System and method for managing call continuity in IMS network environment
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for managing call continuity in a network environment including a circuit-switched (CS) network and an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network wherein unique identity (ID) information supplied by a user equipment (UE) device is utilized. A pool of dynamically allocable IP multimedia routing numbers (IMRNs) maintained at an IMS network node are used for associating an IMRN with call information received from the UE device, which can include at least one of a GRUU, Instance ID, and the called party number relating to a call. When the dynamically allocated IMRN is returned by the UE device, the network node utilizes the IMRN mapping to effectuate call continuity with respect to the called party.
1. A method operable with a user equipment (UE) device in association with an ongoing call in an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, said method comprising:
providing call information associated with said ongoing call in one domain to a network node disposed in said IMS network, said call information including a call reference number associated with said ongoing call with a called party;
receiving an IP multimedia routing number (IMRN) and said call reference number from said network node;
verifying that said call reference number received back from said network node remains valid; and
sending a message containing said IMRN to said network node for effectuating call continuity with respect to said ongoing call in another domain.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said call information further includes an Instance identifier comprising a unique ID parameter.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said unique ID parameter comprises at least one of a Globally Routable User Agent (UA) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) (GRUU), International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI), an IMEI Software Version (IMEISV), an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), and a unique Layer-2 address associated with said UE device.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node via User-to-User signaling.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.
7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said IMRN is received via one of a SIP message and a USSD message.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said network node comprises one of a CCCF node and a VCC application.
9. A user equipment (UE) device operable in an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) network, said UE device comprising:
a processor configured to control at least one of a plurality of sub-systems to provide call information associated with an ongoing call in one domain to a network node disposed in said IMS network, said call information including a call reference number associated with said ongoing call with a called party;
the processor further configured to control at least one of the plurality of sub-systems to process an IP multimedia routing number (IMRN) received from said network node;
the processor further configured to control at least one of the plurality of sub-systems to verify that said call reference number received from said network node is valid; and
the processor further configured to control at least one of the plurality of sub-systems to send a message containing IMRN to said network node for effectuating call continuity with respect to said ongoing call in another domain.
10. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said call information includes an Instance identifier comprising a unique ID parameter.
11. The UE device as recited in claim 10 , wherein said unique ID parameter comprises at least one of a Globally Routable User Agent (UA) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) (GRUU), International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI), an IMEI Software Version (IMEISV), an Electronic Serial Number (ESN), a Mobile Identification Number (MIN), and a unique Layer-2 address associated with said UE device.
12. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node via User-to-User signaling.
13. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.
14. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said call information is provided to said network node using an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.
15. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said IMRN is received via one of a SIP message and a USSD message.
16. The UE device as recited in claim 9 , wherein said network node comprises one of a CCCF node and a VCC application.