Abstract:
A system and method for initiating communications between a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The method includes the steps of detecting the status of the first wireless device, notifying the second wireless device via a scrolling ticker message based on the detecting step and establishing a communication session between the first and second wireless devices. The detecting step includes generating an alert based on a predefined event. The system for establishing a communication path between a first mobile device and a second mobile device includes an IMS core, a presence server communicatively coupled to the IMS core and in communication with the first mobile device, a scrolling ticker server in communication with the presence server and with the second mobile device, wherein the presence server communicates availability of the first mobile device and the scrolling ticker notifies the second mobile device of the availability of the first mobile device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The instant application is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/504,132, filed Aug. 14, 2006. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/504,132 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to enabling two subscribers of telecommunications services to interact with each other based on notification of availability. More particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for utilizing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in combination with other servers to control peer to peer and other types of communications based on the notification of presence of the subscribers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As new wireless applications continue to be developed, wireless carriers are increasingly looking for methods and systems to more cost effectively provide services to their subscribers and to make those services more convenient and user friendly for those subscribers. Additionally, the provision of content to wireless subscribers continues to be a priority for carriers as subscribers are demanding an ever increasing amount of data and content be available on their wireless devices. 
     Recently, carriers and vendors of wireless devices have developed systems, methods and wireless devices that deliver content to subscribers in the form of a scrolling ticker which contains headlines, sports scores, stock information, or other data on a portion of the display screen. For example, such systems are commercially available on Motorola wireless device model V557 and available to subscribers of Cingular Wireless, the assignee of the present invention. 
     As part of the 3GPP standards, cellular and other telecommunication providers are deploying IP Multimedia Subsystems (“IMS”), a next generation network that uses the IP protocol to control the set-up and transport of data. The IMS supports data, video, SIP-based voice over IP (VoIP) and non-SIP packetized voice, such as H.323 and MGCP. IMS integrates with the public switched telephone network and provides traditional telephony services such as 800 numbers, caller ID and local number portability to wireless subscribers. IMS also supports instant messaging, push-to-talk, video conferencing and video on demand applications. Moreover, IMS provides a framework to enable peer-to-peer services among wireless users. 
     Finally, wireless providers have developed presence services to dynamically determine the presence and availability of subscribers. Such presence servers often indicate whether a particular subscriber is logged on to a data service and which means of communication are available to that subscriber. 
     Up until now, each of these technologies has stood alone and therefore have failed to reach their potential in providing cost-effective, user friendly applications to subscribers. Hence, there is a need in the art for systems and methods to integrate and interface the scrolling ticker technology into the IMS subsystem to enable communications using that technology to control or initiate communications services through the IMS subsystem. Moreover, there is a need integrate and interface the scrolling ticker technology with the presence servers as a means for notification of presence to subscribers. As set forth in greater detail below, this invention overcomes those and other needs and provides further advantages to users of telecommunications systems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention satisfies the aforementioned needs in the art by providing systems and methods for initiating communications between a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The method includes the steps of detecting the status of the first wireless device, notifying the second wireless device via a scrolling ticker message based on the detecting step, and then establishing a communication session between the first and second wireless devices. The detecting step includes generating an alert based on a predefined event, wherein the predefined event includes one of powering on the first wireless device, a login to a network or service by the first wireless device, posting of new content by a subscriber, or signing up for new service by a subscriber. The detecting step may be performed periodically or may be requested by the second wireless device. If requested by the second wireless device, the method may include a detecting step that if the first wireless device is busy, the detecting step repeats until it is detected that the second wireless device is no longer busy and then performs the notifying step. The establishing step is performed based on interacting with the second wireless device or may be performed without user intervention. The communication may be a peer-to-peer communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, or may be a conference call in which the detecting step determines whether the first wireless device is connected to the conference call. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of managing a communication between a wireless device and a telecommunications device by the wireless device is provided. The telecommunications device may be a wireless device or a wireline device. That method includes detecting the availability of the telecommunications device, notifying the wireless device via a scrolling ticker message based on the detecting step, and if the telecommunications device is available, establishing the communication between the wireless device and the telecommunications device. The communication in that embodiment may be a conference call and may include a plurality of telecommunications devices wherein the notifying step is performed each time the detecting step detects a change in participation by one of the plurality of telecommunications devices. 
