U.S. patent number RE42,996 [Application Number 12/612,327] was granted by the patent office on 2011-12-06 for sip-based user mobility providing apparatus and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pantech Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Young-Jick Bahg, Eun-Hee Hyun.
United States Patent |
RE42,996 |
Hyun , et al. |
December 6, 2011 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
SIP-based user mobility providing apparatus and method
Abstract
Disclosed are an SIP-based user mobility service providing
apparatus and method using user position information obtained by a
sensing apparatus. When a user enters a specific region, a gateway
including a sensing management module carries out SIP registration
for several terminals existing in the specific region in place of
user agents of the terminals. The sensing management module
transmits an SIP registration message to an SIP proxy server and
notifies the terminals of the completion of SIP registration. Then,
the user receives a call using the same kind of a terminal as a
specific terminal previously set on the basis of a user's
preferences among the terminals in the specific region.
Inventors: |
Hyun; Eun-Hee (Daejeon,
KR), Bahg; Young-Jick (Daejeon, KR) |
Assignee: |
Pantech Co., Ltd. (Seoul,
KR)
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Family
ID: |
34632090 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/612,327 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
10882604 |
Jun 30, 2004 |
7292561 |
Nov 6, 2007 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 5, 2003 [KR] |
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10-2003-0087886 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/338;
370/395.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
48/18 (20130101); H04W 4/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04W
4/00 (20090101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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100179510 |
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Nov 1998 |
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KR |
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100179510 |
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Nov 1998 |
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KR |
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1020030001672 |
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Jan 2003 |
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KR |
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1020030001672 |
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Jan 2003 |
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KR |
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Other References
Ubiquitous Computing Using SIP, 8 pages. cited by other .
Ubiquitous Computing Using SIP, 8 pages, no date provided. cited by
other.
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Primary Examiner: Gary; Erika
Attorney, Agent or Firm: H.C. Park & Associates, PLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An SIP (Session Initiation protocol)-based user mobility service
providing apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP multimedia
service network in an environment where various communication
infrastructures coexist and transmits an SIP message to an SIP
terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to provide a
mobile user with an SIP service, comprising: a sensing part that
detects an event that the user enters a specific region or goes out
of the specific region based on signals from at least one marker,
to obtain a position of the user; and a sensing management module
that receives information on the position of the user in the
specific region from the sensing part and carries out SIP
registration for terminals in the specific region when it is
confirmed that the user.[.,.]. enters the specific region.Iadd.,
.Iaddend.and carries out SIP cancellation of SIP registration for
terminals in the specific region when it is confirmed that the user
goes out of the specific region.
2. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the specific terminal has the same
capability as that of a terminal selected on the basis of a
predetermined terminal priority order depending on a user's
preferences among the several of terminals existing in the specific
region.
3. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one marker transmits
specific information in the signals in response to the user's
position, and the sensing part includes a receiver that receives
signals with the specific information from the at least one marker
to detect the event that the user enters the specific region or
goes out of the specific region and transmits the detected
information to the sensing management unit.
4. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing management module is
mounted in the gateway.
5. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing management module is
constructed in a separate machine having computing capability.
6. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing management module
comprises: an interface unit for communicating with the receiver of
the sensing unit, the SIP proxy server, the SIP terminal, and an
operator terminal that manages the receiver of the sensing unit and
controls the sensing management unit; an information managing unit
that manages the user information and information on the terminals
in the specific region; and an SIP service supporting unit that
carries out SIP registration for the each terminals existing in the
specific region and notification of the completion of SIP
registration such that the user is provided with the SIP
service.
7. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the operator terminal determines a
range of the specific region on the basis of a marker detection
allowable limit of the receiver.
8. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the operator terminal determines a
marker monitoring period to determine whether the user exists in
the specific region.
9. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensing management module further
comprises a user authentication unit that determines whether the
user in the specific region uses the several terminals existing in
the specific region and whether the user subscribes to an SIP
service provider.
10. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensing management module further
comprises a management information database for storing SIP
registration related information including the user information and
the information on the terminals in the specific region.
11. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the information managing unit
comprises: a user/marker mapping manager for managing mapping
information of an ID of the at least one marker and a URI (uniform
resource identifier) of the user; a terminal information manager
for managing the information on the terminals existing in the
specific region; and an active user manager for managing active
information of the user in the specific region.
12. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the SIP service supporting unit
comprises: an SIP user registration/cancellation proxy unit that
generates an SIP registration message for each of the several
terminals in the specific region according to the SIP registration
related information and transmits the SIP registration message to
the SIP proxy server to perform SIP registration; and an SIP user
registration/cancellation notifying unit that notifies the SIP
terminal of the completion of SIP user registration when SIP
registration has been completed through the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit.
13. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus as
claimed in claim 6, wherein the interface unit comprises: a sensing
receiver interface that provides an interface for transmitting
information on the result of the detection of the event that the
user enters the specific region or goes out of the region from the
sensing part to the sensing management module; an SIP proxy server
interface that provides an interface for transmitting the SIP
registration message for each of the terminals to the SIP proxy
server; an SIP terminal interface that provides an interface for
transmitting the SIP registration completion notification to the
SIP terminal; and an operator interface that provides an interface
for operating and controlling the sensing management module by the
operator terminal.
14. An SIP-based user mobility service providing method using an
SIP (session initiation protocol)-based user mobility providing
apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP multimedia service
network in an environment where various communication
infrastructures coexist, and transmits an SIP message to an SIP
terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to provide a
mobile user with an SIP service, comprising: a) converting each
.[.terminals.]. .Iadd.terminal .Iaddend.existing in a specific
region to an available state when a user who is authorized to use
the SIP service enters the specific region; and b) receiving a call
using a specific terminal having the same capability as that of a
terminal previously set on the basis of a user's preferences among
the several terminals in the available state, wherein converting
each terminal further comprises: detecting an event that the user
enters the specific region based on signals from at least one
marker; generating an SIP registration message for terminals in the
specific region and transmitting the SIP registration message to
the SIP proxy server to carry out SIP registration when it is
confirmed that the user enters the specific region; and generating
an SIP deregistration message for the terminals in the specific
region and transmitting the SIP deregistration message to the SIP
proxy server, to carry out cancellation of SIP registration when it
is confirmed that the user goes out of the specific region.
15. The SIP-based user mobility service providing method as claimed
in claim 14, further comprising performing user authentication for
determining whether the user is authorized to use the terminals
existing in the specific region and whether the user is authorized
to use the SIP service when the user enters the specific region
before the converting the each terminals existing in the specific
region to the available state when the user who is authorized to
use the SIP service enters the specific region.
16. The SIP-based user mobility service providing method as claimed
in claim 15, wherein step a) further comprises periodically
confirming whether the user exists in the specific region after the
notifying the SIP terminal of the completion of SIP registration
when SIP registration has been completed.
.Iadd.17. An SIP (Session Initiation protocol)-based user mobility
service providing apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP
multimedia service network to transmit an SIP message to an SIP
terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to provide a
mobile user with an SIP service, comprising: a sensing part to
determine if the mobile user enters a sensing region based on a
recognition of a first marker corresponding to the mobile user; and
a sensing management module to receive identification information
corresponding to the first marker from the sensing part, and to
carry out SIP registration for a first SIP terminal in the sensing
region if the mobile user enters the sensing region, wherein the
sensing part determines if the mobile user departs the sensing
region, and the sensing management module carries out SIP
cancellation of SIP registration for the first SIP terminal in the
sensing region if the mobile user departs the sensing
region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 17, wherein the first SIP terminal has the same capability
as a previously set second SIP terminal and is selected on the
basis of a predetermined terminal priority order depending on a
preference of the mobile user among several SIP terminals in the
sensing region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 17, wherein the first marker transmits identification
information corresonding to the first marker, and the sensing part
comprises a receiver to receive the identification information from
the first marker, and to transmit the identification information to
the sensing management unit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 17, wherein the sensing management module is arranged in
the gateway..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 17, wherein the sensing management module is arranged in a
separate machine having computing capability..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. An SIP (Session Initiation protocol)-based user mobility
service providing apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP
multimedia service network to transmit an SIP message to an SIP
terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to provide a
mobile user with an SIP service, comprising: a sensing part to
determine if the mobile user enters a sensing region based on a
recognition of a first marker corresponding to the mobile user; and
a sensing management module to receive identification information
corresponding to the first marker from the sensing part, and to
carry out SIP registration for a first SIP terminal in the sensing
region if the mobile user enters the sensing region, wherein the
sensing management module comprises: an interface unit to
communicate with the receiver of the sensing unit, the SIP proxy
server, the SIP terminal, and an operator terminal that manages a
receiver of the sensing part and controls the sensing management
module; an information managing unit to manage position information
identifying a position of the mobile user; and an SIP service
supporting unit to carry out SIP registration for the first SIP
terminal in the sensing region and to notify the first SIP terminal
if SIP registration is complete..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the operator terminal determines a range of
the sensing region on the basis of a marker detection allowable
limit of the receiver of the sensing part..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the operator terminal determines a marker
