KR20030022123A - Method and System for Providing a Wireless Terminal Communication Session Integrated with Data and Voice Services - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and system are provided for integrating data and voice services into a single session in a communication network. Subscribers of the wireless communication network are communicatively coupled to information resources of the data network via gateways. The subscriber sends a request to the voice service provider of the data network. The data and voice switch server controls and modulates the functions of the access provider switch, gateway server, remote access server, and voice server to pause the data session, initiate an integrated voice and data session, and maintain the integrated session. Integrate data and voice services within the network. The subscriber is provided with integrated voice and data services in a single session. After completion of the voice service, the subscriber is explicitly reconnected to the data network by the voice and data switching server.

Description

Method and System for Providing a Wireless Terminal Communication Session Integrated with Data and Voice Services

Information services are becoming increasingly popular in the wireless communications market. Such services may provide subscribers with up-to-date information such as news, game results, stock prices, entertainment, flight information, ground transportation, timetables, and the like. To extend the value and scope of these services, existing wireless communication systems support access to the Internet and, more specifically, to global data communication networks such as the world wide web. Information stored on the content delivery site over the web can be accessed using a suitable WAP compliant mobile station, such as a cellular telephone device or Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) in a wireless network. WAP is an open global standard that enables mobile phone users with wireless devices to readily access and interact with information and services provided by the Web. When a subscriber using WAP initiates access to the Internet through an appropriate user agent, the mobile device sends out a conventional RF signal to find the desired service. Once the appropriate radio link or air link is established with the mobile network service provider, the subscriber initiates a request for specific content information through web resource selection and identification, such as a web page. This request is sent by the mobile network service provider to the gateway router, which completes the access to the designated website, obtains the requested content information from the site, and sends this data to the same communication path that the subscriber device followed. Send via

There are several disadvantages to web browsing through wireless devices using standard WAP. One disadvantage is associated with the simplification of received web content due to general wireless device constraints. The information obtained by the gateway is typically a file document in HTML format. The file typically contains a high level of text content, a hyperlink that provides a search function. Typically, pages further contain rich content such as graphics, sounds, voice, animations, virtual reality. The file is transformed by the gateway server from HTML format to WML format to display on the display area of the wireless device requesting the document format and to match the processing power of the device. In accordance with general mobile device constraints such as display area with minimal physical size and significantly reduced processing capacity, the original display format of the received information is simplified. Only carefully selected functional parts of the text are displayed on the screen of the mobile device. The page is clipped by removing practically all elements with highly multimedia content. After removing most of the page content by the clipping process, subscriber options related to web navigation control by hypertext links are greatly reduced. Even if the basic information display method is acceptable, it is inconvenient to input commands, web addresses, e-mail messages, and the like. The only input options currently available to WAP subscribers are text typing on a small phone or PDA keypad. Small keypads designed for numeric entry require pressing up to four keys to enter a single character. Textual file organization is practically impossible, and continuous information retrieval is very tedious. Contacting multiple network content providers involves extended periods of time and repeated logins. It is obvious that slow navigation on the web will affect the ability of service providers to provide fascinating goods and services and to entice consumers to use this environment for commercial transactions. A particular problem associated with WAP-based data sessions is the lack of options to receive incoming calls. The wireless device is only open for one channel. Therefore, you cannot receive an incoming call while you are browsing the web. When someone wants to talk to a subscriber who is using a data session, a busy signal is received or the call is sent to the subscriber voice mailbox. Even for multichannel devices, there is no interaction and integration between voice and data. A further disadvantage is that all voice services are unavailable during the data session. While a subscriber is using a data session, voice services such as call reception and transmission, incoming voice message playback, voice message recording, and advanced voice processing cannot use the channel being used to access the data communication network service. If the subscriber wants to use a particular voice service, the data connection must be terminated by following the appropriate logout procedure. Voice services transmitted as data, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), can be received within a data session. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the need for a solution to the existing shortcomings of WAP. Substantial improvements can be achieved by providing traditional and advanced voice service usage options within a single data session framework to subscribers using data sessions.

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling and integrating data and voice into a user interface associated with a single communication session managed from a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) compliant mobile terminal. will be.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication system including elements that operate in a prior art data network access,

2 is a schematic block diagram of the mobile communication system of FIG. 1 including elements for providing data and voice services within a single session according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic block diagram of a data voice conversion server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram illustrating components that function in an operation of a data voice conversion server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating home location register configuration processing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart of a user parameter handling component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an exemplary view illustrating the operation of a voice request handling component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

8 is an exemplary operation diagram of a request handling component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an exemplary operation diagram of a data session resume configuration unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and system for automatically pausing and resuming a mobile telephone subscriber's data session, allowing the subscriber to receive voice sessions and other services while in the data session.

