Signaling of mgw identity in sip-i

Abstract

The invention relates to signaling of MGW identity in SIP-I. A Call Control Unit of a network includes an Input/Output unit. The Call Control Unit includes a processing unit in communication with the input/output unit. The Call Control Unit includes a memory unit in communication with the processing unit, the processing unit producing a signal having information which identifies a seized Media Gateway (MGW) related to a call establishment or one or more offered Media Gateways, which is sent via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)-Server in the network which is in charge to seize a MGW. A computer readable medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by at least one processing unit, signals a media gateway (MGW) identity. A method in a telecommunications node for signaling a Media Gateway (MGW) Identity.

1 . A method in a telecommunications node for signaling a Media Gateway (MGW) Identity comprising the steps of:
 identifying a seized MGW; and   sending a signal via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) having information which identifies the seized MGW.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the identifying step includes the step of identifying one or more offered Media Gateways;
 and the sending step includes the step of sending the signal via SIP having information which identifies one or more of the offered Media Gateways.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sending step includes the step of sending the signal from a call control unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sending step includes the step of sending a P-Header with the information. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sending step includes the step of sending information contained in an o-Parameter of a Session Description Protocol (SDP) message. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sending step includes the step of sending information contained in an a-Parameter of a Session Description Protocol (SDP) message. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , including the step of the call control unit including one session level attribute set to an MGW identity of the seized MGW, or one or more session level attributes each one set to an offered MGW within an SDP offer encapsulated in an initial invite request. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  including the step of the call control unit selecting the MGW using the session level attribute included within an SDP answer in a first response to the invite request. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  including the step of using the session level a=inactive attribute in the SDP offer included in the initial invite request by the call control unit to indicate a user plane is not connected. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 3  including the step of the call control unit seizing the MGW. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the MGW identity includes an octet string. 
     
     
         12 . A Call Control Unit of a network comprising: an Input/Output unit, a processing unit in communication with the input/output unit, and a memory unit in communication with the processing unit, the processing unit producing a signal having information which identifies a seized Media Gateway (MGW) related to a call establishment or one or more offered Media Gateways, which is sent via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)-Server in the network which is in charge to seize a MGW. 
     
     
         13 . The Call Control Unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the information in the signal is contained in an a-Parameter of a Session Description Protocol (SDP) message. 
     
     
         14 . The Call Control Unit according to  claim 12 , wherein the processing unit includes one session level attribute set to an MGW identity of the seized MGW, or one or more session level attributes each one set to an offered MGW within an SDP offer encapsulated in an initial invite request. 
     
     
         15 . The Call Control Unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit selects the MGW using the session level attribute included within an SDP answer in a first response to the invite request. 
     
     
         16 . The Call Control Unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit uses a session level a=inactive attribute in the SDP offer included in the initial invite request to indicate a user plane is not connected. 
     
     
         17 . The Call Control Unit according to  claim 14 , wherein the MGW identity includes an octet string. 
     
     
         18 . A computer readable medium storing a computer program which when executed by at least one processing unit signals a media gateway (MGW) identity, the computer program comprising instructions for the processing unit generated steps of: identifying a seized MGW or one or more offered Media Gateways;
 and sending a signal via Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) having information which identifies the seized MGW or one of more of the offered Media Gateways.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein the sending step includes the step of sending the information contained in an a-Parameter of a Session Description Protocol (SDP) message. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 19 , including the step of including one session level attribute set to an MGW identity of the seized MGW, or one or more session level attributes each one set to an offered MGW within an SDP offer encapsulated in an initial invite request. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 20 , including the step of selecting the MGW using the session level attribute included within an SDP answer in a first response to the invite request. 
     
     
         22 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 20 , including the step of using the session level a=inactive attribute in the SDP offer included in the initial invite request to indicate a user plane is not connected. 
     
     
         23 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , including the step of seizing the MGW. 
     
     
         24 . The computer readable medium according to  claim 18 , wherein the MGW identity includes an octet string.