Method and system for use in reducing cost associated with lost connections in wireless communication

• US 20060025122A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, John M., Crocker, Ronald T., Hart, Thomas B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

The present embodiments provide apparatuses, methods and systems for use in notifying a remote communication device when a local wireless device loses its wireless link. In some embodiments, a method detects when a wireless connection is lost with a first communication device, identifies a second communication device that is communicating with the first device, and notifies the second device of the lost link. In some implementations, the notification of the lost link is supplied while the method provides batch communications. Some embodiments provide voice communications, where a remote device is notified when a local device loses its wireless connection. The second device can be determined by querying a server. The notifying can include forwarding an in-band tone, and/or generating a real time protocol packet. In some embodiments, the loss of the link is detected through a radio access network, a packet control function, and/or a mobile switching center.

Claims

1. A method for use in providing wireless communication, comprising:

detecting a loss of the wireless link providing wireless communication connection with a first communication device;

determining a second communication device with which the first communication device was communicating; and

notifying the second communication device of the lost wireless link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the second communication device comprises querying a server for the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the notifying comprises generating and forwarding a real time protocol packet.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a batch communication between the first and second communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the lost wireless link comprises detecting the lost link through a mobile switching center.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the lost wireless link comprises detecting the lost link through a packet control function (PCF).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the notifying comprises the PCF generating a notification.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the lost wireless link was purposely disconnected; and

preventing the notifying the second communication device when the lost wireless link was purposely disconnected.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a voice communication between the first and second communication devices.

10. A method for use in notifying a user of a loss of a wireless connection, comprising:

establishing a communication connection between a first communication device and a second communication device over a communication network, where the first communication device wirelessly communicates with the second communication device over at least a first wireless link;

detecting a loss of the first wireless link with the first communication device; and

notifying the second communication device of the loss of the connection with the first communication device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the loss of the wireless link through a packet control function (PCF);

and

the notifying comprises generating a notification from the PCF, and injecting the notification onto the communication connection directed to the second communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the PCF notifying a server of the detected loss of the wireless link with the first communication device; and

receiving an identification of the second communication device from the server such that the PCF accurately forwards the notification to the second communication device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the wherein the detecting comprises a radio access network (RAN) detecting the loss of the wireless link.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the notifying comprises forwarding a notification prior to the RAN causing a release of the communication connection.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

the RAN notifying a first mobile switching center (MSC) of the loss of the wireless link; and

the notifying comprises the first MSC injecting a notification onto the communication connection directed to the second communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

notifying a second MSC to release the connection with the second communication device following the injecting of the notification onto the communication connection.

17. A system for use in providing wireless communication comprising:

a base station that wirelessly communicates with a first communication device over a wireless link;

a radio access network (RAN) coupled with the base station;

a second communication device communicationally coupled with the first communication device through at least the RAN;

wherein the RAN detects a loss of the wireless link and generates a notification and forwards the notification to the second communication device notifying the second communication device that the wireless link has been lost.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the RAN comprises a packet control function (PCF) that detects the loss of the wireless link.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a packet data serving node (PDSN) coupled with the RAN and further coupled with a distributed network, such that the second communication device is communicationally coupled with the first communication device through at least the RAN, PDSN and the distributed network.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a server communicationally coupled with the RAN such that the RAN queries the server to identify the second communication device prior to forwarding the notification.