Method and system for self-terminating a media service due to an out-of-coverage condition

• US 7,747,247 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Abdel-Kader, Sherif
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US11/559,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/442, 455/432.1, 455/458, 709/227, 370/352, 370/252, 370/278
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method and mobile device that self-terminates a media service if an out-of-coverage condition is detected. The media service operates on top of a connectionless peer-to-peer packet-based transport protocol. The out-of-coverage condition may relate to the mobile device itself or to a remote mobile device engaged in the media service. The loss of coverage by the remote mobile device may be detected by observing whether the remote mobile device has failed to send any data packets for more than a predetermined period of time. If an out-of-coverage situation is detected, then the method or device initiates service cancellation or release.

Claims

1. A method of self-terminating a media service due to an out-of-coverage condition, the media service being established between a mobile device and a remote termination point over a wireless network, the mobile device going out-of-coverage, the method comprising the steps of:

recognizing a loss of signal coverage on the mobile device and starting a timer in response to said loss of signal coverage;

stopping said timer if said signal coverage is restored;

terminating the media service on the mobile device if said timer exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein said step of terminating includes releasing resources on the mobile device and closing a media service application associated with the media service,

wherein the media service includes the transmission of data packets using a peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol,

wherein said predetermined threshold comprises about five seconds.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a communication subsystem for engaging in RF communications with the wireless network, and wherein said step of recognizing includes receiving a lost coverage signal from said communication subsystem if said communication subsystem loses connectivity with the wireless network, said lost coverage signal indicating said loss of signal coverage.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of stopping said timer includes detecting a restored coverage signal from said communication subsystem if said communication subsystem restores connectivity with the wireless network.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call and wherein said step of terminating includes releasing said VoIP call.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).

6. A mobile device for engaging in a media service with a remote termination point over a wireless network, the mobile device comprising:

a communications subsystem for establishing a connection with the wireless network and receiving RF communications, including data packets from the remote termination point;

a processor for controlling said communications subsystem; and

a call termination module for self-terminating the media service due to an out-of-coverage condition, said call termination module including,

a timer for determining an elapsed time since a loss of signal coverage, said timer being triggered by said loss of signal coverage and said timer being stopped by a restoration of signal coverage; and

a loss of coverage handler responsive to said elapsed time reaching a predetermined threshold, wherein said loss of coverage handler terminates the media service on the mobile device, and

wherein said loss of coverage handler includes a component for releasing resources on the mobile device and closing a media service application associated with the media service,

wherein the media service includes the transmission of data packets using a peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol,

wherein said predetermined threshold comprises about five seconds.

7. The mobile device claimed in claim 6, wherein said communication subsystem includes a coverage component for generating a lost coverage signal in response to said loss of signal coverage, and wherein said timer receives and is triggered by said lost coverage signal.

8. The mobile device claimed in claim 7, wherein said coverage component further generates a restored coverage signal in response to said restoration of signal coverage, and wherein said timer receives and is stopped by said restored coverage signal.

9. The mobile device claimed in claim 6, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call and wherein said loss of coverage handler includes a component for releasing said VoIP call in response to said elapsed time reaching said predetermined threshold.

10. The mobile device claimed in claim 6, wherein said peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).

11. A method of self-terminating a media service by a first mobile device due to an out-of-coverage condition at a second mobile device, the media service being conducted between the first mobile device and the second mobile device over a wireless network, the method comprising the steps of:

starting a timer on the first mobile device after receipt of a media data packet from the second mobile device, wherein said media data packet includes media data associated with the media service;

restarting said timer if a further media data packet is received from the second mobile device; and

terminating the media service if said timer exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein said step of terminating includes releasing resources on the mobile device and closing a media service application associated with the media service,

wherein the media service includes the transmission of data packets using a peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol,

wherein said predetermined threshold comprises about thirty seconds.

12. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of terminating further includes a step of sending a service release message to the second mobile device and/or an associated proxy server.

13. The method claimed in claim 12, wherein said service release message includes a SIP BYE message.

14. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call.

15. The method claimed in claim 11, wherein the peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).

16. A first mobile device for engaging in a media service with a second mobile device over a wireless network, the first mobile device comprising:

a communications subsystem for establishing a connection with the wireless network and receiving RF communications, including media data packets from the second mobile device, wherein said media data packets include media data associated with the media service;

a processor for controlling said communications subsystem; and

a call termination module for self-terminating the media service due to an out-of-coverage condition at the second mobile device, said call termination module including,

a timer for determining an elapsed time since receipt of a most recent media data packet from the second mobile device, said timer being started by receipt of said most recent media data packet and said timer being restarted by receipt of a subsequent media data packet; and

a loss of coverage handler responsive to said elapsed time reaching a predetermined threshold, wherein said loss of coverage handler terminates the media service, and

wherein said loss of coverage handler includes a component for releasing resources on the mobile device and closing a media service application associated with the media service,

wherein the media service includes the transmission of data packets using a peer-to-peer connection less transport protocol,

wherein said predetermined threshold comprises about thirty seconds.

17. The first mobile device claimed in claim 16, wherein said loss of coverage handler further includes a component for sending a service release message to the second mobile device and/or an associated proxy server.

18. The first mobile device claimed in claim 17, wherein said service release message includes a SIP BYE message.

19. The first mobile device claimed in claim 16, wherein the media service comprises a VoIP call.

20. The first mobile device claimed in claim 16, wherein the peer-to-peer connectionless transport protocol comprises real-time transport protocol (RTP).