Method and apparatus for delivery of data-based/voice services over piconets and wireless LANs (WLANs) coupled to 3GPP devices including protocol architecture and information elements relating to short message services (SMS) over WLANs

• US 20050002407A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M., Chitrapu, Prabhakar R., Kiernan, Brian Gregory, Purkayastha, Debashish
• Granted Patent: US 8,619,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Method and apparatus delivering voice/data services within a piconet operating over a limited range or over a WLAN communicating with 3GPP devices by reformatting data into IP format before delivering to the WLAN. The service is short message service (SMS). Upon receipt of an SMS message, relevant routing information is retrieved. A PDGW address for the SMS message is identified and is sent to the PDGW address which identifies the WLAN user equipment (UE) for receiving the SMS and reformats the SMS message into IP format (text or encapsulation) for delivery to the UE. A protocol architecture is provided for SMS delivery over WLANs, in particular, for UMTS/CDMA based SMS over WLAN through two alternative mechanisms, i.e., SMS tunneling and SMS proxy, for protocols for the delivery of SMS across the WLAN. The invention enhances standard 802.11 in the context of UMTS and CDMA 2000; as well as other scenarios.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a data service to a WLAN that communicates with at least one 3GPP network, comprising:

said network;

receiving an incoming data message from a data service, wherein the incoming data message is in a first format;

converting the data message into a second format, and

delivering the reformatted message to the WLAN.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of converting the data message to a second format comprises converting to an Internet Protocol (IP) format.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data service is a short message service (SMS).

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of receiving an incoming data message comprises:

obtaining routing information from a received SMS message;

obtaining a packet data gateway (PDG) address responsive to the routing information; and

sending the SMS to a PDG identified by the PDG address.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of converting a data message further comprises:

converting the message by reformatting the SMS message into IP format;

identifying a user equipment (UE) intended to receive the SMS message; and

identifying the WLAN servicing said UE.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

said network delivering a reformatted message to the WLAN.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

said WLAN delivering the reformatted SMS message to the identified UE.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

retrieving routing information pertaining to the SMS message responsive to receipt of an SMS message;

identifying a WLAN access gateway (WAG) address associated with the SMS message from the retrieved routing information;

sending the SMS message to the identified WAG address;

identifying a WLAN user equipment (UE) to which the SMS message is to be delivered, and

reformatting the SMS message into IP format for delivery to the identified WLAN UE.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein reformatting the SMS message into IP format includes providing a text format.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein reformatting the SMS message into IP format includes providing an encapsulated format.

11. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

retrieving routing information pertaining to the SMS message responsive to receipt of an SMS message;

identifying a PDG address for the SMS message from the retrieved routing information;

sending the SMS message to a PDGW corresponding to the identified PDGW address;

identifying a WLAN user equipment (UE) to receive the SMS message;

notifying the UE of the existence of an incoming SMS message;

reformatting the SMS message into IP format for delivery to the WLAN;

sending an SMS message notification to the WLAN;

said WLAN;

generating an acknowledgment (ACK) message responsive to receipt of the SMS message notification and;

sending the SMS message to the WLAN.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

said WLAN transmitting the SMS message to the previously identified UE.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

said UE;

sending an SMS receipt message to the WLAN responsive to receipt of the SMS message;

said WLAN;

generating a delivery report and sending the delivery report to the PDG responsive to the SMS receipt message from the UE;

said PDG;

examining the delivery report to determine if the SMS message was successfully delivered to the UE; and

generating an acknowledgement message responsive to successful delivery of the SMS message was successfully delivered;

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

said PDG generating a no-acknowledgment message when the SMS message is not successfully delivered.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the PDG further comprises:

generating a delivery report in response to at least one of (i) an acknowledgment message, and (ii) a no-acknowledgment message.

16. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

said PDG;

retrieving routing information pertaining to the SMS message responsive to receipt of an SMS message;

identifying a WAG address for the SMS message from the routing information;

sending the SMS message to a WAG corresponding to the identified WAG address;

identifying a WLAN user equipment (UE) for which the SMS message is to be delivered;

notifying the identified UE of the existence of an incoming SMS message; and

reformatting the SMS message into IP format whereby the SMS message is ready for delivery;

said WAG;

sending an SMS message notification to said WLAN;

said WLAN;

sending an acknowledgment message (ACK) to the WAG responsive to receipt of the SMS message notification,;

said WAG;

sending the SMS message to the WLAN responsive to the ACK message; and

said WLAN;

transmitting the SMS message to the identified UE.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said PDG reformats the SMS message into IP format employing one of text and encapsulated reformatting.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

said UE;

sending an SMS receipt message to the WLAN responsive to receipt of the SMS message;

said WLAN;

generating a delivery report responsive to the SMS receipt message from the UE; and

sending the delivery report to the WAG.

19. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

said WLAN;

receiving an incoming encapsulated SMS message from a user equipment (UE) and forwarding the encapsulated SMS message to a PDG, wherein the SMS message is encapsulated in IP format;

said PDG;

converting the SMS message from IP format into a standard SMS format; and

sending the standard format SMS message to an SMS-IWMSC;

said SMS-IWMSC;

examining the SMS message and forwarding the message to an SM-SC;

said SM-SC;

sending a delivery report to the SMS-IWMSC responsive to receipt of the SMS message;

said SMS-IWMSC;

sending the delivery report to the PDG;

said PDG;

relaying the delivery report to the WLAN; and

said WLAN;

sending the delivery report to the UE that sent the encapsulated SMS message to the WLAN.

20. The method of claim 3 further including:

said WLAN;

receiving an incoming encapsulated SMS message from a user equipment (UE) and forwarding the encapsulated SMS message to a WAG, wherein the SMS message is encapsulated in IP format; and

the WAG;

converting the SMS message from IP format into a standard SMS format.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

said WAG;

sending the standard format SMS message to an SMS-IWMSC;

said SMS-IWMSC;

forwarding the standard format SMS message to an SM-SC;

said SM-SC;

sending a delivery report to the SMS-IWMSC responsive to receipt of the standard format SMS message;

said SMS-IWMSC;

sending the delivery report to the WAG;

said WAG;

relaying the delivery report to the WLAN; and

said WLAN;

sending the delivery report to the UE that sent the encapsulated SMS message to the WLAN.

34. The method of claim 33 further including:

said CSCF;

repeating the method steps of claim 21 over said 3GPP network.

22. A method for providing notification of CS (circuit switched) calls over a WLAN coupled to at least one 3GPP network and a PDGW, wherein communications between the WLAN, a user equipment (UE) and a packet data gateway (PDGW) are over standard internet protocol (IP)-based links, comprising:

a message service center (MSC);

retrieving mobile routing information responsive to receipt of an incoming CS call for an identified UE; and

sending the routing information to a home location register (HLR);

said HLR;

sending a PDGW address identifying a given PDGW to the MSC responsive to said routing information;

said MSC;

sending a page message to said given PDGW;

said PDGW;

locating the WLAN and the identified UE responsive to receipt of the page message; and

notifying the WLAN with a page notification message; and

said WLAN;

alerting the UE of the existence of said incoming CS call.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising said MSC:

setting a page response timer concurrently with sending of the page message.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising:

said UE;

sending an acceptance message to the WLAN;

said WLAN;

sending an acknowledgment (ACK) message to the PDGW;

said PDGW;

sending a page response message to the MSC responsive to the ACK message; and

said MSC;

stopping said paging response timer; and

delivering the CS call over a GSM radio interface.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said MSC further comprises:

terminating the page request if the page response timer times out prior to receipt of said page response message.

29. The method of claim 28 further including:

said GGSN;

repeating all of the steps of claim 25 over a GPRS/3G network.

26. A method for providing notification of GPRS/3G-based services to a 3GPP user equipment (UE) through a WLAN coupled to at least one 3GPP network and a packet data gateway (PDGW), wherein communications between the WLAN, UE, and PDGW are over standard IP-based links, comprising:

a gateway general packet radio service (GPRS) support mode (GGSN);

retrieving mobile routing information and sending the routing information to an home location register (HLR) responsive to receipt of an incoming packet data protocol protocol data unit (PDP PDU) for an identified 3GPP user device;

said HLR;

sending a PDGW address to the GGSN responsive to said routing information;

said GGSN;

sending a PDU notification message to the PDGW address from said HLR;

said PDGW;

locating the identified user device and notifying the WLAN by sending the WLAN a PDU notification message responsive to receipt of the PDU notification message; and

said WLAN;

alerting the identified UE of incoming data packets from said GPRS/3G-based services.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said GGSN sends the PDU notification message with a mobile internet protocol (IP) address.

28. The method of claim 26, comprising:

said UE;

sending an acceptance message back to said WLAN;

sending an acknowledgment (ACK) message to the PDGW; and

said PDGW;

responding to the ACK message by sending a PDU notification response message to said GGSN.

33. The method of claim 26 comprising:

the CSCF sending the SIP 200 OK message over said 3GPP network.

30. A method for providing notification of IMS-based services over a WLAN communicating with at least one 3GPP network and a packet data gateway (PDGW), wherein communications between the WLAN, a user equipment (UE), and PDGW are over standard IP-based links, comprising:

a call state control function (CSCF);

retrieving mobile routing information and sending the routing information to an home location register (HLR) responsive to receipt of an incoming session initiation protocol (SIP) message for an identified UE;

said HLR;

sending a PDGW address to the CSCF responsive to the routing information;

said CSCF;

sending an SIP notify message to the PDGW address received from said HLR;

said PDGW;

locating the identified UE and notifying the WLAN by sending the WLAN an SIP notify message responsive to receipt of the SIP notify message; and

said WLAN;

alerting the identified user device as to the existence of an incoming SIP call.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the CSCF:

sends a mobile internet protocol (IP) address with the SIP notify message.

32. The method of claim 30, comprising:

said UE;

sending an acceptance message to said WLAN;

said WLAN;

sending an acknowledgment (ACK) message to the PDGW; and

said PDGW;

responding to the ACK message by sending an acknowledgment message to the CSCF.

35. A method for providing termination of IMS-based services over a WLAN communicating with at least one 3GPP network and a PDGW, wherein communications between the WLAN, UE and PDGW are over standard IP-based links, comprising:

a call state control function (CSCF);

retrieving mobile routing information and sending said routing information to an HLR responsive a home location register (HLR) to an incoming SIP call for an identified UE;

said HLR;

sending a PDGW address identifying a given PDGW to the CSCF responsive to the said routing information;

said CSCF;

sending an SIP Invite message to said given PDGW;

said PDGW;

locating said UE and notifying the WLAN by sending the WLAN an SIP invite message responsive to receipt of the SIP invite message; and

said WLAN;

alerting said UE of an incoming SIP call.

36. The method of claim 35 comprising:

said UE;

sending an acceptance message to said WLAN;

said WLAN;

sending an SIP 200 OK message to said PDGW; and

said PDGW;

responding to the SIP 200 OK message by sending a SIP 200 OK message to said CSCF.

37. A method employing a wireless access gateway/packet data gateway (WAG/PDG) for providing short message service (SMS), comprising:

said WAG/PDG receiving a message derived from a short message entity;

extracting a SMS protocol data unit (SMS PDU) from said message;

encapsulating the extracted portion of said message as is into an internet protocol (IP) data frame; and

sending the IP data frame to a designated user equipment (UE).

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said message is a common channel signaling system.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said message is a signaling system number 7 (SS7) message.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said IP data frame is sent to said UE by way of a wireless local area network (WLAN).

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the WLAN comprises an access point (WLAN AP), said WLAN AP transmitting the IP data frame to said UE.

