Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M7/00—Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
  • H04M7/0024—Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services
  • H04M7/0027—Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
  • H04L65/10—Architectures or entities
  • H04L65/1016—IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
  • H04L65/1066—Session management
  • H04L65/1083—In-session procedures
  • H04L65/1095—Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L65/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication
  • H04L65/40—Support for services or applications
  • H04L65/402—Support for services or applications wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel non-real time sessions, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
  • H04L65/4025—Support for services or applications wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel non-real time sessions, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/60—Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources
  • H04L67/62—Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
  • H04M1/575—Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/2866—Architectures; Arrangements
  • H04L67/30—Profiles
  • H04L67/306—User profiles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
  • H04L67/50—Network services
  • H04L67/53—Network services using third party service providers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/57—Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set
  • H04M1/575—Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
  • H04M1/576—Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M2203/65—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to applications where calls are combined with other types of communication
  • H04M2203/651—Text message transmission triggered by call
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2207/00—Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place
  • H04M2207/18—Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place wireless networks
  • H04M2207/187—Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place wireless networks combining circuit and packet-switched, e.g. GPRS
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2207/00—Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place
  • H04M2207/30—Type of exchange or network, i.e. telephonic medium, in which the telephonic communication takes place third party service providers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42025—Calling or Called party identification service
  • H04M3/42034—Calling party identification service
  • H04M3/42059—Making use of the calling party identifier
  • H04M3/42068—Making use of the calling party identifier where the identifier is used to access a profile
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/42025—Calling or Called party identification service
  • H04M3/42085—Called party identification service
  • H04M3/42102—Making use of the called party identifier
  • H04M3/4211—Making use of the called party identifier where the identifier is used to access a profile
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/487—Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
  • H04M3/4872—Non-interactive information services
  • H04M3/4878—Advertisement messages
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W76/00—Connection management

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to wireless networks for voice and data communications, and more specifically to systems and methods for presenting multimedia objects in conjunction with voice calls from a circuit-switched network.
• CS circuit-switched
• PS packet-switched
• Some wireless networks use a technology, known as mRAB (Multiple Radio Access Bearer) networks, that allows both types of connections to exist contemporaneously and may be made available to mobile handsets or user endpoints (UEs), e.g., UMTS/WCDMA networks.
• mRAB Multiple Radio Access Bearer
• CS and PS networks will now be described in greater detail.
• a CS network such as PLMN
• BTS Base Transceiver Stations
• the BTS in turn are connected to a plurality of Base Station Servers (BSC) that in turn are connected to a network of Mobile Switching Centers (MSC).
• BSC Base Station Servers
• MSC Mobile Switching Centers
• PSTN Public Switched Telephone network
• a user's handset When a user's handset requests a telephone call or a service, such as voice mail, a prepaid call, or a toll-free call, it generates a "call event" at the MSC. Each call event can potentially “trigger” one or more Trigger Detection Points (TDP) in the MSC.
• TDP Trigger Detection Points
• the MSC sends a pre-specified message to a Service Control Function (SCF).
• SCF Service Control Function
• the message includes, for example, the phone numbers of the calling and called parties, and the nature of the service request.
• the SCF then "fields" the message, i.e., service logic within the SCF responds appropriately to the message.
• the MSC and SCF communicate using standards-based protocols such as Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) from the family of protocols commonly referred to as Signaling System 7 (SS7).
• TCAP Transaction Capabilities Application Part
• SS7 Signaling System 7
• IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem
• the IMS architecture manages the network with several control functions, i.e., functional entities.
• the Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) is an inter-working function that handles legacy circuit-switched traffic.
• a new function called the Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) controls the Media Gateway (MGW).
• the Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP), which is controlled by the Media Resource Control Function (MRFC), performs media processing functions.
• An IMS session is controlled by a logical function called the Call State Control Function (CSCF). It is logically partitioned into three functional entities, the Proxy, Interrogating and Serving CSCFs.
• CSCF Call State Control Function
• the Proxy Call State Control Function is the first contact point for a user's handset.
• the Interrogating CSCF is mainly the contact point within an operator's network for all IMS connections destined to a subscriber of that network operator, or a roaming subscriber currently located within that network operator's service area.
• the Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) actually handles the session states in the network.
• "Third party" application servers (AS) provide services to the mobile handset, such as voice mail, via the S-CSCF.
• the IMS controls packet services among the different functional entities with signaling protocols such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is an IP-based signaling protocol designed for multimedia communications.
• SIP Session Initiation Protocol
• a mobile handset When a mobile handset first powers on, logic residing in the handset initiates a "registration" procedure with the IMS core, first by requesting the radio access network to assign it an IP address. After it receives an IP address, the mobile handset attempts to register as an IP-enabled endpoint with the IMS core, by sending a "register" request to the P-CSCF. Assuming that the handset is registering from a visiting domain, the P- CSCF then uses a Domain Name Server (DNS) to search for the handset's home domain S-CSCF. Once the P-CSCF locates the S-CSCF for the mobile handset, it passes the "register" request to that S-CSCF.
• DNS Domain Name Server
• the S-CSCF contacts the Home Subscriber Subsystem (HSS), which looks up the mobile handset's profile. This profile contains assorted information about the user, and what services the handset is authorized to use. A logical function in the S-CSCF called the "registrar" then authenticates the mobile handset, e.g., verifies that the handset is legitimate.
• HSS Home Subscriber Subsystem
• the S-CSCF also loads Service Point Triggers (SPT) from the handset's profile.
• SPT Service Point Triggers
• the SPT define the appropriate action for the S-CSCF to take when the handset or an AS requests a transaction. For example, if the handset requests voice mail service, the SPT triggers the S-CSCF to provide the addresses of the voice mail AS for the handset. So long as the handset is powered on, the SPT for that handset are loaded into the S-CSCF, so a service request fires the appropriate trigger in the S-CSCF.
• the SPT are analogous to the above-described TDP in the CS network.
• the SPT and TDP both trigger an appropriate response from a controlling server, e.g., the MSC or S-CSCF.
• the TDP are more generally applicable to call requests and call related events such as dialed number, etc., and are not particular to the user's profile.
