Method of efficiently processing dormant state in packet service and multi-mode terminal for the same

• US 20070177617A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Noh, Jeong-Min, Kim, Ho-Joong
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• 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

An apparatus and method for efficiently processing a dormant state in a packet service between communication networks providing the packet service using different mobile communication technologies is disclosed. This method includes disconnecting, by a multi-mode terminal, a current packet call and changing to a new serviceable mode, if a multi-mode terminal moves to a poor communication area in a dormant or preservation state occurring during a packet service. In this state, by immediately returning to a packet call reconnection state if a user performs a subsequent operation, an area in which the packet service cannot be provided can be minimized, and a communication mode in which a best communication service can be provided can be established.

Claims

1. A method of processing a dormant state in a packet service, which is performed by a multi-mode terminal comprising first and second modems supporting different communication services, the method comprising the steps of:

if it is determined that the multi-mode terminal has entered into the dormant state during a packet service through a first communication network, monitoring whether a communication state with the first communication network is bad in the dormant state;

if it is determined that the communication state with the first communication network is bad, requesting the first communication network to disconnect a packet call; and

when it is determined that the packet call with the first communication network is disconnected, performing the packet service by connecting a packet call to a second communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring whether the communication state with the first communication network is bad comprises:

receiving an indicator from the first communication network; and

determining whether a command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is set in the indicator.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if it is determined that the command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is not set in the indicator, measuring reception signal intensity;

determining whether measured reception signal intensity during a predetermined period is less than a threshold;

setting a count value if it is determined that the measured reception signal intensity during the predetermined period is less than the threshold; and

if the count value is equal to a threshold counting value, requesting the first communication network to disconnect the packet call.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of monitoring whether the communication state with the first communication network is bad comprises determining whether the multi-mode terminal is located in at least one of one of a shadow area, a boundary area, and an overlay area.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising requesting the first communication network to disconnect the packet call if it is determined that the command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is set in the indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the packet call with the first communication network is disconnected, turning on the second modem, by the first modem, through a communication path coupling the first and second modems;

determining whether registration between the second modem and the second communication network succeeds; and

if the registration succeeds, connecting a packet call to the second communication network by the second modem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication network and the second communication network are a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) network and a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, respectively, and the first modem and the second modem process signals transmitted or received through the WCDMA network and the CDMA network, respectively.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication network is one of WCDMA, global systems for mobile communication (GSM), and general packet radio service (GPRS) networks, the second communication network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, the first modem processes signals transmitted or received through one of the WCDMA, GSM, and GPRS networks, and the second modem processes signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network.

9. A multi-mode terminal, comprising:

first and second modems supporting different communication services, for efficiently processing a dormant state in a packet service, the first modem for monitoring whether a communication state with a first communication network is bad in the dormant state if it is determined that the multi-mode terminal has entered into the dormant state during a packet service through the first communication network, requesting the first communication network to disconnect a packet call if the communication state with the first communication network is determined to be bad, and commanding the second modem to perform the packet service by connecting a packet call through a second communication network if the packet call with the first communication network is disconnected in response to the request; and

the second modem for registering into the second communication network in response to the command of the first modem and performing the packet service by connecting the packet call to the second communication network if the registration succeeds.

10. The multi-mode terminal of claim 9, wherein the first modem:

receives an indicator broadcast from the first communication network; and

determines whether a command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is set in the indicator.

11. The multi-mode terminal of claim 10, wherein the first modem:

measures reception signal intensity if the command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is not set in the indicator;

determines whether reception signal intensity measured in a predetermined period is less than a threshold;

counts a case where the measured reception signal intensity is less than the threshold; and

requests the first communication network to disconnect the packet call if the counting value is equal to a threshold counting value.

12. The multi-mode terminal of claim 10, wherein the first modem determines whether the multi-mode terminal is located in at least one of a shadow area, a boundary area, and an overlay area in the dormant state.