monitoring period to determine whether the mobile user is in the
sensing region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the sensing management module further
comprises: a user authentication unit to determine whether the
mobile user in the sensing region is authorized to use the first
SIP terminal in the sensing region and whether the mobile user
subscribes to an SIP service provider..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the sensing management module further
comprises: a management information database to store SIP
registration related information including mobile user information
and information on the first SIP terminal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the information managing unit comprises: a
user/marker mapping manager to manage mapping an ID of the first
marker to a URI (uniform resource identifier) of the mobile user; a
terminal information manager to manage information on the first SIP
terminal in the sensing region; and an active user manager to
manage active information of the mobile user in the specific
region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the SIP service supporting unit comprises: an
SIP user registration/cancellation proxy unit to generate an SIP
registration message for the first SIP terminal in the sensing
region according to SIP registration related information, and to
transmit the SIP registration message to the SIP proxy server to
perform SIP registration; and an SIP user registration/cancellation
notifying unit to notify the first SIP terminal if SIP registration
is complete through the SIP user registration/cancellation proxy
unit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus
of claim 22, wherein the interface unit comprises: a sensing
receiver interface to provide an interface with the sensing part;
an SIP proxy server interface to provide an interface with the SIP
proxy server; an SIP terminal interface to provide an interface
with the first SIP terminal; and an operator interface to provide
an interface with the operator terminal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. An SIP (session initiation protocol)-based user mobility
service providing method using an SIP -based user mobility
providing apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP multimedia
service network to provide a mobile user with an SIP service, the
method comprising: a) converting a first SIP terminal in a sensing
region to an available state if a mobile user who is authorized to
use the SIP service enters the sensing region; b) receiving a call
using the first SIP terminal having the same capability as a
previously set second SIP terminal on the basis of a preference of
the mobile user among several SIP terminals in an available state
in the sensing region; and generating an SIP deregistration message
for the first SIP terminal, and transmitting the SIP deregistration
message to the SIP proxy server to cancel SIP registration if the
mobile user departs the sensing region, wherein converting the
first SIP terminal further comprises: determining that the mobile
user enters the sensing region based on a recognition of a first
marker corresponding to the mobile user; and generating an SIP
registration message for the first SIP terminal in the sensing
region, and transmitting the SIP registration message to an SIP
proxy server to carry out SIP registration for the first SIP
terminal if the mobile user enters the sensing region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. An SIP (session initiation protocol)-based user mobility
service providing method using an SIP-based user mobility providing
apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP multimedia service
network to provide a mobile user with an SIP service, the method
comprising: a) converting a first SIP terminal in a sensing region
to an available state if a mobile user who is authorized to use the
SIP service enters the sensing region; b) receiving a call using
the first SIP terminal having the same capability as a previously
set second SIP terminal on the basis of a preference of the mobile
user among several SIP terminals in an available state in the
sensing region; and determining whether the mobile user is
authorized to use the first SIP terminal in the sensing region and
whether the mobile user is authorized to use the SIP service if the
mobile user enters the specific region before converting the first
SIP terminal in the sensing region to the available state, wherein
converting the first SIP terminal further comprises: determining
that the mobile user enters the sensing region based on a
recognition of a first marker corresponding to the mobile user; and
generating an SIP registration message for the first SIP terminal
in the sensing region, and transmitting the SIP registration
message to an SIP proxy server to carry out SIP registration for
the first SIP terminal if the mobile user enters the sensing
region..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The SIP-based user mobility service providing method of
claim 31, further comprising: periodically determining whether the
mobile user is arranged in the sensing region after SIP
registration is complete..Iaddend.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is based on Korea Patent Application No.
2003-87886 filed on Dec. 5, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an SIP-based user mobility
providing apparatus and method using user location information
obtained by a sensing apparatus.
(b) Description of the Related Art
There are a variety of networks having different performances and
applications for communication services. Users are provided with
the communication services using various kinds of terminals. With
the development of wired and wireless communication techniques, the
users want to select communication infrastructures providing the
communication services according to their preferences.
The development of wired and wireless communication networks and a
user's desire for being provided with the communication services
whenever and wherever the user wants, creates a service environment
in which various communication networks coexist in an arbitrary
place. In this service environment, the user can use various
network services depending on a place where the user uses the
services, a moving speed, the kind of information the user wants to
use, a performance level, and costs. Furthermore, a user terminal
used for communications can have various forms and a choice of a
terminal may affect a choice of a communication network. The user
has an inclination in utilization of communication services in the
aforementioned service environment.