• the SPT are specific to the mobile handset, and arc stored in the user's profile in the HSS and loaded into the S-CSCF when the handset registers.
• an entity wishes to engage in a transaction with the mobile handset, e.g., to send a message to the handset, the entity utilizes an AS to send a request for the transaction to the S-CSCF.
• Other ASs may not know which S-CSCF to contact in order to engage in a transaction with a particular handset.
• the AS interrogate a Subscriber Location Function (SLF), which provides information about a handset's S-CSCF to the AS, which then contacts that S-CSCF as described above.
• SPF Subscriber Location Function
• the handset If the handset wishes to request a service, it sends the request to the S-CSCF, e.g., using a SIP invite. This triggers an SPT in the S-CSCF, which then directs the service request to a particular Application Server (AS), which then provides the service to the handset.
• AS Application Server
• the user wants to initiate an IMS call, it sends a SIP invite message to the S-CSCF, which may then contact the AS responsible for IMS calls, called the Back-to-Back User Agent (B2BUA), which initiates the IMS call flow.
• B2BUA Back-to-Back User Agent
• the present invention provides systems and methods for presenting multimedia objects in conjunction with a voice call via a circuit switched (CS) network.
• CS circuit switched
• the invention provides method for delivering and presenting a multimedia object in conjunction with a voice call to a recipient handset over a wireless network utilizing multiple Radio Access Bearer (mRAB) technology comprising: a circuit switched (CS) network initiating a voice call to a recipient handset over the CS network; the CS network in response to the voice call sending a trigger message about the state of the voice call to the serving node (SN) residing on a packet switched (PS) network; the SN initiating transfer of a multimedia object to a PS radio channel of the recipient handset over the PS network; the recipient handset receiving the voice call on a CS radio channel over the CS network and the multimedia object on the PS radio channel over the PS network; and the recipient handset presenting the multimedia object in conjunction with the voice call.
• mRAB Radio Access Bearer
• the invention provides a method for delivering and presenting a multimedia object in conjunction with a voice call to a recipient handset over a circuit switched (CS) network comprising: preloading a multimedia object to a recipient handset over a packet switched (PS) network; a CS network delivering a voice call to the recipient handset over a CS radio channel; in response to the received voice call, the recipient handset presenting the multimedia object in conjunction with the voice call.
• CS circuit switched
• the invention provides a system for delivering and presenting a multimedia object in conjunction with a voice call to a recipient handset over a wireless network utilizing multiple Radio Access Bearer (mRAB) technology, by coordinating operation of a circuit-switched (CS) network and a packet switched (PS) network, the system comprising: a serving node (SN), residing on a PS network, responsive to a voice call on the CS network, having logic to select and initiate transfer of a multimedia object to the recipient handset over the PS network; and a personal agent (PA) logic, on the recipient handset, for presenting the multimedia object in conjunction with the voice call.
• mRAB Radio Access Bearer
• the invention provides a system for delivering and presenting a multimedia object in conjunction with a voice call to a recipient handset, the voice call being delivered over a circuit switched (CS) network and the multimedia object being delivered over the packet switched (PS) network, the system comprising: a serving node (SN), residing on a PS network, for preloading a multimedia object to a recipient handset over the PS network; and a personal agent (PA) logic on the recipient handset for presenting the multimedia object in response to a voice call over the CS network.
• the systems and methods can comprise a serving node (SN) and/or a personal agent (PA) on the initiator handset to select the multimedia object in response to the profile information for the initiator or the recipient.
• the selection of the multimedia object to be transferred can be in response to the time of day or logic residing in the initiator handset.
• the selection of the multimedia object to be transferred can be updated periodically and can be pre-provisioned in the SN by a party other than the initiator or the recipient.
• the CS network trigger messages can be generated by a trigger detection point (TDP) in a mobile switching center (MSC) switch residing in the CS network.
• TDP trigger detection point
• MSC mobile switching center
• the SN initiated transfer can be controlled so that the multimedia object is delivered for the start of the voice call.
• the recipient handset can comprise a personal agent (PA) to coordinate the timing of the voice call and the presentation of the multimedia object on the recipient handset.
• the serving node (SN) can preload the multimedia object onto the recipient handset via the PS network prior to the initiation of the voice call. If preloaded, the multimedia object can reside on the recipient handset prior to being displayed.
• the multimedia object can be provided by a party other than the initiator or the recipient.
• An example of such multi-media object is an advertisement object, such an electronic image or a video clip.
• the multimedia object can be presented contemporaneously with the voice call alert, during the voice call, or after the termination of the voice call.
• the recipient handset only needs to be capable of operating a CS radio or a PS radio at a given time.
• the multimedia object is preloaded onto the recipient handset via a PS network when the CS radio of the handset is inactive.
• the recipient handset needs to be capable of operating a CS radio and a PS radio concurrently.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a GSM/GPRS packet-switched network architecture
• Fig. 2 illustrates a CDMA circuit-switched network architecture
• Fig. 3 illustrates an overview of the service delivery platform (SDP) and its connections to the circuit-switched (CS) and packet-switched (PS) networks;
• SDP service delivery platform
• Fig. 4 illustrates the logical components of the serving node (SN) component of the service delivery platform (SDP);
• Fig. 5 illustrates the logical components of the personal agent (PA) component of the service delivery platform (SDP);
• Fig. 6 illustrates the interaction of the serving node (SN) with the circuit- switched (CS) network, the packet-switched (PS) network, and a personal agent (PA) on the recipient handset;
• SN serving node
• PS packet-switched
• PA personal agent
• Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary flowchart according to one embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 8 illustrates an exemplary flowchart according to one embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 9 illustrates an exemplary flowchart according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 10 illustrates an exemplary flowchart according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the present invention provides systems and methods for presenting multimedia objects in conjunction with a voice call from a CS network.
• the voice call is delivered over a circuit-switched (CS) network and the multimedia object is delivered over a packet-switched (PS) network. Since the multimedia object is carried by the packet-switched (PS) network and the voice call is earned by the CS network, coordination is generally needed between the CS and PS networks such that the multimedia object can be presented at the appropriate times, e.g., at the start of the call, during the call or after the call. Preferably, the delays to call setup times are minimized.
• the call setup delay can be reduced by preloading the multimedia object onto recipient handset before initiation of the voice call.
• the coordination between the CS network and the PS network is achieved using a serving node (SN).
• the SN can also include logic for selection of a multimedia object to be transferred, for example, to select a multimedia object in response to the recipient or the initiator profile information. This selection can be made based on a variety of criteria, for example the recipient profile, the initiator profile, the time of the day, or any other desired criteria. The selection can be updated periodically, for example, every hour, every 4 hours, every 8 hours, every 12 hours, every 24 hours, etc.
• the initiator and/or the recipient handset includes personal agent (PA) logic.
• the PA residing in the initiator handset can be used to select the multimedia object to be delivered to the recipient in conjunction with a voice call.
• the PA in the recipient handset can determine whether to present the multimedia object at the start, during, or after the voice call, or it can select which object to render from a plurality of multimedia objects received by the handset via the PS network, or a plurality of multimedia objects residing in the recipient handset.
• the systems and methods described herein are applicable to IMS and non-IMS networks.
• the systems and methods of the invention enable multimedia objects to be rendered on a recipient handset as incoming call notifications, coordinated with an incoming voice call request.
• the systems and methods personalize the voice calling experience by enabling an originating voice call subscriber to choose a multimedia object and have it rendered on the receiving handset as an integral part of the incoming voice call indication.
• the systems and methods are used in mobile advertising. We shall use the term Image Ring or Video Ring to denote this service experience. In WCDMA/UMTS networks this involves coordinating the CS and PS connections for an originating voice call request. In other wireless networks, a mobile handset may have access to either a CS connection or a PS connection but not both at the same time.
• the coordination between the CS and PS connections is either more involved and complicated and may require serial sequencing of certain signaling and media connections, or the multimedia object needs to be preloaded onto the recipient handset prior to initiation of the voice call.
• a mobile handset may lose packet connectivity due to a policy implemented by a network operator (e.g., in a situation where the operator has a limited number of IP addresses that need to be shared amongst a large number of handsets). In this case, because the mobile handset is no longer assigned an IP address, it is not reachable by addressing schemes based on IP addresses, i.e., it is not IP-accessible.
• the multimedia object can be an image (e.g. a photograph, a graphic, etc.), a video clip, an audio-video clip, an animation, a sound clip, or an object comprising a combination thereof.
• the multimedia object is an advertisement object.
• the advertisement object can be provided by a party other than the caller and the recipient, for example, by an advertiser.
• An advertiser can be a business advertising its own or someone else's goods or services. In a typical scenario, the advertisement is targeted to the recipient.
• the advertiser can also be a party that is sponsoring the voice call between the initiator and the recipient.
• the logic and/or the data to associate a multimedia object and a voice call can be provided by the advertiser.
• a network operator may disconnect a mobile handset from a packet-switched (PS) network by withdrawing its IP address. For example, if a first mobile handset registers to the IMS network, thus obtaining an IP address, but then does not use its IMS connection for a specified period of time, the network may withdraw its IP address and assign that address to a second mobile handset. In this case, the first handset is disconnected from the IMS network, and thus no longer IP accessible until it re-registers to the IMS network. When a handset loses its IP address and is disconnected from the IMS network, it can no longer participate in IP-based services.
• PS packet-switched
• Systems and methods described below allow another entity, such as another handset or a network entity, to send an IP-based message to a handset that lacks an IP address, in effect "waking up" the handset and causing it to initiate its own request for an IP address, so that it can receive the IP-based message.
• Fig. 1 depicts components in a GSM/GPRS packet-switched (PS) network, and their communication pathways to an IP network, e.g., the Internet 1200, and to handset 1 100.
• the GSM/GPRS network includes one or more Base Station Servers (BSC) 1500, which are in communication with handset 1 100, Serving Gateway Support Node (SGSN) 1400, and GPRS Gateway Support Node (GGSN) 1300, which is in communication with Internet 1200.
• BSC Base Station Servers
• SGSN Serving Gateway Support Node
• GGSN 1300 and SGSN 1400 work collaboratively to assign an IP address from Internet 1200 to mobile handset 1 100.
• GGSN 1300 communicates with Internet 1200, and allocates IP addresses for user handsets, e.g., handset 1 100.
• SGSN 1400 communicates with GGSN 1300 and with base station server (BSC) 1500 to provide a wireless connection between handset 1 100 and Internet 1200.
• BSC base station server
• PDP Packet Data Protocol
• Fig. 2 depicts components in a CDMA circuit-switched (CS) network, and their communication pathways to an IP network, e.g., Internet 220, and to mobile handset 210.
• the CDMA network includes one or more Base Station Servers (BSC) 250, which are in communication with handset 210, and Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) 240, which is in communication with Internet 220.
• BSC Base Station Servers
• PDSN Packet Data Serving Node
• a Point-to-Point protocol (PPP) session exists between the mobile handset 210 and PDSN 240.
• PDSN 240 acts as a connection point between BSC 250 and an IP network, e.g., Internet 220, by assigning handset 210 an IP address from Internet 220 and providing access to the Internet 220.
• IP network e.g., Internet 220
• the PPP session may be maintained even if the handset goes "dormant," so the handset will remain IP-accessible.
• An incoming packet for a dormant mobile handset then waits at the packet control function (PCF) upon a "mobile origination" message from the handset in response to overhead messages generated collaboratively by the PCF and the BSC.
• PCF packet control function
• network operators in such networks typically choose to dc-allocate IP addresses and tear down the PPP session in order to conserve IP addresses, if the mobile handset does not use its PPP session for a specified period of time. If the mobile handset 210 does not have a PPP session, other entities cannot contact it via the IP network.
• a mobile handset Even if a mobile handset is not IP-accessible, e.g., because the GSM/GPRS or CDMA network has de-allocated its IP address, it still has a connection to the circuit- switched (CS) network; as described above, the CS connection can be used to initiate and receive voice calls, SMS and other circuit-switched services.
• CS circuit- switched
• a mobile handset lacks an IP address and so cannot be directly contacted by another entity, the handset's existing CS connection can be exploited to cause the handset to initiate its own connection to the PS network. Specifically, a specified message, or "trigger,” is sent to the handset via the CS network, instructing logic residing on the handset to initiate a connection to the PS network.