42. A method employing a WAG/PDG for conveying SMS originating from a user equipment (UE), comprising:

said UE sending to said WAG/PDU IP data incorporating at least a header and SMS data;

said WAG/PDG;

extracting said header and said SMS data from the IP data;

determining a destination for said SMS message from a destination address (DA) incorporated in said header;

forming a TCAP message; and

forwarding said TCAP message to an SMS-IWMSC.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising a WLAN:

receiving said TCAP message; and

sending said TCAP message to said UE.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of forwarding said TCAP message performed by said WAG/PDG includes forwarding the TCAP message over an SS7 stack.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein said UE sends an IP message further incorporating a message type indicator (MTI), a message reference (MR), a destination address (DA) and user data (UD) incorporating a user data link (UDL).

46. The method of claim 42 wherein forming the TCAP message by said WAG/PDG includes incorporating:

an originating address (OA);

a GMSC address (GMSCA);

a dialogue identifier TCAP (DI); and

said UD.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein said WAG/PDG, further includes:

obtaining routing information; and

encapsulating the extracted message into said TCAP message.

48. A method employed by a UE for processing an SMS message originating at said UE, comprising:

a short message application layer (SM-AL) conveying an SMI, DA;

Short message entity (SME), service centre address (SCE), protocol identification (PID) and short message (SM) to an SM-transfer layer (SM-TL);

said SM-TL submitting an SM-RL DATA REG to an SM-relay layer (SM-RL) responsive to the message received from said SM-AL;

said SM-RL, responsive to the message received from the SM-TL, transferring data to an SM-connection management (SM-CM) layer;

said SM-CM layer, responsive to data received from said SM-CM layer, conveying IP data and an IP header to an IP layer; and

said IP layer, responsive to the message received from said SM-CM layer, encapsulating the IP data and header into an IP packet for transmission to a network.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said network further comprises a WLAN

receiving said encapsulated data;

and

sending said encapsulated data to a UE.

50. A method employed by a UE for processing an SMS message received by said UE, comprising:

said UE having;

an IP layer receiving said SMS message in an IP packet format, extracting the IP data and conveying the IP data to an SM-CM layer;

said SM-CM layer responsive to said IP layer, sending user data to an SM-Relay layer (SM-RL)

said SM-RL, responsive to said SM-CM extracting relay protocol (RP) data and message reference (MR) data, storing said MR data and transferring a short message identifier (SMI), originating address (OA), service center address (SCA) and UD to an SM-transfer layer (SM-TL);

said SM-TL, responsive to said SM-RL, sending said UD to an SM-application layer (SM-AL).

51. A method employed by a wireless access gateway/packet data gateway (WAG/PDG) for providing short message service (SMS), comprising:

receiving an SS7 message containing at least an SMS proxy from an SMS source;

extracting said SMS proxy;

reformatting said extracted data;

encapsulating the reformatted data in an internet protocol (IP) frame; and

sending the encapsulated data.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the SMS message received by said WAG/PDG is in SMS protocol and said WAG/PDG;

terminating the SMS protocol;

extracting the SMS data from a short message application layer (SM-AL); and

sending the extracted data to a conversion layer which encapsulates the SMS data into said IP packet.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said UE includes a conversion layer which extracts the SMS message from the IP data received from the WAG/PDG;

and

displays the extracted SMS message.

54. The method of claim 51 further comprising a WLAN:

receiving said encapsulated data; and

sending said encapsulated data to a UE.

55. A method employed by a WAG/PDG for processing an SMS message originating from a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving an SMS message, including a destination address (DA), from said UE;

transferring said data requested through an SM-application layer (SM-AL);

transfer layer (SM-TL) and relay layer (SM-RL);

said SM-RL;

generating an originating message service ISDN; and

employs TCAP service to send the data to an SMS-IWMSC.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein said conversion layer requests an MSISDN from an HLR of said SMS-IMSC;

said SMS-IMSC generating said MSISDN.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said SM-RL:

sends a call set up message to said HLR;

said HLR;

sending a complete call message;

said SM-RL;

sending an SM to said TCAP service.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said TCAP service, responsive to SM-RL:

builds said TCAP message and generates a dialogue identifier (DI); and

sends the message to said UE.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said TCAP service:

includes an originating address, a GMSCA a DI and said user data.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein said TCAP service includes:

sending said SM to a WLAN; and

said WLAN;

sending said SM to said UE.