     The system of the present invention is a system for initiating a communications path between a first mobile device and a second mobile device including an IMS core, a presence server communicatively coupled to the IMS core and in communication with the first mobile device, a scrolling ticker server in communication with the presence server and with the second mobile device, wherein the presence server communicates availability of the first mobile device and the scrolling ticker notifies the second mobile device of the availability of the first mobile device. The scrolling ticker server may be in communication with the presence server through the IMS core or the scrolling ticker server may be coupled to and in communication with the presence server. The communication path between the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a peer-to-peer communication path. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       Other features of the invention are further apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a communication network in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the system architecture of an IMS communication system in which peer-to-peer communications occurs; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart illustrating the establishment of peer-to-peer communications; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention which supports the operation, management and security of conference calling. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that certain acronyms as used herein have industry standard meanings. For the convenience of the reader, the acronyms set forth below shall have the meanings as indicated, or if such acronyms are not listed, they shall have their industry standard meanings.
         AS—Application Server   CSCF—Call State Control Functions   P-CSCF—Proxy Call State Control Functions   I-CSCF—Interrogating Call State Control Functions   S-CSCF—Serving Call State Control Functions   HSS—Home Subscriber Server   DNS/ENUM—Provides the link between MSISDN and IP   QoS—Quality of Service   GGSN—Gateway GPRS Support Node   RAN—Radio Access Network   RSS—Really Simple Syndication   SGSN—Serving GPRS Support Node   SDP—Session Description Protocol   SIP—Session Initiation Protocol   UE—User Equipment       

     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a functional block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. There is shown user equipment (UE)  12 ,  14 , which, in accordance with the present invention, are to communicate with each other using peer to peer protocols. Functions included in setting up the peer to peer communication include the IMS core  100 , the presence server  30 , and the scrolling ticket server  40 . The UE  12 ,  14  may be any type of wireless communication devices, preferably with GPRS data capabilities. At least one of UE  12  or UE  14  supports scrolling ticker technology such as the afore-mentioned Motorola V577. For the purposes of this description, we will assume that at least UE  14  supports scrolling ticker technology. For convenience, the terms UE and “wireless device” may be used interchangeably throughout this specification. 
     The presence server  30  is known in the art and is an application server located within the network and preferably designed in accordance with applicable Open Mobile Alliance (“OMA”) standards, preferably OMA-ERELD-Presence SIMPLE-VI 0-200602014-C, “Enabler Release Definition for OMA Presence SIMPLE” and references contained therein, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The presence server  30  collects information about the presence, or availability, of a set of wireless subscribers. Typically, such information may include, for example, whether a particular subscriber wireless device is powered on and within coverage range, whether the wireless device is accepting data messages or whether the wireless device is otherwise logged on to a particular application such as Instant Messaging. The presence server  30  communicates with the IMS core  100  as one of potentially several application servers. 
     The scrolling ticker server  40  is preferably a content server configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices, such as UE  12  or UE  14 . The scrolling ticker server streams content to wireless devices configured to receive such data. The scrolling ticker server  40  may, for example, provide text streams based on a set of user-defined alerts, such as stock information, sports scores, news, weather, and any other information. One communication protocol between the scrolling ticker server  40  to UE  12  or UE  14  may, for example, be really simple syndication (RSS), more specifically, the RSS 2.0 standard. 
     The IMS core  100  communicates with UE  12  and  14 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the IMS core  100  is described in relevant part with respect to  FIG. 2 . Those skilled in the art will understand that there may be other components within an IMS core not specifically shown in the drawing. Without limiting the generality of the invention, in order to describe the operation of the peer-to-peer network  10  in the context of this invention, an example will be used in which UE  14  will be assumed to be a wireless device  314  which initiates a communication in a peer-to-peer session with UE  12 , assumed in this example to be wireless device  312 , when the subscriber associated with wireless device  312  becomes available. 