• SDP Service Delivery Platform
• U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0197227 Descriptions of other systems and/or components may be found in the incoiporated patent references, given below. An overview of the service delivery platform is provided below.
• the SDP includes a Serving Node (SN) that may communicate with both the CS voice network and the packet-switched network (with or without IMS).
• the SDP also includes a Personal Agent (PA), which is a piece of service logic that resides in the mobile handset(s).
• PA Personal Agent
• the PA and the SN can send messages to each other, e.g., regarding services the user would like to use, the local network environment of the handset, or instructions the SN would like the PA to execute on the handset.
• the service delivery platform includes a Serving Node (SN) that supports combinational services by communicating with both the circuit-switched voice network and the packet-based IMS network.
• the SN is simultaneously aware of the states of the Service Control Function (SCF) services of a voice call between User Endpoints (UE), and of the registration states of UEs involved in a packet session.
• SCF Service Control Function
• UE User Endpoints
• PA Personal Agent
• the PA sends messages to the SN regarding services that the user would like to use, and also regarding its local network environment.
• the SN responds appropriately by making appropriate voice network and/or IMS network services available to the user.
• the service delivery platform has one "eye" on the circuit-switched voice network and another "eye” on the IMS network, allowing it to deliver combinational services to users without needing to upgrade the existing network to 3G.
• Fig. 3 is an overview of the service delivery platform and its connections to the circuit-switched and packet-switched networks.
• the service delivery platform includes SN 1 10 and PA 185, which resides on UE 180.
• SN 1 10 and PA 185 communicate with each other via the existing circuit-switched and packet-switched network infrastructures in order to provide combinational services to the user.
• the existing "2G" infrastructure includes radio access network 170, circuit- switched (CS) network 120, packet-switched (PS) network 190, and IMS core 130.
• CS network 120 includes Mobile Switching Center(s) (MSC) that provides wireless voice services to UE 180 over radio access network 170.
• PS network 190 includes Packet Data Serving Node(s) (PDSN) that act as the connection point between radio access network 170 and IMS core 130.
• IMS core 130 includes CSCF(s) and HSS(s) that provide multimedia services to UE 180 via PS network 190 and radio access network 170.
• radio access network 170 cannot support simultaneous connections between UE 180, CS network 120, and PS network 190.
• CS network 120, PS network 190, and radio access network 170 arc not, by themselves, capable of providing combinational services to UE 180.
• the service delivery platform provides combinational services to UE 180 as follows.
• SN 1 10 communicates both with CS network 120 and with IMS core 130, and appears like a normal system component to each of the two networks.
• CS network 120 normally when UE 180 requests a voice call or other service on CS network 120, the request triggers a Trigger Detection Point (TDP) at the MSC, and the MSC then sends a pre-specified message to a Service Control Function (SCF) that responds appropriately.
• TDP Trigger Detection Point
• SCF Service Control Function
• the message includes, for example, the phone numbers of the calling and called parties, and the nature of the service request.
• the MSC is programmed to provide the pre-specified message to SN 1 10 instead of to the SCF.
• Logic operating in SN 1 10 then processes the message, much as the SCF normally would, and returns a completion code to the MSC indicating that it may now proceed to process the voice call request.
• SN 1 10 thus learns information about services on the circuit-switched network that UE 180 invokes, e.g.. the phone numbers of the calling and called parties, and the nature of the service, and also can authorize or even modify the service request when it returns the completion code to the MSC on CS network 120.
• SN 1 10 looks like an SCF to the MSC.
• SN 1 10 provides a control path to the CS network, but not a bearer path.
• the S-CSCF normally communicates with "third party" ASs in order to provide services to UE 180. Specifically, if an AS wants to communicate with UE 180, it sends a request to the S-CSCF which triggers a Service Point Trigger (SPT) in the S-CSCF.
• SPT Service Point Trigger
• the SPT are analogous to the TDP of the MSC in the CS network 120, with some differences, as described in greater detail above.
• the SPT causes the S- CSCF to communicate appropriately with the UE 180.
• UE 180 wants to communicate with an AS, i.e., to receive a service, it sends a SIP message to the S-CSCF, which triggers an SPT that instructs the S-CSCF to contact an AS to provide that service.
• S-CSCF operates much like an AS, and indeed looks like an AS to the IMS core 130.
• SN 1 10 wants to contact UE 180, it sends a transaction request to the S-CSCF, where it generates an SPT for the S-CSCF to forward the request to the UE.
• UE 180 wants to contact the SN 1 10, it sends a SIP invite message to the S-CSCF, which generates an SPT for the S-CSCF to send the request to SN 1 10.
• the SN 1 10 then uses service logic to execute that request.
• the S-CSCF simply needs to be configured to recognize the SN 1 10 as an AS. This allows SN 1 10 to learn about the packet-based connections that the UE and/or AS make with the S-CSCF.
• SN 110 provides both control and bearer connectivity to the IMS core 130 and external endpoints. Methods of interaction between SN 1 10 and the IMS core 130 are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0291488, the entire contents of which are incoiporated herein by reference.
• SN 1 10 supports protocols for CS communications, e.g., SS7, and protocols for PS/IMS communications e.g., IP. For example, if SN 1 10 is exchanging a message with PA 185 in circuit-switched mode, it may use DTAP and if SN is exchanging a message with PA 185 in packet-switched mode, it uses SIP.
• DTAP Direct Transfer Application Part
• LJSSD Unstructured Supplementary Services Data
• the protocol the service delivery platform, i.e., SN 1 10 and PA 185, uses depends on which network is more appropriate for the message.
• the triggering mechanisms such as TDP and SPT are examples of mechanisms that can be used to transfer information from the CS network 120 and the IMS core 130 to SN 1 10; any mechanism that allows SN 1 10 to learn sufficient information about the UE's connections to the two networks can be used.
• One example is Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD).
• SN 1 10 can also receive media traffic from content source(s) 140, e.g., camcorders or digital cameras, and content server(s) 150 that are capable of providing multimedia content 160. This functionality is described in greater detail below.
