless-specific frame transmission mode to said PCM frame transmission mode for communication through said conference circuit; and

means for combining said first call and said second call in said conference circuit to effect conferencing.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for establishing said first call includes a data-oriented network that routes information using either a network layer datagram protocol such as IP, a lower level protocol such as ATM, or both.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for establishing said second call includes means for placing said first call on hold.

12. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for establishing said second call includes means for connecting to said third communication device through a PCM conference bridge using H.323 umbrella standards that define conferencing over packet-based networks and an ITU G.711 standard that defines transmission of PCM traffic over an IP network.

13. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for converting said first call includes means for converting said first call to G.711 speech coding using H.323 procedures while said first call is on hold.

14. A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said means for combining includes means for bridging said first, second, and third communication devices using said conference circuit and G.711 standards.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means for combining includes means for performing wireless-to-PCM vocoding of said first call between said first wireless communication device and said conference circuit after said bridging is complete.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said means for combining includes means for performing wireless-to-PCM vocoding of said first call between said first wireless communication device and said conference circuit and between said second communication device and said conference circuit after said bridging is complete.

17. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a method for implementing tone generation functionality on behalf of the first wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

sensing a tone generation input at said first wireless communication device;

generating a tone generation signal in response to said tone generation event;

transporting said tone generation signal over said data-oriented network for delivery to said second communication device;

generating a tone corresponding to said tone generation event following said transporting step and in response to said tone generation signal; and

providing said generated tone to said second communication device.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of sensing said tone generation input includes recognizing said tone generation input at a base station linked by radio control to said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to standards other than the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of sensing said tone generation input includes recognizing said tone generation input at said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to the GSM standard.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of generating said tone generation signal includes generating said signal at a base station linked by radio control to said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to standards other than GSM.

21. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of generating said tone generation signal includes generating said signal at said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to the GSM standard.

22. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of generating said tone generation signal includes generating a signaling message for transport over said data-oriented network.

23. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said tone generation step includes generating a tone at a terminating gateway component that receives said wireless-specific digital frames from said data-oriented network, converts said frames to PCM voice frames, and transmits said converted frames to said second communication device.

24. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said transporting step includes sending a signaling message to a terminating gateway vocoder as one or more data-oriented network packets.

25. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of generating said tone includes generating a full rate DTMF tone at said terminating gateway component.

26. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a system for implementing tone generation functionality on behalf of the first wireless communication device, comprising:

means for sensing a tone generation input at said first wireless communication device;

means for generating a tone generation signal in response to said tone generation event;

means for transporting said tone generation signal over said data-oriented network for delivery to said second communication device;

means for generating a tone corresponding to said tone generation event following transport of said tone generation signal by said transporting means and in response to said tone generation signal; and

means for providing said generated tone to said second communication device.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for sensing said tone generation input includes means for recognizing said tone generation input at a base station linked by radio control to said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to standards other than GSM.

28. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for sensing said tone generation input includes means for recognizing said tone generation input at said first wireless communication device when said first wireless conmmunication device and said second communication device operate according to the GSM standard.

29. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for generating said tone generation signal includes means for generating said signal at a base station linked by radio control to said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to standards other than GSM.

30. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for generating said tone generation signal includes means for generating said signal at said first wireless communication device when said first wireless communication device and said second communication device operate according to the GSM standard.

31. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for generating said tone generation signal includes means for generating a signaling message for transport over said data-oriented network.

32. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for generating said tone includes means for generating a tone at a terminating gateway component that receives said wireless-specific digital frames from said data-oriented network, converts said frames to PCM voice frames, and transmits said converted frames to said second communication device.

33. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for transporting includes means for sending a signaling message to a terminating gateway vocoder as one or more data-oriented network packets.

34. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for generating said tone includes means for generating a full rate DTMF tone at said terminating gateway component.

35. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a method for providing tones and announcements to the first wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal requiring a tone or announcement to be sent to said first wireless communication device;

generating a wireless-specific tone or announcement frame in response to said signal;

transporting said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame to said first wireless communication device;

generating a tone or announcement at said first wireless communication device in response to said tone or announcement frame.

36. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein said step of receiving said signal includes receiving said signal through a local wireless/data signaling gateway if packet-based feature control is provided by a local ECP.

37. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein said step of receiving said signal includes receiving said signal at a local data network feature server if packet-based feature control is provided by said local data network feature server.

38. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein said step of generating said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame includes retrieving a wireless-encoded version of said tone or announcement from a database within a local packet-based resource server.

39. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein said transporting step includes sending said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame from a local packet-based resource server to said first wireless communication device.

40. A method in accordance with claim 35 wherein said step of generating said tone or announcement includes generating said tone or announcement in a vocoder associated with said first wireless communication device.

41. In a telecommunication system routing wireless-specific digital frames from a first wireless communication device in a wireless network across a data-oriented network for information delivery to a second communication device, a system for providing tones and announcements to the first wireless communication device, comprising:

means for receiving a signal requiring a tone or announcement to be sent to said first wireless communication device;

means for generating a wireless-specific tone or announcement frame in response to said signal;

means for transporting said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame to said first wireless communication device; and

means for generating a tone or announcement at said first wireless communication device in response to said tone or announcement frame.

42. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said means for receiving said signal includes a local wireless/data signaling gateway if packet-based feature control is provided by a local ECP.

43. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said means for receiving said signal includes a local data network feature server if packet-based feature control is provided by said local data network feature server.

44. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said means for generating said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame includes means for retrieving a wireless-encoded version of said tone or announcement from a database within a local packet-based resource server.

45. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said means for transporting includes means for sending said wireless-specific tone or announcement frame from a local packet-based resource server to said first wireless communication device.

46. A system in accordance with claim 41 wherein said means for generating said tone or announcement includes means for generating said tone or announcement in a vocoder associated with said first wireless communication device.