A session initiation protocol (SIP) is a call signaling protocol of
an application layer, which provides multimedia session initiation,
exchange of session information, and cancellation of session. The
SIP allows a user to be provided with communication services using
a uniform resource identifier (URI) irrespective of a physical
position of a user or a user terminal. That is, a service based on
a user's preferences can be provided by several service features in
an SIP-based multimedia service environment. Furthermore, services
that allow a user to select a communication terminal according to
his/her taste are proposed. For example, a receiving terminal for
the wired/wireless telephone, E-mail, facsimile, and SMS service
can be chosen according to a condition designated by a user. For
this, an SIP service network has a separate database that stores
user's preferences using for initiation of a communication
session.
However, the above-described service can be provided only when the
user has a designated terminal or he/she is in a place where the
terminal exists. That is, if an arbitrary user provides his/her
preferences for services to the SIP service network, a call is
accomplished only when the user is located beside a terminal that
is designated such that it receives the call at the instant of time
when someone attempts to make the call.
Accordingly, there has been proposed a ubiquitous service by which
users can be provided with information or services they want in any
place using various devices having a computing function that exist
in any space. For the ubiquitous service, it is required to collect
various contexts of users in order to conjecture psychological
states and thoughts of the users and provide services they
need.
To grasp the states of the users, various sensing apparatuses are
required. There are various sensing apparatuses depending on kinds
of information the apparatuses should collect.
Current selective services based on a user's preferences are
provided depending on only preference information that has been
designated by the user. Thus, the information can designate a
terminal for receiving a call only when a designated condition,
such as a condition that `a call is received by a specific terminal
at a specific time zone` or a condition that `a call satisfying a
specific condition is sent to voice mail`, is satisfied. However,
the call does not arrive at a corresponding user when the user is
not located near the terminal.
Furthermore, terminals to be used for services using the SIP must
be registered before a communication session is initiated. The SIP
Registration cannot be spontaneously carried out when there is no
user's intention. In particular, when many unspecified persons
share one terminal, it is impossible to conjecture users and carry
out the SIP registration. In the case of originating a call, the
SIP registration is performed at the instant of time when a user
signifies his/her intention to make a call using a terminal, such
that he/she uses the terminal, clicks a button or a mouse, or uses
a keyboard, and then a session is initiated. In the case of
terminating a call, however, when the SIP registration has not been
carried out by SIP user agent, any attempt to execute a
communication is not received. Thus, a terminating part cannot
carry out the SIP registration in time because the terminating part
cannot be aware of the time when the terminating part is requested
to receive a call. When the terminating part uses his/her own
terminal, the SIP registration can be performed when the terminal
is turned on or the terminating part previously sets the SIP
registration. However, when many persons share one terminal or a
user uses an arbitrary terminal in an arbitrary place, the user
should carry out the registration using the several terminals. This
considerably restricts the communication service using the SIP.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an SIP-based
user mobility providing apparatus and method for supporting user
mobility such that a user can receive a call in any place he/she
exists using an arbitrary terminal existing in the place by using
an SIP service network and a sensing apparatus in an environment
where a variety of communication infrastructures coexist.
In one aspect of the present invention, an SIP-based user mobility
service providing apparatus is connected to an SIP-based IP
multimedia service network in an environment where various
communication infrastructures coexist, and transmits an SIP message
to an SIP terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to
provide a mobile user with an SIP service.
The SIP-based user mobility service providing apparatus comprises a
sensing part that detects an event that the user enters a specific
region or goes out of the specific region, to grasp a position of
the user, and a sensing management module that receives information
on the position of the user in the specific region from the sensing
part and carries out SIP registration for several terminal existing
in the specific region in place of the user, to allow the user to
receive a call using a specific terminal among the plurality of
terminals.
The specific terminal has the same capability as that of a terminal
selected on the basis of a predetermined terminal priority order
depending on a user's preferences among the several terminals
existing in the specific region.
The sensing part includes a marker that transmits specific
information in response to the user's position, and a receiver that
receives the specific information from the marker to detect the
event that the user enters the specific region or goes out of the
specific region and transmits the detected information to the
sensing management module. The sensing management module can be
mounted in the gateway or constructed in a separate machine having
computing capability.
The sensing management module comprises an interface unit for
communicating with the receiver of the sensing unit, the SIP proxy
server, the SIP terminal, and an operator terminal that manages the
receiver of the sensing unit and controls the sensing management
unit; an information managing unit that manages the user
information and information on the terminals in the specific
region; and an SIP service supporting unit that carries out SIP
registration for the several terminals existing in the specific
region and notification of the completion of SIP registration such
that the user is provided with the SIP service.
The operator terminal determines a range of the specific region on
the basis of a marker detection allowable limit of the receiver. In
addition, the operator terminal determines a marker monitoring
period to determine whether the user exists in the specific
region.
