Utilizing session initiation protocol for identifying user equipment resource reservation setup protocol capabilities
In a communication between a mobile unit (UE) and a gateway general packet radio system (GGRS) support node (GGSN) wherein resource reservations setup protocol (RSVP) capabilities are shared therebetween by a session setup mechanism, preferably session initiation protocol (SIP) in which RSVP capabilities of the UE and GGSN are defined and exchanged. In addition, the SIP is utilized to identify the preferred RSVP mode of operation by negotiations. The SIP is utilized to indicate that: the UE is RSVP capable; those media flows which are based on RSVP; the preferred mode of operation i.e. either UE based RSVP signaling or GGSN proxy based RSVP signaling and to communication a final setup mode for RSVP signaling to the UE from policy control function (PCF). The SIP may also be employed to enable the UE and network to indicate intended quality of service (QoS) protocol during a call setup procedure. The SIP is further utilized to enable the terminating UE and/or network to indicate in their response the capability of supporting a particular QoS protocol, the call being rejected with a clear indication of the cause when the terminating network is not capable of supporting the proposed QoS protocol.
1. A method for establishing communication between a mobile unit (UE) and a network, which communication uses resource reservation protocol (RSVP), comprising:
a) the UE sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) message incorporating: the RSVP capability of the UE; media types to be transmitted, capabilities and a preferred mode of operation;
b) a proxy-call state control function of the network, responsive to the SIP, making a decision as to whether the network or the UE shall initiate RSVP signaling; and
c) the network communicating the decision of step (b) to the UE.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the network, at step (b), determines that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is not RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and
at step (c), the network sends a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network, at step (b), determines that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and
at step (c), the network sends a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the network, at step (b), determines that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and
at step (c), the network sends a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network, at step (b), determines that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and
at step (c), the network sends a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the network, at step (b) obtains RSVP capability of the network which is stored at a given locale.
7. Apparatus for establishing communication between a mobile unit (UE) and network, which communication uses resource reservation protocol (RSVP) comprising:
the UE having means for sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) message incorporating: the RSVP capability of the UE; media types to be transmitted, capabilities and a preferred mode of operation;
said network, including a proxy-call state control function of the network, which, responsive to the SIP, makes a decision as to whether the network or the UE shall initiate RSVP signaling, and
the network further including means for sending the decision of the network to the UE.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network, further includes means for determining that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is not RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and
the network further includes means for sending a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network, further includes means for determining that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and
the network further includes means for sending a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.
10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network, includes means for determining that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and
the network further includes means for sending a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.
11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network, includes means for determining that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and
the network further includes means for sending a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network further includes means for obtaining RSVP capability of the network from a memory.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network includes a general packet radio service (GPRS) gateway support mode (GGSN),
said proxy-call state control function obtaining the capability of said GGSN to assign initiation of RSVP signaling.
14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for sending includes means to request the UE to initiate RSVP signaling when the network does not want to initiate RSVP signaling.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for sending includes means for passing a decision to start RSVP operation to said GGSN using common open policy server (COPS) protocol.
16. A method for facilitating call/session initiating setup time between a initiating mobile unit (initiating UE) and a terminating mobile unit (terminating UE), each respectively associated with an initiating and terminating home network which may be one of the same network and a different network, comprising:
the initiating UE transmitting a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to the terminating UE which incorporates a list of media to be transmitted, a preferred mode of operation, an RSVP capability and the ability of supporting a given quality of service (QoS) capabilities; and
a terminating network making a decision regarding an RSVP proxy function.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the terminating UE, responsive to a received SIP, sends a SIP to the initiating UE requesting an alternative to an RSVP capability.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
sending a Diff Serv as an alternative to an RSVP capability.
19. Apparatus for facilitating call/session initiating setup time between an initiating mobile unit (initiating UE) and a terminating mobile unit (terminating UE), each respectively associated with an initiating and terminating home network which may be one of the same network and a different network, comprising:
the initiating UE having means for transmitting a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to the terminating UE which incorporates: a list of media to be transmitted, a preferred mode of operation, an RSVP capability and the ability of supporting a given quality of service capabilities; and
a terminating network having means for making a decision regarding an RSVP proxy function.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the terminating UE includes means responsive to a received SIP, for sending a SIP to the initiating UE requesting an alternative to an RSVP capability.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: means for sending a Diff Serv as an alternative to an RSVP capability.