Dynamic transcoder placement

A method for a Mobile Switching Center Server (MSC-S) of a mobile communication network for deciding on the placement of a transcoding functionality for a call involving a user equipment, a Base Station Controller and a Media Gateway controlled by said respective Mobile Switching Center Server, the mobile communication network communicating according to an IP Protocol, the method comprising the steps of:

• sending towards said Base Station Controller an indication of a codec type applicable to said call;
• sending towards said BSC an indication whether the transcoding of said codec type could be placed in the selected Media Gateway and in a Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit assigned to said Base Station Controller for said call;
• and
• receiving from the Base Station Controller information on the selected codec and the placement of the transcoding functionality based on a selection within the Base Station Controller on the availability of transcoding functionality within the assigned Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit to place the transcoding functionality either within the assigned Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit or within the selected Media Gateway, whereby said selection is based on said provided indication.

A base station controller of a mobile communication network, the mobile communication network communicating according to an IP Protocol, the base station controller being arranged for deciding on the placement of a transcoding functionality for a call involving a user equipment, said Base Station Controller and a Media Gateway controlled by a respective Mobile Switching Center Server, the Base Station Controller comprising:

• a receiver for receiving from said Mobile Switching Center Server an indication of a codec type applicable to said call;
• said receiver being further arranged to receive an indication whether the transcoding of said codec type could be placed in the selected Media Gateway and in a Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit of assigned to said Base Station Controller for said call;
• a processing unit for selecting to place the transcoding functionality either within the assigned Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit or within the selected Media Gateway based on said received indication;
• and
• a transmitter for sending towards the Mobile Switching Center Server information on the selected codec and the placement of the transcoding functionality.

A Mobile Switching Center Server of a mobile communication network, the mobile communication network communicating according to an IP Protocol, the Mobile Switching Center Server being arranged for deciding on the placement of a transcoding functionality for a call involving a user equipment, a Base Station Controller and a Media Gateway controlled by said respective Mobile Switching Center Server, comprising:

• a transmitter for sending towards said Base Station Controller an indication of a codec type applicable to said call;
• said transmitter being further arranged to sending towards said Base Station Controller an indication whether the transcoding of said codec type could be placed in the selected Media Gateway and in a Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit assigned to said Base Station Controller for said call;
• and
• a receiver for receiving from the Base Station Controller information on the selected codec and the placement of the transcoding functionality based on a selection within the Base Station Controller on the availability of transcoding functionality within the assigned Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit to place the transcoding functionality either within the assigned Transcoder and Rate Adapter Unit or within the selected Media Gateway, whereby said selection is based on said provided indication.