The sensing management module further comprises a user
authentication unit that determines whether the user in the
specific region uses the several terminals existing in the specific
region and whether the user subscribes to an SIP service provider.
The sensing management module further comprises a management
information database for storing SIP registration related
information including the user information and the information on
the terminals in the specific region.
The information managing unit comprises a user/marker mapping
manager for managing mapping information of an ID of the marker and
a URI of the user; a terminal information manager for managing the
information on the terminals existing in the specific region; and
an active user manager for managing information of the user
activation in the specific region;
The SIP service supporting unit comprises an SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit that generates an SIP
registration message for each of the several terminals in the
specific region according and transmits the SIP registration
message to the SIP proxy server to perform SIP registration; and an
SIP user registration/cancellation notifying unit that notifies the
SIP terminal of the completion of SIP user registration when SIP
registration has been completed through the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit.
The interface unit comprises a sensing receiver interface that
provides an interface for transmitting information on the result of
the detection of the event that the user enters the specific region
or goes out of the region from the sensing part to the sensing
management module; an SIP proxy server interface that provides an
interface for transmitting the SIP registration message for each of
the terminals to the SIP proxy server; an SIP terminal interface
that provides an interface for transmitting the SIP registration
completion notification to the SIP terminal; and an operator
interface that provides an interface for operating and controlling
the sensing management module by the operator terminal.
The present invention also provides an SIP-based user mobility
service providing method using an SIP-based user mobility providing
apparatus that is connected to an SIP-based IP multimedia service
network in an environment where various communication
infrastructures coexist, and transmits an SIP message to an SIP
terminal and an SIP proxy server through a gateway to provide a
mobile user with an SIP service.
The SIP-based user mobility service providing method comprises
converting each terminals existing in a specific region to an
available state when a user who is authorized to use the SIP
service enters the specific region; and receiving a call using a
specific terminal having the same capability as that of a terminal
previously set on the basis of a user's preferences among the
plurality of terminals in the available state.
The SIP-based user mobility service providing method further
comprising performing user authentication for determining whether
the user is authorized to use the terminals existing in the
specific region and whether the user is authorized to use the SIP
service when the user enters the specific region before the
converting the terminals existing in the specific region to the
available state when the user who is authorized to use the SIP
service enters the specific region.
The converting the each terminals existing in the specific region
to the available state when the user who is authorized to use the
SIP service enters the specific region comprises detecting the
event that the user enters the specific region; generating an SIP
registration message for the each terminals in the specific region
and transmitting the SIP registration message to the SIP proxy
server to carry out SIP registration; and notifying the SIP
terminal of the completion of SIP registration when SIP
registration has been completed.
The converting the each terminals existing in the specific region
to the available state when the user who is authorized to use the
SIP service enters the specific region further comprises
periodically confirming whether the user exists in the specific
region after the notifying the SIP terminal of the completion of
SIP registration when SIP registration has been completed.
The converting the each terminals existing in the specific region
to the available state when the user who is authorized to use the
SIP service enters the specific region further comprises, when it
is confirmed that the user does not exist in the specific region,
generating an SIP registration cancellation message for the
plurality of terminals in the specific region and transmitting the
SIP registration cancellation message to the SIP proxy server, to
carry out cancellation of SIP registration; and notifying the SIP
terminal of the completion of SIP registration cancellation when
the cancellation of SIP registration has been completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the
invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention:
FIG. 1 illustrates a service environment where various
communication networks coexist, to which the present invention is
applied;
FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile multimedia service environment for
supporting user mobility according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates an SIP-based mobile multimedia service network
in connection with a sensing apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a sensor management module of an
SIP-based user mobility providing apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an SIP-based user mobility
providing method according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following detailed description, only the preferred
embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, simply by
way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by the
inventor(s) of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects,
all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings
and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and
not restrictive.
FIG. 1 illustrates a service environment where a variety of
communication networks coexist, to which the present invention is
applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the service environment 100 includes a wireless
LAN (WLAN) environment 101 having access points which are equipped
in a campus or an office building, which is used for walking speed;
a cellular or personal mobile communication environment 102 usable
for a moving speed higher than a certain level, such as in a car; a
Bluetooth environment 103 for communications through radio
apparatuses or Internet access in the home or office; a
conventional fixed network environment 104; and any other network
environments 105.
The above-described communication infrastructures provide
communication services while being overlapped in an arbitrary
region, and they can be classified depending on a method of
providing a physical communication path. Furthermore, the
communication infrastructures can include networks of different
telecommunication operators using the same communication method.
Users select communication infrastructures or terminals used for
communications on the basis of various and complicate factors
including costs, environmental factors, personal tastes, and so on.
For example, the users can select communication infrastructures or
terminals on the basis of capability of currently usable terminals,
a billing policy of a communication infrastructure, service
quality, importance of a communication counterpart, an emergency
degree, and so on. These factors are combined with information on a
specific time zone or a place where the users exist, and are
applied to the selection of the communication infrastructures or
terminals.
A system and a method for providing user mobility in a ubiquitous
environment will now be explained.
FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile multimedia service environment for
supporting user mobility according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 shows a mobile multimedia service environment
supporting user mobility, to which a moving user's preferences can
be applied, in an environment where various communication
infrastructures coexist.
The mobile multimedia service environment for supporting user
mobility includes an SIP service network 200 that provides a mobile
multimedia service using an SIP on the basis of various
communication infrastructures 100 having different transmission
methods.
The environment having the various communication infrastructures
includes a service environment having a sensing region 300 where a
user who has been moved from a region where his/her terminal exists
to the sensing region 300 can originate or terminate a call using a
terminal existing in the sensing region. In the sensing region 300,
communication services are provided to the user through a terminal
resource existing in the area where the user is located on the
basis of a user's preferences previously registered without having
the user's intentional intervention in cooperation with the SIP
service network 200 that is a service control network. FIG. 3
illustrates the SIP service network (SIP-based mobile multimedia
service network) in connection with a sensing apparatus in the
sensing region according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
According to the present invention, the sensing apparatus 310 is
installed in the sensing region 300 in order for the SIP service
network 200 to support user mobility. The sensing apparatus 310
manages the sensing region 300 and includes a receiver 312 and
markers 314. Various kinds of sensing apparatuses can be utilized
depending on a sensing method and physical structural
characteristics of an environment where the sensing apparatus is
installed.
The sensing region 300 is a space where an arbitrary user selects
one of terminals 320 existing therein to use the selected terminal
for communications. The sensing region 300 is formed by installing
the sensing apparatus and defining a sensing diameter.
Furthermore, the sensing region 300 means an area where the
receiver 312 can recognize signals of the markers 314. The range of
the sensing region 300 can be varied according to a selected
sensing apparatus. The sensing region 300 can be intentionally
formed to be small or large in order to define a personal space
within the capability of the sensing apparatus 310.
Each of the markers 314 transmits unique information such as an ID
to the receiver 312 such that the receiver 312 knows the existence
of the marker 314. The marker 314 has a small size and low power
consumption such that a user uses it conveniently. The user should
carry the marker 314. The receiver 312 receives the ID of the
marker 314 using a predetermined method to detect a movement of the
user carrying the marker 314.
The SIP service network 200 includes an SIP proxy server 210, an
SIP registration server 220, an SIP redirect server 230, an SIP
presence server 240, and an SIP application server 250. The SIP
service network 200 uses functions of a conventional SIP service
network so that detailed explanation thereof is omitted.
To transmit information on the movement of the user who carries the
marker 314 to the SIP service network 200, which is obtained from
the identification of the marker 314 by the receiver 312, a sensing
management module having sensing management and transmission
functions of storing or processing the user movement information is
required.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the sensing management module of the
SIP-based user mobility providing apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Here, the sensing management
module is mounted in a gateway 330 (shown in FIG. 3).
Referring to FIG. 4, the sensing management module 400 includes an
interface unit 410, an information management unit 420, a
management information database 430, a user authentication unit
440, and an SIP service supporting unit 450. The interface unit 410
includes a sensing receiver interface 412, an SIP proxy server
interface 414, an SIP terminal interface 416, and an operator
interface 418.
The sensing receiver interface 412 receives the identifier of the
marker 314 whose movement is recognized. In addition, the sensing
receiver interface 412 depends on a hardware connection of the
receiver 312 and the computer (gateway) 330 in order to obtain
information on a user who enters a corresponding region.
The SIP proxy server interface 414 is connected with an SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 to transmit/receive an SIP
message to/from the SIP proxy server 210. The SIP terminal
interface 416 is connected with an SIP user
registration/cancellation notifying unit 454 to enable
communication between the SIP terminal 320 and the computer
(gateway) 330 on the basis of a communication method of the SIP
terminal 320 existing in the sensing region 300 and the gateway
330. The communication method is determined on the basis of a wired
or wireless communication standard or mode. Accordingly, the SIP
terminal interface 416 is operated on the basis of information
required for the interface 416 to be connected with the SIP
terminal 320. This information can be stored in the management
information database 430 and managed by it.