An aspect according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for providing a communication session with integrated data and voice services to at least one subscriber device, the subscriber device associated with a data communication session of a first communication network. An identification step of intercepting, intercepting a voice service related request transmitted from the service provider device of the second communication network to the subscriber device associated with the data communication session of the first communication network, the service provider of the second communication network. A logical connection step of logically linking the intercepted voice service related request from the device to a subscriber device associated with a data communication session of the first communication network, and a subscriber device between the subscriber device of the first communication network and the second communication network. Suspend data communication sessions associated with To a pause step.

Another aspect of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is the step of initiating a virtual communication session associated with a subscriber device of the first communication network, the framework of the virtual communication session associated with a subscriber device of the first communication network. performing a requested voice service in a framework; and resuming a data communication session between the subscriber device and the second communication network associated with the data communication session of the first communication network.

A second aspect according to an embodiment of the present invention is a system for managing a communication session with unified data and voice services, comprising: integrating data and voice services into data and voice sessions associated with subscriber devices of a first communication network; And a gateway device controller for pausing and resuming the data communication session.

A third aspect according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method for providing a data communication session with integrated data and voice services to a subscriber associated wireless device, comprising: classifying a subscriber device associated with a data communication session in a wireless communication network. A capture step of capturing a voice service request sent from the service provider device to the wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network through the gateway device of the data communication network, the captured voice service request from the service provider device of the data communication network. Coupling to a wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network, suspending a data communication session associated with the wireless device between the wireless device and the data communication network of the wireless communication network, associated with the wireless device of the wireless communication network. Initiating a data and voice communication session, executing a requested voice service within a framework of data and voice communication sessions associated with a wireless device in a wireless communication network, and a wireless device associated with a data communication session in a wireless communication network. And a resume step of resuming the paused data communication session between the data communication network and the data communication network.

The above features of the invention illustrate data and voice integration services within a single communication session. The above described feature of the present invention improves substantially optimized data communication network search. The above features of the present invention substantially improve the performance of the subscriber device. The above features of the present invention substantially reduce the load on the communication control device of the wireless network. The above features of the present invention substantially relieve the load on the communication control device of the data and voice network.

1 shows a block diagram of a mobile communication system including elements operating in prior art data network access. Cellular network subscribers 11, 13, 15 are associated with mobile stations 10, 12, 14, respectively. The mobile stations 10, 12, 14 each comprise a mobile terminal 16, 18, 20. Devices 18 and 20 are WAP-enabled cellular telephone devices, such as Nokia 6210/7110, and device 16 is Hewlett-Packard's Palmtop or 3Com. WAP-enabled Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), such as PalmPilot. It may also be other devices such as pagers, two-way radios, smart phones and communicators. For purposes of clarity, FIG. 1 shows only three separate mobile terminals associated with only three respective cellular network mobile subscribers, but the system may include a plurality of mobile stations each providing services to each subscriber. It is self-evident. The wireless devices 16, 18, and 20 intermittently connect to the wireless network 22 by using a built-in radio transceiver. The wireless network 22 realizes communication between the wireless devices 16, 18, 20 as well as communication between a plurality of wireless devices (not shown) associated with the network 22. The wireless network 22 can be any WAP, such as cellular digital packet data (CDPD), code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), time division multiplex (TDMA), frequency division multiplex (FDM), or the like. It may be a WAP-compliant wireless network type. The wireless network 22 also realizes communication between the devices 16, 18, and 20 with a data communication network such as the Internet or another communication network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The wireless network 22 includes a base station 24, a network access service provider switch 26, a remote access server 28, and a WAP gateway server 30. Likewise, for clarity, FIG. 1 only shows one switch, one base station, one remote access server, and one WAP gateway server, but it is obvious that it can include multiple base stations, switches, and servers. When cellular digital packet data (CDPD) technology is used in a cellular network, one or more than one direct access unit (DAU) may be included in this system. Base station 24 is operative to control a set of mobile stations 10, 12, 14. Base station 24 receives the RF signals transmitted by devices 16, 18, 20 using conventional communication links and transmits each signal to network access service provider switch 26. The switch 26 identifies the subscriber of the transmitting device using conventional RF technology to form a link between the two mobile terminals. The switch 26 also operates to form a link between the mobile terminal and various other communication networks, such as a PSTN or data communication network, using conventional RF technology and conventional communication links. Network access service provider switch 26 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 27 database. HLR 27 is a centralized database that stores subscription data and other necessary network data associated with mobile subscribers 11, 13, 15 or mobile stations 10, 12, 14 associated with mobile stations 10, 12, 14. The HLR 27 also maintains data indicating the current position of the mobile stations 10, 12, 14. The remote access server 28 receives a request for connection to the network 32 from the switch 26 and sends the request to the WAP gateway server 30. In a wireless network using CDPD technology, a direct access unit (DAU) will replace the remote access server 28. WAP gateway server 30 includes components that process the request, access the requested resources across network 34, and return the desired information content to the mobile subscriber. In addition, the WAP gateway server 30 functions as a proxy by providing data caching message screening and data session management. Data communication network 32 includes resources located on specific data network sites. Resources include content information, application data, services, and the like. Service provider 34 is preferably a network site that includes an application server, a content provider server, and appropriate application programming interface routines (APIs).

