Converged service control for IMS networks and legacy networks
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are disclosed to provide converged service control and converged charging in legacy networks and IMS networks. A converged service control system of the invention includes a protocol interface and a service controller. The protocol interface receives call messages from the legacy networks and the IMS networks, and converts the call messages to a common protocol. The service controller then processes the call messages in the common protocol to provide service control to the legacy networks and the IMS networks. The service controller is also enabled to provide online and offline charging for the legacy networks and the IMS networks.
1. A converged service control system, comprising:
a protocol interface adapted to receive first call messages in a first protocol from a legacy network, and convert the first call messages in the first protocol to a common protocol; and
a service controller adapted to receive the first call messages in the common protocol, and process the first call messages in the common protocol to provide intelligent network (IN) service control for the legacy network;
the protocol interface further adapted to receive second call messages in a second protocol from an IMS network, and convert the second call messages in the second protocol to the common protocol;
the service controller further adapted to receive the second call messages in the common protocol, and process the second call messages in the common protocol to provide IN service control for the IMS network.
2. The converged service control system of claim 1 further comprising:
an online charging interface adapted to receive online charging messages from the service controller for the legacy network and the IMS network, and transmit the online charging messages to an Online Charging System (OCS).
3. The converged service control system of claim 2 wherein the online charging interface comprises a Diameter Ro interface.
4. The converged service control system of claim 1 further comprising:
an offline charging interface adapted to receive offline charging messages from the service controller for the legacy network and the IMS network, and transmit the offline charging messages to an offline charging system.
5. The converged service control system of claim 4 wherein the offline charging interface comprises a Diameter Rf interface.
6. The converged service control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a notification system adapted to receive notification messages for the legacy network from the service controller, and control an intelligent peripheral in the legacy network to provide announcements to subscribers of the legacy network.
7. The converged service control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a notification system adapted to receive notification messages for the legacy network from the service controller, and control a text message server in the legacy network to provide text messages to subscribers of the legacy network.
8. The converged service control system of claim 1 further comprising:
a notification system adapted to receive notification messages for the IMS network from the service controller, and control a media server in the IMS network to provide announcements to subscribers of the IMS network.
9. The converged service control system of claim 1 wherein the legacy network comprises one of a wireline telecommunications network, a CDMA network, and a GSM network.
10. The converged service control system of claim 1 wherein the IN service control includes providing at least one of an 800-number routing service, a pre-paid service, a voice mail routing service, an abbreviated dialing service, and a notification service.
11. A method of providing converged service control for at least one legacy network and an IMS network, the method comprising:
receiving first call messages in a first protocol from a legacy network;
converting the first call messages in the first protocol to a common protocol;
processing the first call messages in the common protocol to provide intelligent network (IN) service control for the legacy network;
receiving second call messages in a second protocol from an IMS network;
converting the second call messages in the second protocol to the common protocol; and
processing the second call messages in the common protocol to provide IN service control for the IMS network.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating online charging messages for calls in the legacy network and for calls in the IMS network; and
transmitting the online charging messages to an Online Charging System (OCS).
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating offline charging messages for calls in the legacy network and for calls in the IMS network; and
transmitting the offline charging messages to an offline charging system.
14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating notification messages for calls in the legacy network; and
controlling an intelligent peripheral in the legacy network to provide announcements to subscribers of the legacy network.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating notification messages for calls in the legacy network; and
controlling a text message server in the legacy network to provide text messages to subscribers of the legacy network.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating notification messages for calls in the IMS network; and
controlling a media server in the IMS network to provide announcements to subscribers of the IMS network.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein the legacy network comprises one of a wireline telecommunications network, a CDMA network, and a GSM network.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein the IN service control includes providing at least one of an 800-number routing service, a pre-paid service, a voice mail routing service, an abbreviated dialing service, and a notification service.
19. A converged service control system, comprising:
a protocol interface adapted to receive first call messages in a first protocol from a legacy network, and convert the first call messages in the first protocol to a common protocol;
a service controller adapted to receive the first call messages in the common protocol, and process the first call messages in the common protocol to provide intelligent network (IN) service control for the legacy network;
the protocol interface further adapted to receive second call messages in a second protocol from an IMS network, and convert the second call messages in the second protocol to the common protocol;
the service controller further adapted to receive the second call messages in the common protocol, and process the second call messages in the common protocol to provide IN service control for the IMS network;
an online charging interface adapted to receive online charging messages from the service controller for the legacy network and the IMS network, and transmit the online charging messages to an Online Charging System (OCS);
an offline charging interface adapted to receive offline charging messages from the service controller for the legacy network and the IMS network, and transmit the offline charging messages to an offline charging system; and
a notification system adapted to receive notification messages for the legacy network and the IMS network, and provide notification to subscribers of the legacy network and the IMS network.
20. The converged service control system of claim 19 wherein the IN service control includes providing at least one of an 800-number routing service, a pre-paid service, a voice mail routing service, an abbreviated dialing service, and a notification service.