System and method for connecting multicast or broadcast control information to mobile stations

• US 7,031,708 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Sarkkinen, Sinikka, Kettunen, Kimmo
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, S.
• Application Number:
  US10/141,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20030211860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 455/453, 455/436, 455/466, 455/515, 455/522, 455/13.4
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

This invention is a system and a method of connecting at least one mobile station (14) in a wireless network (12) including mobile stations and a controller (18) to another network (20). The method includes transmitting a communication from at least one mobile station, while the at least one mobile station is activated in the wireless network, but is not terminated to the controller, to the another network to establish a connection between the at least one mobile station and the another network; and the another network transmits a transmission of control information using the connection to the at least one mobile station while the at least one mobile station is activated but is not terminated to the controller.

Claims

1. A method of connecting at least one mobile station in a wireless network including mobile stations and a controller to another network comprising:

transmitting a communication from the at least one mobile station, while the at least one mobile station is activated in the wireless network, but is not terminated to the controller, to the another network to establish a connection between the at least one mobile station and the another network; and

the another network transmits control information using the connection to the at least one mobile station while the at least one mobile station is activated but is not terminated to the controller,

wherein the control information transmitted by the another network relates to a multicast transmission or a broadcast transmission to a plurality of the mobile stations from the another network, and

wherein the communication from the at least one mobile station is an indication by the at least one mobile station to the another network that the at least one mobile station is to receive the multicast transmission or broadcast transmission from the another network.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

a connection of the at least one mobile station to the controller is established using a logical channel; and

the communication transmitted from the at least one mobile station to the another network is transmitted using another logical channel than a logical channel used for connecting the at least one mobile station to the controller.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station s to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station includes control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

7. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station includes control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

8. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

the logical channel connection is a connection between a single mobile station and the controller.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

a connection of the at least one mobile station to the controller is established using a logical channel; and

the communication transmits from the at least one mobile station is transmitted using another logical channel than a logical channel used for connecting the at least one mobile station to the controller.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station includes control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

14. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

16. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station includes control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

17. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the connection is in one direction from the at least one mobile station to the another network.

18. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the connection from the at least one mobile station to the another network is bidirectional.

19. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another network is a core network which is independent of the wireless network.

20. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

the another network transmits multicast or restricted broadcast transmissions using the connection to the at least one mobile station.

21. A system comprising:

a wireless network including mobile stations and a controller and wherein;

at least one of the mobile stations transmits a communication, while the at least one station is activated in the wireless network but is not terminated to the controller, to the another network to establish a connection between the at least one mobile station and the another network transmits a transmission of control information using the connection to the at least one mobile station while the at least one mobile station is activated but is not terminated to the controller,

wherein the transmission of control information transmitted by the another network relates to a multicast transmission or a broadcast transmission to a plurality of the mobile stations and the communication from the at least one mobile station is an indication by the at least one mobile station to the another network that the at least one mobile station is to receive the multicast transmission or broadcast transmission from the another network.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

a connection of the at least one mobile station to the controller is established using a logical channel; and

the communication transmits from the at least one mobile station is transmitted using another logical channel than a logical channel used for connecting the at least one mobile station to the controller.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

24. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

25. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein:

the communication contains control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

26. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

27. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station contains control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

28. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein:

the another logical channel is a connection between a single mobile station and the controller.

29. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

a connection of the at least one mobile station to the controller is established using a logical channel; and

the communication transmits from the at least one mobile station is transmitted using another logical channel than a logical channel used for connecting the at least one mobile station to the controller.

30. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

31. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

32. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

33. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station contains control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

34. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is transmitted to the another network without processing by the controller.

35. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station is to inform the network that the mobile station has crossed over a boundary in the wireless system.

36. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the communication from the at least one mobile station contains control information used in the control of providing services to the at least one mobile terminal from the another network.

37. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the connection is in one direction from the at least one mobile station to the another network.

38. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the connection from the at least one mobile station to the another network is bidirectional.

39. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

the another network is a core network which is independent of the wireless network.

40. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein:

wherein the another network is configured to transmit multicast or restricted broadcast transmissions using the connection to the at least one mobile station.