DATA-CAPABLE NETWORK PRIORITIZATION WITH REDUCED DELAYS IN DATA SERVICE

• US 20080220800A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Naqvi, Noushad, Gunaratnam, Jayasri, Phipps, Darcy Richard, Swann, Craig Ian Haight, Hind, Hugh, Nguyen, Bao Quoc
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/510
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

In one illustrative method, a periodic location update timer value is broadcasted by a wireless communication network and received and stored in memory of a mobile station. A request for data service is transmitted by the mobile station to a wireless communication network, and the request is reattempted at least one time in response to identifying a rejection of the request. If the request for the data service is accepted in response to the request, the mobile station operates in the wireless communication network using the data service. On the other hand, if the request for the data service is not accepted, the mobile station is set in a data service deregistered state. A timer is initialized with an initial value that is less than the periodic location update timer value and started. In response to an expiration of the timer, the mobile station repeats the transmission of the request for the data service and any reattempts in response to any rejections of the request. If the periodic location update timer value is less than the initial value, however, the timer is initialized with the periodic location update timer value.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile station for use in selecting a communication network for communications, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a periodic location update timer value which is broadcasted by a wireless communication network, and storing the periodic location update timer in memory;

causing a request for data service to be transmitted to a wireless communication network, and reattempting the transmitting of the request at least one time in response to identifying a rejection of the request;

if the request for the data service is accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted or reattempted the at least one time;

operating in the wireless communication network using the data service;

if the request for the data service is not accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time;

setting the mobile station in a data service deregistered state;

initializing a timer with an initial value that is less than the periodic location update timer value, and running the timer; and

in response to an expiration of the timer, repeating the acts of causing the request for the data service to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time if the data service in response to identifying the rejection of the request.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further acts of:

testing the periodic location update timer value; and

if the periodic location update timer value is greater than the initial value, initializing the timer with the initial value.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising the further acts of:

testing the periodic location update timer value;

if the periodic location update timer value is greater than the initial value, initializing the timer with the initial value; and

otherwise, if the periodic location update timer value is less than the initial value, initializing the timer with the periodic location update timer value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data service comprises a packet-switched data service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is operative for packet-switched data communications and circuit-switched voice communications in the wireless communication network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the timer comprises a timer 3302.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodic location update timer value comprises a timer 3212.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the data service comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for the data service comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data service deregistered state comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Deregistered state.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a home communication network of the mobile station.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a rejection of the request for the data service and the reattempts;

causing a message to be visually displayed at the mobile station, the message indicating that the data service is unavailable.

13. The method of claim 1, which is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium, wherein the computer instructions are executable by one or more processors of the mobile station for performing the method.

14. A mobile station, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors,

the one or more processors being operative to;

receive, via the wireless transceiver, a periodic location update timer value which is broadcasted by a wireless communication network, and store the periodic location update timer in the memory;

cause a request for data service to be transmitted, via the wireless transceiver, to a wireless communication network, and reattempt the transmitting of the request at least one time in response to identifying a rejection of the request;

if the request for the data service is accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted or reattempted the at least one time, operate in the wireless communication network with the data service using the wireless transceiver,

if the request for the data service is not accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time;

set the mobile station in a data service deregistered state;

initialize a timer with an initial value that is less than the periodic location update timer value, and running the timer; and

in response to an expiration of the timer, repeat the causing of the request for the data service to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time if the data service in response to identifying the rejection of the request.

15. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

test the periodic location update timer value; and

if the periodic location update timer value is greater than the initial value, initialize the timer with the initial value.

16. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the timer comprises a timer 3302.

17. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the periodic location update timer value comprises a timer 3212.

18. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the request for the data service comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

19. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the request for the data service comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

20. The mobile station of claim 14, wherein the data service deregistered state comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Deregistered state.

23. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the timer comprises a timer 3302.

24. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the periodic location update timer value comprises a timer 3212.

25. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the request for the data service comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request and a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

21. A communication system, comprising;

a wireless communication network;

a mobile station operative in the wireless communication network;

the mobile station being further operative to;

receive a periodic location update timer value which is broadcasted by the wireless communication network) and store the periodic location update timer in memory;

cause a request for data service to be transmitted to a wireless communication network, and reattempt the transmitting of the request at least one time in response to identifying a rejection of the request;

if the request for the data service is accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted or reattempted the at least one time;

operate in the wireless communication network using the data service;

if the request for the data service is not accepted in response to causing the request to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time,

set the mobile station in a data service deregistered state;

initialize a timer with an initial value that is less than the periodic location update timer value, and running the timer; and

in response to an expiration of the timers repeat the causing of the request for the data service to be transmitted and reattempted the at least one time if the data service in response to identifying the rejection of the request.

22. The communication system of claim 21 wherein the mobile station is further operative to:

test the periodic location update timer value; and

if the periodic location update timer value is greater than the initial value, initialize the timer with the initial value.