Serving Node Triggering IP Connectivity for IP-Inaccessible Handsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, mobile handsets may lose IP accessibility due to network policies, causing IP-based signaling schemes like SIP to become inoperable, as they are disconnected from the IMS network when their IP addresses are withdrawn, preventing them from receiving IP-based messages or participating in IP services.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a serving node to generate a trigger message, transmitted via a circuit-switched network, instructing an IP-inaccessible mobile handset to initiate a connection to the packet-switched network, allowing it to receive IP-based messages by exploiting its existing CS connection, using techniques such as SMS, WAP Push, USSD, or direct SMS delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a network operator implements a policy to share IP addresses amongst a large number of handsets, then the quantity of IP addresses is optimized, but mobile handsets become unreachable by IP-based addressing schemes when not assigned an IP address
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a serving node as an intermediary between the packet-switched network and circuit-switched network. This serving node receives IP-based messages intended for handsets without IP addresses and forwards them via trigger messages through the circuit-switched network, enabling indirect delivery to IP-inaccessible devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the IP-based addressing mechanism (which fails when no IP address is assigned) with a circuit-switched network messaging mechanism using trigger messages. This substitution allows message delivery to handsets regardless of their IP address assignment status
2Loss of energy
If a mobile handset loses its IP address assignment, then IP address resources are conserved, but IP-based signaling schemes such as SIP become inoperable
Solution Approach 1:
The serving node acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between IP-based signaling requirements and the handset's IP-inaccessible state. It receives SIP or other IP-based messages and delivers them via circuit-switched trigger messages, maintaining signaling functionality without requiring continuous IP address assignment
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables a single message delivery infrastructure to serve both IP-accessible and IP-inaccessible handsets. The serving node provides universal message delivery capability, handling both direct IP-based delivery and indirect circuit-switched delivery through trigger messages
3Quantity of substance
If a handset is disconnected from the IMS network due to IP address withdrawal, then network resources are optimized, but the handset cannot receive IP-based messages or participate in IP services
Solution Approach 1:
The serving node provides a continuity mechanism by intercepting IP-based messages for disconnected handsets and redirecting them through the circuit-switched network. This maintains service accessibility even when handsets are disconnected from the IMS network due to IP address withdrawal
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential disconnection by establishing a fallback message delivery path through the circuit-switched network before disconnection occurs. The serving node is pre-configured to handle messages for handsets that may lose IP accessibility, ensuring continuous service capability
Data Source
AI summary
Under one aspect, a system for transmitting an IP-based message from an initiator to a receiver lacking an IP address via a packet-switched (PS) network capable of communicating IP-based messages and a circuit-switched (CS) network capable of communicating non-IP-based messages, includes: a serving node in communication with the PS network and the CS network, the serving node including logic to: receive the IP-based message from the initiator over the PS network; generate a trigger message responsive to the IP-based message, the trigger message including a non-IP-based message including instructions for the receiver to initiate a connection to the PS network; and transmit the trigger message to the receiver via the CS network, and the receiver including logic to initiate a connection to the PS network and to receive the IP-based message responsive to the trigger message. Methods are also disclosed.