Utilizing session initiation protocol for identifying user equipment resource reservation setup protocol capabilities

Abstract

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 by a session setup mechanism, preferably session initiation protocol (SIP) in which RSVP capabilities of the originating UE and GGSN are defined and exchanged. In addition, the SIP identifies 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 enables the UE and network to indicate intended quality of service (QoS) protocol during call setup. The SIP enables 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 cause when the terminating network is not capable of supporting the proposed QoS protocol. One of a plurality of SIP messages, such as OK and SIP 183 messages may be selected to respond to the originating UE.

1 . A method for establishing communication between a mobile unit (UE) and a network, which communication uses resource reservation protocol (RSVP), comprising: 
 the UE: 
 (a) sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message incorporating: at least the RSVP capability of the UE and an intended quality of service (QoS) protocol;  
   a proxy-call state control function (P-CSCF) of the network, responsive to the invite message SIP: 
 (b) making a decision as to whether the network or the UE shall initiate RSVP signaling;  
 (c) selecting one of a plurality of SIP messages for responding; and  
 (d) communicating the decision of step (b) to the UE employing the selected SIP message.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected SIP message is one of an OK message and an authorize message.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the authorize message is an SIP  183  message.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , the P-CSCF, at step (b), determining that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is not RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and 
 at step (d), sending a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , the P-CSCF, at step (b), determining that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when the UE is RSVP capable and the network is RSVP capable; and 
 at step (d), sending a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , the P-CSCF, at step (b), determining that the UE should not initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and 
 at step (d), sending a message to the UE that it should not initiate RSVP signaling.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , the P-CSCF, at step (b), determining that the UE should initiate RSVP signaling when both the UE and the network are RSVP capable; and 
 at step (d), sending a message to the UE that it should initiate RSVP signaling.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , the P-CSCF, at step (b), obtaining an RSVP capability of the network which is stored at a given locale.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the QoS protocol comprises providing one RSVP and DiffServ.  
   
   
       10 . 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; and an intended quality of service QoS protocol is one of RSVP and differentiated services (Diffserv).    said network, including a proxy-call state control function (P-CSCF) 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.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the network further includes means for obtaining RSVP capability of the network from a memory.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 10  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.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  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.  
   
   
       19 . A method utilizing quality of service (QoS) capabilities of communicating entities to determine feasibility of a successful call/session setup, comprising: 
 a) one of an originating UE and network incorporating in a session initiation protocol (SIP) message an intended QoS protocol as part of a call setup procedure including one of resource protocol (RSVP) and differentiated services (DiffServ);    b) one of a terminating UE and network selecting one of a plurality of SIP response messages for responding to the SIP message form the originating UE when it is capable of supporting the intended QoS protocol; and    c) rejecting the call when the terminating one of the UE-and network is not capable.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein step (c) further comprises: 
 providing a message which is a clear indication of the reason for rejecting the call.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the selected SIP message is one of an OK message and an authorize message.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the authorize message is an SIP  183  message.  
   
   
       23 . 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 including me one of RSVP and Diff Serv; and    a terminating network making a decision based only on the QoS protocol regarding an RSVP proxy function.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the terminating UE, responsive to a received SIP, sends a responding SIP message to the initiating UE requesting an alternative to an RSVP capability.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 sending a Diff Serv as an alternative to an RSVP capability.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the termination network selects one of a plurality of SIP messages for the responding SIP message.  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus utilizing quality of service (QoS) capabilities of communicating entities to determine feasibility of a successful call/session setup, comprising: 
 one of an originating UE and network having means for incorporating in a session initiation protocol (SIP) an intended QoS protocol as part of a call setup procedure;    one of a terminating UE and network having means for responding to the SIP when it is capable of supporting the intended QoS;    said responding means selecting one of a plurality of SIP messages for sending the response; and    means for rejecting the call when the terminating UE/network is not capable.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said means for rejecting further comprises: 
 means for providing a message which is a clear indication of the reason for rejecting the call.    
   
   
       29 . 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 (QoS) capabilities; and    a terminating network having means for making a decision regarding an RSVP proxy function means for selecting one of a plurality of SIP messages for responding to the initiating UE and means for responding to the UE via the selected SIP message.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the plurality of SIP messages include at least an OK message and an authorize message.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the authorize message is an SIP  183  message.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 29  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.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  further comprising: means for sending a Diff Serv as an alternative to an RSVP capability.