Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-16
2004-08-31
Qureshi, Afsar (Department: 2667)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S310200, C370S352000, C709S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06785287
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication originating network and a packet data network through which the communication is transmitted and more particularly, minimizing communications in the packet data network necessary to complete initiation of the communication.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The GSM (global system for mobile communications) utilizes the concept of location area code (LAC) to reduce unnecessary paging messages between a MSC (mobile switching center or mobile services switching center) and a BSC (base station controller). In the GSM system, a mobile terminated call procedure is initiated by the MSC by sending a paging message pursuant to GSM 08.808 Version 5.6.2, 3.2.1.19, to the BSS (base station subsystem) i.e. base station controller. The paging message contains information, including the IMSI (international mobile subscriber identity) or the TMSI (temporary mobile subscriber identity), of the mobile terminal to be paged as well as the so-called cell identifier list pursuant to GSM 08.808, Version 5.6.2, 3.2.2.27. The cell identifier list may contain various types of information describing the target paging area.
FIG. 1
illustrates a prior art system
10
which originates calls in a communication system
12
, which is a GSM network including a communication originating entity, which are transmitted through a packet data network
14
, which is an IP network, to one of a plurality of radio communication systems
16
, which comprise a radio gateway, to one of a plurality of wireless terminals
18
which are part of the GSM network. The communication system
12
includes a MSC
20
and VLR (visiting location register)
22
which functions as a database identifying all wireless terminals
18
which are operational within the area of the communication system
12
under the control of the MSC. The VLR
22
functions to maintain information regarding roaming of the wireless terminals within the communication system
12
. Furthermore, a HLR (home location register not illustrated) is used in the GSM system to keep track of where the VLR is maintained in the GSM system, namely the MSC
20
through which calls should be directed to a particular wireless terminal
18
. In view of the HLR knowing the VLR's location in the GSM system, a call directed to a wireless terminal
18
which originates in the communication system
12
may be directed through the MSC
20
and then to the packet data network
14
, one or more radio communication systems
16
and to one or more wireless terminals
18
.
An originated call generates a paging message which is directed to the MSC
20
and is forwarded to gateway
24
within the packet data network
14
to all of the gatekeepers GK
1002
,
1003
,
1005
,
1006
,
1008
and
1009
connected thereto. The gatekeepers GK perform a number of functions including the function of a PBX. The gateway and gatekeepers GK operate in compliance with H.323. The paging message to set up a communication to at least one wireless terminal
18
is further forwarded to each of the radio gateways
16
and is finally forwarded to each of the wireless terminals
18
. The radio gateways
16
function as access points to wireless local area networks which are not illustrated and control connectivity of communications forwarded through the packet data network
14
to individual terminals
18
.
The location of the individual wireless terminals
18
is automatically updated as a result of the radio communications systems
16
being part of the GSM network
12
. Operation of the wireless terminals
18
in the GSM network permits the individual wireless terminals
16
to be located by accessing of information within the VLR
22
.
The prior art system of
FIG. 1
has the disadvantage of transmitting a paging message to set up an individual communication (e.g. telephone call) which is to be terminated at a wireless terminal
18
through each of the gatekeepers
1002
,
1003
,
1005
,
1006
,
1008
, and
1009
. This paging procedure is highly inefficient because, in effect, every GK connected to gateway
24
must be paged and in turn, every radio communication system
16
must be paged in order to complete the call set up procedure. This results in a significant amount of signalling traffic.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system and a method of initiating a communication which is transmitted by a packet data network containing at least a plurality of gatekeepers and preferably, a gateway coupled to the plurality of gatekeepers to a wireless terminal in one of a plurality of wireless systems. In accordance with the invention, communication initiation messages or paging messages are sent only to one or more gatekeepers within a paging area or LAC in which a wireless terminal to which the communication is directed is known to be located by the packet data network. A location register/directory service, which may be located any where in the packet data network, stores an association between one or more gatekeepers and one or more paging areas or LACs which are identified by processing of the information contained in the communication. Upon receipt of a message from within the packet data network or from an external communication system originating the communication, the packet data network determines from the message or page directed to a gatekeeper or to the gateway, when the communication originates from the external network, a particular paging area or LAC in which the communication initiation message or page is to be transmitted to initiate the communication. The location register/directory service associates the paging area or LAC determined from the communication initiation message or page with one or more gatekeepers to which the communication initiation message or paging message is to be directed which eliminates the problem of the prior art of sending paging messages to all gatekeepers which requires significant signalling traffic for the setting up of communications. As a result, the communication initiation message or paging message is transmitted to one or more gatekeepers which are located within the area determined from the communication initiation message or paging message.
The preferred contents of the location register/directory service of the packet data network contain an identification of each of the gatekeepers located in the packet data network, the gatekeeper's address (packet data network or IP address) and the association of one or more gatekeepers with one or more paging areas or LACs. This information makes possible the transmission of the communication initiation or paging message to the correct one or more gatekeepers by the processing of the information within the received communication initiation or paging message to identify the paging area or LAC in which the one or more gatekeepers are located to which the communication initiation message or paging message is to be transmitted at the packet data address of the one or more gatekeepers stored therein. The paging area or LAC is a key which locates the address of the particular gatekeeper(s) to which the communication initiation message or paging message is sent. Thereafter, the communication initiation message or paging message is forwarded to one or more radio systems (radio gateways) associated with each gatekeeper to complete the initiation of the communication with the wireless terminal to receive the communication without requiring communications with all of the gatekeepers located in the packet data network.
A method of initiating a communication which is transmitted by a packet data network, containing a gateway and a plurality of gatekeepers coupled to the gateway, to a wireless terminal in one of a plurality of wireless systems in accordance with the invention includes processing information relating to the communication to determine at least area in which the communication is to be broadcast to the wireless terminal; identifying from the at least area at least one associated destination
Honkala Hannu
Lähteenmäki Mika
Välimaa Jari
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Nokia IP Inc.
Qureshi Afsar
LandOfFree
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