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

• US 7,477,916 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• 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:
  US11/777,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20080026785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/445, 455/455, 455/550.1, 455/412.2, 455/418, 455/3.01, 455/503, 455/561, 455/454, 455/507, 455/519, 370/328, 370/351, 370356-360
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 able 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 of operating one or more components of a wireless communications network, the method comprising operations of:

receiving initiation of a point-to-point call 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;

receiving notification from the mobile station of mobile station preferences as to prescribed categories of operating conditions including at least the following;

(1) in the event the point-to-point call originated from a remote party, whether to receive the point-to-point call, (2) whether to continue receiving the broadcast content, (3) 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;

performing call processing operations including one of the following tasks in accordance with the mobile station'"'"'s preferences;

(1) abandoning completion of the point-to-point call, (2) completing the point-to-point call without regard for whether network resources will be able to continue conducting the broadcast, (3) completing the point-to-point call should network resources be able to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently, (4) 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.

2. The method of claim 1, where:

the operation of the network receiving notification from the mobile station of mobile station preferences comprises one of the following;

receiving the election in conjunction with a PAGE RESPONSE message from the mobile station;

receiving the election in messaging transmitted by the mobile station responsive to network transmission of a CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT message to the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, the operation of completing the point-to-point call should network resources be able to conduct the point-to-point call and broadcast content concurrently, further comprising:

instructing the mobile station to utilize a different communications configuration of multi-user forward-link broadcast channel to continue receiving 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 call processing operations comprise:

under prescribed circumstances, commencing use of a non-shared channel to deliver the broadcast content to the mobile station.