US6631270B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for call completion in congested cells
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
•
Filing: 2000-04-05
•
Granted: 2003-10-07
•
Expires: 2020-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing a call completion service in a wireless communication system are described. A call attempt is completed between a calling party and a called party encountering congestion in a respective cell, by storing information related to the call attempt, monitoring a congestion level and setting up a call to complete the call attempt when traffic channels are available provided the parties are still within the cell coverage area. A predetermined number of available traffic channels may be required so as to prevent further congestion caused call completion. When determining that the called or calling party is within a new cell, congestion level is determined in the new cell and the call is completed if congestion levels are favorable. When the call can be set up the calling party is contacted and confirmation requested. Notification is provided to the parties that the call attempt was not completed, prompting the parties to indicate whether the call attempt should be completed or whether additional stored call attempts should be re-attempted. A call completion service for an established call may be provided by a method and apparatus configured to detect a handoff attempt to a new cell, determine that congestion has occurred, store information related to the handoff attempt, monitor information related to the handoff attempt to determine if the cell is still congested and if the parties are still within the coverage area whereupon a call may be set up.
Inventors
- 👤 Tommy Dolan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W28/00; H04W28/02; H04W28/0289; H04W48/00; H04W48/02; H04W48/06; H04W76/00; H04W76/10; H04W76/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of call completion in a wireless communication system, the method completing a call attempt between a calling party and a called party when either the calling party or the called party encounters congestion in a respective cell, the method comprising the steps of: determining that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level in either the calling party's cell or the called party's cell; storing information related to the call attempt; monitoring available traffic channels in the cell affected by the high congestion level to determine when a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the affected cell; determining whether the calling party and the called party are still within their respective cells; if either the calling party or the called party has moved to a new cell, determining whether a sufficient number of traffic channels are available in the new cell to set up the call without causing congestion in the new cell; and setting up the call to complete the call attempt upon determining that a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the cells in which the calling party and the called party are located.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of call completion in a wireless communication system, the method completing a call attempt between a calling party and a called party when either the calling party or the called party encounters congestion in a respective cell, the method comprising the steps of: determining that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level in either the calling party's cell or the called party's cell; storing information related to the call attempt; monitoring available traffic channels in the cell affected by the high congestion level to determine when a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the affected cell; determining whether the calling party and the called party are still within their respective cells; if either the calling party or the called party has moved to a new cell, determining whether a sufficient number of traffic channels are available in the new cell to set up the call without causing congestion in the new cell; and setting up the call to complete the call attempt upon determining that a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the cells in which the calling party and the called party are located.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
217 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the calling party and the called party are still within their respective cells includes the steps of: monitoring for the occurrence of one or more of the following: registration of the calling or the called party In a new respective cell, call-related activity associated with the calling or the called party in the new respective cell, messaging activity associated with the calling or the called party in the new respective cell, unanswered paging messages associated with the calling or the called party in the respective cell, answered paging messages associated with the calling or the called party in the new respective cell, control channel activity associated with the calling or the called party in the new respective cell, and mobile positioning information associated with the calling or the called party indicating that the calling or the called party is within the coverage area associated with the new respective cell; if none of the monitored occurrences are detected, determining that the calling or the called party are within the coverage area associated with the respective cell; and if at least one of the monitored occurrences is detected, determining that the calling or the called party are within the coverage area associated with the new respective cell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up the call further includes the steps of: contacting the calling party when it is determined that the affected cell is no longer congested; requesting confirmation that the call associated with the call attempt should be set up; and setting up the call if confirmation is provided by the calling party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after determining that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level, the steps of: notifying the calling or the called party that congestion is encountered; and prompting the notified party to indicate whether the call attempt should be subject to the call completion service.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising, after prompting the notified party to indicate whether the call attempt should be subject to the call completion service, the step of prompting the notified party to indicate whether one or more additional stored call attempts should be re-attempted.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for completing a call attempt in a wireless communication system between a calling mobile station (MS) and a called MS when either the calling or the called MS encounters cell congestion in a respective cell, the apparatus comprising: at least one mobile switching center (MSC) having at least one storage register for storing information related to the call attempt; and an interface coupling the MSC to the calling MS and the called MS; wherein the MSC is configured to: determine that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level in either the calling MS's cell or the called MS's cell; monitor available traffic channels in the cell affected by the high congestion level to determine when a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the affected cell; determine whether the calling MS and the called MS are still within their respective cells; determine whether a sufficient number of traffic channels are available in the new cell to set up the call without causing congestion in the new cell, upon determining that either the calling MS or the called MS has moved to a new cell; and set up the call to complete the call attempt upon determining that a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the cells in which the calling MS and the called MS are located.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
242 words
An apparatus for completing a call attempt in a wireless communication system between a calling mobile station (MS) and a called MS when either the calling or the called MS encounters cell congestion in a respective cell, the apparatus comprising: at least one mobile switching center (MSC) having at least one storage register for storing information related to the call attempt; and an interface coupling the MSC to the calling MS and the called MS; wherein the MSC is configured to: determine that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level in either the calling MS's cell or the called MS's cell; monitor available traffic channels in the cell affected by the high congestion level to determine when a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the affected cell; determine whether the calling MS and the called MS are still within their respective cells; determine whether a sufficient number of traffic channels are available in the new cell to set up the call without causing congestion in the new cell, upon determining that either the calling MS or the called MS has moved to a new cell; and set up the call to complete the call attempt upon determining that a sufficient number of traffic channels are available to set up a call without causing congestion in the cells in which the calling MS and the called MS are located.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
221 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the MSC, as configured to determine whether the calling MS and the called MS are still within their respective cells, is further configured to: monitor for the occurrence of one or more of the following: registration of the calling or the called MS in a new respective cell, call-related activity associated with the calling or the called MS in the new respective cell, messaging activity associated with the calling or the called MS in the new respective cell, unanswered paging messages associated with the calling or the called MS in the new respective cell, answered paging messages associated with the calling or the called MS in the new respective cell, the control channel activity associated with the calling or the called MS in the new respective cell, and mobile positioning information associated with the calling or the called MS indicating that the calling or the called MS is within the coverage area associated with the new respective cell; determine that the calling or the called MS is within the coverage area associated with the respective cell if none of the monitored occurrences are detected; and determine that the calling or the called MS is within the coverage area associated with the new respective cell if at least one of the monitored occurrences is detected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein in setting up the call, the MSC is further configured to: contact the calling MS when it is determined that the affected cell is no longer congested; request confirmation that the call associated with the call attempt should be set up; and set up the call if confirmation is provided by the calling MS.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein, upon determining that the call attempt has failed due to a high congestion level in either the calling MS's cell or the called MS's cell, the MSC is further configured to: notify the calling or the called MS that the call attempt was not completed; and prompt the notified MS to indicate whether the call attempt should be subject to the call completion service.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the MSC is further configured to prompt the notified MS to indicate whether one or more additional stored call attempts should be re-attempted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0491494A2
Cited
US5287545A
Cited
US5311583A
Cited
US5423062A
Cited
US5754959A
Cited
US5533100A
Cited
US5548533A
Cited
US5627875A
Cited
US5802161A
Cited
US6064892A
Cited
US6212389B1
Cited
EP0871315A1
Cited
EP0942614A2
Cited
WO1999049678A1
Cited
WO1999065258A1
Cited
US6324403B1
Cited
US6343216B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-06 | 2007-04-07 | 2007-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-06 | 2011-04-07 | 2011-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-06 | 2015-04-07 | 2015-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |