Providing packet-based multimedia services via a circuit bearer

Abstract

A method for providing a packet-based multimedia service to a mobile device in a network. The method includes initiating a multimedia session for the mobile device by establishing a packet connection between the mobile device and the network and establishing a circuit bearer connection between the mobile device and the network. The method further includes transferring information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet connection. Additionally, the method includes transferring information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for providing a packet-based multimedia service to a mobile device in a network, comprising:
 initiating a multimedia session for the mobile device by:
 establishing a packet connection between the mobile device and the network; and 
 establishing a circuit bearer connection between the mobile device and the network; and 
   transferring information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet connection; and   transferring information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the information of the first type comprises signaling information for the multimedia session; and   the information of the second type comprises data for the multimedia session.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the packet-based multimedia service is defined by a telecommunication standard;   the network does not support packet quality of service (QOS) functionality as required by the standard; and   the multimedia service is provided to the mobile device via the network as specified by the standard even though the network does not support the required QoS functionality.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising controlling transfer of data via the circuit bearer connection using the signaling information. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the network initiating a request for the circuit bearer connection. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the mobile device initiating a request for the circuit bearer connection. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising maintaining the circuit bearer connection and the packet connection simultaneously. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising bridging the circuit bearer connection with an endpoint bearer connection, wherein the bridging establishes a link between the mobile device and the endpoint bearer connection. 
     
     
         29 . A method for providing a packet-based multimedia service to an endpoint in a wireless network, comprising:
 initiating a multimedia session for the endpoint by:
 establishing a packet context between the endpoint and a gateway; and 
 establishing a circuit bearer connection between the endpoint and the gateway; and 
   transferring information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet context; and   transferring information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the information of the first type comprises signaling information for the multimedia session; and   the information of the second type comprises data for the multimedia session.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the packet-based multimedia service is defined by a telecommunication standard;   the network does not support packet quality of service (QoS) functionality as required by the standard; and   the multimedia service is provided to the endpoint via the network as specified by the standard even though the network does not support the required QoS functionality.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising controlling transfer of data via the circuit bearer connection using the signaling information. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the circuit bearer connection is initiated by either the endpoint or the gateway. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein establishing the packet context comprises provisioning a codec indicating that a circuit bearer connection is being used. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein establishing the packet context comprises provisioning the endpoint with a null codec to prevent voice packets from being sent via an available packet signaling connection. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein transferring information of a first type comprises using a packet-based session initiation protocol (SIP). 
     
     
         37 . A system for providing a packet-based multimedia service to a mobile device in a network, comprising:
 a call session control function operable to initiate a multimedia session for the mobile device by:
 establishing a packet connection between the mobile device and the network; and 
 establishing a circuit bearer connection between the mobile device and the network; 
   the call session control function being operable to:
 transfer information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet connection; and 
 transfer information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the information of the first, type comprises signaling information for the multimedia session; and   the information of the second type comprises data for the multimedia session.   
     
     
         39 . A system for providing a packet-based multimedia service to an endpoint in a wireless network, comprising:
 a call session control function operable to initiate a multimedia session for the endpoint by:
 establishing a packet context between the endpoint and a gateway; and 
 establishing a circuit bearer connection between the endpoint and the gateway; 
   the call session control function being operable to:
 transfer information of a first type for the multimedia session via the packet context; and 
 transfer information of a second type for the multimedia session via the circuit bearer connection. 
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the information of the first type comprises signaling information for the multimedia session; and   the information of the second type comprises data for the multimedia session.