If the mobile subscriber 13 associated with the mobile station 12 wants to access the data communication network 32 and interact with a particular resource such as a web page, the mobile subscriber 13 instructs the mobile terminal 18 to communicate with the wireless network. Establish a connection to (22). Mobile terminal 18 sends commands to the integrated internal modem or integrated modem emulator to dial and quickly access or transmit the data channel of wireless network access service provider 26. The mobile subscriber 13 introduces a suitable request via a WAP based micro browser implemented within the mobile terminal 18. The micro browser is client software designed to enable wireless access to services such as Internet information in combination with appropriate network servers.

The RF signal containing the request for service is transmitted to the wireless network 22. After the connection with the network access service provider switch 26 is established, a request for connection with the network 32 is sent to the particular WAP gateway server 30 via the remote access server 28 using a conventional communication line. . The server 30 processes the request by performing a conversion from the Wireless Markup Language (WML) format to the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format. The WAP gateway server 3 then establishes a connection with the service provider 34 via the data communication network 32 using a conventional communication link. The request for a specific resource realizes sending a specific web document back to the WAP gateway 30. The gateway server 30 examines the retransmitted document to determine the format of the retransmitted document. If the document is formatted in the WML format, the gateway 30 sends the unmodified document to the mobile terminal 18 to enable proper interaction with the mobile subscriber 13. If the document received by the gateway 30 is formatted as an HTML document, the gateway server 30 encodes the document in WML format before sending it back to the mobile station 12 for interaction with the mobile subscriber 13. The properly encoded document is displayed on the display device of the terminal 18 by a micro browser implemented in the mobile terminal 18.

The connection period between the beginning (e.g., login process) at which the connection between the mobile subscriber and the data communication network in the mobile communication session is initialized and the end (e.g. logout) at which the connection is terminated is referred to as a "data session. ) " During a data session, mobile subscribers can optionally dynamically interact with various resources associated with data network sites such as information, applications, and services. Interaction with the imported content is performed within the preferred hardware and software constraints of the mobile terminal device. While the mobile subscriber is confined to the data session, the voice service cannot be performed. Such services may be incoming calls, voice message enforcement, voice message recording, and the like. Such a service is not possible during the period of being connected to the data network. In order to use the voice service, the mobile subscriber must terminate the data session by sending the appropriate logout command to the micro browser implemented in the mobile terminal device. If the mobile subscriber wants to connect to the data network after completion of a particular voice session, a new login procedure must be performed to initiate a new data session.

Next, Figure 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a mobile communication system including an additional configuration for providing data and voice integration services within a framework of a single data session in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Further configurations disclosed herein allow mobile subscribers to use voice services while confined to a data session. As described above with respect to FIG. 1, cellular network mobile subscribers 11, 13, 15 are associated with mobile stations 10, 12, 14, respectively, which are each mobile terminal 16. , 18, 20). The mobile terminals 16, 18, and 20 intermittently connect to the wireless network 22 by using the built-in wireless transceiver. Terminals 16, 18, and 20 also include a modem or modem emulator and a WAP based micro browser. The wireless network 22 realizes communication between the terminals 16, 18, 20 and a specific mobile terminal's link to various other communication networks. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data communication network refers to the Internet. The wireless network 22 includes a base station 24, a network access service provider switch 26, a remote access server 28, a data voice transfer server 38, a voice server 36, and a WAP gate server 30. . Base station 24 controls mobile stations 10, 12, 14 and receives RF signals transmitted by devices 16, 18, 20. Base station 24 sends each signal to network access service provider switch 26. The switch 26 identifies the mobile subscriber of the transmitting device to form an operational connection between the requesting wireless device and the data communication network. Network access service provider switch 26 includes an HLR 27 database. Data Voice Switching (DVS) server 38 enables switching between voice and data channels and operates in setting up, controlling, performing, and terminating integrated data and voice sessions. DVS 38 has its own internal design and specific communication interactions with other communication systems. DVS 38 allows WAP compliant wireless terminals, such as cellular phones, PDAs, etc., to have a mixed mode interface. A mixed mode interface is defined as an interface that allows a mobile terminal device to activate both voice service and web navigation within the same data session. Voice server 36 records and communicates voice segments associated with a particular voice service within a particular data session. Voice segments are captured, stored, recalled, played back and implemented by appropriate voice application techniques. The voice server 36 is one of a number of products currently on the market, such as the DMV400 / DMV4000 voice processing platform developed and distributed by IBM WebSphere Voice Server or Intel Dialogic Corporation. Can be.

