Paging control method and apparatus

• US 7,089,023 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Flytström, Tuomo, Vialen, Jukka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHO, UN C
• Application Number:
  US09/824,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20020019241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/445, 455/517, 455/461
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A paging method and apparatus for a mobile communication network to which at least two non-coordinated core networks are connected is disclosed, wherein a service state of a mobile station is checked, when a request for a paging message to the mobile station has been received from one of the non-coordinated core networks. Then, a multicall paging message is transmitted using an existing signalling link of the mobile station and/or mobile station location information known in a radio access network, when the mobile station is already connected to another one of the non-coordinated core networks. The checking is preferable performed by a radio network controller which is connected to the non-coordinated core networks. Thus, a paging request received form a non-coordinated core network can be supplied to a mobile station, although the paged mobile station is already connected to another non-coordinated core network.

Claims

1. A paging control method for a mobile communication network to which at least two non-coordinated core networks are connected, comprising the steps of:

a) checking a service state of a mobile station;

when a request for a paging message to said mobile station has been received from one of said non-coordinated core networks; and

b) transmitting a multicall paging message using an existing signaling link and/or mobile station location information known in a radio access network, when said mobile station is already connected to another one of said non-coordinated core networks.

2. A paging control method according to claim 1, wherein said checking step is performed by a radio network controller of said mobile communication network by determining whether said mobile station has already a connection, wherein a normal paging operation by using a paging channel is performed, when the mobile station has no connection.

3. A paging control method according to claim 1, wherein said multicall paging message is transmitted on a channel selected in accordance with the service state of said mobile station.

4. A paging control method according to claim 3, wherein said multicall paging message is transmitted on a dedicated channel, when said mobile station is in a dedicated channel active state.

5. A paging control method according to claim 4, wherein said multicall paging message contains an information defining a requested bearer, a page mode and a core network identification.

6. A paging control method according to claim 5, wherein said mobile station checks a possibility of creating the requested bearer and responds with a multicall paging response message comprising an information as to whether the requested bearer can be created, or not, and an appropriate protocol information.

7. A paging control method according to claim 3, wherein said multicall paging message is transmitted on an FACH channel, when said mobile station is in an RACH/FACH state.

8. A paging control method according to claim 7, wherein said multicall paging message includes an information defining a requested bearer, a core network identification and a page mode.

9. A paging control method according to claim 8, wherein said multicall paging message includes an information defining a dedicated channel which said mobile station has to start using for signaling.

10. A paging control method according to claim 3, wherein said multicall paging message is transmitted on a PCH channel, when the mobile station is in an RACH/PCH state.

11. A paging control method according to claim 10, wherein said multicall paging message includes an information defining a requested bearer, a core network identification and a radio network temporary identity.

12. A paging control apparatus for a mobile communication network to which at least two non-coordinated core networks (5, 6) are connected, comprising:

a) means (3) for checking a service state of a mobile station (1), when a request for a paging message to said mobile station (1) has been received from one said of non-coordinated core networks (5, 6); and

b) means (3) for transmitting a multicall paging message using an existing signaling link and/or mobile station location information known in a radio access network, when said mobile station is already connected to another one of said non-coordinated core networks.

13. A paging control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said paging control apparatus comprises a radio network controller (3) of said mobile communication system.

14. A paging control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said non-coordinated core networks comprise a GSM-GPRS core network with no Gs interface between a Mobile Switching Center (5) and a Serving GPRS Support Node (6).

15. A paging control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said mobile communication networks comprise a GSM network.

16. A paging control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said non-coordinated core networks comprise a GSM network, a GPRS network, a GSM based UMTS, a GPRS based UMTS or any other circuit- and/or packet-switched core network nodes.

17. A paging control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said one of said non-coordinated core networks comprises a mobile switching center (5) and wherein said other one of said non-coordinated core networks comprises a Serving GPRS Support Node (6), or vice versa.

18. A paging control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said mobile switching center is a GSM based UMTS mobile switching center and wherein said Serving GPRS Support Node is a GPRS based UMTS SGSN.