• content source(s) 140 e.g., camcorders or digital cameras
• content server(s) 150 that are capable of providing multimedia content 160. This functionality is described in greater detail below.
• SN 1 10 communicates with CS network 120 and IMS core 130.
• SN 1 10 includes Load Balancer/ Admission Control 221 , which includes a series of load balancing functions that handle incoming signals from CS network 120 and IMS core 130.
• Load Balancer/ Admission Control 221 then passes the signals to Signaling Adaptation Layer (SAL) 222, which aggregates the signals into a common internal form.
• SAL Signaling Adaptation Layer
• Call Leg Manager (CLM) 223 then logically processes the aggregated signals.
• call models used to describe telephone connections often split call states in one or more "call legs.”
• GCCM General Call Session Manager
• Control of call legs is discussed in greater detail in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0291488, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• SN 1 10 can also receive media traffic from content servers 250, such as camcorders, external cameras, or proxies for same.
• a logical function called the Media Leg Manager (MLM) 240 handles this media traffic, using protocols such as RTP, IP, and/or RTSP.
• MLM Media Leg Manager
• Media traffic may also be re-directed by SN 1 10 under roaming scenarios, as described in greater detail in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0291412, the entire contents of which arc incorporated herein by reference.
• Various media servers and content servers will be not necessarily be aware of SN 1 10; rather, SN 1 10 may act as a proxy and retrieve content and media from such servers, then process it and transmit it to mobile handsets. In order to cany out these functions, SN 1 10 supports various proxy functions.
• SN 1 10 supports a variety of combinational services, some examples of which are described below, and also provides an interface for supporting 3 r party Application Servers (AS) 255. These services, as stated earlier, generally involve contemporaneous circuit-switched and packet-switched connections. Some examples of such services as “See What I See” (SWIS), "Image Ring” (IR), and “Ad Ring” (AR) are described in greater detail below.
• SWIS See What I See
• IR Image Ring
• AR Ad Ring
• the architecture of SN 1 10 includes SCF 233 and Registrar 235 components cooperatively to make such services possible. In those cases where an external media service is needed, the proxy components of SN 1 10 may be used to receive the external media, process it internally for use in mobile handsets, and then transmit the media to the handsets. Under roaming situations.
• SN may also use its mobility management components as described in greater detail in U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0291412, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, to ensure that a favorable network connection is used to deliver the media to the roaming mobile handset.
• services from the circuit-switched and packet-switched networks may be combined in various temporal sequences and modalities.
• SN 1 10 contains a Service Control Interaction Manager (SCIM) 234 component that uses policy driven service logic to resolve feature interactions when services are combined from different or the same networks are combined in various ways.
• SCIM Service Control Interaction Manager
• the PS logic only responds to messages from SN.
• the PA logic provides flexibility in which advertisements arc shown when to the recipient. However, it is possible to envision a system in which the PA logic is not used to provide such flexibility.
• a fixed rendering mechanism may be used (e.g., provided by the handset manufacturer) in the handset that employs a single algorithm to render the advertisements. This algorithm may be updated by sending an SMS message to the recipient handset. The user is then required to "click" on the received SMS message that causes a new algorithm to be loaded from the SN on to the handset.
• PA 185 A special piece of service logic installed in a user's handset is referred to as the Personal Agent (PA).
• the basic architecture of PA 185 assumes that the handset supports connections to both the circuit-switched (CS) network 120 and the packet- switched (PS) network 190, which are described in greater detail above.
• CS circuit-switched
• PS packet- switched
• some handsets simultaneously support connections to both networks, and other handsets support a connection to only one network at a time.
• the handset is assumed to support a number of CS signaling channels (CS Sch 1 -n), and also a number of PS signaling channels (PS Sch 1-n).
• CS Sch 1 -n CS signaling channels
• PS Sch 1-n PS signaling channels
• the PA includes CS "Listener” 321 and PS “Listener” 322, which receive messages on the signaling channels (CS Sch 1-n) and (PS Sch 1-n), respectively.
• CS Listener 321 and PS Listener 322 direct these messages to another service logic component called the "Dispatcher” 330.
• Dispatcher 330 uses internal logic to direct the messages appropriately either to the handset's operating system (OS) 350 or to the Combinational State Machine 340.
• Combinational State Machine 340 handles the message according to its service logic.
• the actions of the combinational state machine arc specific to the service that is being implemented. For example, if the service were "Image Ring,” described in more detail below, and the incoming message was a call alert, then the state machine would specify actions that would render an image on the display including a Caller ID indication and simultaneous ringing of the phone.
• the appropriate Listener in party B's handset receives the message and transmits it to the Dispatcher, which then sends it to the Combinational State Machine.
• the Combinational State Machine in party B's handset interprets the message, terminates the CS voice call, initiates a PS connection to receive the picture and, after receiving the picture, terminates the PS connection. Then, the Combinational State Machine in party A's handset initiates a new CS voice call to party B's handset, and the parties can continue talking.
• the service delivery platform has knowledge of both the CS and PS networks, the platform could be said to be aware of the circuit and packet components of combinational services.
• the SN and the PA can be used together to synchronize a packet-switched connection with a circuit-switched connection in the user's handset, even if the handset itself cannot simultaneously support both kinds of connections.
• the service delivery platform can precede the circuit-switched voice call with a packet- switched data connection.
• the service delivery platform can play an announcement or display a picture on party B's handset before presenting a "voice call indication" that alerts party B that party A is attempting to call him.
• the PA in party B's handset receives the announcement or picture via the PS network, and holds the announcement or picture until it also receives the "voice call indication" via the CS network. Then, the PA in party B's handset synchronizes the rendering of the announcement or picture with the alert that party A is attempting to call. This can be done, e.g., with the following sequence of steps:
• Party A dials the telephone number of party B.
• the PA on party A's handset captures and holds the dialed digits.
• the PA on party A's handset initiates and establishes a packet connection to party B's handset via SN.
• the PA on party A's handset transmits a multimedia object, e.g., an announcement or picture, to the PA on party B's handset.
• a multimedia object e.g., an announcement or picture
• the PA on party B's handset receives and holds the multimedia object.
