PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9578572-B2
Application Number: US-201615012752-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Responding to a page message

Abstract:
A method for responding to a page message is provided. The method can include a wireless communication device receiving a page message on a first channel of a first network; suspending a connection to a second network in response to receiving the page message; transitioning to a second channel of the first network prior to responding to the page message; and sending a response message responsive to the page message on the second channel.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus configurable for operation in a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:
 processing circuitry including one or more processors communicatively coupled with memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to:
 receive a page message on a first channel of a network; 
 perform an idle mode handoff to a second channel of the network; 
 receive one or more overhead messages on the second channel of the network; 
 update one or more network parameters based on information included in the one or more overhead messages received on the second channel of the network; and 
 send a response message, responsive to the page message received on the first channel, to the network on the second channel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus causes the wireless device to send the response message on the second channel in accordance with an updated state of network parameters based on the one or more overhead messages received on the second channel. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the idle mode handoff to the second channel comprises an inter-base station or intra-base station handoff to the second channel having better signal quality than the first channel. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus causes the wireless device to perform the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least indirectly transitioning from the first channel to the second channel via one or more intermediate channels of the network. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the apparatus causes the wireless device to perform the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least performing an access entry handoff (AEHO); and 
 a pilot signal of the second channel received by the wireless device is stronger than a corresponding pilot signal of the first channel received by the wireless device. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the page message comprises a General Page Message (GPM); 
 the response message comprises a Page Response Message (PRM); and 
 the network implements a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio access technology (RAT). 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus causes the wireless device to perform the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least hashing a channel list message received from the network. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are associated with a same System ID/network ID (SID/NID). 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the page message comprises a page for a mobile terminating (MT) voice call. 
     
     
       10. A wireless device comprising:
 one or more antennas; 
 a radio configurable to transmit signals to and receive signals from a network via the one or more antennas; and 
 one or more processors communicatively coupled with memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to:
 receive a page message on a first channel of a network; 
 perform an idle mode handoff to a second channel of the network; 
 receive one or more overhead messages on the second channel of the network; 
 update one or more network parameters based on information included in the one or more overhead messages received on the second channel of the network; and 
 send a response message, responsive to the page message received on the first channel, to the network on the second channel. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the wireless device performs the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least performing an access entry handoff (AEHO); and 
 a pilot signal of the second channel received by the wireless device is stronger than a corresponding pilot signal of the first channel received by the wireless device. 
 
     
     
       12. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the page message comprises a General Page Message (GPM); 
 the response message comprises a Page Response Message (PRM); and 
 the network implements a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio access technology (RAT). 
 
     
     
       13. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to send the response message on the second channel in accordance with an updated state of network parameters based on the one or more overhead messages received on the second channel. 
     
     
       14. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein the idle mode handoff to the second channel comprises an inter-base station or intra-base station handoff to the second channel having better signal quality than the first channel. 
     
     
       15. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to perform the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least indirectly transitioning from the first channel to the second channel via one or more intermediate channels of the network. 
     
     
       16. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the wireless device to perform the idle mode handoff to the second channel by at least hashing a channel list message received from the network. 
     
     
       17. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein the first channel and the second channel are associated with a same System ID/network ID (SID/NID). 
     
     
       18. The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein the page message comprises a page for a mobile terminating (MT) voice call. 
     
