Methods and systems for configuring multi-mode mobile stations

• US 8,611,946 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Cormier, Jean-Philippe, Plestid, Trevor, Wirtanen, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US11/627,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080182614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,518 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/450, 455/553.1, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for configuring multi-mode mobile stations. When the number of data sessions available to a multi-mode mobile station changes, the multi-mode mobile station sends information to configuration server sufficient to determine the capability of the network and identify the multi-mode mobile station. The number of data sessions available to a multi-mode mobile station may change for example due to the multi-mode mobile entering a network, changing radio access technologies (RAT) used in the network or changing radio network controllers having the same or a different respective number of data sessions. A configuration server receives the information sent by the multi-mode mobile station and selects configuration information for configuring the multi-mode mobile station to support services/applications that are subscribed to by a user of the multi-mode mobile station. In some embodiments the selection of configuration information is made at least in part based on the information received by the configuration server from the multi-mode mobile station. Once the configuration information has been selected, the configuration server sends the configuration information to the multi-mode mobile station. The multi-mode mobile station receives the multi-mode mobile station specific configuration information and automatically configures itself according to the configuration information.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a multi-mode mobile station comprising:

the multi-mode mobile station sending information comprising at least an identification of the multi-mode mobile station, an identification of a network serving the multi-mode mobile station and an identification of a current radio access technology (RAT) in the serving network upon an occurrence of an event that may result in a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station;

when there is a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station the multi-mode mobile station receiving over-the-air, configuration information for the current RAT in the serving network based on the information sent by the multi-mode mobile station, the configuration information comprising a respective configuration profile for each of at least one data session for use by the multi-mode mobile station;

the multi-mode mobile station configuring itself according to the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an occurrence of an event that may result in a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station comprises at least one of:

the multi-mode mobile station entering into the serving network;

the multi-mode mobile station changing RATs within the serving network; and

the multi-mode mobile station changing radio network controllers (RNC) in the serving network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration information limits a total number of data sessions to be used by the multi-mode mobile station to be no larger than a number of data sessions supported in the serving network and the current RAT.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein sending information upon an occurrence of an event that may result in a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station comprises sending at least one of:

a mobile country code (MCC), a mobile network code (MNC), a location area code (LAC), an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), an integrated circuit card identity (ICCID), a mobile system integrated services digital network (MSISDN), a Personal Identification Number (PIN), electronic serial number (ESN) and an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending information comprising an identification of a current RAT used in the serving network comprises identifying the current RAT as one of:

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN), WiFi, Bluetooth and WiMAX.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information indicates a maximum number of concurrent data sessions supported and configuring the multi-mode mobile station according to the configuration information comprises:

the multi-mode mobile station dropping active data sessions as necessary to meet the maximum number of data sessions supported.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the maximum number of concurrent data sessions is a maximum number of packet data protocol (PDP) contexts.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein dropping active PDP contexts as necessary to meet the maximum number of PDP contexts supported comprises dropping all but one active PDP context.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending data for N services/applications on M PDP contexts, where N≧

2, and 1≦

M<

N.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein sending data for N services/applications on less than N PDP contexts comprises sending data for N services/applications on one PDP context.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending data for N services/applications on the one active PDP context, wherein sending data comprises:

sending packet based traffic of each of the N services/applications to a router adapted to determine from packet header information in the packet based traffic a particular service/application the packet based traffic is associated with.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one service/application of the N services/applications comprises an always-on service/application.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the N service/applications comprise one or more types of services/applications selected from the group of:

wireless application protocol (WAP) service, mobile message service (MMS) wireless modem service, SIP/IMS (Session Initiation Protocol /IP Multimedia Subsystem) service and push e-mail service.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the multi-mode mobile station comprises enabling and disabling services/applications for use by the multi-mode mobile station as a function of the configuration information.

15. A method for configuring a multi-mode mobile station over the air comprising:

receiving information comprising at least an identification of the multi-mode mobile station, an identification of a network serving the multi-mode mobile station and an identification of a current radio access technology (RAT) used in the serving network, upon an occurrence of an event that may result in a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station;

selecting configuration information for the current RAT in the serving network based on the received information for configuring a respective data session used by the multi-mode mobile station, the configuration information comprising a respective configuration profile for each of at least one data session;

when there is a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station, sending the configuration information over-the-air to the multi-mode mobile station.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein selecting configuration information comprises selecting configuration information that will configure the multi-mode mobile station to enable a total number of data sessions that is no larger than a number of data sessions supported in the serving network and current RAT.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining the total number of data sessions supported by the serving network or current RAT based on the information received from the multi-mode mobile station.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

defining a respective configuration profile for each of at least two different groups of supported data sessions, the at least two different groups each having a different number of data sessions;

selecting the configuration information comprises selecting the respective configuration profile for the determined number of supported data sessions.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising maintaining information associated with at least one multi-mode mobile station comprising one or more of:

a multi-mode mobile station identity, a list of services/applications subscribed to by a user of a respective multi-mode mobile station, configuration information for different respective networks and RATs used in the different respective networks based on the list of services/applications subscribed to by the user of the respective multi-mode mobile station, configuration profiles that have been defined previously for particular networks the multi-mode mobile station has operated within and a prioritized list of services/applications the user of the respective multi-mode mobile station desires if some services/applications are not able to be maintained when the respective multi-mode mobile station is configured.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving information comprising at least an identification of a multi-mode mobile station, an identification of a network serving the multi-mode mobile station and an identification of a current radio access technology (RAT) used in the serving network, upon an occurrence of an event that may result in a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station;

processing logic for selecting configuration information for the serving network for configuring a respective data session used by the multi-mode mobile station based on the received information;

computer readable memory for storing configuration information for at least one network and multi-mode mobile station specific information used in selecting the appropriate configuration information;

a transmitter for sending the appropriate configuration information for the current RAT in the serving network when there is a change in the number of data sessions available to the multi-mode mobile station.