13. The multi-mode terminal of claim 10, wherein the first modem requests the first communication network to disconnect the packet call if it is determined that the command for connecting a packet call to the second communication network is set in the indicator.

14. The multi-mode terminal of claim 9, wherein the first modem:

turns on the second modem through a communication path coupling the first and second modems if the packet call with the first communication network is disconnected;

determines whether registration between the second modem and the second communication network succeeds; and

allows the second modem to connect a packet call to the second communication network if the registration succeeds.

15. The multi-mode terminal of claim 9, wherein the first communication network and the second communication network are a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) network and a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, respectively, and the first modem and the second modem process signals transmitted or received through the WCDMA network and the CDMA network, respectively.

16. The multi-mode terminal of claim 9, wherein the first communication network is one of WCDMA, global systems for mobile communication (GSM), and general packet radio service (GPRS) networks, the second communication network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, the first modem processes signals transmitted or received through one of the WCDMA, GSM, and GPRS networks, and the second modem processes signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network.

17. A method of processing a dormant state in a packet service, which is performed by a multi-mode terminal having first and second modems supporting different communication services, the method comprising the steps of:

if it is recognized that the multi-mode terminal has entered the dormant state during a packet service in a first communication network mode, determining whether the multi-mode terminal is located in a bad communication area in the dormant state;

if it is determined that the multi-mode terminal is located in a bad communication area, commanding the second modem, through a communication path coupling the first and second modems, to perform location registration in the second communication network; and

if the location registration succeeds, changing to a second communication network mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

canceling the change to the second communication network mode and returning to the first communication network mode if the location registration fails.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether the multi-mode terminal is located in a bad communication area comprises determining whether a command for changing to the second communication network is set by checking an indicator received from the first communication network.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

if the command for changing to the second communication network is set, activating a ping-pong timer; and

when the ping-pong timer expires, repeating the determination of whether the multi-mode terminal is located in the bad communication area.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein further comprising deleting IP address and QoS information assigned in the first communication network mode if the location registration succeeds.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first communication network and the second communication network are a code division multiple access (CDMA) network and a wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, respectively, and the first modem and the second modem process signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network and the WCDMA network, respectively.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the first communication network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, the second communication network is one of wideband CDMA (WCDMA), global systems for mobile communication (GSM), and general packet radio service (GPRS) networks, the first modem processes signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network, and the second modem processes signals transmitted or received through one of the WCDMA, GSM, and GPRS networks.

24. A multi-mode terminal, comprising:

first and second modems supporting different communication services, for efficiently processing a dormant state in a packet service, the first modem for monitoring whether the multi-mode terminal is located in a bad communication area in the dormant state if it is determined that the multi-mode terminal had entered into the dormant state during a packet service in a first communication network mode, and commanding the second modem through a communication path, which couples the first and second modems, to perform location registration in a second communication network if it is determined that the multi-mode terminal is located in a bad communication area; and

the second modem for performing the location registration in the second communication network in response to the command of the first modem and performing a second communication network mode if the location registration succeeds.

25. The multi-mode terminal of claim 24, wherein the first modem determines whether a command for changing to the second communication network is set by checking an indicator received from the first communication network, activates a ping-pong timer if the command for changing to the second communication network is set, and repeats the determinations of whether the multi-mode terminal is located in the bad communication area if the ping-pong timer expires.

26. The multi-mode terminal of claim 24, wherein the first modem deletes IP address and QoS information assigned in the first communication network mode if the location registration succeeds.

27. The multi-mode terminal of claim 24, wherein the first communication network and the second communication network are a code division multiple access (CDMA) network and a wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, respectively, and the first modem and the second modem process signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network and the WCDMA network, respectively.

28. The multi-mode terminal of claim 24, wherein the first communication network is a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, the second communication network is one of wideband CDMA (WCDMA), global systems for mobile communication (GSM), and general packet radio service (GPRS) networks, the first modem processes signals transmitted or received through the CDMA network, and the second modem processes signals transmitted or received through one of the WCDMA, GSM, and GPRS networks.