Client-based solution for seamless access to applications across networks

#The present invention relates generally to wireless communications systems and more particularly to systems and methods for providing access to wireless applications across disparate networks.

#Wireless communications systems offer a variety of services to subscribers such as interconnect calling, short message service, packet data communications and push-to-talk (PTT) communications. Each wireless communications system operates using one or more wireless technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communication (GSM), time division multiple access (TDMA) or Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS).

#Many wireless communications systems facilitate communications between a wireless application server and a client application resident on the wireless subscriber unit. For example, PTT services (also known as a walkie-talkie or dispatch services) are currently offered as an Internet protocol (IP) application served by a PTT server. Various frameworks exist for facilitating application services across a wireless network, including the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) standards.

#The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram illustrating three typical wireless application service architectures;

#FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a typical subscriber unit;

#One aspect of the invention is to provide a client-based solution for seamless access to applications across networks which is agnostic to the inter-network mix of application architectures with or without IMS. In one embodiment, the presence of an added layer of intelligence in the terminal will enhance service interoperability during the transition phase to when all networks may fully integrate IMS. In another embodiment, the addition of a supervisory layer of software intelligence on the client-side may be beneficial because it creates opportunities for system maintenance, performance monitoring as well as extended functionality as the system evolves. More exactly, it creates a system entity with data links to other parts of the software system so that information can be gathered or dispersed as the system evolves. This is of special importance to telecommunications networks where standards (e.g., IMS, 3GPP) and applications are continually evolving. For example, as PTT over cellular (PoC) extends to new operators and new countries, the registration mechanism can be tuned to the subtle variations in protocol that exist from operator to operator and country to country.

#Another aspect of the invention is to provide an added layer of client-side software intelligence which is effectively traverses and is agnostic to the various standards layers. This may be desirable due to the fact that successful service may require that many different standards be traversed. For example, a typical PoC application could require a special speech encoder/decoder standard at the application level, real-time transport protocol (RTP/RTSP) data control at the presentation level, session initiation protocol (SIP) at the session level, transmission control or user datagram protocol (TCP/UDP) at the transfer level, IPv4 to IPv6 at the network level, GPRS at the data link level and GSM or WCDMA at the physical level.

#As used herein, the terms “a” or “an” shall mean one or more than one. The term “plurality” shall mean two or more than two. The term “another” is defined as a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having” are open ended (e.g., comprising). Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment” or similar term means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner on one or more embodiments without limitation.