Method and system for setting up a call to a mobile station via another mobile station
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving into a radio access network (RAN) a request to set up a call to a first mobile station;
responsive to the request, the RAN paging the first mobile station and encountering a call setup failure; and
responsive to the call setup failure, the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via a second mobile station,wherein the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via the second mobile station comprises (i) the RAN establishing a first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station, (ii) the RAN sending to the second mobile station a bridge-indicator that directs the second mobile station to enter a wireless-bridge mode in which the second mobile station broadcasts a service set indicator (SSID) that the first mobile station is arranged to begin scanning for in response to the first mobile station detecting lack of sufficient wireless coverage from the RAN, and (iii) the RAN engaging in setup signaling with the first mobile station via a path comprising the first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station and a second wireless link that is established between the second mobile station and the first mobile station after the first mobile station detects the SSID broadcast by the second mobile station and associates with the second mobile station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for a setting up a call to a mobile station using an intermediary mobile station. The intermediary mobile station is a multi-mode device that may exchange data according to at least two different protocols. One protocol is a cellular communication protocol, such as CDMA. A second protocol is a WLAN protocol, such as 802.11. When a RAN attempts to setup a call with a first mobile station and the call attempt fails, the RAN establishes a cellular wireless link with the intermediary mobile station instead, and the intermediary mobile station establishes a WLAN link with the first mobile station. Call setup and bearer communication may then proceed between the RAN and the first mobile station with the intermediary mobile station functioning as a wireless bridge.
70 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving into a radio access network (RAN) a request to set up a call to a first mobile station; responsive to the request, the RAN paging the first mobile station and encountering a call setup failure; and responsive to the call setup failure, the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via a second mobile station, wherein the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via the second mobile station comprises (i) the RAN establishing a first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station, (ii) the RAN sending to the second mobile station a bridge-indicator that directs the second mobile station to enter a wireless-bridge mode in which the second mobile station broadcasts a service set indicator (SSID) that the first mobile station is arranged to begin scanning for in response to the first mobile station detecting lack of sufficient wireless coverage from the RAN, and (iii) the RAN engaging in setup signaling with the first mobile station via a path comprising the first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station and a second wireless link that is established between the second mobile station and the first mobile station after the first mobile station detects the SSID broadcast by the second mobile station and associates with the second mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a radio access network (RAN) operable to provide mobile stations with access to one or more transport networks; a first mobile station operable to be served by the RAN;
a second mobile station operable to be served by the RAN;wherein, when the RAN receives a request to set up a communication session to the first mobile station, the RAN pages the first mobile station in an effort to set up the session; and wherein, if the RAN encounters a call setup failure when attempting to set up the communication session to the first mobile station, the RAN responsively sets up the session to the first mobile station via the second mobile station; wherein the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via the second mobile station comprises (i) the RAN sending to the second mobile station a bridge-indicator that causes the second mobile station to broadcast a service set indicator (SSID) that the first mobile station is arranged to begin scanning for in response to the first mobile station detecting lack of sufficient wireless coverage from the RAN, and (ii) the RAN engaging in setup signaling with the first mobile station via a path comprising a first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station and a second wireless link that is established between the second mobile station and the first mobile station after the first mobile station detects the SSID broadcast by the second mobile station and associates with the second mobile station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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receiving into a radio access network (RAN) a request to set up a call to a first mobile station; responsive to the request, the RAN paging the first mobile station and encountering a call setup failure; and responsive to the call setup failure, the RAN setting up the call to the first mobile station via a second mobile station, wherein setting up the call to the first mobile station via a second mobile station comprises (i) establishing a first wireless link between the RAN and the second mobile station, (ii) directing the second mobile station to enter a wireless-bridge mode in which the second mobile station bridges the first wireless link with a second wireless link to the first mobile station, and (iii) exchanging call setup messages between the RAN and the first mobile station via a communication path comprising the first wireless link and the second wireless link, wherein directing the second mobile station to enter the wireless-bridge mode comprises including a bridge-indicator in a page message transmitted to the second mobile station when setting up the first wireless link, wherein the method further comprises, in response to the bridge-indicator, the second mobile station entering the wireless-bridge mode, wherein entering the wireless-bridge mode comprises broadcasting a service set identifier (SSID) for receipt by the first mobile station, wherein the method further comprises the second mobile station receiving an association request from the first mobile station after the first mobile station detects the broadcast SSID, and wherein the method further comprises the first mobile station beginning to scan for the SSID in response to detecting lack of sufficient wireless coverage from the RAN.
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Specification