The remote access server 28 receives a request for connection of the mobile terminal to the data network 32 from the switch 26 using a conventional communication line and apparatus and sends the request to the WAP gateway server 30. The WAP gateway server 30 includes a configuration that appropriately processes the request, retrieves the desired resources from the network 34, and delivers the desired content to the mobile subscriber. WAP gateway 30 also includes a configuration that provides proxy server specific functions such as data caching, message screening, and data session control. Data communication network 32 includes resources located on specific network sites. Resources include content information, application data, and services. Service provider 34 is a network site that contains various services. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, service provider 34 implements a voice service that includes voice application routines, voice content, and voice processing specific application program interface (API) routines.

If the mobile subscriber 13 associated with the mobile station 12 wants to connect to the data communication network 32 and interact with a particular resource, such as a web page, the mobile subscriber 13 may establish a connection with the wireless network 22. Instruct the mobile device 18. The mobile device 18 sends commands to an internal modem or internally embodied modem emulator to dial and quickly access or transmit data channels of the wireless network access service provider 26. Subscriber 13 introduces the request via a WAP-based micro browser implemented in wireless device 18. The associated RF signal for service is sent to the wireless network 22. After the connection with the network access service provider switch 26 is established, a request for connection with the network 32 is received via a remote access server 28 using a WAP gateway server using port numbers such as 9200 or 9203 ( 30) is sent. The server 30 processes the request by performing the conversion from the WML format to the HTML format. The WAP gateway server 30 then establishes a connection with the service provider 34 via the data communication network 32. The request for a specific resource sends a specific web document back to the WAP gateway 30. Next, the gate server 30 determines the format of the document. If the document is in WML format, the gateway 30 sends the unmodified document back to the wireless device 18 to enable interaction with the subscriber 13. If the document received by the gateway 30 is in HTML format, the gateway server 30 encodes the document in WML format before sending it back to the mobile station 12 for interaction with the subscriber 13. The properly encoded document is displayed on the display device of the wireless device 18 by the micro browser.

In contrast to the operation of conventional mobile communication networks, the network shown in FIG. 2 enables the option to activate and perform voice services within a data session without forcing the end of the current data session. This allows the mobile subscriber to selectively interact dynamically with various resources associated with data network sites such as information content, applications, and services within the preferred hardware specific constraints of the mobile terminal device and to accommodate or provide voice services within a single data session. You can ask. By using the proposed method and system, voice services such as voice message provision, voice reply to email, speaker recognition, voice recognition, text-to-speech and other advanced voice technologies Can be efficiently integrated into a WAP [text only] session without corruption. Such techniques can be integrated into the proposed systems and methods by using commercial software products distributed by known vendors. For example, vendors of speech recognition software include IBM, Nuance, Philips Electronics NV, and SpeechWorks.

In order to provide a detailed description of the method and system according to the invention, an exemplary voice service is used. This description is for the purpose of clarity and is not limitative. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the particular voice service required by the subscriber and supplied by the system is the voice message reply to the e-mail message. The service involves the basic ability to record, store and process spoken messages. When the WAP mobile subscribers 11, 13, and 15 wish to perform a voice reply to an e-mail message, they transmit the appropriate request to the appropriate voice service provider 34 via the data communication network 32. 13, 15), a suitable voice service is started. The service provider 34 responds to the request by sending a particular web page and associated voice service specific API embedded in the response. The response is sent to DVS 38 either directly or through WAP gateway 30. The DVS 38 receives the response and then calls the gateway servlet 31 to instruct the WAP gateway 30 to pause the current data session. Until the data session is resumed, the DVS 38 controls the integrated data and voice sessions. The APIs transmitted by the voice service provider 34 in the transmitted web page are specific voice service interface routines developed in VOICE XML, C ++, ASP COM objects, JAVA, and the like. The APIs operate upon the execution of the voice service by the voice server 36. The DVS 38 processes the response received from the voice service provider 34 and sends a call to the voice functor 36 to provide the necessary voice service to the mobile subscriber 13. Subscriber 13 receives and interacts with the voice service related web page to perform recording of the voice message. After completion of the voice service by the subscriber 13, the DVS 38 calls the gateway servlet 31 to instruct the WAP gateway 30 to resume the previously interrupted data session. The mobile subscriber 13 then returns to the web navigation mode without being forced to end the data session.

