PS network with CS service enabling functionality

• US 8,159,980 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jappila, Petri, Ore, Ivan, Schwarz, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, CHRISTINE T
• Application Number:
  US11/905,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]

Abstract

Method and system for optimization of a handoff of a user equipment between packet switched and circuit switched networks in response to a request for circuit switched network services on the user equipment while the user equipment is resident on a packet switched only network. The system includes a mobile device, a first network, and a second network. The first network includes a third network and an interworking unit. The second network communicates with the first network. The mobile device sends registration information to the first network. The third network sends the registration information to the interworking unit. The interworking unit sends the registration information to the second network to provide a communication link between the mobile device and the second network.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit registration information to a first network unit, where the registration information is for a mobile device operating in a packet switched network, and where the first network unit is part of the packet switched network;

a receiver configured to receive information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit that is part of the packet switched network, and further configured to receive an instruction from said second network unit, said instruction relating to a third network unit that is part of a circuit switched network; and

a communication unit configured to initiate a communication link with said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction received from said second network unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said registration information comprises at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched and circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched and circuit switched network communication with at least one of circuit switched registration and support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said information from said first network unit relating to said second network unit comprises at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow at least one of circuit switched registration and support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched and circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to another authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said registration information comprises circuit switched registration information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first network unit comprises a service enabling packet switched and circuit switched network unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first network unit further comprises an interworking unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second network unit comprises a packet switched only network unit.

8. A method, comprising:

transmitting registration information to a first network unit, where the registration information is for a mobile device operating in a packet switched network, and where the first network unit is part of the packet switched network;

receiving information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit that is part of the packet switched network;

receiving an instruction from said second network unit relating to a third network unit that is part of a circuit switched network; and

initiating a communication link with said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction from said second network unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information comprising at least one parameter of a mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched and circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched and circuit switched network communication with at least one of circuit switched registration and support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving information comprises receiving information comprising at least one characteristic of said second network unit configured to allow only pure packet switched users, said second network unit configured to allow at least one of circuit switched registration and support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said second network unit configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched and circuit switched service support, said second network unit configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said second network unit configured to instruct said mobile device to move to another authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information comprising circuit switched registration information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting said registration information to said first network unit comprising at least one of a service enabling packet switched or circuit switched network unit and an interworking unit.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving information from said first network unit relating to said second network unit comprising a packet switched only network unit.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive registration information from a mobile device in a packet switched network; and

an interworking unit in said packet switched network configured to receive said registration information from said receiver, and further configured to transmit said registration information to a network unit in a circuit switched network, and configured to transmit information relating to said receiver to said mobile device for establishing a communication link between said mobile device and said network unit in said circuit switched network.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said receiver comprises a packet switched only network unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said registration information comprises at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched and circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched and circuit switched network communication with at least one of circuit switched registration and support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said information transmitted to said mobile device comprises at least one characteristic of said packet switched network configured to allow only packet switched users, said packet switched network configured to allow at least one of circuit switched registration and support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said packet switched network configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched and circuit switched service support, said packet switched network configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said packet switched network configured to instruct said mobile device to move to another authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving registration information from a mobile device in a packet switched network at a receiver in the packet switched network;

transmitting the received registration information to an interworking unit in the packet switched network;

transmitting said registration information from said interworking unit to a network unit in a circuit switched network; and

transmitting information relating to said receiver to said mobile device for establishing a communication link between said mobile device and said network unit in said circuit switched network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving comprises receiving said registration information by a packet switched only network unit.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving comprises receiving said registration information comprising at least one parameter of said mobile device configured to allow only packet switched network communications, said mobile device configured to allow packet switched and circuit switched network communications with full circuit switched service support, and said mobile device configured to allow a service enabling packet switched and circuit switched network communication with at least one of circuit switched registration and support for incoming and outgoing circuit switched service.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said transmitting said information comprises transmitting information comprising at least one characteristic of said packet switched network configured to allow only packet switched users, said packet switched network configured to allow at least one of circuit switched registration and support circuit switched mobile device terminated calls, said packet switched network configured to allow circuit switched service support and packet switched and circuit switched service support, said packet switched network configured to provide updated information about possible circuit switched networks, when said mobile device moves to a new coverage area, and said packet switched network configured to instruct said mobile device to move to another authorized network unit during a mobile device registration phase.

22. A mobile device, comprising:

transmission means for transmitting registration information from said mobile device when operating in a packet switched network to a first network unit in the packet switched network;

receiving means for receiving information from said first network unit relating to a second network unit in the packet switched network and for receiving an instruction from said second network unit, said instruction relating to a third network unit in a circuit switched network; and

communication means for initiating a communication link between said mobile device and said third network unit based upon said transmitted registration information, said received information relating to said second network unit, and said instruction from said second network unit.