Wireless communications network and method for enabling wireless presence-based services

(Cross-reference to related applications) This application is entitled "WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND METHOD FOR ENABLING WIRELESS PRESENCE-BASED SERVICES" on July 11, 2003. Claims the priority of the filed US Provisional Application No. 60/486684, all of which provisional applications are incorporated by reference in this application.

The present invention relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to enabling wireless presence-based services in such systems.

Presence services, such as instant messaging (IM), are well known to Internet users. These services are also part of what third-generation (3G) wireless communications offer. However, the current wireless communication system cannot handle these services very efficiently. For example, existing presence servers typically retain presence information by periodically confirming communication with the desired mobile station (MS) and use the response or lack of communication confirmation as a presence "heartbeat" signal. .. Figure 1 shows, for example, a simplified messaging exchange for confirming communication with an MS. Messaging flow As shown in Figure 100, the presence server's communication confirmation packet goes through the packet data serving node (PDSN) to the base station (BS), mobile exchange (MSC), MS, and packet control function (PCF). ), And initiates substantive messaging between the PDSN and finally delivers the communication confirmation response (via the PDSN) to the presence server. As shown in the figure, the above paging requires a wide range of MSC and A interfaces. It also uses long pages (ie, inefficient) for the wireless interface to the MS. From hibernation, the network and MS initiate sessions for all data (ie, call settings that allocate T-channels), switch packets, and disconnect.

<p> In addition, each service may track its presence independently of the other services. For example, different IM services perform communication confirmation with the target MS for each service and acquire substantially the same information. Given the inefficiencies associated with the implementation of current presence, there is a need for methods to enable more efficient wireless presence-based services in wireless communication networks.</p>

<p> Embodiments of the present invention address the need to enable more efficient wireless presence-based services. In general, wireless presence proxies (WPPs) monitor mobile station (MS) messaging and messaging responses via wireless transmitters and receivers. Such messaging and messaging responses do not explicitly identify the presence state or state change of the MS. Therefore, based on the above monitoring, WPP infers the presence state / change of MS and retains the location information of MS. The WPP transmits any change in presence state in response to a request from the presence server (225) and confirms the presence state of MS. In embodiments of the invention, for example, by monitoring messaging, notifying a server of the presence of an MS, and processing server requests, including possible requests for the same MS from many servers, for example. Many existing inefficiencies, such as widespread paging and call settings, and disconnection for communication confirmation for each presence, can be reduced or avoided from the presence server.</p>

The present invention is a method for enabling a wireless presence-based service, the wireless communication network including a method of monitoring the messaging and messaging response of a mobile station (MS) in the wireless presence-based service. The messaging and messaging responses do not explicitly identify the presence state or changes in the presence state of the MS. The wireless communication network estimates the change in the presence state of the MS based on the monitoring, and transmits the change in the state to the presence server.

The present invention also comprises a wireless communication network including a wireless transmitter / receiver that receives mobile station (MS) messaging and messaging responses. The wireless communication network also includes a wireless presence proxy (WPP) communicatively connected to the wireless transmitter / receiver. WPP is adapted to monitor MS messaging and messaging responses. The messaging and messaging responses do not explicitly identify the presence state of the MS and changes in the presence state. WPP is also adapted to infer changes in the presence state of the MS based on monitoring and communicate the changes in that state to the presence server.

The embodiments disclosed in this application will be more fully understood by reference to FIGS. 2-6. 2 to 4 are block diagrams representing wireless communication systems 200, 300, 400, respectively, based on the first, second, and more generalized embodiments of the present invention. Systems 200,300,400 are well-known code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, specifically CDMA2000 systems. The system is based on the Telecommunications Industry Association / Electronic Industries Alliance (TIA / EIA) standards IS-2000 and TIA-2001 and has been modified as appropriate to carry out the present invention (to TIA / EIA). 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington DC You can contact us at 20006). Alternative embodiments of the present invention are, for example, but not limited to the following techniques, IS-136, IS-95, IS-833, WCDMA, HRPD (TIA-878-1 and TIA-1878),. It can also be implemented in communication systems that utilize other technologies, such as iDEN, WiDEN, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, and EDGE. Embodiments of the present invention include wireless communication networks 210,310,410 and mobile stations (MS) 201,401. The embodiment also includes well-known components such as presence server 225, internet network 220, and public switched telephone network 230. The presence server 225 is shown in the drawing as a single presence server, but may represent multiple servers, each of which is an IM and / or an individual such as Push to Talk (PTT). Corresponds to the service of. Although represented as a mobile phone in the drawings, the MS in the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone. For example, an MS may include any type of device connected to a wireless communication network such as a computer (eg, desktop or laptop), personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming device, or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the wireless communication network 210,310,410 communicates with the MS201,401 via the CDMA2000 air interface resource 205,405. Resource 205 comprises various types of well-known channels, such as access channels, paging channels, and information channels. Some of these channels, such as information channels, are dynamically assigned or deassigned to provide user services on demand and in accordance with well-known techniques and standards. is there.