The operator interface 418 interfaces an operator terminal 270, the
information management unit 420, and the SIP service supporting
unit 450 with one another to allow an operator to search or change
parameters for a rule that the operator should observe when he/she
controls environmental variables, adds or deletes information, and
carries out real-time operation though the operator terminal
270.
The operator terminal 270 controls reference values for procedures
processed by various data tables and the components of the sensing
management module 400 while the sensing management module 400 is
operated. Furthermore, the operator terminal 270 determines a range
of the sensing region 300 where the sensing apparatus 310 is
installed to provide the service. In addition, the operator
terminal 270 determines a monitoring period of the marker 314 for
confirming whether a user continuously exists in the corresponding
sensing region 300.
The information management unit 420 includes a user/marker mapping
manager 422, a terminal information manager 424, and an active user
manager 407. The user/marker mapping manager 422 maps the ID of the
marker 314 with a URI that means a specific user when the sensing
apparatus 310 receives the Identifier of the marker 314. The
user/marker mapping manager 422 is operated by a table that manages
mapping of the marker ID and the user URI. The table is stored in
the separate database 430 and managed by the database.
In the case that there are multiple sensing regions and users want
to be provided with user mobility service while moving in these
sensing regions, all information on mapping between the users and
markers can be stored in sensing management modules corresponding
to the respective sensing regions when the number of the users is
small. When the number of the users is not small, a separate
database can be used. Here, the sensor management module 400 can
have a function of executing a separate communication with the
separate database in order to obtain a URI of a user having a
specific marker ID.
The terminal information manager 424 manages information on
terminals existing in a specific region. Here, the information on
the terminals includes information on characteristics of each
terminal, which is required for the SIP service supporting unit 450
to carry out SIP registration in place of a user agent UA of the
terminal, and information required for the user agent UA to perform
SIP registration in the SIP service network 200. The information on
the terminals is stored in the separate database 430.
The active user manager 426 manages active information on whether a
user exists in the corresponding sensing region 300. In addition,
the active user manager 426 manages information on active users
through the database 430.
The user authentication unit 440 authenticates whether a user who
has moved to the corresponding sensing region 300 is authorized to
use the terminals 320 existing in the sensing region or to use the
mobile multimedia service. Information required for the
authentication is stored in the database 430 and managed by the
database 430. The user authentication unit 440 can be operated by a
separate authentication server such that multiple sensing regions
can commonly access the user authentication unit 440.
The SIP service supporting unit 450 includes the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 and the SIP user
registration/cancellation notifying unit 454. The SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 carries out SIP
registration for a corresponding user in place of user agents of
the SIP terminals.
The SIP user registration/cancellation notifying unit 454 notifies
the user agents of the SIP terminals that SIP user registration has
been completed when the gateway finishes SIP registration. Here,
information required for operating a service session for a
corresponding SIP terminal is transmitted.
The sensing management module 400 constructed as above carries out
SIP registration of a corresponding terminal in place of a user
such that the user can be provided with the SIP service using the
terminal in a specific region. By doing so, the sensing management
module 400 can manage the terminals existing in the sensing region
300 in order to select a terminal used for a communication session
on the basis of a predetermined user's preferences in a specific
region, and to control the terminals to be available when the user
enters the sensing region 300.
An SIP-based user mobility providing method using user position
information obtained by the sensing apparatus will now be explained
in detail with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing
the SIP-based user mobility providing method according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
When a user enters the sensing region 300, the receiver 312
receives the ID of the marker 314 using a predetermined method to
detect a movement of the user in step S502. For example, the
receiver 312 carries out a separate procedure of confirming the
existence of the marker 314 periodically to detect a movement of a
person or an object carrying the marker 314 when the marker 314 is
passive. When the marker 314 is active, the receiver 312 detects a
movement of the person or object carrying the marker 314 through
information received from the marker 314.
The receiver 312 that has detected a motion of the user transmits
the ID of the marker to the sensing management module 400 through
the receiver interface 412. That is, the receiver 312 recognizes
whether the user enters a specific area defined as the sensing
region 300 or goes out of the area in step S502, and controls
information on the marker 314 and processes the received
identification information of the marker to transmit it to the
gateway in step 504, to support user mobility.
Then, the user/marker mapping manager 422 of the sensing management
module 400 maps the marker ID with a URI of the user to determine
that the user has entered the sensing region 300 in step S506.
Mapping information on the marker ID and user's URI is managed by a
corresponding service provider when the user subscribes to the
service provider to be provided with the marker. That is, the
mapping information on all users who can be provided with the
service in the sensing region 300 is managed irrespective of
whether the users exist in the sensing region.