     Wireless device  312 , upon power-up, registers with the IMS core  20  and the presence server  30 , indicating the subscriber of wireless device  312  is online and available for communication. The presence server  30  sends a communication to the scrolling ticker server  40  indicating the availability of subscriber wireless device  312 . This communication may be through an ISC interface between the presence server  30  and the scrolling ticker server  40 , assuming that the scrolling ticker server  40  is configured as an IMS application server. Alternatively, a SIP interface may be added to the scrolling ticker server  40  to enable communication to proceed between the scrolling ticker server  40  and the presence server  30  through the IMS core  100 . There may also be other interfaces that do not traverse the IMS core, again including, but not limited to a SIP interface. Alternatively other protocols utilizing SUBSCRIBE/NOTIFY capabilities may also be implemented. Based on pre-defined criteria on the part of the subscriber of wireless device  314 , a message from the scrolling ticker server  40  indicating the presence of wireless device  312  is sent to the subscriber of wireless device  314 . The scrolling ticker transmission may, for example, contain a data message indicating that subscriber associated with wireless device  312  is available, or alternatively, it may contain data which includes a pointer which, if selected by the subscriber associated with wireless device  314 , offers a one-click invocation of a peer-to-peer session between wireless device  312  and wireless device  314 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , there is shown, by way of example, an embodiment of a peer-to-peer session and protocol between wireless devices  312  and  314 . In this example, wireless device  314  is the calling party and wireless device  312  is the called party, and in the context of the present invention, it will be assumed that the subscriber of wireless device  314  has just been notified that the user of wireless device  312  has become available. Dashed lines between elements indicate control signal flow, while solid lines between elements indicate data flow. Wireless device  314  is located within a calling party visited network  102  which will communicate with the calling party home network  103  to authenticate the user of wireless device  314 . The calling party home network  103  communicates with the called party home network  120  to locate the wireless device  312  which is found in the called party visited network  104 . 
     The wireless device  314  is connected to the backbone packet network  108  though the radio access network (RAN) interface  106 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the RAN may, in a GPRS environment, typically contain elements such as the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and the gateway GPRS support node (GGSN). The packet network  108  may be any type of network, including GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, or any other type of wireless data network. The packet network communicates with the proxy call state control function (P-CSCF)  110  which is typically the first contact point into the IMS core  100  for the wireless device  314 . The P-CSCF  110  initiates a SIP session with the serving call state control function (S-CSCF)  112  by issuing a SIP invitation. The S-CSCF  112  communicates with the home subscriber server (HSS)  114  from which the subscriber profile, including permissions and other control parameters, are retrieved. The S-CSCF  112  also communicates with one or more application servers  114  which may, for example, be presence servers or any other type of application server. The S-CSCF  112  also resolves the address destination of the called party home network through DNS server  118 . 
     Continuing with reference to  FIG. 2 , the peer-to-peer communication setup continues through the S-CSCF communicating with an interrogating call state control function (I-CSCF)  122  within the called party home network  120 . The IMS architecture within the called party home network  120  and the called party visited network  104  is similar to that described above in the calling party visited network  102  and the calling party home network  103 . The I-CSCF  122  communicates with the S-CSCF  124  within the called party home network  120 , which in turn retrieves called party subscriber information from the HSS  128 , including the current location of the called party visited network  104  in which subscriber using wireless device  312  is located. The S-CSCF  124  also communicates with any application servers  126  required for operation of various applications. The S-CSCF  124  communicates with the P-CSCF  130  found within the called party visited network  104 , through the backbone packet network  130  and RAN  134  to the wireless device  312 . 
     All of the afore-mentioned communications interfaces within the IMS Core  100  relate to control data and are used to set up a peer-to-peer communications session between wireless devices  312  and  314 . Once the control is set up, peer-to-peer communications between wireless devices  312  and  314  may occur on bearer channels  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210  over which data is transmitted between the wireless device  312  located within the calling party visited network  102  and the called party visited network  104 . 
     It will be understood that variations in the peer-to-peer set-up may exist based on implementation of the network and options selected by the users. For example, upon notification of the availability of wireless device  312 , wireless device  314  may initiate the peer-to-peer session via an interactive selection process or alternatively, initiate such a session at some other point in the future. By way of further example, the peer-to-peer session may be initiated automatically with no intervention by wireless device  314 , with wireless device  314  will simply be notified via a scrolling ticker message that wireless device  312  has become available and the peer-to-peer session request has been initiated. Yet another example would involve wireless device  312  initiating a peer-to-peer session, either upon registration or on user command, with wireless device  314  being notified via a scrolling ticker message that wireless device  312  has initiated such a session. 
