MAGCF Gateway for Circuit-Switched to IMS Call Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment adapted for circuit-switched domains struggles to access IMS services, and there is inefficiency in providing real-time bearers for conversational voice services, as most equipment does not support IMS technology with SIP as the signaling protocol.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an Access Gateway Node (MAGCF) that handles calls between circuit-switched and packet-based multimedia domains, converting calls between circuit-switched and packet-based formats, and acting as an anchor point for cellular access to IMS, enabling IMS to take full call and service control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment is adapted for circuit-switched domains, then voice service compatibility is maintained, but access to IMS packet-switched services is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway node as an intermediary between the circuit-switched domain and the IMS packet-switched domain. This gateway performs protocol conversion and signaling translation, allowing circuit-switched user equipment to access IMS services without requiring the equipment itself to be adapted with SIP stacks or other IMS-specific components. The gateway mediates the interaction by converting circuit-switched signaling (e.g., ISUP, BICC) to SIP and vice versa, thus resolving the contradiction by enabling service access while maintaining equipment simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the adaptation function from the user equipment and places it in the network infrastructure (gateway node). This segmentation allows the user equipment to remain simple and circuit-switched while the complex adaptation logic resides in the network element. The gateway handles protocol conversion, registration management, and call routing separately from the user device, thus enabling IMS access without increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If circuit-switched technology is used for voice services, then compatibility with legacy equipment is maintained, but efficiency in providing real-time bearers for conversational services is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway node acts as a mediator that enables efficient real-time bearer provision by translating circuit-switched signaling to SIP-based signaling in the IMS domain. SIP provides more efficient mechanisms for real-time service control, including faster call setup, better QoS management, and support for multimedia services. The gateway converts traditional circuit-switched signaling to SIP, allowing the IMS network to efficiently manage real-time bearers while maintaining compatibility with legacy circuit-switched equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signaling parameters and protocols used for call control. Instead of using traditional circuit-switched signaling parameters (ISUP, BICC), the system transitions to SIP-based parameters for call setup, modification, and teardown. This parameter change enables more efficient real-time bearer management, including dynamic QoS adjustment, faster call establishment, and better support for conversational services with low latency requirements.
3Productivity
If IMS services are deployed using packet-switched technology, then service deployment speed is improved, but compatibility with circuit-switched user equipment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway node serves as a compatibility layer that enables packet-switched IMS services to work with circuit-switched user equipment. The gateway performs protocol translation between SIP (used by IMS) and circuit-switched protocols (used by legacy equipment), ensuring that voice service compatibility is maintained while allowing fast service deployment in the packet-switched domain. The gateway handles registration, authentication, and call routing to ensure reliable service delivery across different domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway node provides universal functionality by supporting multiple protocols and domains simultaneously. It can handle both circuit-switched signaling (ISUP, BICC) and packet-switched SIP signaling, acting as a multi-functional interface between different network domains. This universality allows the IMS network to deploy services rapidly using packet-switched technology while maintaining backward compatibility with circuit-switched equipment through the gateway's protocol translation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention proposes a solution for providing IMS services to users having circuit-switched controlled terminals. In particular, it is proposed, in order to allow IMS to take the full call and service control, to combine circuit-switched and packet-based multimedia functionality in a new node type called Mobile Access Gateway Control Function (MAGCF). In particular the present invention provides a method for ensuring that the MAGCF node acts as a roaming anchor point in order to enforce the handling of originating and terminating calls in the IMS.