• the PA on party A's handset initiates a circuit-switched voice call to party B's handset.
• the PA on party B's handset receives a voice call indication.
• step 720 introduces a delay in the overall process, so that after party A dials party B's phone number, party A will have to wait for the service delivery platform to establish the packet connection and to deliver the multimedia object before establishing the voice call. This delay may be circumvented, however.
• the multimedia object e.g., an announcement
• the procedure above can be modified as follows:
• Party A dials the telephone number of party B.
• the circuit voice call request is fielded by the MSC as per standard voice call flow procedures.
• the voice call request triggers a TDP in the MSC, causing the MSC to send a pre-determined message, containing the calling and called numbers, to the SN.
• SN receives the pre-dete ⁇ nined message from the MSC, holds the return response to the MSC, and establishes a packet connection with party B's handset.
• SN transmits a multimedia object to the PA on party B's handset.
• the PA on party B's handset receives and holds the multimedia object.
• the PA on party B's handset receives the circuit voice call indication.
• the PA on party B's handset synchronizes the display/presentation of the multimedia object with the alert that party B is receiving a voice call from party A.
• the packet connection is used exactly once.
• a third party can use the packet connection to send a multimedia object to the calling and/or called parties.
• party C hereafter referred to as "advertiser”
• the advertiser can send an indication to all of the handsets that are included in his advertising campaign.
• party A or party B initiates the call.
• a procedure to effectuate this process illustrated in Fig. 9, is as follows:
• Advertiser requests the SN to send a "sponsored call indication" to handsets participating in the campaign.
• the SN can identify participating handsets with an out-of-band process which asks users to "opt-in” to the campaign (or a group of campaigns), and identifies participating handsets when they register during power-on.
• Party A and party B are part of the campaign.
• SN sends the "sponsored call indication" to participating handsets using the underlying packet network.
• party A dials the telephone number of party B.
• the MSC fields the circuit voice call request as per standard voice call flow procedures.
• the voice call request triggers a TDP in the MSC, causing the MSC to send a prc-determined message, containing the calling and called numbers, to the SN.
• SN receives the pre-dete ⁇ nined message, holds the return response to the MSC, and establishes a packet connection with party B.
• SN transmits the multimedia object specified by the advertiser to party B via the packet connection.
• the PA in party B's handset receives and holds the multimedia object.
• SN responds back to MSC "proceed with voice call.”
• the PA in party B's handset receives a circuit voice call indication.
• the PA in party B's handset synchronizes the multimedia object from the advertiser with "voice call indication" from party A and renders both on part B's handset.
• the above procedure can be further streamlined and the time delay reduced by sending a priori the multimedia object, or a group of objects, to participating handsets, which then store the object(s). Then, the SN needs only to send the identifying tag of the stored object to the handset during the call.
• Objects that are sent a priori to participating handsets correspond to "ongoing campaigns" from advertisers, and may be refreshed as the requirements and durations of campaigns change over time.
• the third party sends the multimedia object to the handset of the calling party (i.e., the initiator), but not of the called party (i.e., the recipient), after the current call is terminated.
• the handset renders the object for a subsequent (possibly, next) incoming call to the original calling party.
• This example illustrated in Fig. 10, can be done as follows:
• Part A dials the telephone number of party B.
• the MSC fields the circuit voice call as per standard call flow procedures.
• the voice call request triggers a TDP in the MSC, causing the MSC to send a pre-determined message, containing the calling and called numbers, to the SN.
• SN receives the pre-determined message, stores the information in it, and responds back to MSC "proceed with voice call.”
• MSC connects call between parties A and B as per standard call flow procedures.
• 1060 Call is established between parties A and B; parties talk and subsequently terminate call.
• the call termination triggers a TDP in the MSC, causing the MSC to send a message to SN that the call has been terminated.
• SN transmits a multimedia object to party A's handset.
• the PA in party A's handset receives the multimedia object and stores it in the handset's memory.
• the PA in party A's handset intercepts the incoming call indication and synchronizes the rendering of the multimedia object with the incoming voice call indication.
• steps 1070 and 1080 of the above example are optional; in particular, the MSC need not inform the SN of call termination. Rather, the SN may introduce a delay in its service logic and then attempt to transmit the multimedia object to party A, and repeat the attempt at periodic intervals until successful.
• the multimedia object can be sent to a user in parallel with an ongoing circuit-switched voice call. It will be appreciated that the multimedia object can be sent to only the calling party, to only the called party, or to both.
• party A's handset In order to transmit the image to party B, party A's handset needs to establish a connection to party B's handset using the PS connection, negotiate resources and capabilities, and transmit or otherwise cause the image to be transmitted to called party B, ensuring that the voice call indication which uses the CS connection, arrives contemporaneously with the rendering of the transmitted image.
• the Image Ring service As an example of another embodiment of the Image Ring service, consider a case in which party A wishes to place a voice call to party B, and to transmit a multimedia object (e.g., calling card information) to party B at the end of the voice call.
• a multimedia object e.g., calling card information
• Video Ring service consider a case in which the calling party wishes the called party to view a video clip as a part of the "call alert.” The video clip will be transmitted to the called party handset using the PS connection.
• the voice call alert uses the CS connection.
• the video clip can be rendered contemporaneously with the voice call alert.
• the multimedia object can also be displayed during the voice call, after the voice call, as a call alert for a subsequent call, or even during, or after a subsequent call.
• the advertisements are generally targeted to the recipient based on known or profile information of the recipient. Generally such information lies outside the scope of the SN; rather it is assumed that an external entity stores and formulates this information. This information is then conveyed to the SN.
• infonnation may have a logical form as a table consisting of rows with two columns. Each row represents a single recipient identified by a telephone number, i.e., the first column of the table is a telephone number. The second column contains the serial number of advertisements that may be rendered for the associated telephone.
• a database of advertisements indexed by serial numbers.
• the SN may look up the telephone number in the association table, retrieve the serial number of the advertisement(s) to be shown to this recipient, then retrieve the corresponding advertisement from the database, and cause it to be transported to the handset.
• the SN may retrieve the advertisement from the database for a particular handset and cause it to be pre-loaded in the handset.
