Setting mode of communication
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 signaled between the first and second user equipment. An indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication is also signaled between the first user equipment and the second user equipment. After the signaling 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 signaling for reserving a possibility for at least tow different communication modes occurs between elements of the communication system.
1. A method, comprising:
signaling between a first user equipment and a second user equipment information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for a communication via a communication link, wherein the signalling of the information regarding the at least two modes of communication comprises signalling an indicator of a first mode that shall be used for the communication, wherein a first communication leg is formed between the first user equipment and a first element of a communications network and a second communication leg is formed between the second user equipment and a second element of the communications network, and wherein the first communication leg and the second communication leg are synchronized in response to said indicator regarding the first mode that shall be used for the communication;
signalling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment an indicator regarding changing a mode used for the communication to another mode of the at least two modes to be used for the communication; and
initiating in at least one of the user equipment a procedure for changing the mode during the communication in accordance with the indicator, wherein at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment communicates with the communications network via a wireless interface.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signaling of the indicator is during the communication.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of speech and a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of multimedia.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of one of unrestricted digital information and restricted digital information.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signaling between the first user equipment and second user equipment is passed transparently through at least one network element of the communications network.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising use of a user-to-user type signaling service for the signaling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a 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 information regarding said at least two modes is signaled in a message generated in accordance with a setup mechanism.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication is signaled during setup signaling between setup messages.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication is signaled by means of bearer capability information elements.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising setting up the communication link 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 performed by computer program code embodied on a memory and executed by a processor.
14. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein signaling the indicator initiates the procedure for changing the mode of communication during the communication.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
signal between a first user equipment and a second user equipment information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for a communication, wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication comprises an indicator regarding a mode of the at least two modes that shall be used as a first mode for the communication, wherein a first communication leg is formed between the first user equipment and a first element of a communications network and a second communication leg is formed between the second user equipment and a second element of the communications network, and wherein the first communication leg and the second communication leg are synchronized in response to the indicator regarding the first mode that shall be used for the communication;
signal between the first user equipment and the second user equipment an indicator regarding changing a mode used for the communication to another mode of the at least two modes to be used for the communication; and
initiate in at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment a procedure for changing the mode during the communication in accordance with the indicator, wherein at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment communicates with the communications network via a wireless interface.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein signaling the indicator is during the communication.
17. A method, comprising:
signaling between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a network element of a communications network information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for a communication via communication media, 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, wherein the signaling of the information regarding the at least two models of communication comprises signaling an indication of the one of the models being for use in the beginning of the communication, wherein a first communication leg of a communication path is formed between the first user equipment and the network element and a second communication leg of the communication path is formed between the second user equipment and a second network element, and wherein the first communication leg and the second communication leg are synchronized in response to the signaling of said indicator regarding the one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication;
signaling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment via said network element an indicator regarding changing a mode used for the communication to another mode selected among said at least two modes; and
changing the mode during the communication in accordance with the indicator, wherein at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment communicate with the communications network via a wireless interface.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the selected mode comprises a mode that is different to the mode of communication used at the time of receiving the indicator.
19. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of speech and a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of multimedia.
20. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a mode of the at least two modes is for communication of one of unrestricted digital information and restricted digital information.
21. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the signaling is passed transparently through at least one network element.
22. A method as claimed in claim 17 , comprising use of a user-to-user type signaling service for the signaling between the network element and a second entity associated with the communication.
23. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein a 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.
24. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication is signaled during setup signaling.
25. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the information regarding the at least two modes of communication is signaled by means of bearer capability information elements.
26. A method as claimed in claim 17 performed by computer program code embodied on a memory and executed by a processor.
27. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
signal between a first user equipment and second user equipment via a network element of a communication system information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for a communication via communication media, 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, wherein the information regarding the at least two models of communication comprises an indication of the one of the models being for use in the beginning of the communication, wherein a first communication leg of a communication path is formed between the first user equipment and the network element and a second communication leg of the communication path is formed between the second user equipment and a second network element, and wherein the first communication leg and the second communication leg are synchronized in response to the indicator regarding the one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication;
signal between the first user equipment and the second user equipment via said network element an indicator regarding changing a mode used for the communication to another mode selected among said at least two modes; and
change the mode during the communication in accordance with the indicator regarding changing the mode, wherein at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment communicate with the communication system via a wireless interface.
28. A network element for a communication system, the element being arranged to control a wireless communication leg provided between a user equipment and the communication system, for at least one of sending and receiving information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for a communication via the communication system including the wireless communication leg, one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication via said wireless communication leg and the at least one other mode being reserved for possible use during the communication via the wireless communication leg, wherein a second communication leg is formed between a second user equipment and the communication system, and wherein the first communication leg and the first communication leg are synchronized in response to the indicator regarding the one of the modes being for use in the beginning of the communication, wherein the communication system is for at least one of sending and receiving an indicator regarding changing a mode used for the communication to another mode selected among said at least two modes, and for changing the mode during the communication in at least said wireless communication leg in accordance with the indicator.
29. A method, comprising:
setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network wherein the communication link includes a first communication leg between the first user equipment and the communication network and a second communication leg between the second user equipment and the communication network;
signaling between the first user equipment and the second user equipment information regarding control operations via the communication link; and
initiating in at least one of the user equipment a procedure for provision of the control operations in accordance with said information, wherein the first communication leg and the second communication leg and synchronized in response to a signaled indicator regarding a mode being for use in the beginning of the communication via the communication link, wherein the control operations comprise changing a mode used for a communication via the communication link during the communication and wherein at least one of the first user equipment and the second user equipment communicate via a corresponding one of the first communication leg and the second communication leg comprising a wireless interface, wherein the second communication leg is formed between the second user equipment and a second network element of the communication system.