Dual-mode methods, systems, and terminals providing reduced mobile terminal registrations

• US 6,868,270 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dent, Paul Wilkinson
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US09/779,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18545 Arrangements for managing station mobility, i.e. for station registration or localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1855 using a telephonic control signal, e.g. propagation delay variation, Doppler frequency variation, power variation, beam identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/08 using multi-step notification by increasing the notification area
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/12 Inter-network notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile terminal providing wireless communications can include receiving communications service from a first communications network providing service over a first coverage area. While receiving communications service from the first communications network, a first identity code can be received from a second communications network providing service over a plurality of second coverage areas wherein a first one of the second coverage areas includes the first coverage area and wherein the first identity code from the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network in the first one of the second coverage areas. After loss of communications with the first communications network, a second identity code can be received from the second communications network. When the second identity code from the second communications network is different than the first identity code from the second communications network, a registration can be performed with the second communications network so that communications service can be received by the mobile terminal from the second communications network in a second one of the second coverage areas corresponding to the second identity code from the second communications network.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile terminal providing wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving communications service from a first communications network providing service over a first coverage area;

while receiving communications service from the first communications network, receiving a first identity code from a second communications network providing service over a plurality of second coverage areas wherein a first one of the second coverage areas includes the first coverage area and wherein the first identity code from the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network in the first one of the second coverage areas;

after loss of communications with the first communications network, receiving a second identity code from the second communications network; and

when the second identity code from the second communications network is different than the first identity code from the second communications network, performing a registration with the second communications network so that communications service can be received by the mobile terminal from the second communications network in a second one of the second coverage areas corresponding to the second identity code from the second communications network.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the following also is performed after loss of communications with the first communications network:

when the second identity code from the second communications network is the same as the first identity code from the second communications network, receiving communications service from the second communications network in the first of the second coverage areas without performing a registration with the second communications network.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications network comprises a terrestrial communications network.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the first communications network comprises a cellular terrestrial communications network.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second communications network comprises a satellite communications network.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein service for each of the second coverage areas is indicated by a respective satellite antenna spot beam and wherein each respective satellite antenna spot beam is identified by a respective identity code.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein performing a registration with the second communications network comprises transmitting a location update request message using a satellite antenna spot beam identified by the second identity code.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein receiving communications service from the first communications network comprises:

receiving a first identity code from the first communications network;

after receiving the first identity code from the first communications network, receiving a second identity code from the first communications network; and

when the first identity code from the first communications network and the second identity code from the first communications network are different transmitting a location update request to the first communications network.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein when the first identity code from the first communications network and the second identity code from the first communications network are the same, communications service from the first communications network is maintained without transmitting a location update request to the first communications network.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the first coverage area comprises a plurality of paging areas, wherein each paging area corresponds to a respective identity code from the first communications network.

11. A mobile terminal providing wireless communications, the mobile terminal comprising:

a receiver that receives communications from a first communications network providing service over a first coverage area and a second communications network providing service over a plurality of second coverage areas wherein a first one of the second coverage areas includes the first coverage area, wherein while receiving communications service from the first communications network, the receiver receives a first identity code from the second communications network, wherein the first identity code from the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network in the first one of the second coverage areas, and wherein after loss of communications with the first communications network, the receiver receives a second identity code from the second communications network; and

a transmitter coupled to the receiver wherein when the second identity code from the second communications network is different than the first identity code from the second communications network, the transmitter performs a registration with the second communications network so that communications service can be received by the receiver from the second communications network in a second one of the second coverage areas corresponding to the second identity code from the second communications network.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11 wherein when the second identity code from the second communications network is the same as the first identity code from the second communications network, the receiver receives communications service from the second communications network in the first of the second coverage areas without performing a registration with the second communications network.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11 wherein the first communications network comprises a terrestrial communications network.

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 13 wherein the first communications network comprises a cellular terrestrial communications network.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 11 wherein the second communications network comprises a satellite communications network.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 15 wherein service for each of the second coverage areas is provided by a respective satellite antenna spot beam and wherein each respective satellite antenna spot beam is identified by a respective identity code.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 16 wherein performing a registration with the second communications network comprises transmitting a location update request message using a satellite antenna spot beam identified by the second identity code.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 11 wherein the receiver receives a first identity code from the first communications network, wherein after receiving the first identity code from the first communications network, the receiver receives a second identity code from the first communications network, wherein the processor compares the first identity code from the first communications network and the second identity code from the first communications network, and wherein when the first identity code from the first communications network and the second identity code from the first communications network are different, the transmitter transmits a location update request to the first communications network.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 18 wherein when the first identity code from the first communications network and the second identity code from the first communications network are the same, communications service from the first communications network is maintained without transmitting a location update request to the first communications network.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 18 wherein the first coverage area comprises a plurality of paging areas, wherein each paging area corresponds to a respective identity code from the first communications network.