• association table specifies multiple advertisements for a single telephone number
• a scheduling algorithm such as round-robin may be used either by the SN or the PA.
• a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt these techniques to associate the multimedia object with the initiator profile.
• the SDP includes a Serving Node (SN) that may communicate with both the CS voice network and the packet-switched network (with or without IMS).
• the SDP also includes a Personal Agent (PA), which is a piece of service logic that resides in the handset(s).
• PA Personal Agent
• the PA and the SN can send messages to each other, e.g., regarding services the user would like to use, the local network environment of the handset, or instructions the SN would like the PA to execute on the handset.
• the SN receives information from the CS network (called "triggers") about ongoing call events. It also has the capability to receive information and data from elements connected to the PS network. Examples of such data received by the SN from elements connected to the PS network are images (e.g., photographs), advertisements, video clips, and other multimedia objects.
• Examples of information received by the SN from elements connected to the PS network include, but are not limited to: what multimedia object to render and when; whether to associate presentation of the multimedia object with a specific telephone number or a specific time of the day; event information from IMS services, and the like.
• the signaling for this call is earned to the originating MSC from where it is routed to the terminating MSC and onwards to the receiving handset.
• one or more triggers are generated by elements in the CS network and transmitted to the SN where they are received by the interface shown in the Fig. 6 (SN).
• the triggers serve to inform the SN of the progress ("state of the call") of the voice call.
• the SN uses this state information to coordinate the delivery of the multimedia object to the receiving handset.
• the SN can contact the PA while the handset may be engaged in interactions with the CS network.
• the SN can contact the PA while the handset is engaged in interactions with the CS network.
• a trigger is received from the CS network by SN indicating that a voice call has been initiated (but that the voice bearer has not started yet) the SN may initiate and send a selected multimedia object to the PA running in the handset.
• the SN may optionally respond to the trigger received from the CS network element or the CS network may simply wait for a pre-determined amount of time before carrying on with actions dictated by its logic.
• the PA renders the received object on the handset.
• the criteria for selecting the object to be rendered may be pre-stored in the SN (having received it from the PS network elements in an out of band process) or may be dynamically received or created by logic resident inside SN.
• triggers from the CS network can also be used to indicate termination of a voice call and "voice call in progress.” This triggering information can be used to coordinate the rendering of multimedia objects in handsets with the receiving of incoming calls to a fine granularity.
• the time “tl " of step 1 above includes the uplink and downlink time.
• Uplink time refers to the process of using the RAN to upload the object from A's handset, using the RAN, to the core network.
• Downlink time refers to the process of downloading the object from the core network to B's handset using the RAN.
• uplink capacities are considerably less than downlink capacities.
• the total setup delay for Image Ring i.e., the combined set of actions above, is tl + t2 in which "t2" is. as indicated above, the normal voice call setup time.
• Subscriber "A” selects an image or video clip to be used for Image/ Video Ring for a particular or a group of subscribers from a collection of such objects stored in the handset.
• Subscriber A dials a voice call to subscriber B as per standard mobile phone technology, e.g., by using the keypad or using the contact list of the handset, etc.
• the PA logic resident on A's handset intercepts the voice call request before it is sent out over the RAN. (In this case we shall say that the handset is being used as the synchronization point.)
• the PA logic sends a trigger to the SN using the PS network connection containing information that uniquely identifies the image/video clip selected in step 1 above and identifies subscriber B, e.g., SIP URL of subscriber B.
• the SN receives the trigger and initiates uploading and subsequent downloading of the selected object to the handset of subscriber B.
• the voice call indication from A reaches B's handset using CS network connection; PA logic resident in B's handset intercepts the voice call indication and renders the previously received object contemporaneously with the voice call alert.
• Procedure 1.1 uses steps that are similar to Procedure 1.0. In particular Procedure 1.1 uploads the selected object to SN and then SN downloads selected object to handset B, which is similar to the step carried out in Procedure 1.0. Thus, the difference in call setup delay between Procedure 1.0 and Procedure 1.1 may not be significant.
• Step 1 of Procedure 1.1 can be modified to shorten the time tl as follows.
• the multimedia objects that are to be used as a part of voice call indicators i.e.. the images and video clips
• Subscribers can select objects, which are then uploaded to SN before initiating voice calls (i.e., in an "out of band” process).
• an association is created between the multimedia objects and the individual subscriber's contact list and this association is stored in the subscriber's handset (accessible to the PA logic).
• This association has the following logical format for illustrative purposes:
• Subscriber A dials a voice call to subscriber B as per standard mobile phone technology, e.g., by using the keypad or using the contact list of the handset, etc.
• the PA logic resident on A's handset intercepts the voice call request before it is sent out over the RAN. (Again, we say that the handset is being used as the synchronization point.)
• the PA logic consults the association list stored in A's handset and sends a trigger to the SN using the PS network connection containing information that uniquely identifies the image/video clip selected in step 1 above and the subscriber B, e.g., SIP URL of subscriber B.
• the SN receives the trigger and initiates downloading of the selected object to the handset of subscriber B.
• Procedure 1.2 we do not upload the selected object to SN contemporaneously with the call request; rather the selected object already exists on the SN, and the calling party transmits information identifying the object to the SN with the call request. The SN then downloads the selected object to the terminating (called party) handset. This identifying information will in general be considerable smaller than the actual object. Since the uplink capacity in the RAN is typically much smaller than the downlink capacity, Procedure 1.2 will have considerably less call setup delay as compared to Procedure 1.1.
• the SN uses a Guard Ring Timer (GRT) to exploit the parallelism inherent in UMTS/WCDMA networks which allow simultaneous CS and PS network connections.
• GRT Guard Ring Timer
• Subscriber A dials a voice call to subscriber B as per standard mobile phone technology, e.g., by using the keypad or using the contact list of the handset, etc.
• the PA logic resident on A's handset intercepts the voice call request before it is sent out over the RAN. (Again, we say that the handset is being used as the synchronization point.)
• the PA logic consults the association list stored in A's handset and sends a trigger to the SN using the PS network connection containing information that uniquely identifies the image/video clip selected in step 1 above and the subscriber B, e.g., SIP URL of subscriber B.