61. A method for managing a messaging capability among a limited group of mobile terminals operating in a small geographic area comprising:

one of said mobile terminals desiring to send a message to a given number of other mobile terminals in said limited group;

scanning the mobile terminals in said group to determine if any of the mobile terminals in said group are transmitting;

seeking a service provider when none of the mobile terminals of said group are transmitting;

setting a condition register to a master mode indicating that said one mobile terminal is about to communicate with mobile terminals of said group;

creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said message is a text message.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said message is a voice message.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein said message is one of a text message and a voice message and said one mobile terminal further comprises:

selecting one of said text and voice message for transmission.

65. The method of claim 61 wherein said one mobile terminal further comprises:

storing various group of mobile terminals; and

selecting one of said groups for sending a message.

66. The method of claim 65, said one mobile terminal further comprises:

establishing communication links with those mobile terminals in the selected one of said groups.

67. The method of claim 61 wherein a second one of said mobile terminals, desiring to send a message, comprises:

scanning said mobile terminals to determine if any of the mobile terminals are in said master mode;

requesting that a mobile terminal in said master mode relinquish its master mode status; and

remaining in a slave mode when the remote terminal in the master mode does not relinquish its master mode status.

68. The method of claim 61 wherein a second one of said mobile terminals, desiring to send a message, comprises:

scanning said mobile terminals to determine if any of the mobile terminals are in said master mode;

requesting that a mobile terminal in said master mode relinquish its master mode status;

setting a condition register at said second one of said mobile terminals to the master mode;

creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

69. The method of claim 61 wherein said group is in a first piconet, said one mobile terminal further comprising:

connecting said first piconet to a second piconet by communication with a mobile terminal in said second piconet.

71. The method of claim 61, said one mobile terminal comprising:

communicating with other mobile terminals and service provider employing a Bluetooth radio link.

73. The method of claim 61, said one mobile terminal comprising:

employing UMTS to communicate with the service provider and other mobile terminals.

74. The method of claim 69, said one mobile terminal comprising:

employing UMTS to communicate with the service provider and other mobile terminals.

70. A method for managing communications within a small group of mobile terminals operating in a small geographic area wherein each mobile terminal has an operating condition register which is capable of being set to a first condition to represent a master mode status and a second condition representing a slave mode status, one of said mobile terminals, desirous of sending messages to a given number of mobile terminals within said geographic area, comprising:

scanning said given number of mobile terminals to determine if any one thereof is in the master mode;

setting a condition register at said one mobile terminal to master mode status;

seeking a service provider;

creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

72. The method of claim 70, said one mobile terminal comprising:

communicating with other mobile terminals and service provides employing a Bluetooth radio link.

75. Apparatus for managing a messaging capability among a limited group of mobile terminals operating in a small geographic area comprising:

each of said mobile terminals, to send a message to a given number of other mobile terminals in said limited group, comprising;

means for scanning the mobile terminals in said group to determine if any of the mobile terminals in said group are transmitting;

means for seeking a service provider when none of the mobile terminals of said group are transmitting;

means for setting a condition register to a master mode indicating that said one mobile terminal is about to communicate with mobile terminals of said group;

means for creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

means for sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said means for sending a text message comprises means to send a text message.

77. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said means for sending a message comprises means to send a voice message.

78. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said means for sending a message comprises means for sending one of a text message and a voice message and each mobile terminal further comprises:

means for selecting one of said text message and voice message for transmission.

79. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein each mobile terminal further comprises:

means for storing various groups of mobile terminals; and

means for selecting one of said groups for sending a message.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 wherein each mobile terminal further comprises:

means for displaying the stored groups; and

means for selecting one of the displayed groups.

