Granted Patent B2

US 9,049,746 · App. 13/795,826 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Inventors: Shalini Suresh Periyalwar (Waterloo, CA); James Earl Womack (Bedford, TX); William Anthony Gage (Stittsville, CA)

Assignee: BlackBerry Limited

H04W88/06H04W76/046

Abstract

Claims (86)

1. A client node, comprising:

a first radio configured to use a first radio access technology and a second radio configured to use a second radio access technology;

processing logic configured to monitor and manage state machines of said first and second radios, said processing logic configured to:

place said first radio in an active operative mode;

place said second radio in a reduced functionality operative mode;

monitor control messages for said second radio received via said first radio while said second radio is in said reduced functionality operative mode;

receive a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

process said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmit said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

2. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said first radio access technology is selected from radio access technologies comprising:

global system for mobile communication radio access technology;

long term evolution radio access technology;

code division multiple access technology;

general packet radio service radio access technology;

world interoperability for microwave radio access technology;

wireless local area network radio access technology;

Bluetooth radio access technology; and

International Institute of Electrical Engineers 802.11 radio access technology.

3. The client node of claim 2 , wherein said second radio access technology is different from said first radio access technology, and said second radio access technology is selected from radio access technologies comprising:

global system for mobile communication radio access technology;

long term evolution radio access technology;

code division multiple access technology;

general packet radio service radio access technology;

world interoperability for microwave radio access technology;

wireless local area network radio access technology;

Bluetooth radio access technology; and

International Institute of Electrical Engineers 802.11 radio access technology.

4. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to maintain context information for first and second state machines associated with said first and second radio access technologies, respectively.

5. The client node of claim 4 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to use said first radio to send an uplink message to a network node in response to a change in the state machine associated with said second radio.

6. The client node of claim 4 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to suppress a transmission of an uplink message generated in response to a change in the state machine associated with said second radio.

7. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to provide at least one of media access control, radio resource control or mobility management functionalities of said first and second radio access technologies.

8. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to use said first radio to respond to downlink control messages directed to said second radio.

9. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to use said first radio to send an uplink message to a network node in response to a message directed to said second radio by said network node.

10. The client node of claim 1 , wherein a transmitter of said second radio is placed in an inactive state during said reduced functionality operative mode.

11. The client node of claim 10 , wherein a receiver of said second radio is placed in an inactive state during said reduced functionality operative mode.

12. The client node of claim 1 , wherein a transmitter of said first radio is placed in an inactive state while said first radio is used to monitor downlink control messages directed to said second radio.

13. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said first and second radio access technologies are different technologies and are associated with the same communications provider.

14. The client node of claim 1 , wherein said first and second radio access technologies are different technologies and are associated with different communications providers.

15. A method of managing operation of first and second radios in a client node, said first radio being configured to use a first radio access technology and said second radio being configured to use a second radio access technology, the method comprising:

using processing logic to:

monitor state machines of said first and second radios;

place said first radio in an active operative mode;

place said second radio in a reduced functionality operative mode;

use said first radio to monitor control messages for said second radio received via said first radio while said second radio is in said reduced functionality operative mode;

receive a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

process said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmit said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

16. A network node, comprising:

processing logic configured to:

receive state information via a first radio access network corresponding to a state of a first radio in a client node, said first radio utilizing a first radio access technology;

receive state information via said first radio access network corresponding to a state of a second radio in said client node while said second radio is in a reduced functionality operative mode, said second radio utilizing a second radio access technology;

receive a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

process said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmit said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

17. The network node of claim 16 , wherein a control message corresponding to the state of said second radio is transmitted to a session management entity in a core network associated with said second radio access technology.

18. The network node of claim 16 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to emulate at least one of media access control, radio resource control and or mobility management functionalities of said second radio access technology.

19. The network node of claim 16 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to transmit a message to said client node by tunneling said message through said first radio access network comprising said first radio access technology.

20. The network node of claim 16 , wherein said processing logic is further configured to transmit a message to said client node in a format required by said second radio access technology supported by said second radio by tunneling said message through said first radio access network comprising said first radio access technology.

21. A method of using a network node to manage state information corresponding to radios in a client node, the method comprising:

receiving state information via a first radio access network corresponding to a state of a first radio in a client node, said first radio utilizing a first radio access technology;

receiving state information via said first radio access network corresponding to a state of a second radio in said client node while said second radio is in a reduced functionality operative mode, said second radio utilizing a second radio access technology;

receiving a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

processing said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmitting said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

using processing logic to emulate at least one of media access control, radio resource control or mobility management functionalities of said second radio access technology.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

transmitting a message to said client node by tunneling said message through said first radio access network comprising said first radio access technology.

24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

transmitting a message to said client node in the format required by said second radio access technology supported by said second radio by tunneling said message through said first radio access network comprising said first radio access technology.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program product for managing operation of first and second radios in a client node, said first radio being configured to use a first radio access technology and said second radio being configured to use a second radio access technology, the computer program product comprising:

program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method comprising:

monitoring state machines of said first and second radios;

placing said first radio in an active operative mode;

placing said second radio in a reduced functionality operative mode;

using said first radio to monitor control messages for said second radio received via said first radio while said second radio is in said reduced functionality operative mode;

receiving a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

processing said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmitting said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a computer program product for managing state information corresponding to radios in a client node based on a network node, the computer program product comprising:

program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions readable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method comprising:

receiving state information via a first radio access network corresponding to a state of a first radio in a client node, said first radio utilizing a first radio access technology;

receiving state information via said first radio access network corresponding to a state of a second radio in said client node while said second radio is in a reduced functionality operative mode, said second radio utilizing a second radio access technology;

receiving a first control message in a format required by the first radio access technology supported by said first radio in said client node;

processing said first control message to generate a second control message in a format required by the second radio access technology supported by said second radio; and

transmitting said second message to a session management entity associated with said second radio access technology in a core network.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (2)