Call continuity when moving from one communication session to another communication session
View Patent ↗In some embodiments, there are disclosed systems and methods in which, when a mobile device receives a message indicating that the mobile device is to release resources pertaining to a communication session for a voice call over an access network, the mobile device refrains from performing this action to allow for the possible arrival and processing of a delayed handover command. The arrival of the handover command causes the mobile device to handover to a second access network to continue the voice call using a second communication session. This may help address situations in which the handover command is delayed in the network and is therefore delayed in reaching the mobile device.
1. A method comprising:
during a first communication session for a voice call over a first access network, receiving a message at a mobile device, the message indicating that the mobile device is to release resources pertaining to the first communication session for the voice call over the first access network;
when no handover command, different from the message at the mobile device, has been received by the mobile device before receipt of the message, then the mobile device refraining from releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session despite receipt of the message, and the mobile device instead waiting during the refraining for arrival of a handover command, different from the message, for a predetermined amount of time after receipt of the message before releasing resources pertaining to the first communication session;
if the handover command is not received during said refraining, then the mobile device releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session without handing over to a second access network upon expiry of the predetermined amount of time and indicating that the voice call has been terminated.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
if the handover command is received during said refraining, then the mobile device handing over to the second access network and continuing the voice call using a second communication session.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said handing over to the second access network further comprises releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first communication session is a packet switched (PS) session, and the second communication session is a circuit switched (CS) session.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said refraining for the predetermined amount of time comprises starting a timer upon receipt of the message to release resources pertaining to a first communication session and waiting up to expiry of the timer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed along with or as part of a Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) protocol.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session comprises: the mobile device releasing a codec for a voice bearer, the mobile device releasing data resources used for the first communication session, and the mobile device releasing resources used to maintain call control for the first communication session.
8. A mobile device comprising:
one or more communication subsystems for communicating with a plurality of access networks;
a processor in communication with the one or more communication subsystems, the processor configured to:
receive a message during a first communication session for a voice call over a first access network, the message indicating that the mobile device is to release resources pertaining to the first communication session for the voice call over the first access network;
wherein upon receipt of the message, the processor performs operations comprising:
when no handover command, different from the message at the mobile device, has been received by the mobile device before receipt of the message, then refraining from releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session despite receipt of the message, and the instead wait during the refraining for arrival of a handover command, different from the message, for a predetermined amount of time after receipt of the message before releasing resources pertaining to the first communication session;
if the handover command is not received during said refraining, then releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session without handing over to a second access network upon expiry of the predetermined amount of time and indicating at a user interface that the voice call has been terminated.
9. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations further comprising:
if the handover command is received during said refraining, then handing over to the second access network and continue the voice call using a second communication session.
10. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein said handing over to the second access network further comprises releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session.
11. The mobile device of claim 9 , wherein the first communication session is a packet switched (PS) session, and the second communication session is a circuit switched (CS) session.
12. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein the mobile device further comprises a timer, and wherein said refraining for the predetermined amount of time comprises starting the timer upon receipt of the message to release resources pertaining to a first communication session and waiting up to expiry of the timer.
13. The mobile device of claim 8 , wherein releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session comprises: releasing a codec for a voice bearer, releasing data resources used for the first communication session, and releasing resources used to maintain call control for the first communication session.
14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:
during a first communication session for a voice call over a first access network, receiving a message at a mobile device, the message indicating that the mobile device is to release resources pertaining to the first communication session for the voice call over the first access network;
when no handover command, different from the message at the mobile device, has been received by the mobile device before receipt of the message, then the mobile device refraining from releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session despite receipt of the message, and the mobile device instead waiting during the refraining for arrival of a handover command, different from the message, for a predetermined amount of time after receipt of the message before releasing resources pertaining to the first communication session;
if the handover command is not received during said refraining, then the mobile device releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session without handing over to a second access network upon expiry of the predetermined amount of time and indicating that the voice call has been terminated.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor of the mobile device to perform operations comprising:
if the handover command is received during said refraining, then the mobile device handing over to the second access network and continuing the voice call using a second communication session.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein said handing over to the second access network further comprises releasing the resources pertaining to the first communication session.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first communication session is a packet switched (PS) session, and the second communication session is a circuit switched (CS) session.