Next, the configuration and function of the DVS server 38 will be described. Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a data voice conversion server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the DVS server 98 includes a DVS-API stack 99, an application control segment 100, a DVS control segment 103, a management server 115, and a voice server 114. . The application control segment 100 consists of an application server API translator 101, an application server request router 102, and application threads 104. The DVS control segment 103 is composed of a DVS session control unit 105, a DVS gateway control unit 106, a DVS RAS control unit 108, a DVS voice server control unit 110, and a database 112. The various components disclosed are shown to be co-located within a single platform or environment. These various components may be implemented on other nodes on the Intranet of the network access service provider. The voice server 114 may be specially implemented on a specialized voice platform.

DVS 98 acts as an interface between voice service provider 90 and wireless network 116 located within a data communication network. DVS 98 will typically reside on a network access service provider's intranet. Next, the functions of the elements shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The DVS-API stack 99 receives a request from the application server 92 of the voice service provider 90. The request is sent to the application server API converter. In contrast, the DVS-API stack 99 sends back a response from the application server API converter 101 to the application server 92 of the service provider 90. The application server API converter 101 sends a request to the application server request router 102. The router 102 determines the location of the application thread 104 for a particular service provider. The request is sent from the application thread 104 to the DVS session controller 105 and an appropriate notification is sent to the database 12. The request is sent from the DVS session control unit 105 to the DVS gateway control unit 106 and the DVS RAS control unit 108. The request is sent from the gateway control unit 106 to the gateway servlet 31 of FIG. At the same time, a request is sent from the RAS control 108 to the RAS 28 of FIG. 2 to sub-address the mobile subscriber's call to the appropriate port number of the voice server 114. Receiving a request notification from voice server controller 110 and receiving call parameters of the mobile subscriber from DVS session controller 105, voice server 114 receives the requested voice activity such as recording, playing, mobile subscriber identification, and the like. Run The management server 115 monitors and controls the activity of the DVS server 98. Obviously, various other configurations can be used for DVS.

In accordance with the practices of those skilled in computer programming techniques, the present invention is described below with reference to symbolic representations and acts of operations performed by a processing system. Actions and symbolically represented actions may include the regulation of electrical signals by a central processing unit (CPU). The electrical system represents data bits that result in the transformation or reduction of the electrical signal representation, and data bit management at memory locations within the memory system is reconfigured or otherwise changes the operation of the signal as well as the operation of the CPU. The memory location is a physical location with specific electrical, magnetic or optical properties that correspond to the data bits. DVS server and gateway servlets are a set of computer programs implemented on different computing platforms. DVS server and gateway server include computer software instructions developed specifically for the practice of the present invention. The software of the DVS server and gateway servlet allows the server and servlet to perform the various functions disclosed herein, respectively. Alternatively, dedicated electronic hardware may be manufactured and used to perform all of the server functions disclosed herein. In the second case, the DVS server and gateway servlet may be implemented as firmware by embedding certain program instructions and / or appropriate control information in a suitable electronic hardware device that includes application specific integrated circuits.

The main program component for the integration of voice applications within the framework of a single data session combined with a WAP-oriented text application is shown in FIG. 4. Referring now to FIG. 4, a Home Register Location (HLR) parameter associated with a particular subscriber must be configured to enable the mobile subscriber to perform voice applications within the data session. The HLR is a centralized database that stores essential subscriber specific network control data. The variation relates to the operation of the system with respect to a particular subscriber. For example, in order for the mobile subscriber's modem to accept a call while constrained to a data session, the subscriber record in the database must be modified. Any modification of any subscriber specific parameter will affect the operation of the mobile network access service provider switch. For example, when a call comes in, a parameter set to a specific value prevents the system from sending a call to a busy signal or voice mail system. Configuration 50 is designed to configure appropriate HLR parameter values. The update may be performed off-line. Subscriber parameters dealing with configuration 52 operate in obtaining session specific and subscriber specific parameter values from the system and storing the values for later processing. The request to intercept component 54 activates a loop in which the TCP / IP socket functionally accepts over a TCP / IP connection for a request from a voice service provider. Component 54 examines the intercepted request, validates the intercepted request, formats the request, and inserts the request into a predetermined dynamic memory area for processing by the request handling component. The request handling component 56 acts upon obtaining a request from the dynamic memory region, instructing the gateway servlet to pause the data session, and activating the voice server to perform voice services for the subscriber. The data session resume configuration unit 58 extracts previously obtained session and subscriber parameter values and instructs the gateway servlet to resume a previously paused data session. It is apparent that various other methods may be used to achieve substantially the same purpose.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the operation of the HLR component of FIG. 4 is illustrated. 5 illustrates the operational steps performed by component 50 of FIG. 4 to properly configure the HLR 27 of FIG. The necessary configuration processing is performed to provide the subscriber with the option of using voice services integrated into a conventional data session. Forming the HLR configuration involves the activation of specially developed program products. The program product accepts subscriber specific input from external resources and updates the associated subscriber record in the HLR. The configuration procedure is typically performed offline and involves manual entry by the administrator of the system. At step 152, identification of the subscriber, such as the subscriber's cellular telephone number, is made. In step 154 the HLR database is opened and in step 156 the subscriber record indexed with the identification of the subscriber is obtained from the HLR database. The subscriber's HLR record is configured such that certain control fields that define particular subscriber options are given different values. This value represents the content of the service provided by the specific network operator to the subscriber. One of the control fields is operated to provide a call wating service to the subscriber. If this field is set to a certain value, calls coming in during the subscriber's busy period will be switched to the appropriate call waiting switch. Such processing may include notifying the party on the call that there is call waiting or providing a voice message recording option. This call diversion portion is used in step 158. The program will affect entering additional control values into the fields that will be operated to provide the subscriber with voice service usage options within the data session. In step 160 the record will be written back to the database

