Method and apparatus to initiate point-to-point call during shared-channel delivery of broadcast content in a wireless telephone network

• US 7,096,024 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Jun, Chen, Tao, Sinnarajah, Ragulan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, CongVan
• Application Number:
  US10/356,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/463, 455/550.1, 455/412.2, 455/403, 455/418, 455/454, 370/356, 370/357, 370/358, 370/359, 370/360
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/23 Manipulation of direct-mode connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/34 Selective release of ongoing connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A method for managing a point-to-point call initiated (702) between a wireless mobile station (114, 400) and a remote party while the mobile is receiving broadcast content via one or more multi-user forward-link broadcast channels (508). The mobile station notifies (704) the network (110) of preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions, such as whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, and election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently. In accordance with the preferences, communications are conducted (706) in one of the following operating modes: (1) conducting the point-to-point call and discontinuing reception of the broadcast, (2) conducting the point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast, (3) aborting completion of the point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast.

Claims

1. A method for managing a point-to-point call initiated between a wireless mobile station and a remote party while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel, the method comprising operations of:

ascertaining preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions including at least the following;

(1) whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, (2) election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently;

in accordance with the preferences, conducting operations including one of the following prescribed actions;

(1) conducting the point-to-point call and discontinuing reception of the broadcast, (2) conducting the point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1, where the conducting operation includes the network performing one of the following tasks:

(1) completing the point-to-point call without regard for whether network resources will be able to continue conducting the broadcast content, (2) completing the point-to-point call should network resources be able to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently, (3) continuing reception of the broadcast and aborting completion of the point-to-point call should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently.

3. The method of claim 1, where:

the prescribed categories of operating condition further include whether to receive an incoming point-to-point call;

the prescribed actions farther include aborting completion of an incoming point-to-point call and continuing reception of the broadcast content.

4. The method of claim 1, where:

the prescribed categories of operating conditions further include election among multiple programs of broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct all programs concurrently.

5. The method of claim 1, where:

the point-to-point call is an outgoing call initiated by the mobile station;

the ascertaining operation comprises the mobile station transmitting a representation of the preferences to the network in conjunction with a CALL ORIGINATION message.

6. The method of claim 1, where:

the point-to-point call is an incoming call initiated by a remote party placing a call to the mobile station;

the network pages the mobile station to alert the mobile station of an incoming call;

the operations further include the mobile station transmitting a PAGE RESPONSE message to accept the call;

the operation of ascertaining preferences as to election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently comprises operations including one of the following;

transmitting a representation of the election to the network in conjunction with the PAGE RESPONSE message;

withholding indication of the election from the PAGE RESPONSE message and indicating the election responsive to a CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT message from the network.

7. A method of operating a wireless mobile station in a wireless network, comprising operations of:

receiving operator initiation of an outgoing point-to-point call to a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel;

responsive to the operator initiation, determining a call-handling preference and according thereto performing operations including one of the following;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and additional messaging expressing disinterest in continued receipt of the broadcast content;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and further messaging expressing interest in continued receipt of the broadcast content, the further messaging containing election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct both concurrently;

waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

8. The method of claim 7, the operation of determining the call-handling preference comprising at least one of the following:

referencing a call-handling preference record pre-stored at the mobile station;

querying an operator of the mobile station for call-handling preference.

9. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital data processor to perform operations to manage a wireless mobile station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

receiving operator initiation of an outgoing point-to-point call to a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel;

responsive to the operator initiation, determining a call-handling preference and according thereto performing operations including one of the following;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and additional messaging expressing disinterest in continued receipt of the broadcast content;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and further messaging expressing interest in continued receipt of the broadcast content, the further messaging containing election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct both concurrently;

waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

10. The medium of claim 9, the operation of determining the call-handling preference comprising at least one of the following:

referencing a call-handling preference record pre-stored at the mobile station;

querying an operator of the mobile station for call-handling preference.

11. Circuitry including multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to operate a wireless mobile station in a wireless communications network, the operations comprising:

receiving operator initiation of an outgoing point-to-point call to a remote station while the mobile station is receiving broadcast content via a multi-user forward-link broadcast channel;

responsive to the operator initiation, determining a call-handling preference and according thereto performing operations including one of the following;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and additional messaging expressing disinterest in continued receipt of the broadcast content;

sending the network a CALL ORIGINATION message and further messaging expressing interest in continued receipt of the broadcast content, the further messaging containing election between the point-to-point call and the broadcast content should network resources be unable to conduct both concurrently;

waiting for signaling from the network to complete the point-to-point call.

12. The circuitry of claim 11, the operation of determining the call-handling preference comprising at least one of the following:

referencing a call-handling preference record pre-stored at the mobile station;

querying an operator of the mobile station for call-handling preference.