Data transmission method to a wireless device which does not have an active data connection to a network

• US 20050020234A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Iivari, Juha, Piikivi, Lauri
• Application Number:
  US10/494,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20050020234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

The invention relates to a data transmission method between a first device (208) and a second device (100, 102), which is at the end of a wireless network connection and does not have an active data transmission connection to a network. The method comprises the steps of transmitting data addressed to the second device from the first device to the network; detecting in the network that the second device (100, 102) does not have an active data transmission connection; sending a stimulus message from the network to the second device (100, 102); receiving the stimulus message at the second device (100, 102); setting up a data connection between the network and the second device (100, 102) on the basis of the stimulus message; and transmitting to the second device (100, 102) the data addressed to it.

Claims

1. A data transmission method between a first device and a second device, which is at the end of a wireless network connection and does not have an active data transmission connection to a network, in which method data addressed to the second device is transmitted from the first device to the network, the method comprising:

detecting in the network that the second device does not have an active data transmission connection;

sending a stimulus message from the network to the second device;

receiving the stimulus message at the second device;

setting up a data connection between the network and the second device on the basis of the stimulus message; and

transmitting to the second device the data addressed to it.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus message sent to the second device is a short message.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus message sent to the second device is a data call.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus message sent to the second device is a fax call.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus message sent to the second device is an ordinary call.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stimulus message is a message that is to be sent to the terminal device on a control channel.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus message sent to the second device is a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) message.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second device authenticates the sender of the stimulus message.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second device accepts stimulus messages only from predetermined senders.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is based on a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is based on a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) system.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network is based on a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) system.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the gateway receives from the first device data addressed to the second device;

the gateway sends a context server an inquiry about the connection of the second device;

the context server detects that the second device does not have an active data connection to the network;

the context server sends the second device a stimulus message;

the second device requests the network to set up a data connection;

the context server receives information about the connection set-up;

the context server informs the gateway about the connection; and

the gateway sends data to the second device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the existence of the second device is confirmed by data transmission from the second device to the context server.

15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a proxy receiving from the first device data addressed to the second device, wherein:

the proxy sends the context server an inquiry about the IP address of the second device;

the context server detects that the second device does not have an IP address and returns the MSISDN number of the device to the proxy;

the proxy sends the second device a stimulus message on the basis of its MSISDN number;

the second device requests the network to set up a data connection;

the context server receives information about the connection set-up;

the context server informs the proxy about the connection; and

the proxy sends data to the second device.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the type of the connection to be opened is indicated to the second device in the stimulus message.

17. A method according to claim 3, wherein the terminal device identifies calls coming from a specific number as stimulus messages.

18. A method according to claim 3, wherein the terminal device identifies the type of the connection to be opened on the basis of the duration of the call alert.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the type of connection used to deliver the stimulus message is different from the connection type the terminal device is requested to open.

36. A method according to claim 4, wherein the terminal device identifies calls coming from a specific number as stimulus messages.

37. A method according to claim 5, wherein the terminal device identifies calls coming from a specific number as stimulus messages.

38. A method according to claim 4, wherein the terminal device identifies the type of the connection to be opened on the basis of the duration of the call alert.

39. A method according to claim 5, wherein the terminal device identifies the type of the connection to be opened on the basis of the duration of the call alert.

20. A data transmission system comprising devices which are at the end of a wireless connection and does not have a continuous, active data transmission connection to a network, and a first device which is arranged to transmit data to a second device, which is at the end of the wireless connection, the system comprising:

means for detecting that the second device does not have an active data connection at the moment the system has data addressed to the second device;

means for sending a stimulus message to the device; and

wherein the second device comprises means for detecting a received stimulus message and for starting the setting up of a data connection between the device and the rest of the system on the basis of the stimulus message.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the second device is arranged to authenticate the sender of the stimulus message.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the second device is arranged to accept stimulus messages only from predetermined senders.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wireless network is based on a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) system.

24. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wireless network is based on a GMS system.

25. A system according to claim 20, wherein the wireless network is based on a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) system.

26. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a gateway and a context server, the gateway being arranged to receive data addressed to the second device and to send the context server an inquiry about the connection of the second device;

and wherein

the context server is arranged to send the second device a stimulus message when it detects that the second device does not have an active data connection to the network.

27. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a proxy and a context server, the proxy being arranged to

receive data addressed to the second device;

send the context server an inquiry about the IP address of the second device;

receive the MSISDN number of the second device from the context server; and

send the second device a stimulus message on the basis of its MSISDN number.

28. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a domain name server and a context server, the domain name server being arranged to

reply to address inquiries relating to the second device;

re-send an inquiry relating to the IP address of the second device to the context server;

receive from the context server the MSISDN number of the second device; and

to

send the second device a stimulus message on the basis of its MSISDN number.

29. A system according to claim 20, further comprising a domain name server and a context server, the domain name server being arranged to

reply to address inquiries relating to the second device;

detect that the second device does not have a data connection; and

to

send the second device a stimulus message on the basis of the MSISDN number stored in the data of the domain name server.

30. A system according to claim 26, wherein the context server is a RADIUS server arranged to reply to IP address inquiries by supplying the address or MSISDN number of an active data connection.

40. A system according to claim 27, wherein the context server is a RADFUS server arranged to reply to IP address inquiries by supplying the address or MSISDN number of an active data connection.

41. A system according to claim 28, wherein the context server is a RADIUS server arranged to reply to IP address inquiries by supplying the address or MSISDN number of an active data connection.

42. A system according to claim 29, wherein the context server is a RADIUS server arranged to reply to IP address inquiries by supplying the address or MSISDN number of an active data connection.

31. A terminal device in data transmission system, which terminal device is at the end of a wireless connection and does not have a continuous, active data connection to a network, the terminal device comprising:

means for detecting and receiving a stimulus message sent to it; and

means for initiating the setting up of an active data connection between the device and the rest of the system on the basis of the stimulus message.

32. A terminal device according to claim 31, wherein the terminal device is arranged to authenticate the sender of the stimulus message.

33. A terminal device according to claim 31, wherein the terminal device is arranged to accept stimulus messages only from predetermined senders.

34. A terminal device according to claim 31, wherein the terminal device is arranged to identify calls coming from a specific number as stimulus messages.

35. A terminal device according to claim 31, wherein the terminal device is arranged to identify the type of the connection to be opened on the basis of the duration of the call alert.