Visited IMS Network Entity Bypasses Home IMS for Roaming Media Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VoLTE networks incur unnecessary costs and resource usage due to suboptimal media routing when both calling and called subscribers are roaming in the same country, as media is routed through Home IMS networks, increasing the load on media routing resources.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to establish a communication session by routing the user plane from the Visited IMS network of the calling subscriber through an additional IMS network entity in the Visited IMS network of the called subscriber, bypassing the Home IMS network, and optimizing the media path by inserting an additional IMS network entity in the media path and removing the Home IMS network from the media path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If media is routed through the Home IMS network of the called subscriber, then the communication session can be established with full control and signaling, but the media routing resources are increased and costs are added for roaming subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media path from the Home IMS network by introducing a visited network entity that anchors the media path in the visited network. The media path is separated from the control path, allowing media to be routed locally through the visited network while control signaling continues through the Home IMS network. This extraction eliminates the unnecessary routing of media through the Home IMS network, reducing media routing resources and costs.
2Ease of operation
If media is routed from the Visited IMS network via the Home IMS network back to the Visited IMS network, then the called subscriber can be reached, but the media routing path is suboptimal and uses more resources than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into control plane and user plane (media path). The control plane signaling remains routed through the Home IMS network to ensure proper subscriber reachability and control. The user plane media path is separated and anchored in the visited network through a visited network entity, creating an independent media routing path that does not require traversal through the Home IMS network. This segmentation optimizes the media routing path while maintaining subscriber reachability.
3Reliability
If the Home IMS network is used for media routing, then full control over the communication session is maintained, but the network load on media routing resources is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visited network entity as an intermediary that anchors the media path in the visited network. This intermediary entity establishes a direct media path between the calling and called parties without requiring media to traverse the Home IMS network. The control signaling continues to flow through the Home IMS network, maintaining session control. The intermediary visited network entity effectively decouples media routing from control signaling, reducing network load on the Home IMS network while preserving session control capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method, network ad network entity for establishing a communication session between a calling subscriber residing in a first Visited IMS network and a called subscriber roaming in a second Visited IMS network. The method includes routing a first Invite request for the communication session via a media path extending from the first Visited IMS network via a Home IMS network of the called subscriber to the second Visited IMS network, and establishing the communication session. The method further includes inserting an additional IMS network entity, residing in the second Visited IMS network, in the part of the media path extending from the first Visited IMS network to the Home IMS network of the called subscriber and removing the Home IMS network of the called subscriber from the media path.