PS network with CS service enabling functionality

• US 20080080428A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Schwarz, Uwe, Jappila, Petri, Ore, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]

Abstract

Method and system for optimization of a handoff of a user equipment between packet switched and circuit switched networks in response to a request for circuit switched network services on the user equipment while the user equipment is resident on a packet switched only network. The system includes a mobile device, a first network, and a second network. The first network includes a third network and an interworking unit. The second network communicates with the first network. The mobile device sends registration information to the first network. The third network sends the registration information to the interworking unit. The interworking unit sends the registration information to the second network to provide a communication link between the mobile device and the second network.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to transmit registration information to a first network unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit, and further configured to receive an instruction from said second network unit, said instruction relating to a third network unit; and

a communication unit configured to initiate a communication link with said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction received from said second network unit.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said registration information comprises at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched/circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network communication with circuit switched registration and/or support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said information from said first network unit relating to said second network unit comprises at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only pure packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched registration and/or support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched/circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to a more authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said registration information comprises circuit switched registration information.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said first network unit comprises a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network unit.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein said first network unit further comprises an interworking unit.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said second network unit comprises a packet switched only network unit.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said third network unit comprises a compact switched network unit.

9. A method, comprising:

transmitting registration information to a first network unit;

receiving information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit;

receiving an instruction from said second network unit relating to a third network unit; and

initiating a communication link with said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction from said second network unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information comprising at least one parameter of a mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched/circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network communication with circuit switched registration and/or support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving information comprises receiving information comprising at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only pure packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched registration and/or support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched/circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to a more authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information comprising circuit switched registration information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information to said first network unit comprising at least one of a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network unit and an interworking unit.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving information from said first network unit relating to said second network unit comprising a packet switched only network unit.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving said instruction from said second network unit relating to said third network unit comprising a compact switched network unit.

16. A network unit, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive registration information from a mobile device; and

an interworking unit configured to receive said registration information from said receiving unit, configured to transmit said registration information to another network unit, and configured to transmit information relating to said receiving unit to said mobile device for establishing a communication link between said mobile device and said another network unit.

17. The network unit of claim 16, wherein said receiving unit comprises a packet switched only network unit.

18. The network unit of claim 16, wherein said registration information comprises at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched/circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network communication with circuit switched registration and/or support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

19. The network unit of claim 16, wherein said information relating to said receiving unit comprises at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only pure packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched registration and/or support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched/circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to a more authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving registration information from a mobile device at a receiving unit;

transmitting said registration information to an interworking unit;

transmitting said registration information from said interworking unit to a network unit; and

transmitting information relating to said receiving unit to said mobile device for establishing a communication link between said mobile device and said network unit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said receiving comprises receiving said registration information by a packet switched only network unit.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said receiving comprises receiving said registration information comprising at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched/circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched/circuit switched network communication with circuit switched registration and/or support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said transmitting said information comprises transmitting information relating to said receiving unit comprising at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only pure packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched registration and/or support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched/circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to a more authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

24. A mobile device, comprising:

transmission means for transmitting registration information from said mobile device to a first network unit;

receiving means for receiving information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit and for receiving an instruction from said second network unit, said instruction relating to a third network unit; and

communication means for initiating a communication link with said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction from said second network unit.