Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-03
2004-03-23
Maung, Nay (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S552100, C455S458000, C370S352000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06711406
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a manner by which to improve the page response time of a mobile station, such as a mobile station operable in a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) cellular communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, for a radio communication system, such as the GSM system, to facilitate changeover of the mode of operation of the mobile station out of a packet mode, and into a circuit-switched mode, when a circuit-switched call is to be terminated at the mobile station. A packet paging request message is generated for transmission to the mobile station. The packet paging request message includes a time-allocation during which the mobile station is to return a response message upon a RaCH (Random access Channel).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of wireless communication systems by which to communicate telephonically has achieved wide popularity in recent years. Telephonic communication, by way of various types of wireless communication systems, permits the communication of both voice and nonvoice data between sending and receiving stations of such communication systems.
As a wireline connection is not required to effectuate communication in a wireless communication system, improved mobility of communications in a wireless communication system, relative to communication by way of conventional wireline communication systems, is inherently possible. Because a wireless connection is formed, a wireline connection conventionally otherwise required in a wireline system is obviated, and movement of communication stations operable in a wireless communication system is, as a result, not limited by the need for a wireline connection.
A cellular communication system is exemplary of a wireless communication system which has achieved high levels of utilization. A cellular communication system is a multi-user communication system permitting large numbers of subscribers, i.e., users, to communicate telephonically through the use of mobile stations operable in such cellular communication systems.
Various types of cellular communication systems have been developed and implemented throughout large geographical areas. Some cellular communication systems permit the communication of non-real time messages, such as packet-formatted messages forming alphanumeric text. The GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) cellular communication system which provides for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) messaging is exemplary of a system which permits the communication of non-real time messages. Two-way communication of packet data messages is provided in such a system. For instance, a packet data message originated at a communication station coupled to the network infrastructure of the GPRS/GSM system is communicated to the mobile station by way of the radio link formed therebetween. And, a packet data message originated at the mobile station is analogously communicated by the mobile station upon the radio link.
Conventional, circuit-switched communications are also effectuable in the GSM communication system. Circuit-switched calls can also be originated at either the mobile station or at a communication station coupled to the network infrastructure. For instance, a circuit-switched call originated at a communication station coupled to the network infrastructure is also effectuated by way a radio link formed with the mobile station. A protocol set forth in the specification of the GSM system sets forth a manner by which a call, originated at the network, is to be terminated at the mobile station. Namely, a paging signal is first sent to the mobile station to alert the mobile station of the call to be terminated thereat. And, subsequent exchange of signals results in the allocation of channels to permit thereafter the effectuation of the circuit-switched call
Various facets of operation of a mobile station operable to communicate both packet-formatted data and circuit-switched communications differ depending upon which type of communications are effectuated with the mobile station. When the mobile station is being operated to communicate packet-formatted data, the mobile station is sometimes referred to as being in a packet mode of operation. And, when the mobile station is operated pursuant to a circuit-switched call, the mobile station is sometimes referred to as being in a circuit-switched mode.
When, for instance, the mobile station is in the packet mode, and a circuit-switched call is to be terminated at the mobile station, the mobile station must exit the packet mode, and thereafter enter the circuit-switched mode, prior to effectuation of the circuit-switched call.
Conventionally, when the mobile station is in the packet mode and a page is detected at the mobile station of a circuit-switched call to be terminated thereat, the mobile station must first suspend its operation in the packet mode in order to respond to the page, thereafter to permit a circuit-switched the page, the mobile station conventionally returns a request for a channel assignment. Upon detection at the network of the request for the channel assignment, the network assigns an uplink channel and sends an indication of the assignment to the mobile station. The mobile station then utilizes the allocated channel to send a packet suspend message back to the network.
This multi-step procedure is both time and resource consumptive. If a manner could be provided by which better to facilitate reassignment of the operational mode of the mobile station out of the packet mode and into the circuit-switched mode, improved system performance would result.
It is in light of this background information related to communications in a cellular, or other radio, communication system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides a manner for improving the page response time of a mobile station operable alternately in a packet mode and in a circuit-switched mode.
Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, when the mobile station is operated in the packet mode and a page is transmitted thereto to alert the mobile station of a pending circuit-switched call, the amount of time required to changeover the mode of operation of the mobile station into the circuit-switched mode is reduced relative to conventional manners by which changeover is effectuated. By improving the page response time of the mobile station, improved communication system functioning is possible as the time required to changeover the mode of operation of the mobile station and thereafter effectuate circuit-switched communication is reduced.
In one aspect of the present invention, apparatus, and an associated method, is provided to facilitate the changeover of the mode of operation of the mobile station out of a packet mode, and into a circuit-switched mode, when a circuit-switched call is to be terminated at the mobile station.
In another aspect of the present invention, apparatus, and an associated method, is provided for the network infrastructure of the cellular, or other radio, communication system. When a circuit-switched call is to be terminated at a mobile station, the mobile station is first paged to alert the mobile station of the pending circuit-switched call. Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, the page is formatted to include a time allocation, allocating a time period during which the mobile station is to reply to the page. When the page is detected at the mobile station, the mobile station utilizes the time period allocation contained therein to determine when a reply to the page is to be returned to the network infrastructure.
In an exemplary implementation in which the radio communication system is formed of a GSM cellular communication system, the page generated by the network infrastructure forms a packet paging request which includes a RRBP
1
(Relative Reserved Block Period) field. The time period allocated t
Jyrkkä Kari
Kularatna Shavantha
Lintulampi Raino
Mottonen Pekka
Päivike Heikki
Lele Tanmay
Nokia Corporation
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