Gateway Protocol Conversion for IMS Time Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
When providing multimedia services on a circuit switching network using an IMS, the communication protocol differences between the IMS core network and the circuit switching network lead to issues with signal call control and flow control, particularly with time alignment requests, resulting in improper timing of downlink sound signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A gateway apparatus that communicates using the IuUP protocol with a wireless base station controller, determines if a frame signal indicates a time alignment request, and converts this information into appropriate call or flow control signals for the IMS, enabling proper signal transmission timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an IMS core network is connected to a circuit switching network to provide multimedia services, then multimedia service capability is improved, but protocol incompatibility causes deterioration in signal call control and flow control functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the IMS core network and the circuit switching network. This gateway translates frame signals from the circuit switching network into IMS-compatible control signals, enabling protocol compatibility without requiring changes to either the IMS or circuit switching networks. The gateway acts as a mediator that converts time alignment requests and other control signals between the two different protocol systems.
2Productivity
If frame signals are transmitted from circuit switching network to IMS, then communication functionality is improved, but timing synchronization deteriorates due to unrecognized time alignment requests
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary that extracts time alignment request information from frame signals received from the circuit switching network and converts them into IMS-compatible control signals. This ensures that timing synchronization information is properly transmitted and recognized by the IMS network, preventing timing delays in downlink sound signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway performs preliminary extraction and conversion of time alignment request information from frame signals before transmitting them to the IMS network. By preprocessing the frame signals to extract timing control information in advance, the gateway ensures that the IMS network receives properly formatted timing commands, enabling accurate timing synchronization without requiring the IMS to interpret raw frame signals.
3Reliability
If protocol conversion is implemented to enable IMS recognition of frame signals, then control functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed as a dedicated intermediary that handles all protocol conversion complexity, isolating the IMS network from the complexity of circuit switching network frame signals. The gateway contains the protocol conversion logic, extracting time alignment requests and other control information from frame signals and translating them into IMS-compatible formats, thereby maintaining control functionality while containing complexity within the gateway rather than the IMS network.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway apparatus 110 includes: a communication unit 111 communicating a frame signal conforming to an IuUP (Iu User Plane) protocol with a wireless base station controller connected to a circuit switching network 101; a determination unit 112 for determining whether the frame signal received by the communication unit indicates a time alignment request for a sound signal to a circuit switching network or not; a conversion unit 113, converting information included in the frame signal to information to be set in a call control signal of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) when the frame signal indicates a time alignment request; and a call control signal transmission unit 114 transmitting the call control signal including the converted information to a communication apparatus in the IMS 102.