System for changing location registration

• US 7,848,750 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Chiba, Koji, Kanto, Hiroshi, Maeda, Fukiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US12/118,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 4554351-436, 455/432.1, 455/456.1, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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 mobile terminal, which is registered to either a first mobile communication network or a second communication network, determines whether it is possible to register to the first mobile communication network on the basis of control information received from the second mobile communication network. Then, the mobile terminal attempts to register to the first mobile communication network a predetermined number of times in a case that it is determined that it is possible to register to the first mobile communication network.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate over a first mobile communication network and a second mobile communication network;

a control unit coupled with said communication unit, said control unit operable to register said mobile terminal with said second mobile communication network only when registration with said first mobile communication network is unavailable;

a memory coupled with said control unit, wherein said control unit is further operable to store location information in said memory, said location information comprising first location information indicative of said first mobile communication network or second location information indicative of said second mobile communication network;

said communication unit further operable to receive from said second mobile communication network notification information comprising said first location information and a registration possibility indication indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible; and

said control unit further operable to compare said first location information received in said notification information to location information stored in said memory and always register said mobile terminal with said first communication network in response to said second location information being stored in said memory, and said possibility information being indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said control unit is further operable to register said mobile terminal with said first mobile communication network only after confirmation that said mobile terminal is not calling through said second mobile communication network.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said control unit is further operable to store said first location information in said memory in place of said second location information upon registration with said first mobile communication network.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said control unit is further operable to generate and transmit a first activation message over said first mobile communication network for receipt by a management device, and generate and transmit a second activation message over said second mobile communication network for receipt by said management device, wherein said management device is configured to store and update information specifying a mobile communication network with which said mobile terminal is currently activated to receive a call, based on said first activation message and said second activation message.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein said control unit is further operable to generate said first activation message after storage of said second location in said memory, and generate said second activation message after storage of said first location information in said memory.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein said first activation message comprises an identifier of said mobile terminal and a first control code to activate said first mobile communication network, and said second activation message comprises said identifier of said mobile terminal and a second control code to activate said second mobile communication network.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said notification information further comprises timing information indicative of a maximum number of attempts to register to said first mobile communication network, and said control unit is further operable to attempt to register to said first mobile communication network a number of times indicated with said timing information before registration with said second mobile communication network.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein said notification information further comprises specification of a predetermined interval of time between attempts to register to said first mobile communication network, and said control unit is further operable to attempt to register to said first mobile communication network at said predetermined interval of time.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said communication unit is operable to communicate voice communication and data communication, and said control unit is operable to register with said first mobile communication network for voice communication when said communication unit is currently engaged in a data communication over said second mobile communication network.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal is only registerable with said first mobile communication network when a user of said mobile terminal is an authorized user of said first mobile communication network.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said registration possibility information comprises a limitation of registration with said first mobile communication network to only one of voice communication or data communication.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication network and said second mobile communication network are divided into a plurality of registration areas, and receipt from said second mobile communication network of notification information comprising said first location information and said registration possibility indication indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible is a result of a change of location of said mobile terminal from one registration area to another registration area.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication network and said second mobile communication network are divided into a plurality of radio areas, and receipt from said second mobile communication network of notification information comprising said first location information and said registration possibility indication indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible is a result of a change from a current radio area to another radio area.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said first mobile communication network and said second mobile communication network are divided into a plurality of radio areas each comprising a plurality of sectors, and receipt from said second mobile communication network of notification information comprising said first location information and said registration possibility indication indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible is a result of a change from a current sector to a new sector within a radio area.

15. A location registration changing method comprising:

registering a mobile terminal with a second mobile communication network in response to registration with a first mobile communication network being unavailable;

storing second location information of said second mobile communication network in a memory of said mobile terminal when said mobile terminal is registered to said second mobile communication network;

receiving, with said mobile terminal over said second mobile communication network, notification information that includes first location information of said first mobile communication network and registration possibility information that includes an indication of whether registration to said first mobile communication network is available;

said mobile terminal sensing a change in location of said mobile terminal;

said mobile terminal comparing said second location information stored in said memory with said first location information received in said notification information;

said mobile terminal, responsive to said first location information and said second location information being different, checking said registration possibility information to confirm registration to said first mobile communication network is available; and

said mobile terminal attempting to register said mobile terminal to said first mobile communication network in response to confirmation by said mobile terminal that said registration possibility information indicates registration to said first mobile communication network is available.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said mobile terminal sensing a change in location of said mobile terminal comprises confirming that said mobile terminal is not calling through said second mobile communication network, and delaying sensing a change in location of said mobile terminal when said mobile terminal is currently calling through said second mobile communication network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said mobile terminal attempting to register said mobile terminal to said first mobile communication network comprises said mobile terminal transmitting a location registration message over said first mobile communication network to a location management device in said first mobile communication network to register in said first mobile communication network, and said mobile terminal transmitting a notification message over said first mobile communication network to a management device in communication with both said first mobile communication network and said second mobile communication network, said notification message indicative that registration has been successfully changed to said first mobile communication network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said mobile terminal transmitting a location registration message comprises transmitting a mobile terminal identifier and location information of said mobile terminal to said location management device, and transmitting a notification message comprises transmitting a terminal identifier of said mobile terminal and a control code to activate said first mobile communication network to said management device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving, with said mobile terminal over said second mobile communication network, registration possibility information comprises storing said registration possibility information in a memory included in said mobile terminal, and checking said registration possibility information comprises accessing said registration possibility information stored in said memory.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein registering a mobile terminal with a second mobile communication network in response to registration with a first mobile communication network being unavailable comprises first attempting to register with said first mobile communication network and then registering with said second mobile communication network.

21. A communication system comprising:

a first mobile communication network that includes a first location management device, wherein said first location management device is operable to manage location information received from any of a plurality of mobile terminals that choose to register to said first mobile communication network;

a second mobile communication network that includes a second location management device and a base station, said second location management device operable to manage location information received from any of said mobile terminals that choose to register to said second mobile communication network, and said base station positioned within said first mobile communication network,

wherein said base station is operable to transmit, for receipt by any of said mobile terminals that are registered to said second mobile communication network, registration possibility information indicative that registration to said first mobile communication network is possible; and

a management device coupled with said first mobile communication network and said second mobile communication network, said management device operable to store location registration data correlated with a respective mobile terminal identifier for each of said mobile terminals,

said management device further operable to update said location registration data in response to receipt from any one of said mobile terminals of a notification message generated and transmitted with said respective any one of said mobile terminals, wherein said notification message is indicative that said respective any one of said mobile terminals completed registration to one of said first mobile communication network or said second mobile communication network and stands by for a call.

22. The communication system of claim 21, wherein said management device is operable to store said location registration data correlated with a mobile terminal identifier in a management table.

23. The communication system of claim 21, wherein said management device is operable, in response to a request related to a specified mobile terminal, to specify a mobile communication network to which said specified mobile terminal is registered based on said stored location registration data correlated with a mobile terminal identifier.

24. The communication system of claim 21, wherein said management device is operable to receive data from said first mobile communication network when said notification is from a first mobile terminal registered with said first mobile communication network, and said management device is operable to receive data from said second mobile communication network when said notification is from a second mobile terminal registered with said second mobile communication network.

25. The communication system of claim 21, wherein said notification message and said location information are different transmissions from said mobile terminal.