IMS Node Patching Cellular Calls as Enterprise Identity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integration of VoIP enterprise networks with carrier cellular telephony networks is challenging due to issues like delay, Quality of Service (QoS), and efficiency, preventing cost-effective provision of acceptable quality voice services, and enterprises face difficulties in tracking and monitoring employee calls across different networks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for integrating an outgoing cellular call as an enterprise call within an IMS environment by receiving a SIP INVITE request, establishing two call legs, and patching them to present the enterprise address instead of the cellular address to the called party, using an IMS network node and capable user equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cellular networks use IP-based data communications for telephony, then network modernization and data integration are improved, but voice service quality and QoS deteriorate due to delay and efficiency issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork integration capabilityVSAvoidvoice service quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the telephony service into two distinct pathways: VoIP for data communications and circuit-switched for voice services. This segmentation allows each pathway to be optimized independently, with circuit-switched networks handling voice traffic to ensure quality while IP networks handle data, thus resolving the contradiction between network modernization and voice service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that bridges the IP-based enterprise network and the circuit-switched cellular network. This gateway enables seamless call routing and protocol translation, allowing enterprises to leverage IP infrastructure while maintaining high-quality voice services through circuit-switched networks, thus resolving the adaptation-reliability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If enterprises implement separate telephony systems for on-premises and mobile employees, then network simplicity is improved, but call tracking and monitoring capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetelephony system structureVSAvoidcall information visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal call management system that handles both on-premises and mobile employee calls through a single integrated platform. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including call routing, tracking, and monitoring across different networks (enterprise IP network and cellular network), enabling enterprises to maintain simplified infrastructure while preserving complete call information visibility through unified management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cellular calls use non-enterprise addresses, then network interoperability is improved, but enterprise call management and identification capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidenterprise identity information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a call leg patching mechanism that creates a virtual copy of the enterprise identity. When a mobile employee places a call through the cellular network, the system patches the call leg to present the enterprise address (而非 cellular number) to the called party. This copying approach maintains network interoperability while preserving enterprise identity information, as the called party sees the enterprise address rather than the personal cellular number.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP1988698B1Hybrid IMS-GSM system and method for establishing an outgoing GSM call as an enterprise call
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP1988698B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1988698B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1988698B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The application relates to systems based upon Voice-over-IP and Session Initiation Protocol-based signaling systems that utilize the existing enterprise IP infrastructure. Mobile communication devices are being enhanced to provide SIP-based communications (including VoIP) over WLAN access as well as cellular networks, thereby allowing these devices to provide mobile telephony communications capability when within the enterprise as well as when away from the enterprise. However, these networks cannot currently commercially support carrier-class VoIP telephony services. In addition, enterprise calls shall be integrated with the IMS network architecture. This is achieved by the present invention in that instead of a VoIP call, a circuit-switched call is established. In particular, a network node (404) is operable, responsive to receiving (408) a SIP INVITE request from an enterprise user (118) to initiate origination of an outgoing cellular call to a called party (120), for establishing (418) a first call leg to the enterprise user (118) by sending a circuit-switched call that identifies an enterprise address of the enterprise user (118) as a calling line identity. The network node (404) includes functionality for establishing (430) a second call leg to the called party (120). The first and second call legs are then patched to establish an end-to-end communications path between the enterprise user (118) and the called party (120), wherein the enterprise address instead of the non-enterprise address is presented to the called party (120) as a calling line identity with respect to the outgoing cellular call from the enterprise user (118).