Patent Application
20080086550
The foregoing Summary, as well as the following detailed description, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating various embodiments, there is shown in the drawings example embodiments; however, such embodiments are not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:
The subject matter of the various embodiments is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein to connote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly described.
The below-described architecture for transferring multimedia content between devices may be applied to any type of network, however, the following description sets forth some example telephony radio networks and non-limiting operating environments. The below-described operating environments should be considered non-exhaustive, however, and thus the below-described network architecture merely shows an example network architecture in which aspects of various embodiments may be incorporated. One can appreciate, however, that aspects of an embodiment may be incorporated into now existing or future alternative architectures for communication networks.
The global system for mobile communication (“GSM”) is one of the most widely-used wireless access systems in today's fast growing communication systems. GSM provides circuit-switched data services to subscribers, such as mobile telephone or computer users, for example. General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”), which is an extension to GSM technology, introduces packet switching to GSM networks. GPRS uses a packet-based wireless communication technology to transfer high and low speed data and signaling in an efficient manner. GPRS optimizes the use of network and radio resources, thus enabling the cost effective and efficient use of GSM network resources for packet mode applications. For purposes of explanation, various embodiments are described herein in connection with GSM. The references to GSM are not exclusive, however, as it should be appreciated that embodiments may be implemented in connection with any type of wireless access system such as, for example, CDMA or the like.
As may be appreciated, the example GSM/GPRS environment and services described herein can also be extended to 3G services, such as Universal Mobile Telephone System (“UMTS”), Frequency Division Duplexing (“FDD”) and Time Division Duplexing (“TDD”), High Speed Packet Data Access (“HSPDA”), cdma2000 1x Evolution Data Optimized (“EVDO”), Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (“cdma2000 3x”), Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (“TD-SCDMA”), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (“WCDMA”), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (“EDGE”), International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (“IMT-2000”), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (“DECT”), etc., as well as to other network services that shall become available in time. In this regard, the techniques of the various embodiments discussed below may be applied independently of the method of data transport, and does not depend on any particular network architecture, or underlying protocols.
Generally, there can be four different cell sizes in a GSM network—macro, micro, pico and umbrella cells. The coverage area of each cell is different in different environments. Macro cells may be regarded as cells where the base station antenna is installed in a mast or a building above average roof top level. Micro cells are cells whose antenna height is under average roof top level; they are typically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells having a diameter is a few dozen meters; they are mainly used indoors. On the other hand, umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between those cells.
A mobile switching center may be connected to a large number of base station controllers. At MSC 271, for example, depending on the type of traffic, the traffic may be separated such that voice may be sent to Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) 282 through Gateway MSC (“GMSC”) 273, and/or data may be sent to SGSN 276, which then sends the data traffic to GGSN 278 for further forwarding.
When MSC 271 receives call traffic, for example, from BSC 266, it may send a query to a database hosted by SCP 272. The SCP 272 processes the request and issues a response to MSC 271 so that it may continue call processing as appropriate.
HLR 274 is a centralized database for users to register to the GPRS network. HLR 274 stores static information about the subscribers such as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (“IMSI”), subscribed services, and a key for authenticating the subscriber. HLR 274 also stores dynamic subscriber information such as the current location of the mobile subscriber. Associated with HLR 274 may be AuC 275. AuC 275 is a database that contains the algorithms for authenticating subscribers and includes the associated keys for encryption to safeguard the user input for authentication.
In the following, depending on context, the term “mobile subscriber” may refer to either the end user or to the actual portable device used by an end user of the mobile cellular service. When a mobile subscriber turns on his or her mobile device, the mobile device goes through an attach process by which the mobile device attaches to an SGSN of the GPRS network. Referring now to
After attaching itself with the network, mobile subscriber 255 then goes through the authentication process. In the authentication process, SGSN 276 sends the authentication information to HLR 274, which sends information back to SGSN 276 based on the user profile that was part of the user's initial setup. SGSN 276 then sends a request for authentication and ciphering to mobile subscriber 255. Mobile subscriber 255 uses an algorithm to send the user identification (ID) and password to SGSN 276. SGSN 276 uses the same algorithm and compares the result. If a match occurs, SGSN 276 authenticates mobile subscriber 255.
Next, mobile subscriber 255 establishes a user session with the destination network, corporate network 289, by going through a Packet Data Protocol (“PDP”) activation process. Briefly, in the process, mobile subscriber 255 requests access to the Access Point Name (“APN”), for example, UPS.com (e.g., which can be corporate network 279) and SGSN 276 receives the activation request from mobile subscriber 255. SGSN 276 then initiates a Domain Name Service (“DNS”) query to learn which GGSN node has access to the UPS.com APN. The DNS query is sent to the DNS server within the core network 270, such as DNS 277, which is provisioned to map to one or more GGSN nodes in the core network 270. Based on the APN, the mapped GGSN 278 can access the requested corporate network 279. The SGSN 276 then sends to GGSN 278 a Create Packet Data Protocol (“PDP”) Context Request message that contains necessary information. The GGSN 278 sends a Create PDP Context Response message to SGSN 276, which then sends an Activate PDP Context Accept message to mobile subscriber 255.
Once activated, data packets of the call made by mobile subscriber 255 can then go through radio access network 260, core network 270, and interconnect network 280, in particular fixed-end system or Internet 284 and firewall 288, to reach corporate network 289.
Thus, network elements that may implicate the functionality of the service delivery based on real-time performance requirement(s) in accordance with an embodiment may include but are not limited to Gateway GPRS Support Node tables, Fixed End System router tables, firewall systems, VPN tunnels and any number of other network elements as required by the particular digital network.
GSM core network 101 also includes Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 108, Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 110, Home Location Register (HLR) 112, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 114, Authentication Center (AuC) 118 and Equipment Identity Register (EIR) 116. MSC 108 performs a switching function for the network. The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration, authentication, location updating, handovers and call routing. GMSC 110 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs) 120. In other words, GMSC 110 provides interworking functionality with external networks.
HLR 112 is a database that contains administrative information regarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network. HLR 112 also contains the current location of each MS. VLR 114 is a database that contains selected administrative information from HLR 112. The VLR contains information necessary for call control and provision of subscribed services for each MS currently located in a geographical area controlled by the VLR. HLR 112 and VLR 114, together with MSC 108, provide the call routing and roaming capabilities of GSM. AuC 116 provides the parameters needed for authentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allow verification of a subscriber's identity. EIR 118 stores security-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.
Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 109 allows one-to-one Short Message Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from MS 102. Push Proxy Gateway (PPG) 111 is used to “push” (i.e., send without a synchronous request) content to MS 102. PPG 111 acts as a proxy between wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of data to MS 102. Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 113 is provided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcast messages. SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entities such as short message service centers. It is often used to allow third parties, e.g., content suppliers such as news organizations, to submit bulk messages.
To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and short message service (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate its current location by performing a location update and IMSI attach procedure. MS 102 sends a location update including its current location information to the MSCNVLR, via BTS 104 and BSC 106. The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR is updated with the location information received from the MSCNVLR. The location update also is performed when the MS moves to a new location area. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to update the database as location updating events occur.
GPRS network 130 is logically implemented on the GSM core network architecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 132, a cell broadcast and a Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 134. SGSN 132 is at the same hierarchical level as MSC 108 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls the connection between the GPRS network and MS 102. The SGSN also keeps track of individual MS's locations and security functions and access controls.
Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 133 communicates cell broadcast messages that are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. Cell Broadcast is one-to-many geographically focused service. It enables messages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who are located within a given part of its network coverage area at the time the message is broadcast.
GGSN 134 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a public packet network (PDN) or other IP networks 136. That is, the GGSN provides interworking functionality with external networks, and sets up a logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched data leaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to external TCP-IP network 136, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order to access GPRS services, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network by performing an attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet data protocol (PDP) context, thus activating a packet communication session between the MS, the SGSN, and the GGSN.
In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used in parallel. The MS can operate in one three classes: class A, class B, and class C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supports simultaneous operation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example, class A mobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at the same time.
A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSM services simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not support simultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, a class B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.
A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSM services at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRS services and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.
GPRS network 130 can be designed to operate in three network operation modes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of a GPRS network is indicated by a parameter in system information messages transmitted within a cell. The system information messages dictates a MS where to listen for paging messages and how signal towards the network. The network operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRS network. In a NOM1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuit switched domain (voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MS can suspend the data call or take both simultaneously, depending on the ability of the MS. In a NOM2 network, a MS may not received pages from a circuit switched domain when engaged in a data call, since the MS is receiving data and is not listening to a paging channel In a NOM3 network, a MS can monitor pages for a circuit switched network while received data and vise versa.
IP multimedia network 138 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, and includes IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 140 to provide rich multimedia services to end users. A representative set of the network entities within IMS 140 are a call/session control function (CSCF), media gateway control function (MGCF) 146, media gateway (MGW) 148, and a master subscriber database, referred to as a home subscriber server (HSS) 150. HSS 150 may be common to GSM network 101, GPRS network 130 as well as IP multimedia network 138.
IP multimedia system 140 is built around the call/session control function, of which there are three types: interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 143, proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 142 and serving CSCF (S-CSCF) 144. P-CSCF 142 is the MS's first point of contact with IMS 140. P-CSCF 142 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP) messages received from the MS to an SIP server in a home network (and vice versa) of the MS. P-CSCF 142 may also modify an outgoing request according to a set of rules defined by the network operator (for example, address analysis and potential modification).
