Setting mode of communication
View Patent ↗A method in a communication system is disclosed. In the method a procedure for setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network is initiated. Information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for communication via the communication link is signalled between the first and second user equipment. An indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication is also signalled between the first user equipment and the second user equipment. After the signalling steps, a procedure for setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator is initiated in at least in one of the user equipment. According to an alternative embodiment signalling for reserving a possibility for at least tow different communication modes occurs between elements of the communication system.
1. A method in a communication system, the method comprising:
initiation of a procedure for setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network;
signalling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for communication via the communication link;
signalling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment an indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication; and
initiating in at least in one of the user equipment a procedure for setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator
wherein signaling of the indicator initiates a procedure to change from one mode of communication to another mode of communication during the communication, and
wherein a first communication leg is formed between the first user equipment and a first element of the communication network and a second communication leg is formed between the second user equipment and a second element of the communication network, and wherein the first and second legs are synchronised in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding the mode to be used for the communication.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicator provides information regarding the mode of the communication that shall be used as a first mode of communication.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the modes is for communication of speech and one of the modes is for communication of multimedia.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein one of the modes is for communication of Unrestricted Digital Information (UDI) or Restricted Digital Information (RDI).
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signalling between the first and second user equipment is passed transparently through at least one network element of the communication network.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising use of a user-to-user type signalling service for the signalling between the first and second user equipment.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mode of communication within the network is set so that the network is capable of handling communication in accordance with each of said at least two modes of communication.
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indication of said at least two possible modes is sent in a message generated in accordance with a setup mechanism.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicators are sent during setup signalling between setup messages.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication is signalled by means of bearer capability information elements.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising the steps of setting up the communication path first in a multimedia mode, immediately changing the mode into speech mode, and, if required, changing back to the multimedia mode.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user equipment communicates via a circuit switched communication network.
13. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the user equipment communicates with the communication network via a wireless interface.
14. A method in a communication system, comprising:
initiating a procedure for setting up a communication media between at least two user equipment;
signalling from or to a network element of the communication system information regarding at least two modes of communication, one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the communication media;
signalling from or to said network element an indicator regarding a mode selected among said at least two modes; and
setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator,
wherein a first communication leg of the communication path is formed between a first user equipment and the network element and a second communication leg of the communication path is formed between a second user equipment and a second network element, and wherein the first and second legs are synchronised in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding a mode to be used for communication.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the selected mode comprises the mode that shall be used in the beginning of the communication until otherwise instructed.
16. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the selected mode comprises a mode that is different to the mode of communication used at the time of receiving the indicator.
17. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein one of the modes is for communication of speech and one of the modes is for communication of multimedia.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein one of the modes is for communication of Unrestricted Digital Information (UDI) or Restricted Digital Information (RDI).
19. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the signalling is passed transparently through at least one network element.
20. A method as claimed in claim 14 , comprising use of a user-to-user type signalling service for the signalling between the network element and a second entity associated with the communications.
21. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the mode of communication within the network is set so that the network is capable of handling communication in accordance with each of said at least two modes of communication.
22. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the indicators are sent during setup signalling.
23. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the information regarding at least two modes of communication is signalled by means of bearer capability information elements.
24. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the user equipment controlled by the network element communicates via a wireless interface.
25. A method in a communication system, comprising:
initiating a procedure for setting up a communication media between at least two user equipment;
signalling from or to a network element of the communication system information regarding at least two modes of communication, one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the communication media;
signalling from or to said network element an indicator regarding a mode selected among said at least two modes; and
setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator,
wherein at least two communication legs are formed between each of the at least two user equipment and a corresponding at element of the communication network wherein the at least two communication legs are synchronised in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding the mode to be used for the communication.
26. A communication system, comprising means for providing a communication media between at least two user equipment, and a network element for controlling a first communication leg of said communication media, said first communication leg being provided between a first user equipment and the communication system, and a second communication leg the network element being adapted for sending and/or receiving information regarding at least two modes of communication, one of the modes being for use in the beginning of communication via said communication media and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the communication media, and also for sending and/or receiving an indicator regarding a mode selected among said at least two modes, and for setting the mode of communication in said leg in accordance with the indicator,
wherein the first communication leg of the communication path is formed between the first user equipment and the communication system and the second communication leg is formed between a second user equipment and the communication system, and wherein the first and second legs are synchronised in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding a mode to be used for communication.
27. A network element for a communication system, the element being arranged to control a communication leg provided between a user equipment and the communication system, for sending and/or receiving information regarding at least two modes of communication, one of the modes being for use in the beginning of communication via said communication leg and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the communication leg, for sending and/or receiving an indicator regarding a mode selected among said at least two modes, and for setting the mode of communication in said leg in accordance with the indicator,
wherein the network element is further arranged to synchronize said communication leg with at least one other communication leg in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding a mode to be used for communication.
28. A computer program embodied on computer readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises a set of instructions which when executed by a processor in a user equipment causes the user equipment to generate and interpret messages that include information regarding possible modes of communication available for the user equipment, to control the node that shall be used for communication, to change from one mode of communication to another mode of communication during a communication in accordance with information included in such a message, and to synchronize at least two communication paths in response to said message.
29. A computer program embodied on computer readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises a set of instructions which when executed by a processor in a network element of a communication system causes the network element to control a communication leg provided between a user equipment and the communication system, to send and/or receive information regarding at least two modes of communication, one of the modes of being for use in the beginning of the communication via said communication leg and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the communication leg, to send/or receive an indicator regarding a mode selected among said at least two modes, and to set the mode of communication in said leg in accordance with the indicator, and to synchronize with at least one other communication leg in response to the signalling of said indicator regarding a mode to be used for communication.