Those skilled in the art do not represent all network equipment necessary for the operation of the systems 200, 300, 400 in FIGS. 2 to 4, but only the system components and logical components that are particularly relevant to the description of the embodiments of the present invention. You will recognize that you are. For example, the wireless communication network 410 is represented to include a wireless transmitter / receiver (WTE) 411 and a wireless presence proxy (WPP) 415. Some embodiments consistent with the wireless communication network 410 include the WTE411 within one or more base stations (BTSs) to support the transmission and reception of messaging and messaging responses associated with the MS401.

WPP415 includes well-known components such as processors, memory, and / or logic circuits in which the logic circuits are represented as computer instructions and / or designed to execute algorithms expressed in the circuits. Can be carried out using. Given one algorithm or logic flow, one of ordinary skill in the art will come up with many design and technological developments that will be useful in implementing a WPP that executes arbitrary logic. For example, a WPP consistent with the present invention is implemented as a stand-alone system component (eg, a control function) and is a well-known system (eg, as represented by a control function within the MSC, or WPP215 within the PCF214). It may be embedded in a component or placed across well-known system components (eg, WPP315 is placed across MSC313 and PCF314).

The wireless communication network 210 is represented based on the first embodiment of the present invention. Network 210 includes well-known system components MSC / VLR213 and PDSN216. In addition, the network 210 includes a PCF 214 incorporating the WPP 215, a BS 212 including a WTE (eg WTE 211), a base station controller (BSC), and a selection and distribution unit (SDU).

The communication system 200 based on the first embodiment of the present invention operates substantially as follows. WPP215 monitors MS201 messaging and messaging responses received via WTE211. The messaging response includes signal transduction such as page response, short data burst (SDB) acknowledgment, state response message, short message service (SMS) acknowledgment, and layer 2 acknowledgment. The messaging includes whether the MS is powered on, registered or unregistered, in disabled mode, or out of disabled mode, outside the wireless communication network 210. Includes indications about the MS, such as whether it is inside, inside, involved in other communications, or terminated. Such signaling is used today in systems that do not provide presence services. Therefore, such a messaging response does not require specialized software from the MS201, nor does it explicitly identify a change in the presence of the MS201 or the presence state of the MS201. As a result, WPP215 will infer the presence state and / or state change of the MS based on its monitoring. WPP215 then propagates the above MS presence state and / or state change to the presence server 225. The above communication is via PDSN216 and uses Internet Messaging and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

To infer the presence state / change of MS201, WPP215 monitors MS201 messaging and messaging response. For example, if the presence state of MS201 indicates that it exists, WPP215 says that MS201 is unpowered, MS201 is unregistered, is in unusable mode, and wireless communication network 210. It can be inferred that the presence state of the MS201 has changed to a non-existent state when it detects messaging indicating that it is outside and is involved in other communications. Similarly, if the presence state of MS201 indicates that it does not exist, WPP215 indicates that MS201 is powered on, MS210 is registered, is out of unavailable mode, or is inside a wireless communication network. It can be inferred that the presence state of the MS201 has changed to the existing state when it detects a messaging indicating that it is present and is performing other communications.

In the first embodiment, WPP215 may sometimes signal with messaging requiring the MS to respond. This signaling can be triggered, for example, by the expiration of a periodic timer, the expiration of a timer set at a randomly selected time interval, or the reception of a request from the presence server 225 (eg, a request for confirmation of communication). .. The messaging that the MS201 is requested to respond to includes messaging such as pages, short data burst (SDB) messages, status request messages, and short message service (SMS) messages.

The WPP215 retains (ie, stores and / or updates) the latest confirmed location information of the MS201 based on the messaging and messaging responses monitored by the WPP215. This latest confirmed location information is the cell ID in the first embodiment, but may instead include a base station ID, a list of cell IDs, or a registered area code (LAC). By storing the position information in this way, the MS201 can be signal-transmitted only within the cell (or a plurality of cells) considered to be operating. This will contribute to the efficiency of the first embodiment that supports presence.

When WPP215 receives a messaging response in response to the WPP-initiated signaling, it can infer that there is no change in the presence state of MS201. The MS201 is repositioning, that is, the MS201 may respond from a cell that is different from the MS201's latest confirmed location information indicated by WPP215. In this case, WPP215 updates the latest confirmation location information of MS201. WPP215 also confirms the presence information of MS201 with the presence server 225 (although the presence information has not changed). This confirmation allows the presence server 225 to initialize the communication confirmation timer for the MS201. Similarly, WPP215 may start or stop the timer used to hold the presence state information of the MS210, using the assumption that the presence state of the MS201 remains unchanged.

