Radio link short hold mode for mobile circuit data applications

• US 5,903,851 A
• Filed: 10/03/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Backstrom, Martin, Olsson, Ulf, Andersson, Dick
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US08/943,497
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 455/417, 455/422, 455/423, 455/424, 455/434, 455/445, 455/516, 455/560, 455/433, 455/466, 455/517, 455/443, 455/557, 370/354, 370/524, 370/346, 370/341, 370/329, 370/349, 370/389, 370/312, 370/324, 370/528
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a call circuit connection between a mobile station and a remote application host is disclosed. Once a call circuit connection is initially established between a mobile station and remote application host to enable data to transfer therebetween, the call circuit connection is monitored for detection of an idle condition. Upon detection of the idle condition, identifying information for the call circuit connection is stored, and a first portion of the call circuit connection is disconnected while maintaining a second portion of the connection. Upon a request for reconnection of the call circuit connection, the first portion of the call circuit connection is reestablished with the second portion to enable continued data transfer.

Claims

1. A method for providing a call circuit connection between a mobile station and a remote application host, comprising the steps of:

establishing the call circuit connection including a first and second segment between the mobile station and the remote application host to enable the transmission of data therebetween;

monitoring the call circuit connection for an idle condition;

storing identifying data associated with the first segment of the call circuit connection upon detection of the idle condition, said data enabling reconnection of the first segment of the call circuit connection;

disconnecting the first segment of the call circuit connection while maintaining the second segment of the call circuit connection in response to detection of the idle condition.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

receiving a request for reestablishing the call circuit connection with the second segment of the call circuit connection.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of establishing further comprises the steps of:

establishing the first segment of the call circuit connection from the mobile station to an interworking function; and

establishing the second segment of a call circuit connection from the interworking function to the remote application host.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring further includes the step of monitoring ARQ frames for an indication of the idle condition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of monitoring further includes the step of monitoring for continuous retransmission of an ARQ frame for indication of the idle condition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disconnecting further includes the step of notifying the mobile station that the disconnection is in response to the idle condition.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disconnecting further includes the step of requesting disconnection of the first segment using a MAP signal.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

receiving a request for establishing a second call circuit connection;

determining if the call circuit connection request is for the call circuit connection host associated with the stored identifying data;

reestablishing the first segment of the call circuit connection with the second segment of the call circuit connection using the stored identifying data to reconnect the call circuit connection if the request is for the call circuit connection associated with the stored identifying data; and

establishing a new call circuit connection if the request is to a new remote location.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first segment comprises a radio link.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of reestablishing further includes the step of requesting reconnection of the first segment using a MAP signal.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying data includes at least one of the following:

a calling MSI/MSN, called party number, and an interworking unit line identifier.

12. The method of claim 1 further including the step of disconnecting the second segment upon continuation of the idle condition and expiration of a preselected time-out period.

13. The method of claim 1 further including the step of disconnecting the second segment in response to a need for system resources utilized by the second segment.

14. A method for controlling a call circuit connection between a mobile station and a remote application host, comprising the steps of:

establishing a call circuit connection between the mobile station and the remote application host to enable the transmission of data therebetween, the call circuit connection including a radio portion between the mobile station and a base station, a PLMN portion between the base station, a mobile switching center and an interworking unit; and

a modem portion between the mobile switching center and the remote application host;

monitoring the PLMN portion of the call circuit connection for an idle condition indicating no data is being transferred over the call circuit connection;

storing identifying data associated with the first segment of the call circuit connection upon detection of the idle condition, said data enabling reconnection of the first segment of the call circuit connection;

disconnecting the radio and PLMN portions of the call circuit connection in response to detection of the idle condition;

receiving a request for reestablishing a call circuit connection; and

reestablishing the radio and PLMN portions of the call circuit connection with the modem portion in response to the request.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of monitoring further includes the step of monitoring ARQ frames for an indication of the idle condition.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of monitoring further includes the step of monitoring for an absence of ARQ frames for an indication of the idle condition.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of disconnecting further includes the step of storing identifying data associated with the radio and PLMN portions of the call circuit connection, the identifying data enabling reconnection of the radio and PLMN portions of the call circuit connection.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of reestablishing further included the steps of:

determining if the call circuit connection request is to the remote application host associated with the stored identifying data;

reestablishing the radio and PLMN portions of the call circuit connection with the modem portion of the call circuit connection to reconnect the call circuit connection if the request is to the remote application host; and

reestablishing a new call circuit connection if the request is to a new remote location.

19. The method of claim 14 further including the step of disconnecting the modem portion upon continuation of the idle condition and expiration of a preselected time-out period.

20. The method of claim 14 further including the step of disconnecting the modem portion in response to a need for system resources utilized by the second segment.

21. A system for providing a call circuit connection between a mobile station and a remote application host, comprising:

a base station for establishing a radio link portion of the call circuit connection with the mobile station;

a mobile switching center for establishing a first connection with the base station and for establishing a second connection with the remote application host;

an interworking function for establishing a third connection with the mobile switching center to enable data transfer between the mobile switching center and the remote application host;

means for disconnecting the radio link connection, the first connection and the third connection in response to detection of an idle condition within the call circuit connection and for reconnecting the radio link connection, the first connection and the third connection in response to a reconnection request; and

means for storing identifying data associated radio link connection, the first connection and the third connection when they are disconnected.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the identifying data includes at least one of the following:

a calling MSI/MSN, called party number, and interworking unit line identifier.