Method and apparatus for independent and efficient delivery of services to wireless devices capable of supporting multiple radio interfaces and network infrastructure

• US 8,023,941 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rahman, Shamim Akbar, Shaheen, Kamel M., Goldberg, Steven Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer; Temica M
• Application Number:
  US10/899,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20050136898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,612 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/395.21, 370/395.42, 455/432.1, 455/432.3, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• 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

Independent delivery services to wireless terminals capable of supporting multiple radio interfaces is achieved through the employment of a service management center (SMC). The SMC determines the set of services and parameters based on the capability and service profile of the wireless terminal.

Claims

1. A method for use in a service management function in a wireless network, the method comprising:

receiving a first message indicating a request for a service for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a type of access network through which the WTRU is connected;

determining that the WTRU should receive the service based on the type of access network through which the WTRU is connected and a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement associated with the service; and

transmitting a second message to establish the service for the WTRU.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a profile associated with the WTRU;

wherein the determining that the WTRU should receive the service is further based on the profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile associated with the WTRU includes information related to radio access technology capabilities of the WTRU.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a third message indicating that the WTRU has changed access networks; and

determining whether to modify the service based on the third message.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

updating the profile associated with the WTRU based on the third message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service is a messaging service, a short message service (SMS), a multimedia message service (MMS), and internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) service, a voice over IP (VoIP) service, a data retrieval service, or an entertainment service.

7. A service management function comprising:

a circuit configured to receive a first message indicating a request for a service for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a type of access network through which the WTRU is connected;

a circuit configured to determine that the WTRU should receive the service based on the type of access network through which the WTRU is connected and a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement associated with the service; and

a circuit configured to send a second message to establish the service for the WTRU.

8. The service management function of claim 7, further comprising:

a circuit configured to maintain a profile associated with the WTRU;

wherein the circuit configured to determine that the WTRU should receive the service is configured to determine that the WTRU should receive the service further based on the profile.

9. The service management function of claim 8, wherein the profile associated with the WTRU includes information related to radio access technology capabilities of the WTRU.

10. The service management function of claim 8, further comprising

a circuit configured to receive a third message indicating that the WTRU has changed access networks;

and

a circuit configured to determine whether to modify the service based on the third message.

11. The service management function of claim 10, further comprising:

updating the profile associated with the WTRU based on the third message.

12. The service management function of claim 7, wherein the service is a messaging service, a short message service (SMS), a multimedia message service (MMS), and internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) service, a voice over IP (VoIP) service, a data retrieval service, or an entertainment service.