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other methods may be used to indicate service availability to a subscriber. For example, specific control fields may be added to the subscriber record in the HLR database, or a new data structure separate from the HLR may be formed with fields specially written in the subscriber record in the HLR used as pointers to this new structure. Can be.

FIG. 6 illustrates the operation of subscriber parameter handling configuration 52 of FIG. 4. Network access service providers typically assign a unique number to each subscriber. In other network schemes, mobile subscribers are identified in different ways. In a mobile wireless network, a subscriber is typically identified by a Mobile Subscriber ISDN (MSISDN) number. MSISDN is used in connection with call-related requests and is seen as a dialed number for both the caller and subscriber. As such, requests from the network will be based on the MSISDN. In addition, the subscriber can be identified by other means of identification, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number commonly used in GSM cellular systems. GSM systems are mainly used in Europe. In a GSM system, IMSI is maintained in the mobile station's SIM on a "subscriber identity module (SIM) card" that is typically inserted into all GSM wireless devices for subscriber identification to the GSM network. ISMI cannot be viewed or accessed by subscribers.

Each data session is assigned a unique ID by the network access service provider. The DVS server 38 obtains a unique session ID using a subscriber identification number such as an MSISDN number as a key (step 60). In step 62 the DVS 38 interfaces with a RADIUS server for obtaining subscriber parameter values using a standard Romote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) protocol. RADIUS is an authentication and accounting system used by many service providers. When a subscriber calls a service provider, the user typically enters a username and password. This information is passed to the RADIUS server, which checks to see if the information is correct before allowing access to the system. This information is also stored on the RADIUS server for the duration of the session. DVS obtains the stored value from the RADIUS server by indexing the current session identification to the RADIUS database. The parameters thus obtained include subscriber IP address, subscriber username and password. The information stored in the database of the DVS server 38 is used (step 64) to resume the paused data session after the end of the voice service.

In other embodiments of the present invention, other methods may be applied. For example, DVS may obtain and store subscriber information independently from a RADIUS server from a network access service provider, or DVS may assign a specific session identification to associate with a unique session identification established by the network access service provider.

7 is a method for intercepting a voice service related request sent by a service provider. This method functionally accepts requests from service subscribers on a TCP / IP connection using a TCP / IP socket or endpoint for the connection (step 70). Sockets are created and used using known programming requests or socket APIs. In another embodiment of the present invention, another connection method may be used. For example, UNIX C sockets are available. In step 72 the method performs a check on the intercept of the request from the voice service provider. If the request was not intercepted, control of the method executes return to step 70 for waiting for future requests. Upon recognizing the intercept situation of the request, the intercepted request in step 74 becomes valid. To determine if the source of the request is known to the system, the validation procedure checks the subscriber identification and the cipher introduced. If the request is validated, the request is formatted in step 78 with a structure suitable for insertion into the memory device. Additional information such as service type and control data is added to the formatted record. In step 66 the request is inserted into a dynamic memory device such as a buffer for processing by the request handling component. 8 illustrates the operation of the request handling component 56 of FIG. In step 82 the request handling component obtains an intercepted, validated, formatted request from a dynamic memory device such as a buffer. Next, in step 84 the request handling component issues a command to the gateway servlet associated with the WAP gateway to suspend the currently managing data session. As a result, the WAP gateway server notifies the handling component of the situation by pausing the session and sending a confirmation message to the DVS 38. Pausing the data session allows for the initiation and execution of a voice session while the session data is pending without ending the session. In step 86 the handling component instructs the network access service provider switch 26 to subaddress the call to the voice server 36. The switch subaddresses the call to voice server 36 and sends a confirmation to the handling component. The voice server 36 then opens the voice channel and the virtual data channel to the subscribers 10, 12, 14. The voice channel opening during the pause of the data session allows the gateway server 30 to automatically resume the data channel later and without the subscriber having to initiate a new request for the data channel. The voice service requested in step 88 is performed by the voice server after an appropriate command has been sent by the handling component to the voice server 36.

FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the data session resume configuration unit 58 of FIG. After the end of the voice service, the previously paused data session is restarted by the data session resumption configuration 58 of FIG. In step 92 the previously stored session and subscriber parameter values are read from the repository. In step 94 this component subaddresses the call to RAS. The stored subscriber identity is obtained from the RADIUS server in step 96 and a data session resume command is sent to the gateway servlet associated with the gateway server in step 98. The gateway server resumes the session and gives the subscriber the option to continue the previously paused web browsing.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the steps and configurations described in the foregoing description are exemplary and not used in a limiting sense. Various other configurations and methods may be utilized to achieve the basic objects of the present invention, and various modifications and improvements to the embodiments described above may be considered within the framework of the general subject matter inherent in the proposed system.

Reference has been made specifically to terrestrial communication systems for the construction and use of a system comprising a plurality of mobile terminals, base stations, switches, transceivers, modems and servers. However, the use of this technique is not limited to ground-based systems and can include geo-stationary, middle-earth-orbit, or low-earth-orbit satellite nodes. It should be understood that the same applies to communication systems.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to those specifically illustrated herein. The scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims (45)

In the first communication network having at least one subscriber device connectable with the first communication network via a network access service provider switch, the at least one subscriber device operating in a second communication network via a gateway device; Connectable to a service provider device-providing a communication session with integrated data and voice services to the at least one subscriber device, the method comprising: Identifying said subscriber device associated with a data communication session of said first communication network, An intercept step of intercepting a voice service related request sent from the service provider device of the second communication network to the subscriber device associated with the data communication session of the first communication network, A logical connection step of logically linking the intercepted voice service related request from the service provider device of the second communication network to the subscriber device associated with the data communication session of the first communication network; and Suspending the data communication session associated with the subscriber device between the subscriber device of the first communication network and the second communication network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: opening a virtual communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network, and Performing the requested voice service within a framework of the virtual communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising resuming the data communication session between the subscriber device and the second communication network associated with the data communication session of the first communication network. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step, Determining a voice service-related operational parameter of the subscriber device of the first communication network; Obtaining a unique identification of the subscriber device of the first communication network; Placing a unique control record associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network in a central subscriber control data structure, Modifying content of the unique control record associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network in accordance with the determined voice service related parameter; and Updating the central subscriber control database with the modified unique control record associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network. The method of claim 1, wherein the intercept step, Functionally receiving a voice service request sent by the service provider of the second communication network in the first communication network, Validating the received voice service request in the first communication network, and Formatting the received and validated voice service request in the first communication network. The method of claim 1, wherein the logical connection step, Obtaining a unique ID of the data communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network, Obtaining operating parameters of the data communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network; Obtaining operating parameters of a subscriber device associated with the data communication session of the first communication network, Attaching the unique ID of the data communication session to an operating parameter of the subscriber device associated with the data communication session and an operating parameter of the data communication session, and Storing the associated data communication session parameters and the attached subscriber device parameters. The method of claim 1, wherein the pausing step, Instructing the gateway device to operate within the management of the data communication session to interrupt the data communication session. The method of claim 2, wherein the performing step, Initiating a virtual voice connection between the subscriber device and a voice processor device of the first communication device, Initiating a virtual data connection between the subscriber device and the data and voice switching device of the first communication network; and Operatively controlling the virtual voice data session of the first communication network. The method of claim 3, wherein the resuming step, Obtaining the unique data session ID and associated subscriber device parameters of the first communication network; and Instructing the gateway device to re-open the data communication session in accordance with the unique data communication session and subscriber device data of the first communication network. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session of the first communication network comprises a multimedia service. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the voice request is validated by checking the source of the voice request of the first communication network. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the voice request source is a subscriber device of the first communication network. In a communication network, a method of automatically pausing and resuming a data session of a mobile device subscriber to cause the subscriber to receive a non-data session during use of the data session, the method comprising: Instructing a gateway device operating to manage the data communication session to interrupt the data communication session, suspend the data communication session, and enable another non-data session. In the first communication network having at least one subscriber device connectable with the first communication network via a network access service provider switch, the at least one subscriber device operating in a second communication network via a gateway device; A method of providing a communication session with integrated data and voice services to a service provider device, wherein said at least one subscriber is identified and logically coupled to a voice service. A pause step of pausing the data communication session associated with the subscriber device between the subscriber device and the second communication network in the communication network, Initiating a virtual communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network, Performing the requested voice service within a framework of the virtual communication session associated with the subscriber device of the first communication network; and Resuming the data communication session between the subscriber device and the second communication network associated with the data communication session of the first communication network. How to include. In a first communication network having a first subscriber device connectable with a first network access service provider switch, wherein at least one subscriber device of the first communication network operates in a second communication network via a gateway device; Connectable to a provider device, the system for managing a communication session with integrated data and voice services, the system comprising: A data and voice switching server controlling the integration of data and voice services into data and voice sessions associated with the subscriber device in the first communication network, and Gateway device controller to suspend and resume the data communication session System comprising. The method of claim 15, wherein the data and voice conversion server, A service provider application server interface converter for performing translation of the interface received from the service provider of the second communication network; A service provider application server request router for connecting a request received from the service provider of the second communication network to a data communication session of the first communication network, A data voice session controller for controlling a data voice session of the first communication network; A remote access server controller controlling a remote access server of said first communication network, and A voice server controller controlling the voice server of the first communication network System comprising. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a voice server providing voice service to the subscriber device associated with the data voice session of the first communication network. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a network access service provider switch for routing a voice service related request to the data voice conversion server of the first communication network. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a database for maintaining subscriber device control information of the first communication network. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a remote access server connecting the subscriber device to the gate device of the first communication network. 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a gateway server providing a link between the first communication network and the second communication network within a framework of a data communication session. The system of claim 15, wherein the first communication network is a WAP-compliant celluar telephone network. The system of claim 15, wherein the second communication network is a data network. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the subscriber device of the first communication network is a cellular telephone device. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the subscriber device of the first communication network is a digital assistance device. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the database is a location register component. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said data network is the Internet. In a wireless communication network having a plurality of wireless devices associated with subscribers, the wireless device is connectable to other wireless devices in the wireless communication network via a wireless network access service provider switch, and aggregates data and voice to the subscriber associated wireless device. A method of providing a data communication session with a service, the method comprising: Classifying the subscriber device associated with a data communication session of the wireless communication network; A capture step of capturing a voice service request sent from the service provider device to the wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network via the gateway device of the data communication network; Coupling the captured voice service request from the service provider device of the data communication network to the wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network, Suspending the data communication session associated with the wireless device between the wireless device and the data communication network in the wireless communication network, Initiating a data and voice communication session associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network, Executing the requested voice service within a framework of the data and voice communication session associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network, and Resuming the paused data communication session between the wireless device and the data communication network associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network. The method of claim 28, wherein the classification step, Determining a voice service related parameter of the wireless device in the wireless communication network; Obtaining a unique ID of the wireless device in the wireless communication network, Placing a unique control record associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network in a central wireless device control data structure; Modifying content of the unique control record associated with the wireless device of the wireless communication network in accordance with the determined voice service related parameter; and Updating the central wireless device control database with the modified unique control record associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network. The method of claim 28, wherein the capturing step, Receiving a voice service request sent by the service provider of the data communication network in the wireless communication network, and Validating the received voice service request in the wireless communication network. The method of claim 28, wherein the combining step, Identifying the data communication session associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network, Reading operating parameters of the data communication session associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network, Obtaining operating parameters of the wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network, Combining a unique ID of the data communication session with the operating parameter of the wireless device associated with the data communication session and the operating parameter of the data communication session; and Storing the associated data communication session parameter and the combined wireless device parameter. The method of claim 28, wherein the pause step. Instructing the gateway device to terminate the data communication session. The method of claim 28, wherein the executing step, Initiating a virtual voice session associated with the wireless device by a voice processor device of the wireless communication device, Initiating a voice connection between the wireless device and a data and voice switching device of the wireless communication device; and Operatively controlling the voice and data session of the wireless communication network. The method of claim 28, wherein the resuming step, Obtaining the unique data communication session ID and associated wireless device parameters of the first communication network, and Instructing the gateway device to re-open the data communication session in accordance with the unique data communication session of the wireless communication network and the wireless device data. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the data communication network is the Internet. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless communication network is a WAP-compliant cellular telephone network. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless device in the wireless communication network is a WAP-compliant cellular telephone device. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless device of the wireless communication network is a WAP-compliant personal assistance device. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the voice service integrated into the data and voice communication session includes voice message recording, voice replies to e-mail recording, text-to-speech text. -to-voice and voice recognition. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the unique wireless device ID is provided by a Mobile Subscriber ISDN. 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the unique wireless device parameter is obtained from a RADIUS server. In the method for providing data and voice integration services in a communication network, Capturing a voice service request sent from a service subscriber device through a gateway device of the data communication network to a wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network, Coupling the captured voice service request to a wireless device associated with the data communication session of the wireless communication network, Suspending the data communication session associated with the wireless device between the wireless device and the data communication network in the wireless communication network, and Resuming a communication session associated with the wireless device in the wireless communication network. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the communication session is a voice session. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the communication session is a data session. 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the communication session is a rich media session.