Multi-mode mobile station and method

• US 20040219948A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Delker, Jason R., Everson, John M., Jones, Bryce A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile station has multiple communication modules for multiple wireless communication modes. In a first wireless communication mode, the mobile station communicates with a wireless wide area network and is identified by a first, mobile directory number. In a second wireless communication mode, the mobile station communicates with a wireless local area network and is still identified by the first, mobile directory number. In a third wireless communication mode, the mobile station communicates with the wireless local area network but is identified by a second, local directory number.

Claims

1. A multi-mode mobile station comprising:

a first communication module for a first wireless communication mode in which said mobile station is identified by a first directory number;

a second communication module for a second wireless communication mode in which said mobile station is identified by said first directory number; and

a third communication module for a third wireless communication mode in which said mobile station is identified by a second directory number.

2. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 1, further comprising:

a first transceiver for wireless communication in a first frequency band; and

a second transceiver for wireless communication in a second frequency band.

3. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 2, wherein said first communication module uses said first transceiver for said first wireless communication mode, said second communication module uses said second transceiver for said second wireless communication mode, and said third communication module uses said second transceiver for said third wireless communication mode.

4. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 1, wherein said first communication mode uses a wide area wireless network (WWAN) communication protocol and said second and third communication modes use a local area wireless network (WLAN) communication protocol.

5. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 4, wherein said WWAN communication protocol is a code division multiple access (CDMA) protocol.

6. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 4, wherein said WWAN communication protocol is a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) protocol.

7. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 4, wherein said WLAN communication protocol is an 802.11x protocol.

8. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 4, wherein said WLAN communication protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

9. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 4, wherein said WLAN communication protocol is a Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) protocol.

10. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 1, wherein said second communication module includes a user agent that uses an application layer protocol for establishing communication sessions through a packet-switched network.

11. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 10, wherein said application layer protocol is the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

12. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 10, wherein said application layer protocol is H.323.

13. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 1, wherein said third communication module uses an application layer protocol for communicating with a WLAN user agent.

14. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 13, wherein said application layer protocol is H.323.

15. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 13, wherein said application layer protocol is SIP.

16. The multi-mode mobile station of claim 13, wherein said application layer protocol is DECT.

17. A method of communication involving a mobile station and a wireless local area network (WLAN), said mobile station being able to communicate with a wireless wide area network (WWAN) using a first directory number, said WLAN being communicatively coupled to a packet-switched network, said method comprising:

said mobile station associating with said WLAN;

said mobile station transmitting a first registration message;

in response to said first registration message, registering said first directory number as being accessible via said WLAN;

said mobile station transmitting a second registration message; and

in response to said second registration message, associating said mobile station with a second directory number accessible via said WLAN.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first directory number is a mobile directory number (MDN).

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said second directory number is a local directory number (LDN) associated with a user agent of said WLAN.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein associating said mobile station with a second directory number comprises:

said user agent associating said mobile station with said LDN.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

said user agent associating a telephony device with said LDN, whereby said mobile station and said telephony device function as extensions on said LDN.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said telephony device is an analog telephone connected to a media terminal adapter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said media terminal adapter includes said user agent.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

said mobile station transmitting a request to originate a call under said LDN to a dialed directory number;

in response to said request, said user agent establishing a communication session through said packet-switched network to reach said dialed directory number.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

said user agent receiving, via said packet-switched network, a request to establish a communication session with said LDN;

in response to said request, said user agent alerting said mobile station.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said mobile station includes a mobile user agent, further comprising:

said mobile user agent receiving a request to originate a call under said MDN to a dialed directory number;

in response to said request, said mobile user agent establishing a communication session through said WLAN and said packet-switched network to reach said dialed directory number.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

said mobile station transmitting a request to forward to said LDN at least certain calls placed to said MDN.