WPP215 may not receive the signal transduction response initiated by the WPP. In that case, the WPP215 uses timers (multiple timers) to set a response period during which the response, optionally repeated signaling, and other forms of signaling (eg, MSCs described below). Wait for an attempt by using (commanding signal transduction). If no response is received during the response period (ie, a non-response messaging response), WPP215 can infer that the presence state of the MS201 has changed from a presence state to a non-existence state.

WPP215 initiates signaling to MS201 according to the latest confirmed location information, but if BS212 does not receive a response from MS201, BS212 will use MS201's paging area information to MS213 (ie, MSC will). Requests MS201 to signal (by signaling). If the MS201 changes position, the MS201 should respond, albeit from a cell different from the cell shown in the latest confirmed location information in WPP215. In this way, the presence status of MS201 is confirmed, and the latest confirmation position information of WPP215 is updated.

FIG. 5 is a messaging flow diagram of messaging supporting a presence-based service based on the first embodiment of the present invention. WPP215 may receive a request (eg, presence request message 501) for the current state of MS201 from presence server 225 (via PDSN216). Instead, WPP215 itself sometimes (perhaps regularly) tries to check the presence status of the MS201. WPP215 sends a signal transmission request message to BS212, whatever the incentive, specifically, A9-short data delivery message 502. The message indicates a signal transduction position (eg, cell ID) and signals to MS201 within the signal transduction position. The BS212 then signals the short data burst 503 to the MS201 on the paging channel in the displayed cell.

In the first embodiment, the MS 201 responds on an access channel with a Layer 2 acknowledgment, which response is received by the BS 212. However, the MS201 did not need to respond to the BS212 in order to send to the WPP215 the content indicating whether or not the response from the MS201 was received. Specifically, BS212 sends an A9-short data acknowledgment message 505 to WPP215 indicating that MS201 has responded. From such a messaging response, WPP215 can later infer the presence state of MS201. If necessary, WPP215 uses presence update / confirmation message 506 to update or confirm the presence status on presence server 225 (via PDSN216). This presence server messaging is only needed if the presence state changes or if presence server 225 requests confirmation.

FIG. 6 is a logical flow diagram showing a function executed by a wireless communication system based on the first embodiment of the present invention. Logical Flow 600 starts with a wireless communication network that monitors MS messaging and messaging responses. Based on this monitoring, the network holds the latest confirmed location information of the MS (604) and infers the presence state of the MS (608). When the presence state of the MS changes, or when the presence server requests confirmation of the presence state (610), the network notifies the estimated MS state of the requesting server or the new state of the MS. Communicate to the server that needs it. The logical flow 600 later returns to block 604 and continues the above monitoring loop.

While running the surveillance loop, the wireless network also awaits an incentive to indicate when to investigate the presence status of the MS. Such incentives include the expiration of the network presence timer and the receipt of a presence server request. When an incentive event occurs (614), the network signals the MS indicated by the latest confirmed location information with the messaging that the MS needs to respond to. The logic flow 600 later returns to block 614 to continue the signal transmission loop.

In the above specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various modifications and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings are not intended to limit the invention and are considered to be for the purpose of explaining the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the invention. There is. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the components in the drawings are simplified, clearly represented and not necessarily drawn to their actual dimensions. For example, some of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated when compared to other components to facilitate understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Benefits, other benefits, and solutions to problems have been described above in the context of certain embodiments of the invention. However, any of the benefits, benefits, and solutions to the problem, and any element that causes or results in such benefits, benefits, or solutions, or any element that makes such benefits, benefits, or solutions more prominent. The element is important to the scope of any or all claims and is not construed as a necessary or essential function or element. As used in this application and the appended claims, the terms "prepared", "provided", or any other use of those terms are to refer to those that include non-exclusively. For example, an apparatus having a list of processes, methods, products, or components does not include only the components on the list, but other components not listed above, or such processes. , Methods, products, or other components specific to the device.

The term "one" as used herein is defined as one or more. The term "plurality" as used herein is defined as two or more. The term "another" as used herein is defined as at least a second or higher. The terms "include" and / or "have" as used herein are defined as to be provided (ie, a non-restrictive term). The term "combined" as used in the present application is defined as "connected", but it does not necessarily have to be directly and mechanically connected.

<figref num="1">Prior art messaging flow diagram that supports presence-based services.</figref><figref num="2">The block diagram of the wireless communication system based on the 1st Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">The block diagram of the wireless communication system based on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="4">A block diagram of a wireless communication system based on a more generalized embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="5">A messaging flow diagram for supporting a presence-based service based on the first embodiment of the present invention.</figref><figref num="6">A logical flow diagram of a function executed by a wireless communication system based on the first embodiment of the present invention.</figref>