Call Priority Determination in Mobile Switching Centers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, determining the priority of a call across different mobile switching centers is challenging due to the lack of knowledge about the priority service status of the callee device at the caller's MSC, leading to potential degradation of service for high-priority subscribers during codec negotiation and call management.
Innovation Solution
The method involves processing initial and application transport messages between mobile switching centers to include priority parameters for both the caller and callee devices, enabling the determination of call priority based on both devices' statuses, even when they are connected to different public land mobile networks, and selecting appropriate codec rates accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If codec negotiation is performed during inter-MSC call setup, then compatibility between caller and callee devices is improved, but the priority service status of high-priority subscribers is degraded because the caller's MSC cannot determine the callee's priority status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by including the callee device's priority service status in the application transport message before codec negotiation occurs. This allows the caller's MSC to determine the call priority in advance and select an appropriate codec that maintains both compatibility and priority service guarantees, preventing the degradation of service for high-priority subscribers.
2Reliability
If priority service status is kept local within each MSC, then network security and management are improved, but inter-MSC call priority determination becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the application transport message as an intermediary to convey the callee device's priority service status from the callee's MSC to the caller's MSC. This intermediary mechanism allows priority information to be shared across MSC boundaries while maintaining the local security and management architecture, enabling inter-MSC call priority determination without compromising network security.
3Reliability
If codec selection is based solely on device compatibility, then communication reliability is improved, but quality of service for high-priority subscribers cannot be guaranteed during network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the codec selection parameters by incorporating call priority information (derived from both caller and callee device priority service statuses) into the codec selection process. This allows the system to select codecs not only based on device compatibility but also according to call priority, ensuring that high-priority subscriber calls receive appropriate quality of service treatment during network congestion while maintaining communication reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a priority of a call in a communications network as provided enables improved differentiated service to be provided to network subscribers. According to one aspect, the method comprises processing at a callee mobile switching center associated with a callee device an initial address message received from a caller mobile switching center associated with a caller device (step 205). The initial address message comprises a first priority parameter designating a priority status associated with the caller device. Next, the priority of the call is determined at the callee mobile switching center using both the first priority parameter and a second priority parameter designating a priority status associated with the callee device (step 210).