     It may be that for time sensitive alerts, options whereby such alerts are sent out quickly by obtaining the IP address of the receiving device from the IMS core  100  and then pushed to the scrolling ticker server. Conversely, one of the UEs  12 ,  14  may periodically poll the presence server  30  to determine the presence status of the other UE, receiving either a positive or negative response via a scrolling ticker message, or a response only when the other UE is present and available. Thus, the invention is adaptable to either “push” or “pull” type of alerts. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown by way of example and not limitation a flow chart that describes the steps taken to establish a peer-to-peer communication session through an IMS core  100  as described in the context of the architecture of  FIG. 2 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, variations of these steps are both possibly and likely based on the implementation of the network and user options selected. At step  220 , an initiate SIP invitation is generated. At step  222 , the subscriber profile of the initiating subscriber is retrieved. At step  224 , service logic is applied through access to one or more application servers  114 . At step  226 , the address of the called party is retrieved from the DNS server  118 . At that point, the SIP invite is forwarded at step  228 . At step  230 , the identity of the registrar of the called party is determined. At step  232 , the profile of the called subscriber is retrieved from the HSS  128 . At step  234 , service logic determined from communication with application servers  126  is applied. At step  236 , the invite is forwarded to the called party. At step  238 , session description protocol (SDP) negotiations with the subscriber wireless device  312  occur. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, SDP may involve session announcement, session invitation, and other forms of multimedia session initiation. Step  238  is followed by the ring/answer/connect process at step  240 . 
     There are multiple events that could cause a trigger to send a message to subscriber of wireless device  314  via a scrolling ticker message. For example, a triggering event may comprise posting of new content by a subscriber, power-on of a subscriber, login of a subscriber, or signing up for new service by a subscriber. Additionally, trigger events could be periodic or time-based, and could be generated by servers in the network or wireless devices with or without subscriber intervention. 
     By way of yet another example, alerts may be generated when subscriber using UE  14  attempts a call to the subscriber using UE  12  and UE  14  is busy or otherwise unavailable. Rather than continuing to re-try establishing a call with UE  12 , UE  14  may opt to have an alert be scrolled to UE  14  when UE  12  becomes available. That alert may include text only (indicating that the subscriber is available and should be re-dialed), a text message with an embedded pointer to “one click” invocation of a call back, or an automatic generation of a call back signal upon receipt of the scrolling ticker message. 
     With respect to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which instead of a presence server  30 , a conference server  130  is attached as an application server to the IMS core  100 . In this example, a user may be hosting a conference call. A trigger action may be set up such that when another party joins or leaves the call, the scrolling ticker server will send a message to the host and/or other participants indicating the person who has just joined or left the call. As such, instead of a peer-to-peer network protocol session being initiated, the invention is used to manage access to and participation in a conference call. In this case, there is a conference server (bridge)  130  in the network. The conference server  130  interfaces to the IMS core  100  and the scrolling ticker server  140 . The scrolling ticket server  140  operate substantially similar scrolling ticket server  40  with modifications to account for the different network interfaces. 
     In this embodiment, the scrolling ticker server  140  may, for example, send messages each time a participant connects or disconnects from the conference call. Alternatively, a host of the conference call may use the notification from the scrolling ticker server  140  as a security feature, choosing to admit or deny a would-be conference participant. The notification would be provided through the scrolling ticker server  140  to the wireless device  314 . The wireless device  314  may control the access to the conference directly through communication with the IMS core functionality  100 . 
     Thus, there have been described systems and methods for generating alerts to a subscriber using a scrolling ticker server  40  upon the occurrence of certain events and using such alerts for the provision of telecom services. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention, and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. An alert may be scheduled for when a previously unavailable party becomes available, thereby generating a scrolling ticker message indicating that party&#39;s availability and offering the option to connect either interactively based on the message or automatically with the message serving as notification only. In addition to simply receiving a scrolling text message or a scrolling text message with an embedded pointer, the receiving wireless device may also generate a vibration and/or audible alert based on the content or changes thereto. The selection of such an alert is configurable on the wireless device or based on commands from the network. It is intended, therefore, that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.