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

• US 7,634,282 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: McConnell, Von K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US12/141,604
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 455/406, 455/442, 455/443, 455/444, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/405, 455/466, 455/435.1, 455/435.2
• 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 method for monitoring a multi-mode mobile station, said multi-mode mobile station 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 method comprising:

a service control point (SCP) receiving a first message, said first message indicating that said multi-mode mobile station has become engaged in a call via said first wireless network;

in response to said first message, said SCP generating a call record for said call, said call record including a start time of said call;

said SCP receiving a second message, said second message indicating that said call has ended while said multi-mode mobile station was in wireless communication with said second wireless network; and

in response to said second message, said SCP adding a stop time of said call to said call record.

2. The method 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 method of claim 2, wherein said first message is a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) invoke message transmitted by a mobile switching center (MSC) and said second message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) BYE message transmitted by a call session control function (CSCF).

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

effecting a handoff of said multi-mode mobile station from said WWAN to said WLAN during said call.

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

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ACK message transmitted by a call session control function (CSCF) and said second message is a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) invoke message transmitted by a mobile switching center (MSC).

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

effecting a handoff of said multi-mode mobile station from said WLAN to said WWAN during said call.

8. A method for monitoring a multi-mode mobile station, said multi-mode mobile station 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 method comprising:

receiving a first message transmitted by a mobile switching center (MSC), said first message indicating that said multi-mode mobile station has become engaged in a call via said first wireless network;

in response to said first message, generating a call record for said call, said call record including a start time of said call;

receiving a second message transmitted by a call session control function (CSCF), said second message indicating that said call has ended while said multi-mode mobile station was in wireless communication with said second wireless network; and

in response to said second message, adding a stop time of said call to said call record.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first message is a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) invoke message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said second message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) BYE message.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said first wireless network is a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and said second wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

effecting a handoff of said multi-mode mobile station from said WWAN to said WLAN during said call.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said first and second messages are received by a service control point (SCP).

14. A method for monitoring a multi-mode mobile station, said multi-mode mobile station 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 method comprising:

receiving a first message transmitted by a call session control function (CSCF), said first message indicating that said multi-mode mobile station has become engaged in a call via said first wireless network;

in response to said first message, generating a call record for said call, said call record including a start time of said call;

receiving a second message transmitted by a mobile switching center (MSC), said second message indicating that said call has ended while said multi-mode mobile station was in wireless communication with said second wireless network; and

in response to said second message, adding a stop time of said call to said call record.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said first message is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) ACK message.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said second message is a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) invoke message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said first wireless network is a wireless local area network (WLAN) and said second wireless network is a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

effecting a handoff of said multi-mode mobile station from said WLAN to said WWAN during said call.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second messages are received by a service control point (SCP).