IOS/SIP Adapter for IMS and Non-IMS Service Convergence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current telecommunications networks face challenges in providing services to both IMS and non-IMS terminals efficiently, leading to duplicated services, excessive messaging, and capital wastage, as well as difficulties in identifying legacy devices and managing registration subscriptions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an IOS/SIP adapter that converts between IOS and SIP protocols, allowing IMS networks to support both IMS and non-IMS terminals using the same network nodes, reduces messaging overhead, and enables seamless identification and registration of legacy devices through protocol conversion and aggregation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a convergence server is used to provide services to non-IMS terminals, then service compatibility is improved, but device complexity and capital expense increase due to duplicate service infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice compatibilityVSAvoidservice infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the service provision functions for both IMS and non-IMS terminals into a single network node. The home node acts as both an IMS application server and a convergence server, eliminating the need for separate parallel infrastructure. This combining of functions directly reduces device complexity while maintaining service compatibility through protocol conversion capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The home node is designed with multi-functionality to serve both IMS and non-IMS terminals. It can perform IMS signaling operations and simultaneously provide convergence services for legacy devices. This universal design allows a single node to handle diverse service requirements without requiring specialized duplicate infrastructure, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

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

2Reliability

If separate IMS nodes are deployed for IMS terminals, then service quality is improved, but capital expense increases due to duplicate infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoidcapital expense
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the roles of separate IMS nodes and convergence servers into a single home node. This node simultaneously provides IMS signaling services and convergence services for non-IMS terminals, eliminating redundant infrastructure investments while maintaining service quality through integrated service delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The home node is designed as a universal platform that can deliver services to both IMS and non-IMS terminals. By implementing multiple service functions within a single node, the system achieves reliable service delivery without the capital expense of maintaining separate parallel infrastructures for different terminal types.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If protocol conversion is implemented, then adaptability to non-IMS terminals is improved, but messaging overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidmessaging overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and processes only the essential signaling information needed for service delivery. The home node identifies and extracts relevant call setup parameters from IOS signaling messages, converting only the necessary elements to SIP protocol format. This selective extraction approach maintains protocol compatibility while minimizing unnecessary messaging overhead by avoiding conversion of redundant information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If legacy terminal identifiers are used in IMS network, then device compatibility is improved, but identification accuracy deteriorates due to protocol incompatibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoididentification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The home node acts as an intermediary between legacy terminals and the IMS core network. It receives identification information from non-IMS terminals using IOS protocol, converts this information into the appropriate SIP URI format, and forwards it to the IMS core. This intermediary conversion process maintains device compatibility while ensuring identification accuracy by properly translating identifiers into the format required by the IMS network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2198560B1Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing services in a telecommunications network using interoperability specification/session initiation protocol (IOS/sip) adapter
Publication Date: 2017.03.29 TEKELEC INC
  • EP2198560B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2198560B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2198560B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing services in a telecommunications network using an IOS/SIP adapter. According to one aspect of the subject matter described herein, a method for providing supplementary services to IMS devices and non-IMS devices using common IMS network components is provided. The method includes providing an interoperability specification/session initiation protocol (IOS/SIP) adapter configured to communicate with a base station subsystem and an IMS network. The method further includes, at the IOS/SIP adapter, receiving, from the base station subsystem a request for providing a supplementary service to a non-IMS device in communication with the base station subsystem. In response to the request, the method includes sending a message to an IMS node in the IMS network that provides the supplementary service to the non-IMS device and to IMS devices.