81. The method of claim 80 further comprising:

means for establishing communications with mobile terminals of the selected group.

82. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein each of said mobile terminals desiring to send a message, further comprises:

means for scanning said mobile terminals to determine if any of the mobile terminals are in said master mode;

means for requesting that a mobile terminal in said master mode relinquish its master mode status; and

means for entering into a slave mode when the remote terminal in the master mode does not relinquish its master mode status.

83. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein each of said mobile terminals, desiring to send a message, further comprises:

means for scanning said mobile terminals to determine if any of the mobile terminals are in said master mode;

means for requesting that a mobile terminal in said master mode relinquish its master mode status;

means setting a condition register at the mobile terminal desiring to send a message to the master mode;

means for creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

means for sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

84. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said group is in a first piconet, each of said mobile terminals further comprising:

means for selectively connecting said first piconet to a mobile terminal of a second piconet by communication with a mobile terminal in said second piconet.

85. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein mobile terminals in said group operate within a range of no greater than 100 meters.

86. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the maximum number of mobile terminals in a group is equal to or less than eight (8).

87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein each group operates in a piconet.

90. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein each mobile terminal further comprises:

means for communicating with other mobile terminals and service providers employing Bluetooth radio.

92. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said mobile terminals further comprise:

means for employing UMTS to communicate with the service provider and other mobile terminals.

94. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein said mobile terminals further comprise:

a U100 platform for communicating with each other.

96. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein said mobile terminals, further comprise:

protocol modules linked with middleware in said U100 platform to control given functions.

97. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein said mobile terminals, further comprise:

protocol modules linked with middleware in said U100 platform to control given functions.

88. Apparatus for managing communications within a small group of mobile terminals operating in a region of limited range wherein each mobile terminal comprises an operating condition register which is capable of being set to a first condition to represent a master mode status and a second condition representing a slave mode status, each of said mobile terminals, when desirous of sending messages to a given number of mobile terminals within said regions, further comprising:

means for scanning said given number of mobile terminals to determine if any one thereof is in the master mode;

means for setting a condition register at said one mobile terminal to master mode status;

means for seeking a service provider;

means for creating communication links with the mobile terminals of said group; and

means for sending a message to the mobile terminals of said group.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said means for seeking a service provider, further comprises:

means for seeking a service provider when none of the mobile terminals in said group are in said master mode.

91. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein each mobile terminal further comprises:

means for communicating with other mobile terminals and service providers employing Bluetooth radio.

93. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said mobile terminals further comprises:

means for employing UMTS to communicate with the service provider and other mobile terminals.

95. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said mobile terminals further comprise:

a 100 platform for communicating with each other.

98. Apparatus for managing communications among a small group of mobile terminals operating within a limited range, said mobile terminals, each comprising:

a platform for communicating with a service provider and other like platforms;

said platform having a middleware section;

a personal messaging network (PMN) entity linked with said middleware section;

said PMN entity comprising a link manager module;

a user interface (UI) linked with said middleware for entering data and section controlling operation of said platform;

said link manager module providing means for scanning for and communicating with a service provider; and

means for establishing communications with other mobile terminals.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein each PMN entity further comprises a device manager module, comprising:

means for managing handoff of one mobile terminal operating in a master mode to a mobile terminal requesting that the mobile terminal operating in the master mode relinquish its master mode to the requesting mobile terminal.

100. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said PMN entity is linked to said middleware section by interface means to standard the PMN with the platform to enable the platform to communicate with the PMN entity even in the event of language differences between said PMN entity and said platform.

101. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said middleware section includes an open application framework (OAF) enabling the UI and PMN entity to interface with the platform.

102. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said PMN entity further comprises:

a profile manager module for providing advertising and capabilities of the associated mobile terminal.

103. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said UI comprises a Java-based UI.

104. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said platform is an Ericsson UI00 platform.

105. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said platform comprises means for supporting Bluetooth (BT) radio.

106. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein each platform comprises:

means for supporting UMTS.