When the existence of the marker is recognized through the sensing
receiver interface 412, the user authentication unit 440 of the
sensing management module 400 determines whether the user carrying
the marker is authorized to use a terminal existing in the sensing
region 300 to authenticate the user in step S508.
When it is confirmed that the user entering the sensing region 300
subscribes to an SIP service provider, the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 of the sensing management
module 400 generates an SIP registration message in place of a user
agent UA of each terminal 320 existing in the sensing region 300 in
step S510, and transmits the SIP registration message to the SIP
proxy server 210 through the SIP proxy server interface 414 in step
S512. When the SIP proxy server 210 receives the SIP registration
message from the SIP user registration/cancellation proxy unit 452,
the SIP proxy server 210 transmits an acknowledge signal SIP OK in
response to the received result in step S514.
At the instant of time when the sensing management module 400
completes the SIP registration, the SIP user
registration/cancellation notifying unit 454 of the sensing
management module 400 generates SIP registration completion
messages for all of the SIP terminals existing in the sensing
region 300 in step S516, and notifies the user agents of the SIP
terminals that the SIP user registration has been completed in step
S518. When each of the SIP terminals receives the notification, it
transmits an acknowledge signal to the sensing management module
400 in step S520. Then, the user agent UA of each SIP terminal
becomes an available state for transmitting or receiving an INVITE
message capable of carrying out the service after SIP registration
is finished.
The sensing management module 400 periodically sends a confirmation
signal to the receiver 312 with respect to the user existing in the
sensing region 300 to confirm whether the marker IDs recognized by
the receiver 312 still exist in step S522. The receiver 312 that
has received the 15 confirmation signal from the sensing management
module 400 transmits IDs of markers existing in the sensing region
300. When there is no ID of the marker that previously entered the
sensing region 300 among the marker IDs transmitted from the
receiver, a user carrying the corresponding marker is considered to
have gone out of the sensing region 300. These operations are
performed by the active user manager 426.
When the active user manager 426 of the sensing management module
400 determines that the corresponding user has gone out of the
sensing region 300 in step S525, the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 generates an SIP
deregistration message in step S526, to cancel the SIP registration
for the corresponding SIP terminal 320. Then, the SIP user
registration/cancellation proxy unit 452 transmits the SIP
deregistration message to the SIP proxy server 210 through the SIP
proxy interface 414 in step S528. The SIP proxy server 210 receives
the SIP deregistration message and transmits an acknowledge signal
SIP OK to the sensing management module 400 in step S530.
At the instant of time when the sensing management module 400
completes the cancellation of SIP registration, the SIP user
registration/cancellation notifying unit 454 of the sensing
management module 400 generates an SIP deregistration completion
message for all the SIP terminals existing in the sensing region
300 in step S532, to notify the user agents UA of the SIP terminals
that the SIP deregistration has been cancelled in step S534. Each
the SIP terminals that has received the notification transmits an
acknowledgement signal ACK to the sensing management module 400 in
step S536.
While the separate computer (gateway) 330 having software
functioning as the sensing management module is connected with the
sensing apparatus 310 in the aforementioned embodiment of the
present invention, it is not restricted thereto. For example, the
sensing apparatus 310 may not be connected to the gateway 330 and
the receiver 312 of the sensing apparatus 310 may be constructed
such that it has computing capability. Otherwise, the sensing
management module can be inserted into a separate device having
computing capability and being operated through an internal
interface of the sensing apparatus 310.
The components of the sensing management module are required to
manage an arbitrary sensing region. When a management region of a
gateway existing for a specific purpose on a home network or an
office network or agents, which are included in a physical network
environment having unique characteristics, corresponds to the
sensing region, the components of the sensing management module can
be mounted on the same platform as the platform of the gateway or
agents.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
According to the present invention, a user can use a terminal
existing in an arbitrary area to originate a call or receive a call
when the user has moved to the area from an area where his/her
terminal exists in an environment where various communication
terminals and communication infrastructures for supporting the
terminals coexist. Furthermore, even when the user is located in an
area where his/her terminal does not exist, the user can be
provided with a desired communication service using a terminal
having the same capability and characteristics as those of his/her
terminal if the terminal exists in the area.
Moreover, the present invention can support user mobility such that
a user can be provided with the user mobility services using
various terminals. Furthermore, according to the present invention,
the user does not have to intentionally carry out SIP user
registration using a terminal he/she wants to use. In addition,
since an arbitrary terminal can provide a ubiquitous service for an
arbitrary user in a ubiquitous service environment, the user can
receive a call using the same kind of terminal as his/her own
terminal among terminals existing in the area where the user is
currently located.
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