Method for changing between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection between at least two radio communication appliances, associated radio communication appliance, network component and radio communication system

• US 8,462,771 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kautz, Olaf, Laumen, Josef, Schwagmann, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US12/397,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 370259-271, 370310-356, 4554121-420, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/445, 4555501-560, 709201-207, 709217-248
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• 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

To change between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection as selectable communication connections between at least one first connected radio communication appliance and at least one second connected radio communication appliance in a radio communication system, a first of these two communication connections is selected and set up by at least one connected radio communication appliance and/or by at least one control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system. A change is made from this first communication connection, which has been set up, to the second communication connection under the control of a radio communication appliance which is connected to the first communication connection and/or under the control of that control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system which is connected to the first communication connection by activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists.

Claims

1. A method for switching between (a) a packet-oriented PTT communication connection between a first radio communication device and a second radio communication device and (b) a circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices, comprising:

establishing a communication session between the first and second radio communication via a first communication connection comprising one of (a) the packet-oriented PTT communication connection between the first and second radio communication devices and (b) the circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices,

during the communication session between the first and second radio communication devices, in response to a change from a first communication situation suitable for the first communication connection to a second communication situation suitable for a second, different communication connection, the first radio communication device initiating a switch from the first communication connection to the second communication connection, the second communication connection comprising the other one of (a) the packet-oriented PTT communication connection between the first and second radio communication devices and (b) the circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices, and

after the switch, continuing the communication session between the first and second radio communication devices via the second communication connection,

wherein the switch from the first communication connection to the second communication connection comprises activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first radio communication device uses the first communication connection, which has already been set up, to send the second radio communication device at least one control signal which is used to notify the second radio communication device of a need for the first radio communication device to change from the first communication connection to the second communication connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second radio communication device connected to the first communication connection, which has already been set up, sends to a control unit responsible for the first communication connection at least one control signal which is used to notify the control unit of a need for at least one of the first and the second radio communication device to change from the first communication connection to the second communication connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second radio communication device connected to the first communication connection, which has already been set up, sends to a control unit responsible for the second communication connection, which needs to be set up, at least one control signal which is used to notify the control unit of a need for at least one of the first and the second radio communication device to change from the first communication connection to the second communication connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a control unit connected to the first communication connection, which has already been set up, sends a control signal relating to a need for at least one of the first and the second radio communication device change to the control unit that is responsible for activating and setting up the second communication connection.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the control signal includes (a) one or more address parameters for at least one of the first and second radio communication devices and (b) at least one identification parameter for distinguishing the first communication connection, which has already been set up, from the second communication connection, which needs to be set up.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identification parameter in the control signal is used to associate the first communication connection, which has already been set up, with the second communication connection, which is yet to be set up, such that an explicit link is established between the first communication connection and the second communication connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication connection, which has been set up, is cleared down and terminated after the second communication connection has been activated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, after it has been activated, the second communication connection is set up and maintained in parallel with the first communication connection, which has already been set up.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a control unit used for the packet-oriented PTT session comprises a PTT server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a control unit used for the circuit-oriented telephone connection comprises an MSC switching unit.

12. A radio communication device having a control unit for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1.

13. A network component having a control unit for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1.

14. A radio communication system having a first group of network components for selecting and providing a packet-oriented PTT communication connection between a first radio communication device and a second radio communication device and also having a second group of network components for selecting and providing a circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices the two groups of network components comprising control systems configured to cooperate to switch between (a) the packet-oriented PTT communication connection between the first and second radio communication devices and (b) the circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices by:

establishing a communication session between the first and second radio communication via a first communication connection comprising one of (a) the packet-oriented PTT communication connection between the first and second radio communication devices and (b) the circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices,

during the communication session between the first and second radio communication devices, in response to a change from a first communication situation suitable for the first communication connection to a second communication situation suitable for a second, different communication connection, the first radio communication device initiating a switch from the first communication connection to the second communication connection, the second communication connection comprising the other one of (a) the packet-oriented PTT communication connection between the first and second radio communication devices and (b) the circuit-oriented telephone connection between the first and second radio communication devices, and

after the switch, continuing the communication session between the first and second radio communication devices via the second communication connection,

wherein the switch from the first communication connection to the second communication connection comprises activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists.