Gateway Node Integration for IMS Handover Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mobile communication systems face increased handover processing time when continuing voice services between different access networks, particularly due to the requirement for communication processing between the CSCF and the VCC-AS in the IMS.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communication system that integrates a first gateway node for interconnecting the circuit switched network and an IP network with a second gateway node for interconnecting the wireless broadband network and an external packet data network into a single physical node, allowing one gateway node to allocate call connection path node identification information managed by the other gateway node during handovers between networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a VCC-AS is used to continue voice services between different access networks, then voice service continuity is achieved, but handover processing time increases due to required communication processing between CSCF and VCC-AS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the VCC-AS component from the handover control process. By having the MSC directly control handover between CS domain and IMS domain without involving VCC-AS, the patent removes the unnecessary communication overhead between CSCF and VCC-AS, thereby reducing handover processing time while maintaining voice service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the handover control functions into the MSC itself. The MSC directly manages handover control between CS domain and IMS domain, combining multiple control functions into a single node, which eliminates the need for separate VCC-AS communication and reduces processing time
2Reliability
If a VCC-AS is used for inter-network handover control, then voice service continuity is maintained, but apparatus scale and cost in the IMS network increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the VCC-AS from the IMS network architecture for handover control purposes. By having the MSC directly control handover without VCC-AS involvement, the patent reduces the apparatus scale and cost in the IMS network while maintaining voice service continuity between different access networks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the MSC multi-functional by enabling it to directly control handover between CS domain and IMS domain. This universal control capability eliminates the need for dedicated VCC-AS infrastructure, reducing apparatus scale and cost while maintaining service continuity
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication system includes at least one mobile terminal that can access a circuit switched network and a wireless broadband network, and a node apparatus. The node apparatus integrates, into one physical node, a first gateway node interconnecting the circuit switched network and an IP network and a second gateway node interconnecting a core network accommodating the wireless broadband network and an external packet data network. When the mobile terminal performs handover from one of the circuit switched network and the wireless broadband network to the other network, one of the first gateway node and the second gateway node, being a handover-destination node, allocates call connection path node identification information managed by the other gateway note being a handover-source node, as new call connection path node identification information of the handover-destination node.