I-CSCF 143 forms an entrance to a home network and hides the inner topology of the home network from other networks and provides flexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. I-CSCF 143 may contact subscriber location function (SLF) 145 to determine which HSS 150 to use for the particular subscriber, if multiple HSSs 150 are present. S-CSCF 144 performs the session control services for MS 102. This includes routing originating sessions to external networks and routing terminating sessions to visited networks. S-CSCF 144 also decides whether application server (AS) 152 is required to receive information on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriate service handling. This decision is based on information received from HSS 150 (or other sources, such as application server 152). AS 152 also communicates to location server 156 (e.g., a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g., latitude/longitude coordinates) of MS 102.
HSS 150 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which core network node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supports subscriber authentication and authorization functions (AAA). In networks with more than one HSS 150, a subscriber location function provides information on HSS 150 that contains the profile of a given subscriber.
The MGCF 146 provides interworking functionality between SIP session control signaling from IMS 140 and ISUP/BICC call control signaling from the external GSTN networks (not shown). It also controls media gateway (MGW) 148 that provides user-plane interworking functionality (e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice). MGW 148 also communicates with other IP multimedia networks 154.
Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) capable mobile phones register with the wireless network when the phones are in a predefined area (e.g., job site, etc.). When the mobile phones leave the area, they register with the network in their new location as being outside the predefined area. This registration, however, may not indicate the actual physical location of the mobile phones outside the pre-defined area.
Example Configurations
Now that example networks and operating environments in which aspects of various embodiments may be employed have been discussed, simplified network architectures in which aspects of an embodiment may be implemented are illustrated in connection with
Wireless network 302 may be any type of network that enables wireless communication, such as, for example, a network provided by the architectures discussed above in connection with
Router/modem 312 may be any type of device that is capable of operatively interconnecting television 314 and/or personal computer 316 with wireless network 302. For example, in one embodiment router/modem 312 may be a card adapted into a Type II laptop slot, or the like. Router/modem 312 may be external or internal to one or both of television 314 or personal computer 316. Televisions 314 and 320 may be any type of television (e.g., CRT, LCD, plasma, etc.), and may be conventional. Personal computers 316 and 322 may be any type of computing device, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer or the like. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 318 may be any type of portable computing device. Although not shown in
The configuration depicted in
Television 320, personal computer 322 and PDA 324 are operatively connected to wired network 303. It will be appreciated that television 320, personal computer 322 and PDA 324 may be television 314, personal computer 316 and PDA 318, respectively, when using an alternative communication channel. Wired network 303 may be any type of non-wireless network such as, for example, a cable network, DSL network or any other current or future-developed wired network. Thus, each of television 320, personal computer 322 and PDA 324 may be operatively connected to wired network 303 in a manner that is appropriate for the type of wired network 303. Wired network 303 may be, in turn, operatively connected to IMS 301.
As will be discussed below in connection with
Referring now to
As noted above, the request to transfer the multimedia content from mobile subscriber 310 to television 314 may be sent to wireless network 302 by either mobile subscriber 310 or television 314. For example, mobile subscriber 310 may be placed into a docking station or the like, which may indicate to wireless network 302 that a transfer of content to television 314 should take place. A user of mobile subscriber 310 may manually indicate that a transfer is to take place using a menu or other input mechanism on mobile subscriber 310 itself. Alternatively, television 314 may automatically request a transfer of content from mobile subscriber upon some predetermined or user-initiated event. For example, a user of television 314 may select, by way of a menu or other input mechanism, to receive multimedia content that is being provided to mobile subscriber 310.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Mobile subscriber 310, after receiving multimedia content from wireless network 302, may transfer the content in a wired or wireless fashion directly to television 314. For example, connection B indicates a wireless path from mobile subscriber 310 directly to television 314. Such a connection may be, for example, a WiFi, Bluetooth or other connection. Connection D indicates a wired path from mobile subscriber 310 to television 314. The wired path of connection D may be, for example, a USB cable or the like.
Once the transfer of multimedia content to television 314 is complete (e.g., the content begins to be streamed to television 314 in place of or in addition to mobile subscriber 310), the multimedia content may continue at the point the user initiated the transfer (or when the transfer was initiated by automated means). Alternatively, the multimedia content may be resumed at a point that is either before or after the time at which the transfer was initiated. For example, the content may be resumed at a predetermined amount of time before the transfer was initiated to ensure that the user does not miss any content that may have otherwise have been lost during the transfer process. In an embodiment, the transfer process may be very quick (e.g., one second or less) and therefore any such content loss may be minor.
As can be seen in
At 505, if desired or required, the multimedia content is adjusted, reformatted or the like for the second device. At 507, a determination is made as to whether the multimedia content is to be routed to the second device by way of the first device. If not, at 509 the multimedia content is routed directly to the second device. If the multimedia content is to be transferred to the second device by way of the first device, then at 511 the multimedia content is send directly to the second device (possibly by way of an intermediate device such as a router, modem, cable box, etc.).
It should be appreciated that any or all of the features discussed herein may be implemented by a computing device that is executing computer instructions stored on a computer readable medium. Computer readable media may be any media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by a computing device. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.
While the various embodiments have been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the various embodiments without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the embodiments should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
