Apparatus and method for controlling connection status

• US 7,263,085 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Albrecht, Robert L., Aerrabotu, Naveen, Droste, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOANG, THAI D
• Application Number:
  US10/747,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 370260-269, 379/207.01, 379/202.01, 455518-520, 455462-463
• US Class Current: 370/335
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services

Abstract

An apparatus and method of controlling connection status using a flash with information message. A connection can be established between a communication device and a first party. An operation can trigger an event. A flash with information message can be transmitted on a link signaling channel in response to the event. The flash with information message can include a connection control information record that controls a connection status of the connected first party.

Claims

1. A method in a code division multiple access wireless communication device, comprising:

establishing a connection with a first party; and

transmitting a flash with information message on a reverse link signaling channel, the flash with information message including a connection control information record that controls a connection status of the connected first party.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection control information record comprises a multi-party connection control information record.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection status includes one of a party audio mute status, a party hold status, a party active status, and a party disconnect status.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the connection control information record includes a connection reference field having a unique identifier assigned to the first party.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flash with information message includes

a connection reference field having a unique value assigned to the first party, and

a connection status field that indicates a desire to activate the connection status of the first party.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing a connection with a second party while maintaining the connection with the first party.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein transmitting the flash with information message further comprises transmitting the flash with information message on the reverse link signaling channel to place the second party on hold while activating a status of the first party.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the flash with information message includes

a number of multi-party connection records field indicating the number of pairs of connection reference and connection status fields included in the flash with information message,

a first connection reference field having a first unique value assigned to the first party,

a first connection status field associated with the first connection reference field, the first connection status field indicating a desire to activate the connection status of the first party,

a second connection reference field having a second unique value assigned to the second party, and

a second connection status field associated with the second connection reference field, the second connection status field indicating a desire to place the second party into a hold status.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein transmitting the flash with information message further comprises transmitting the flash with information message on a reverse link signaling channel to activate a status of the first party while maintaining an active status of the second party.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reverse link signaling channel comprises a reverse dedicated signaling channel.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reverse dedicated signaling channel comprises a communication path that exists between a specific mobile station and a base station for the exchange of control information from the specific mobile station to the base station.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flash with information message comprises an extended flash with information message.

13. A method in a code division multiple access system, comprising:

establishing a connection between a wireless communication device and a first party; and

transmitting a flash with information message on a forward link signaling channel, the flash with information message including a connection control information record that indicates the connection status of the first party.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the connection control information record includes a connection reference field having a unique value assigned to the first party and a connection status field indicating the connection status of the first party.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the connection status includes one of a party audio mute status, a party hold status, a party active status, and a party disconnect status.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising assigning the unique value assigned to the first party.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

recognizing a request for a connection with a second party while continuing the connection between the wireless communication device and first party; and

assigning a unique connection reference value to the second party.

18. A wireless communication device for code division multiple access wireless communication, the wireless communication device comprising:

a transceiver;

a controller coupled to the transceiver, the controller configured to establish a connection with a first party via the transceiver; and

a connection status control module including

a party identifier storage module configured to store a party identifier associated with the first party; and

a flash with information message generation module configured to generate a flash with information message including a connection control information record that controls a connection status of the connected first party,

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit flash with information message on a reverse link signaling channel via the transceiver.

19. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the connection control information record comprises a multi-party connection control information record.

20. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the connection status includes one of a party audio mute status, a party hold status, a party active status, and a party disconnect status.

21. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the connection control information record includes a connection reference field having a unique identifier assigned to the first party.

22. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the flash with information message includes

a connection reference field having a unique value assigned to the first party, and

a connection status field that indicates a desire to activate the connection status of the first party.

23. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to establish a connection with a second party via the transceiver while maintaining the connection with the first party.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein transmitting the flash with information message further comprises transmitting the flash with information message on the reverse link signaling channel to place the second party on hold while activating a status of the first party.

25. The wireless communication device according to claim 24, wherein the flash with information message includes

a number of multi-party connection records field indicating the number of pairs of connection reference and connection status fields included in the flash with information message,

a first connection reference field having a first unique value assigned to the first party,

a first connection status field associated with the first connection reference field, the first connection status field indicating a desire to activate the connection status of the first party,

a second connection reference field having a second unique value assigned to the second party, and

a second connection status field associated with the second connection reference field, the second connection status field indicating a desire to place the second party into a hold status.

26. The wireless communication device according to claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the flash with information message by transmitting the flash with information message on a reverse link signaling channel to activate a status of the first party while maintaining an active status of the second party.

27. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the reverse link signaling channel comprises a reverse dedicated signaling channel.

28. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the reverse dedicated signaling channel comprises a communication path that exists between a specific communication device and a base station for the exchange of control information from the specific communication device to the base station.

29. The wireless communication device according to claim 18, wherein the flash with information message comprises extended flash with information message.

30. An apparatus for code division multiple access communication, the apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to establish a connection between a wireless communication device and a first party; and

a network connection status control module coupled to the controller, the network connection status control module including

a party identifier storage, the party identifier storage including a unique value assigned to the first party, and

a flash with information generation module configured to generate a flash with information message for transmission on a forward link signaling channel, the flash with information message including a connection control information record that indicates the connection status of the first party.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the connection control information record includes a connection reference field including the unique value assigned to the first party and a connection status field indicating the connection status of the first party.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the connection status includes one of a party-audio mute status, a party hold status, a party active status, and a party disconnect status.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the network connection status control module is further configure to assign the unique value assigned to the first party.

34. The apparatus according to claim 30,

wherein the controller is further configured to recognize a request for a connection with a second party while continuing the connection between the wireless communication device and first party;

and

wherein the network connection status control module is further configured to assign a unique connection reference value to the second party.

35. A method in a communication device, comprising:

establishing a connection with another communication device;

transmitting a flash with information message on a reverse traffic channel, the flash with information message including

a record type field indicating a party connection control record type,

a connection reference field that includes a identifier that identifies the another communication device, and

a connection control information field that indicates a desired connection status of the another communication device; and

displaying a connection status of the another communication device.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

establishing a connection with a third communication device while maintaining a connection with the another communication device; and

displaying the connection status of the third communication device.