Centralized circuit switch fallback
View Patent ↗Systems and methods herein utilize interworking protocols with centralized functionality to perform CSFB with minimal latency for an inbound and/or outbound communication with a mobile device that is attached to a communication network not operable to service the communication. Embodiments utilize a centralized gateway that communicates in both an LTE network and CS network. In embodiments, the mobile device may be concurrently attached to the LTE network, registered with the centralized gateway, and registered with an MSC of the CS network. Upon the CS network receiving an inbound call for the mobile device or upon the mobile device originating a call, the MSC may set up the call with the mobile device with minimal latency because the mobile device is pre-registered with the MSC.
1. A method comprising:
registering a mobile device that is attached to a long term evolution (LTE) network with a centralized gateway that is configured to communication in the LTE network and a circuit-switched (CS) network;
in response to receiving, at the centralized gateway, an LTE location update request from the mobile device:
determining a serving mobile switching center (sMSC) in the CS network that is operable to service CS communications with the mobile device, wherein the determination is based at least on the mobile device's location within the sMSC's territory; and
pre-registering the mobile device with the sMSC of the CS network, wherein the mobile device is pre-registered while concurrently attached to the LTE network;
determining that a CS communication associated with the mobile device has been originated; and
directing the mobile device to perform a Circuit Switch Fallback (CSFB) in order to service the originated CS communication.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-registering occurs prior to the CS communication associated with the mobile device having been originated.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the CS communication is inbound to the mobile device.
4. The method claim 1 wherein the CS communication is outbound from the mobile device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the CS communication is a voice call.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the CS communication will be set up by the sMSC.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the centralized gateway is configured to:
communicate via the LTE network according to LTE communication protocols;
communicate via the CS network according to CS communication protocols; and
convert communications between the LTE communication protocols and CS communication protocols.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-registering comprises:
converting, by the centralized gateway, the LTE location update request into a CS location update request;
sending, by the centralized gateway, the CS location update request to the sMSC of the CS network;
receiving, by the centralized gateway, a CS location update accept or a CS location update reject;
converting, by the centralized gateway, the CS location update accept or the CS location update reject into a LTE location update accept or a LTE location update reject, respectively; and
sending, by the centralized gateway, the LTE location update accept or the LTE location update reject to a mobility management entity (MME) of the LTE network.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the pre-registering comprises:
pre-registering the mobile device with the sMSC based at least on information of the CS location update.
10. A system comprising:
a centralized gateway operable to:
communicate via a long term evolution (LTE) network according to LTE communication protocols,
communicate via a circuit-switched (CS) network according to CS communication protocols,
convert communications between the LTE communication protocols and the CS communication protocols,
register, with the centralized gateway, a mobile device that is attached to the LTE network,
in response to receiving, at the centralized gateway, an LTE location update request from the mobile device:
determine a serving mobile switching center (sMSC) in the CS network that is operable to service CS communications with the mobile device, wherein the determination is based at least on the mobile device's location within the sMSC's territory, and
communicate with the sMSC to pre-register the mobile device with the sMSC of the CS network, wherein the mobile device is pre-registered while concurrently attached to the LTE network,
determine that a CS communication associated with the mobile device has been originated, and
send a notification initiating a Circuit Switch Fallback (CSFB) of the mobile device in order to service the originated CS communication.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the pre-registering occurs prior to the CS communication associated with the mobile device having been originated.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the CS communication is inbound to the mobile device.
13. The system claim 10 wherein the CS communication is outbound from the mobile device.
14. The system claim 10 wherein the CS communication is a voice call.
15. The system claim 10 wherein the CS communication will be set up by the sMSC.
16. The system claim 10 wherein when the centralized gateway is further operable to:
convert the LTE location update request into a CS location update request,
send the CS location update request to the sMSC of the CS network,
receive a CS location update accept or a CS location update reject from the CS network,
convert the CS location update accept or CS location update reject to a LTE location update accept or a LTE location update reject, respectively, and
send the LTE location update accept or LTE location update reject to a mobility management entity (MME) of the LTE network.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the pre-registering comprises:
pre-registering the mobile device with the sMSC based at least on information of the CS location update.
18. A system comprising:
means for registering a mobile device that is attached to a long term evolution (LTE) network with a centralized gateway that is configured to communication in the LTE network and a circuit-switched (CS) network;
means for receiving an LTE location update request at the centralized gateway from the mobile device;
means for determining a serving mobile switching center (sMSC) in the CS network that is operable to service CS communications with the mobile device in response to receiving the LTE location update request at the centralized gateway, wherein the determination is based on at least on the mobile device's location within the sMSC's territory;
means for pre-registering the mobile device with the sMSC of the CS network in response to receiving the LTE location update request at the centralized gateway, wherein the mobile device is pre-registered while concurrently attached to the LTE network;
means for determining that a CS communication associated with the mobile device has been originated; and
means for directing the mobile device to perform a Circuit Switch Fallback (CSFB) in order to service the originated CS communication.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the pre-registering occurs prior to the CS communication associated with the mobile device having been originated.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the CS communication is a voice call that will be set up by the sMSC.