Method and apparatus for a hybrid mobile terminal

• US 20020082029A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Paranchych, David, Higashi, Yusuke, Wu, Geng, Vasudevan, Mini, Ahmad, Azeem, Morales, Linda
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

An access network controller and a base station controller are formed to define an interface there between that enables the two systems to facilitate and respond to a voice call that is to be set up to a hybrid mobile station even though the hybrid mobile station is presently engaged in a data only call. More specifically, the base station is formed to generate a pseudo-page signal to the access network controller to determine whether the hybrid mobile station is present and available prior to the base station generating paging signals to establish the voice call. According to the response received from the access network controller, the base station either pages the hybrid mobile station to establish the voice call, forwards the call to voice mail, or forwards the call either to an Internet Call Delivery Server or to an Internet Call-Waiting Server.

Claims

1. An access network controller, comprising:

a processor;

communication circuitry within the access network controller;

a memory for storing computer instructions that define operational logic relating to a response of the access network controller to a received pseudo-page signal; and

a network port for enabling the access network controller to communicate with external systems.

2. The access network controller of claim 1 wherein the memory further includes computer instructions that define profile information for at least one hybrid mobile station.

3. The access network controller of claim 2 wherein the computer instructions that define profile information specify that the access network controller is to generate a response to a base station to advise it that the HMS is unavailable.

4. The access network controller of claim 2 wherein the computer instructions that define profile information specify that the access network controller is to generate a response to a base station to advise it that the HMS has been paged and is being redirected to receive pages from the voice network.

5. The access network controller of claim 2 wherein the computer instructions that define profile information specify that the access network controller is to generate a response to a base station to advise it that the HMS is present but not available for a voice call.

6. The access network controller of claim 1 wherein the memory further includes computer instructions that define operational logic for forwarding a voice call to an Internet Call Delivery Server.

7. The access network controller of claim 1 wherein the memory further includes computer instructions that define operational logic for forwarding a voice call to an Internet Call-Waiting Server.

8. A method in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a pseudo-page signal transmitted by a base station in a specified interface signal between the base station and an access network controller; and

generating a corresponding response.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the corresponding response includes commanding a hybrid mobile station to redirect and to suspend a data call so that it may receive and respond to paging signals transmitted by a base station.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the response includes waiting long enough to enable the hybrid mobile station to switch from the data network to the voice network and then advising the base station that the hybrid mobile station is presently available.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the response includes forwarding the voice call to an Internet Call-Waiting Server.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the response includes advising the base station that the hybrid mobile station is not present.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the response includes advising the base station that the hybrid mobile station is present but not available.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the response includes advising the base station that the hybrid mobile station is present and available.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of generating a pseudo-page that is to be transmitted to an access network controller.

17. The method of claim 15 further including the step of, if the mobile station is a hybrid mobile station, forwarding the call to an Internet Call Delivery Server.

18. The method of claim 15 further including the step of, if the mobile station is a hybrid mobile station, forwarding the call to an Internet Call-Waiting Server.

19. The method of claim 15 further including the step of receiving a response to a previously transmitted pseudo-page and communicating with a mobile switching center to forward the call to voice mail.

20. The method of claim 15 further including the step of receiving a response to a previously transmitted pseudo-page and communicating with a mobile switching center to advise it that the hybrid mobile station is not present.

15. A method in a base station for routing or setting up a call, comprising:

examining a permanent ID of a mobile station for which a voice call is to be set up; and

determining whether the mobile station is a hybrid mobile station.