IMS Service Gateway for Circuit-Packet Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing infrastructure limits the ability to provide comprehensive control over both circuit-switched and packet subsystems, resulting in interrupted packet-based services during circuit-switched calls and limited support for voice applications using VoIP, as well as the inability to offer additional services once a call is established in the circuit-switched subsystem.
Innovation Solution
Moving service control, including call control, from packet and circuit-switched subsystems to a centralized control subsystem like the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), where a user's mobile terminal is anchored, allowing call signaling and bearer paths to be managed across both subsystems based on available bandwidth and local wireless access, enabling continued control and service provision during calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If call control is provided in the circuit-switched subsystem, then call establishment is reliable, but the IMS loses control of the call once established and cannot provide additional services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service gateway as an intermediary between the circuit-switched subsystem and the IMS. The service gateway receives call control requests from the circuit-switched subsystem and translates them into SIP-based control commands that the IMS can process. This intermediary enables the IMS to maintain control over circuit-switched calls while providing modern IP-based services and features.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet-based services are provided over the packet subsystem, then service versatility is improved, but services are interrupted when the mobile terminal is involved in a circuit-switched call
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of both circuit-switched and packet-based services into a unified IMS architecture. By anchoring the mobile terminal in the IMS and using SIP for call control, the system can simultaneously manage circuit-switched voice calls and packet-based data services without interruption. The service gateway enables this unified control by translating between traditional circuit-switched signaling and modern IP-based signaling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the IMS is optimized for SIP-based services, then packet subsystem service support is improved, but influence or control over the circuit-switched subsystem is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The service gateway acts as a mediator that simplifies the interface between the IMS and the circuit-switched subsystem. It translates SIP-based control commands from the IMS into traditional circuit-switched signaling commands, enabling the IMS to control circuit-switched calls without requiring complex direct integration. This intermediary layer reduces the control complexity while maintaining full service capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile terminal is anchored in a control subsystem, which will function as the mobile terminal's home service subsystem. Call signaling for an incoming call is routed to the control subsystem, which will provide call processing. The call processing may include determining how to route the call to the mobile terminal. Call signaling may be provided to the mobile terminal via the packet subsystem while the bearer path for the incoming call may be established to the mobile terminal though either the circuit-switched subsystem or the packet subsystem. When the mobile terminal is capable of supporting local wireless communications, the bearer paths for incoming calls may be provided via a local wireless subsystem. The subsystem chosen for the bearer path may be based on whether there is sufficient bandwidth to support the bearer path over an available packet-based connection.