Method for synchronizing transaction identifiers in a mobile satellite communication system

Claim 2

A signaling method for synchronizing transaction identifiers used by two mobile radio communication units in a mobile communication system to identify a mobile-to-mobile connection, said synchronizing method comprising: a) during a connection between a network and an originating mobile unit, assigning a first transaction identifier used by the originating mobile unit to identify signaling messages associated with said mobile-to-mobile connection; b) during a connection between said network and a terminating mobile unit, assigning a second transaction identifier used by the terminating mobile unit to identify signalling messages associated with said mobile-to-mobile connection, wherein the first and second transaction identifiers are assigned independently of each other; c) receiving at each mobile unit a signaling message including a counterpart transaction identifier that identifies the corresponding transaction identifier used by the other mobile unit; d) storing the corresponding counterpart transaction identifier in each mobile unit; and e) inserting the corresponding counterpart transaction identifier stored in said mobile unit into outgoing signaling messages requiring a transaction identifier sent by one of said mobile units to the other mobile unit during said mobile-to-mobile connection.

Claim 3

The signaling method according to claim 1 further including the step of connecting the originating mobile unit and terminating mobile unit to said network that assigns each mobile unit to a communication channel to establish said mobile-to-mobile connection.

Claim 4

The signalling method according to claim 2 wherein the originating mobile unit connects to said network by initiating a mobile-originated call establishment procedure, and wherein said network connects said terminating mobile unit to said network by initiating a mobile-terminated call establishment procedure.

Claim 5

The signalling method according to claim 3 wherein said originating mobile unit selects said first transaction identifier to identify its connection with said network, and wherein said network selects said second transaction identifier to identify the terminating mobile unit's connection to said network.

Claim 6

The signalling method according to claim 2 wherein said network transmits said signalling message to each mobile unit including said counterpart transaction identifier.

Claim 7

The signalling method according to claim 5 wherein the signalling message containing the counterpart transaction identifier is sent to each mobile unit during a call-establishment procedure.

Claim 8

The signalling method according to claim 6 wherein the counterpart transaction identifier is sent as part of an assignment command message.

Claim 9

The signalling method according to claim 7 wherein the counterpart transaction identifier comprises part of a channel description element of the assignment command message.

Claim 10

A signaling method for synchronizing transaction identifiers used by two mobile radio communication devices in a digital communication network to identify a mobile-to-mobile connection, said synchronizing method comprising: a) establishing a connection between an originating mobile station and said network; b) establishing a connection between a terminating mobile station and said network; c) assigning first and second transaction identifiers to be used by respective mobile units to identify signaling messages asssociated with the mobile to mobile connection; d) determining within the network the transaction identifier used by each mobile unit; e) sending a signaling message from the network to each mobile unit containing a counterpart transaction identifier that identifies the transaction identifier used by the other mobile unit; f) receiving at each mobile unit the signaling message containing said counterpart transaction identifier for the other mobile unit; g) storing the corresponding counterpart transaction identifier in each mobile unit; and h) at each mobile unit, inserting the counterpart transaction identifier stored in said mobile unit into an outgoing signaling message that requires a transaction identifier sent by said mobile unit to the other mobile unit during said mobile-to-mobile connection.

Claim 11

A signaling method for synchronizing transaction identifiers used by two mobile radio communication devices in a digital communication network to identify a mobile-to-mobile connection, said synchronizing method comprising: a) establishing a connection between an originating mobile station and said network; b) establishing a connection between a terminating mobile station and said network; c) assigning first and second transaction identifiers to be used by respective mobile units to identify signaling messages asssociated with the mobile to mobile connection; d) determining within the network the transaction identifier used by each mobile unit; e) sending a signaling message from the network to each mobile unit containing a counterpart transaction identifier that identifies the transaction identifier used by the other mobile unit; f) receiving at each mobile unit the signaling message containing said counterpart transaction identifier for the other mobile unit; g) storing the corresponding counterpart transaction identifier in each mobile unit; and h) at each mobile unit, inserting the counterpart transaction identifier stored in said mobile unit into an outgoing signaling message that requires a transaction identifier sent by said mobile unit to the other mobile unit during said mobile-to-mobile connection.

Claim 12

The signalling method according to claim 9 wherein the originating mobile unit connects to said network by initiating a mobile-originated call establishment procedure, and wherein said network connects said terminating mobile unit to said network by initiating a mobile-terminated call establishment procedure.

Claim 13

The signalling method according to claim 10 wherein said originating mobile unit selects said first transaction identifier to identify its connection with said network, and wherein said network selects said second transaction identifier to identify the terminating mobile unit's connection to said network.

Claim 14

The signalling method according to claim 9 wherein the signalling message containing the counterpart transaction identifier is sent to each mobile unit during a call-establishment procedure.

Claim 15

The signalling method according to claim 12 wherein the counterpart transaction identifier is sent as part of an assignment command message.

Claim 16

The signalling method according to claim 13 wherein the counterpart transaction identifier comprises part of a channel description element of the assignment command message.

Claim 17

A mobile communication system including a network station and a plurality of mobile stations, said mobile communication system further comprising: a) means for establishing a mobile-to-mobile connection between two of said mobile stations, wherein each of said mobile stations uses a separate transaction identifier to identify signaling messages associated with said mobile-to-mobile connection; b) means incorporated into said network station to determine the transaction identifier used by each mobile station to identify the mobile-to-mobile connection; c) means for transmitting from said network station to each of said mobile stations a signaling message including a counterpart transaction identifier, which contains the transaction identifier used by the other mobile station to identify the mobile-to-mobile connection; d) data storage means incorporated into each of said mobile stations to store said counterpart transaction identifier received from said network station; and e) signaling means incorporated into said mobile stations for transmitting signaling messages to the other mobile station during said mobile-to-mobile connection, said signaling means being operative to insert said counterpart transaction identifier into signaling messages transmitted to the other mobile station during a mobile-to-mobile connection.

Claim 18

A mobile communication system including a network station and a plurality of mobile stations, said mobile communication system further comprising: a) means for establishing a mobile-to-mobile connection between two of said mobile stations, wherein each of said mobile stations uses a separate transaction identifier to identify signaling messages associated with said mobile-to-mobile connection; b) means incorporated into said network station to determine the transaction identifier used by each mobile station to identify the mobile-to-mobile connection; c) means for transmitting from said network station to each of said mobile stations a signaling message including a counterpart transaction identifier, which contains the transaction identifier used by the other mobile station to identify the mobile-to-mobile connection; d) data storage means incorporated into each of said mobile stations to store said counterpart transaction identifier received from said network station; and e) signaling means incorporated into said mobile stations for transmitting signaling messages to the other mobile station during said mobile-to-mobile connection, said signaling means being operative to insert said counterpart transaction identifier into signaling messages transmitted to the other mobile station during a mobile-to-mobile connection.