Method, system and apparatus for alternate data service provisioning

1. A method, operable on a mobile communication device, of provisioning data service for use by the mobile communication device, the method comprising:

identifying an accessible wireless network;

determining whether a packet data service is available via the wireless network;

if the packet data service is unavailable via the wireless network, sending an alternate data registration message to a relay node via an Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) network, the alternate data registration message indicating that the packet data service is currently unavailable, and configuring the mobile communication device for alternate data service via the USSD network and the wireless network;

if the packet data service becomes available via the wireless network while the mobile communication device is configured for alternate data service, sending a packet data registration message to the relay node via the packet data service and configuring the mobile communication device for packet data service; and

modifying data transfer characteristics depending on whether communication is occurring via packet data service or via alternate data service.

2. The method of provisioning data service as recited in claim 1 further comprising if packet data service is available, sending a packet data registration message to the relay node and configuring the mobile communication device for packet data service.

3. The method of provisioning data service as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of gathering operating statistics relating to usage of packet data service and alternate data service.

4. A system for provisioning data service with respect to a mobile communication device (MCD), the system comprising:

means for determining whether a packet data service is available to the mobile communication device via a wireless network discovered in a location area;

means, operable when the packet data service is unavailable via the wireless network, for sending an alternate data registration message to a relay node via an Unstructured Supplementary Services Data network, the alternate data registration message containing an indication that the packet data service is currently unavailable, and for configuring the mobile communication device for alternate data service via the USSD network and the wireless network;

means, operable if the packet data service become available via the wireless network while the mobile communication device is configured for alternate data service, for sending a packet data registration message to the relay node via the packet data service and for configuring the mobile communication device for packet data service; and

means for modifying data transfer characteristics depending on whether communication is occurring via packet data service or via alternate data service.

5. The system for provisioning data service as recited in claim 4 further comprising means, operable if packet data service is available via the wireless network, for sending a packet data registration message to the relay node and configuring the mobile communication device for packet data service.

6. The system for provisioning data service as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for gathering operating statistics relating to usage of packet data service and alternate data service.

7. A mobile communication device comprising:

a processor operably coupled to a communication subsystem and a memory;

a module operable to identify a wireless network accessible by the mobile communication device;

a module operable to determine whether a packet data service is available to the mobile communication device via the wireless network; and

a module operable, when the packet data service is unavailable to the mobile communication device via the wireless network, to send an alternate data registration message to a relay node via an Unstructured Supplementary Services Data network, the alternate data registration message indicating that the packet data service is currently unavailable, and to configure the mobile communication device for alternate data service via the USSD network and the wireless network;

if the packet data service becomes available via the wireless network while the mobile communication device is configured for alternate data service, sending a packet data registration message to the relay node via the packet data; and

a module for modifying data transfer characteristics depending on whether communication is occurring via packet data service or via alternate data service.

8. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a module for sending a packet data registration message to the relay node if packet data service is available via the wireless network.

9. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a module for actuating a user's selection between packet data service and alternate data service.

10. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a module for gathering operating statistics relating to usage of packet data service and alternate data service.

11. The method of provisioning data service as recited in claim 2 further comprising performing communication with the relay node via packet data service responsive to sending a packet data registration message to the relay node and receiving a packet data registration acknowledgement.

12. The method of provisioning data service as recited in claim 1 further comprising performing communication with the relay node via alternate data service responsive to sending an alternate data registration message to the relay node and receiving an alternate data registration acknowledgement.

13. The system for provisioning data service as recited in claim 5 further comprising means for performing communication with the relay node via packet data service responsive to sending a packet data registration message to the relay node and receiving a packet data registration acknowledgement.

14. The system for provisioning data service as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for performing communication with the relay node via alternate data service responsive to sending an alternate data registration message to the relay node and receiving an alternate data registration acknowledgement.

15. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 8 further comprising logic for performing communication with the relay node via packet data service responsive to sending a packet data registration message to the relay node and receiving a packet data registration acknowledgement.

16. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 7 further comprising logic for performing communication with the relay node via alternate data service responsive to sending an alternate data registration message to the relay node and receiving an alternate data registration acknowledgement.