Call handling across subscriptions in dual SIM dual active (DSDA) devices via short range wireless

• US 9,131,061 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sinha, Abhijeet, Shukla, Atul, Sachdeva, Nitin, Srivastava, Nitin, Basavarajappa, Mallikarjuna Giriyapura, Chintala, Srikanth, Ganji, Hanumanthu, Chan, Yau Mo, Hang, Ling, Gutta, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Minjung
• Application Number:
  US14/147,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/66 user interface aspects for indicating selection options for a communication line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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 audio gateway device may establish a wireless connection between the audio gateway device and the hands free device using a protocol supporting a single subscription. The audio gateway device may also establish a first call which terminates or originates at the hands free device via a first subscription. An outgoing call may be established via a second subscription by: (a) receiving a first indicator from the hands free device to switch subscriptions, where the first indicator does not specify a subscription; and (b) establishing an originating second call via the second subscription which originates at the hands free device. Similarly, an incoming call may be established via the second subscription by: (a) sending a second indicator to the hands free device of an incoming third call, where the second indicator does not specify a subscription; and (b) establishing the third call via the second subscription which terminates at the hands free device.

Claims

1. A method operational on a multi-subscriber identity module audio gateway device, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the audio gateway device and a hands free device using a protocol supporting a single subscription;

establishing a first call which terminates or originates at the hands free device via a first subscription;

setting up an outgoing call via a second subscription by;

receiving a first indicator from the hands free device to switch subscriptions, where the first indicator does not specify a subscription;

establishing an originating second call via the second subscription which originates at the hands free device; and

setting up an incoming call via the second subscription by;

sending a second indicator to the hands free device of an incoming third call, where the second indicator does not specify a subscription; and

establishing the third call via the second subscription which terminates at the hands free device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first call is placed on hold when the second call is established.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second call is placed on hold when the third call is established.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator and second indicator reuse a command from the protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator indicates a relative switch from a current subscription to another subscription.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio gateway device manages calls for two or more subscriptions where such calls originate or terminate at the hands free device but without conveying subscription information to the hands free device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio gateway device manages calls for two or more subscriptions where such calls originate or terminate at the hands free device but without identifying a specific subscription to the hands free device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio gateway device is communicatively coupled to a wireless network, distinct from the wireless connection with the hands free device, through which voice calls are transmitted to and from the audio gateway device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio gateway device maintains status information for all calls and subscriptions on behalf of the hands free device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein no subscription information is transmitted from the audio gateway device to the hands free device.

11. An audio gateway device, comprising a first wireless communication interface to communicate with a telephony network;

a second wireless communication interface to communicate with a hands free device;

a first subscriber identity module to facilitate calls via a first subscription;

a second subscriber identity module to facilitate calls via a second subscription;

a processing circuit coupled to the first wireless communication interface, the second wireless communication interface, the first subscriber identity module, and the second subscriber identity module, and configured to

establish a wireless connection between the audio gateway device and the hands free device using a protocol supporting a single subscription;

establish a first call which terminates or originates at the hands free device via the first subscription;

setup an outgoing call via the second subscription by;

receiving a first indicator from the hands free device to switch subscriptions, where the first indicator does not specify a subscription; and

establishing an originating second call via the second subscription which originates at the hands free device; and

setup an incoming call via the second subscription by;

sending a second indicator to the hands free device of an incoming third call, where the second indicator does not specify a subscription; and

establishing the third call via the second subscription which terminates at the hands free device.

12. The audio gateway device of claim 11, wherein the first call is placed on hold when the second call is established.

13. The audio gateway device of claim 11, wherein the second call is placed on hold when the third call is established.

14. The audio gateway device of claim 11, wherein the first indicator and second indicator reuse a command from the protocol.

15. The audio gateway device of claim 11, wherein the first indicator indicates a relative switch from a current subscription to another subscription.

16. The audio gateway device of claim 11, wherein the audio gateway device manages calls for two or more subscriptions where such calls originate or terminate at the hands free device but without identifying a specific subscription to the hands free device.

17. A method operational on a hands free device, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between the hands free device and an audio gateway device using a protocol supporting a single subscription;

establishing a first call which terminates or originates at the hands free device via a first subscription;

setting up an outgoing call via a second subscription by;

sending a first indicator to the audio gateway device to switch subscriptions, where the first indicator does not specify a subscription;

establishing an originating second call via the second subscription which originates at the hands free device;

setting up an incoming call via a second subscription by;

receiving a second indicator at the hands free device of an incoming third call, where the second indicator does not specify a subscription; and

establishing the third call via the second subscription which terminates at the hands free device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first call is placed on hold when the second call is established.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second call is placed on hold when the third call is established.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first indicator and second indicator reuse a command from the protocol.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first indicator indicates a relative switch from a current subscription to another subscription.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the hands free device receives no subscription information from the audio gateway device.

23. A hands free device, comprising:

a first wireless communication interface to communicate with an audio gateway device;

a processing circuit coupled to the first wireless communication interface and configured to

establish a wireless connection between the hands free device and the audio gateway device using a protocol supporting a single subscription;

establish a first call which terminates or originates at the hands free device via a first subscription;

setup an outgoing call via a second subscription by;

sending a first indicator to the audio gateway device to switch subscriptions, where the first indicator does not specify a subscription;

establishing an originating second call via the second subscription which originates at the hands free device;

setup an incoming call via the second subscription by;

receiving a second indicator at the hands free device of an incoming third call, where the second indicator does not specify a subscription; and

establishing the third call via the second subscription which terminates at the hands free device.

24. The hands free device of claim 23, wherein the first call is placed on hold when the second call is established.

25. The hands free device of claim 23, wherein the second call is placed on hold when the third call is established.

26. The hands free device of claim 23, wherein the first indicator and second indicator reuse a command from the protocol.

27. The hands free device of claim 23, wherein the first indicator indicates a relative switch from a current subscription to another subscription.