• the SN receives the trigger and initiates a timer called the Guard Ring Timer.
• SN initiates downloading of the selected object to the handset of subscriber B. 6. When the Guard Ring Timer expires SN informs the PA of handset A which releases the voice call that had been intercepted.
• the voice call indication from A reaches B's handset using CS network connection; PA logic resident in B's handset intercepts the voice call indication and renders the previously received object contemporaneously with the voice call alert.
• the SN need not wait until the downloading of the selected object to the called party handset is complete; rather the SN can anticipate such a completion, and inform the calling party handset to release the intercepted call before the downloading of the selected object is complete.
• This is accomplished by setting the GRT interval appropriately.
• the call set up delay in Procedure 1.3 [GuardTimer] is expected to be shorter than the other procedures described above.
• wireless networks that do not allow simultaneous CS and PS connections.
• Examples of such networks include GSM, GPRS, and some implementations of CDMA networks in which different radio frequencies are used for CS and PS network connections and, hence, which do not support simultaneous CS and PS connections since the handsets are single frequency. In such networks only one of the CS or PS connections can be active at a time. Some networks may even have a built in bias to support CS connections as a priority over PS connections; in such cases an incoming CS call will cause the handset to hold the PS connection in abeyance to the CS connection.
• Logic resident in the SN is aware of the radio technology under which it is deployed. Alternatively, PA logic can test the prevailing radio access network and communicate said information to SN to set the proper parameters in SN's logic.
• SN logic pre-loads one or more multimedia objects to be rendered in a participating handset at a suitable time, i.e., when the handset is not in communication with the CS network. Now if a participating handset receives a voice call alert, said alert is intercepted by PA logic before it is received by other (normal call) logic in the handset. Logic in the PA then decides when to render the multimedia object (before, during, after) the incoming call.
• Some embodiments use the GRT described above, by appropriately selecting its value.
• the value of the GRT can be set in such a manner as to allow enhance parallelism between the CS and PS streams.
• the GRT can be set to a value that prohibits such parallelism, instead allowing a sequential transfer of PS followed by a transfer on the CS connection.
• the value used for the GRT can be tuned for either kind of network and Procedure 1.3 can be used for cither type of network.
• the tunable GRT values provide a flexible way to use the same basic embodiments of Image Ring and/or Video Ring on a variety of networks without the need for significant modification. In this embodiment, no coordination between the CS network and the PS network is required.
• the voice call may be earned by the PS network and not by the CS network, e.g., VoIP call.
• the triggers indicating call state progress to the SN may be generated by elements in the PS network such as Media Gateway Control Function, VoIP switch, Call State Control Functions (CSCF), or other IMS network elements.
• elements in the PS network such as Media Gateway Control Function, VoIP switch, Call State Control Functions (CSCF), or other IMS network elements.
• the CS network can generate triggers indicating call state information to the SN. These triggers can be generated by programming the Trigger Detection Points (TDP) resident as logic in the MSC switches.
• TDP Trigger Detection Points
• TDP #2 can be used at Originating MSC switch to indicate a call originating event.
• Call termination triggers may also be generated by TDP at Terminating MSC switches.
• TDP from originating and Terminating MSCs may be used to achieve finer granularity coordination between the voice call and the rendering of multimedia objects.
• the Synchronization Point is moved from the originating handset to the SCF (Service Control Function) in the CS core network.
• SCF Service Control Function
• a voice call originated by the originating handset proceeds to the MSC wherein a TDP is invoked by the MSC service logic (pre-provisioned by the operator), e.g., IDP #2, which is then transmitted to the SCF as practiced by standard MSC logic and described herein earlier.
• the SN acts as the SCF and receives the TDP. It then initiates the GRT of procedure 1.3 above for a suitable pre-determined period of time.
• the voice call is "held" at the SN (acting as a SCF), allowing synchronization of the voice call part of the Image Ring with the transmission of the selected multimedia object on the PS connection.
• the SN acting as the SCF acts as a Synchronization Point (SP).
• SP Synchronization Point
• the usefulness of this embodiment is that it allows a greater degree of synchronization between the CS and PS segments by using more of the normal voice call setup delay to transmit the selected multimedia object.
• Another embodiment uses two Synchronization Points (SP) as follows.
• the SN acts as a SCF to not only the originating MSC but also the Terminating MSC for a CS voice call.
• the SN acting as a SCF receives TDP triggers from both MSCs and uses the GRT more efficaciously to provide a higher degree of synchronization or parallelism between the CS and PS segments of Image/Video Ring.
• the transmission of the multimedia object is started by the SN when the TDP is received from the originating MSC.
• the voice call is released and proceeds to the terminating MSC navigating its way through the MSC network.
• a TDP is triggered and received by the SN, which "holds" the call until the GRT has expired.
• This "dual SP" embodiment allows further parallelism by using a part of the time spent in traversing the MSC network for delivering the selected multimedia object.
• the selected object an advertisement.
• the multimedia object (e.g., advertisement) to be rendered is selected by a third party, different from the caller or called parties, while in other embodiments the caller or called party selects the advertisement.
• SN service logic determines and associates the advertisement that is to be selected for a given voice call and transmits the selected multimedia object to the called party as described above. This association may be dependent on time of day, calling or called party identification which may be received by the SN via the TDP from the CS network or from the PS network, or logic residing in the originating handset or pre-provisioned in the SN by a third party, or other third party determined targeting criteria.
• Embodiments of the present invention build on techniques, systems and methods disclosed in earlier filed applications, referred to herein as the "incorporated patent references," including but not limited to the following references, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Patent Application No. 1 1/709.469, filed February 22, 2007, entitled System and Methods for IP Signaling in Wireless Networks; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0197227. entitled System and Method for Enabling Combinational Services in Wireless Networks By Using a Service Delivery Platform; U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0291437, entitled System and Method to Provide Dynamic Call Models for Users in an IMS Network; U.S. Patent Pub. No.

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• 2008
  • 2008-03-18 WO PCT/US2008/057367 patent/WO2009009167A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-03-18 CA CA002681557A patent/CA2681557A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-03-18 EP EP08769004A patent/EP2137912A4/de not_active Withdrawn

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