System and method for providing operator-differentiated messaging to a wireless user equipment (UE) device

• US 20060116125A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Carpenter, Paul, Bumiller, George Baldwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• 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 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices

Abstract

In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for providing operator-differentiated messaging to a user equipment (UE) device that is operable in wide area cellular network (WACN) bands as well as in wireless access network bands (e.g., GAN bands and/or UMA bands). A network node (e.g., a GAN controller (GANC) or UMA network controller (UNC)) is equipped with logic for resolving service requirements as well as network information gathered by the UE device. Based thereon, a response message is transmitted to the UE device, the response message including supplementary fields for carrying operator-differentiated information in free-form text.

Claims

1. A network messaging method, comprising:

gathering network information by a user equipment (UE) device via scanning in at least one band;

transmitting by said UE device at least one of said network information and a set of service requirements to a network node via a registration request message; and

responsive to said registration request message, transmitting a response message by said network node to said UE device, said response message including operator-differentiated textual information.

2. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said operator-differentiated textual information comprises calling plan pricing information.

3. The network messaging method as recited in claim 2, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to a long-distance dialing service operable with said UE device.

4. The network messaging method as recited in claim 2, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to an international dialing service operable with said UE device.

5. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said response message comprises a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

6. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said response message comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.

7. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said network information comprises at least one of Cell Global Identification (CGI) information of a registered wide area cellular network, CGI information relating to available wide area cellular networks, cause values of any prior registration failures, Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network, and Packet Control Channel (PCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network.

8. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said service requirements comprise at least one of voice-only services, data-only services, voice-and-data services, GAN services, handover services, calling plans associated with said UE device, and location area information associated with said UE device.

9. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein said network node comprises one of a default GANC, a home network GANC and a provisioning GANC associated with said UE device.

10. The network messaging method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said network information and said set of service requirements is transmitted by said UE device via a Generic Access-Resource Control (GA-RC) REGISTER REQUEST message.

11. The network messaging method as recited in claim 10, wherein said response message comprises a GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message.

12. A network messaging system, comprising:

means associated with a user equipment (UE) device for gathering network information via scanning in at least one band;

means associated with said UE device for transmitting at least one of said network information and a set of service requirements to a network node via a registration request message; and

means associated with said network node, responsive to said registration request message, for transmitting a response message to said UE device, said response message including operator-differentiated textual information.

13. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said operator-differentiated textual information comprises calling plan pricing information.

14. The network messaging system as recited in claim 13, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to a long-distance dialing service operable with said UE device.

15. The network messaging system as recited in claim 13, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to an international dialing service operable with said UE device.

16. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said response message comprises a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

17. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said response message comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.

18. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said network information comprises at least one of Cell Global Identification (CGI) information of a registered wide area cellular network, CGI information relating to available wide area cellular networks, cause values of any prior registration failures, Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network, and Packet Control Channel (PCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network.

19. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said service requirements comprise at least one of voice-only services, data-only services, voice-and-data services, GAN services, handover services, calling plans associated with said UE device, and location area information associated with said UE device.

20. The network messaging system as recited in claim 12, wherein said network node comprises one of a default GANC, a home network GANC and a provisioning GANC associated with said UE device.

21. The network selection system as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said network information and said set of service requirements is transmitted by said UE device via a Generic Access-Resource Control (GA-RC) REGISTER REQUEST message.

22. The network messaging system as recited in claim 21, wherein said response message comprises a REGISTER ACCEPT message.

23. A user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

a logic module for facilitating identification of a set of appropriate service requirements relative to operating said UE device;

a communication subsystem for gathering network information via scanning in at least one band and for transmitting at least one of said network information and said service requirements to a network node via a registration request message; and

a logic module for processing operator-differentiated textual information received from said network node via a response message responsive to said registration request message.

24. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said operator-differentiated textual information comprises calling plan pricing information.

25. The UE device as recited in claim 24, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to a long-distance dialing service operable with said UE device.

26. The UE device as recited in claim 24, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to an international dialing service operable with said UE device.

27. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said response message comprises a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

28. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said response message comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.

29. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said request and response messages comprise a Generic Access-Resource Control (GA-RC) REGISTER REQUEST message and a GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message, respectively.

30. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said network node comprises one of a default GANC, a home network GANC and a provisioning GANC associated with said UE device.

31. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said network information comprises at least one of Cell Global Identification (CGI) information of a wide area cellular network on which said UE device is registered, CGI information relating to available wide area cellular networks, cause values of any prior registration failures, Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network, and Packet Control Channel (PCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network.

32. The UE device as recited in claim 23, wherein said service requirements comprise at least one of voice-only services, data-only services, voice-and-data services, GAN services, handover services, calling plans associated with said UE device, packet data services capability, and Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) services capability, said service requirements being selectable based on location area information associated with said UE device.

33. A generic access network controller (GANC) operable with a user equipment (UE) device disposed in a wireless environment, comprising:

means for receiving at least one of network information and a set of service requirements from said UE device via a registration request message; and

means, operable responsive to said registration request message, for transmitting a response message to said UE device, said response message including operator-differentiated textual information.

34. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said operator-differentiated textual information comprises calling plan pricing information.

35. The GANC as recited in claim 34, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to a long-distance dialing service operable with said UE device.

36. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said calling plan pricing information pertains to an international dialing service operable with said UE device.

37. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said response message comprises a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message.

38. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said response message comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) message.

39. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said request and response messages comprise a Generic Access Resource Control (GA-RC) REGISTER REQUEST message and a GA-RC REGISTER ACCEPT message, respectively.

40. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said network node comprises one of a default GANC, a home network GANC and a provisioning GANC associated with said UE device.

41. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said network information comprises at least one of Cell Global Identification (CGI) information of a wide area cellular network on which said UE device is registered, CGI information relating to available wide area cellular networks, cause values of any prior registration failures, Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network, and Packet Control Channel (PCCH) information of at least one available wide area cellular network.

42. The GANC as recited in claim 33, wherein said service requirements comprise at least one of voice-only services, data-only services, voice-and-data services, GAN services, handover services, calling plans associated with said UE device, packet data services capability, and Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) services capability, said service requirements being selectable based on location area information associated with said UE device.