System and method for controlling services provided to multi-mode mobile stations

• US 7,406,324 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: McConnell, Von K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/101,236
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 455/433, 455/432.1, 455/466, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/440, 455/442, 455/443, 455/445, 456/560
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). An internetwork service control system controls how services are provided to the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN and the WWAN. The same service logic in the internetwork service control system can control the provision of services via both the WLAN and the WWAN. For example, a service logic module can be executed to define SIP signaling to control the provision of a service via the WLAN and can be executed to define WIN signaling to control the provision of the same service via the WWAN. The internetwork service control system may also include a call state monitor that maintains the call state of the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN and the WWAN.

Claims

1. A system for controlling services provided to a multi-mode mobile station, said multi-mode having a first mobile station interface for wireless communication with a first wireless network and a second mobile station interface for wireless communication with a second wireless network, said system comprising:

a first signaling interface for transmitting a first signaling message, wherein said first signaling message controls how a service is provided to said multi-mode mobile station via said first wireless network;

a second signaling interface for transmitting a second signaling message, wherein said second signaling message controls how said service is provided to said multi-mode mobile station via said second wireless network, said first and second signaling messages having different formats; and

a service logic module communicatively coupled to said first signaling interface and to said second signaling interface, wherein said service logic module can be executed to define said first signaling message and can be executed to define said second signaling message, and wherein said first and second signaling interfaces and said service logic module are in a service control point (SCP).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first wireless network is a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and said second wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first signaling message is an IS-41 message and said second signaling message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a mobile switching center (MSC) communicatively coupled to said first signaling interface, wherein said MSC functions to provide said service to said multi-mode mobile station via said first wireless network in accordance with said first signaling message.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a call session control function (CSCF) communicatively coupled to said second signaling interface, wherein said CSCF functions to provide said service to said multi-mode mobile station via said second wireless network in accordance with said second signaling message.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a home subscriber server (HSS) communicatively coupled to said SCP, wherein said SCP obtains a service profile for said multi-mode mobile station from said HSS.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said SCP includes a call state monitor that maintains a call state of said multi-mode mobile station when said multi-mode mobile station is engaged in a call via either of said first and second wireless networks.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said SCP generates a call record when said multi-mode mobile station is engaged in a call via either of said first and second wireless networks.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said call record includes a start time of said call and a stop time of said call.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said start time occurs when said multimode mobile station becomes engaged in said call via said first wireless network and said stop time occurs after said multi-mode mobile station has been engaged in said call via said second wireless network.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said start time occurs when said multimode mobile station becomes engaged in said call via said second wireless network and said stop occurs after said multi-mode mobile station has been engaged in said call via said first wireless network.