     
       19. A method for responding to a page message by an apparatus configurable for operation in a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving the page message on a first channel of a network; 
 performing an idle mode handoff to a second channel of the network; 
 receiving one or more overhead messages on the second channel of the network; 
 updating one or more network parameters based on information included in the one or more overhead messages received on the second channel of the network; and 
 sending a response message, responsive to the page message received on the first channel, to the network on the second channel. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the page message comprises a General Page Message (GPM); 
 the response message comprises a Page Response Message (PRM); and 
 the network implements a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio access technology (RAT).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/482,775, filed Sep. 10, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,253,688, issued Feb. 2, 2016, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/929,489, filed Jun. 27, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,867,517, issued Oct. 21, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/665,856, filed Jun. 28, 2012, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The described embodiments relate generally to wireless communications technology, and more particularly to responding to a page message. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Efforts are ongoing to develop and deploy new and improved cellular radio access technologies (RATs). For example, networks implementing Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, developed and standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), are currently being deployed. LTE and other newer RATs often support faster data rates than networks utilizing legacy RATs, such as various second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) RATs. 
     However, in some deployments, LTE and other new RATs may not fully support some services that can be handled by legacy networks. Accordingly, LTE networks are often co-deployed in overlapping regions with legacy networks and wireless communication devices may transition between RATs as services or coverage may require. For example, in some deployments, LTE networks are not capable of supporting voice calls. Thus, for example when a wireless communication device receives or initiates a circuit switched voice call while connected to an LTE network that supports data sessions, but not voice calls, the wireless communication device can transition to a legacy network, such as Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1X, which is standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), that supports voice calls. 
     Some wireless communication devices use a single radio to support operation on multiple cellular RATs. For example, some wireless communication devices use a single radio to support operation on both LTE and CDMA2000 1X networks. The use of a single radio for multiple RATs makes transitioning between networks, such as in response to a page message for an incoming voice call or circuit switched service, more complex. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments disclosed herein provide improvements for responding to a page message. More particularly, some example embodiments provide a wireless communication device that can respond to a page message on a different channel than a channel on which the page message is received. Such example embodiments can be particularly beneficial for wireless communication devices using a single radio to support operation on multiple RATs, such as single radio LTE (SRLTE) devices, which can use a single radio to support operation on both LTE and CDMA2000 1X networks. In this regard, if a single radio wireless communication device in accordance with some example embodiments has an active connection to a first network, such as an LTE network, and receives a page message on a first channel of a second network, such as a CDMA2000 1X network, the device can transition to a second channel of the second network prior to responding to the page message. Such example embodiments can accordingly enable a wireless communication device to transition to a channel having a better signal quality prior to responding to the page message. A voice call and/or other service for which the page message is received can accordingly be serviced on a better channel of the second network, thus reducing the risk of call drops, reducing the incidence of network signaling overhead from performance of a handover to a better channel shortly after responding to the page message, and improving user experience. 
     In a first embodiment, a method for responding to a page message is provided. The method of the first embodiment can include a wireless communication device receiving a General Page Message (GPM) on a first channel of a Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) 1X network. The method of the first embodiment can further include the wireless communication device suspending a connection to a second network in response to receiving the GPM. The second network can implement a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology (RAT). The method of the first embodiment can additionally include the wireless communication device transitioning to a second channel of the CDMA2000 1X network prior to responding to the GPM; and sending a Page Response Message (PRM) responsive to the GPM on the second channel. 
     In a second embodiment, a wireless communication device is provided. The wireless communication device of the second embodiment can include a radio and processing circuitry coupled to the radio. The radio can be configured to support communication with a first network and with a second network. The processing circuitry can be configured to control the wireless communication device of the second embodiment to at least receive a page message on a first channel of the first network; suspend a connection to the second network in response to receiving the page message; transition to a second channel of the first network prior to responding to the page message; and send a response message responsive to the page message on the second channel. 
     In a third embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product of the third embodiment can include at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon. The program code of the third embodiment can include program code for receiving a page message on a first channel of a first network; program code for suspending a connection to a second network in response to receiving the page message; program code for transitioning to a second channel of the first network prior to responding to the page message; and program code for sending a response message responsive to the page message on the second channel. 
     In a fourth embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus of the fourth embodiment can include means for receiving a page message on a first channel of a first network; means for suspending a connection to a second network in response to receiving the page message; means for transitioning to a second channel of the first network prior to responding to the page message; and means for sending a response message responsive to the page message on the second channel. 
     This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The described embodiments and the advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in no way limit any changes in form and detail that may be made to the described embodiments by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a wireless communication system in accordance with some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus that can be implemented on a wireless communication device in accordance with some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for suspending a connection to a network in response to receipt of a page message according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart according to another example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a signaling diagram according to an example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart according to a further example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In a CDMA 2000 1X network, (as described in 3GPP2 CDMA specifications), when a wireless communication device receives a general page message (GPM), the page response message (PRM) is generally sent on the same channel on which the GPM is received to the sending base station. The only scenario in which prior wireless communication devices can send a PRM on a channel other than the channel on which the GPM is received is if the device can perform an access entry handoff (AEHO) procedure prior to sending the PRM. However, the network controls whether the device is allowed to perform an AEHO, and in many instances, the device may not be allowed by the network to perform an AEHO. Thus, prior devices are typically not allowed to perform a handoff to a another channel (e.g., a better pilot channel) while processing a GPM, even if there is another channel that has a better signal quality, which can indicate better network performance. If a prior device does perform a handoff to another channel prior to responding to a page message, the device does not send a response to the page message, and a call failure can result. 
     One possible work around to reduce call failure is to reduce the amount of time that the CDMA 2000 1X stack waits for LTE suspend to complete to reduce the possibility of a handoff occurring before the response to a page message. Another option is to drop any handoff triggers from lower layers while CDMA 2000 1X is waiting for the LTE suspend to complete to prevent an idle mode handoff before responding to the page message. 
     However, for a wireless communication device using a single radio to support communication with multiple RATs, such as an SRLTE device, which can use a single radio to support both LTE and CDMA 2000 1X connections, it can be beneficial for a device to perform an idle handoff to a different (e.g., better) channel of a network (e.g., a CDMA 2000 1X network) after decoding a received page message and before sending a page response. For example, it can be beneficial to perform a handoff while 1X is waiting for suspension of an LTE connection to be completed. Additionally or alternatively, it can be beneficial to perform a handoff through channel hashing to another channel before sending the page response. As discussed above, in prior systems, such handoffs before sending the page response would be prohibited, or if a handoff did occur, a prior device would not be allowed to send a page response on the new channel and a call failure would result. Some example embodiments described further herein below provide for responding to a page message on a channel other than the channel on which the page message was received, thus allowing a device to transition to a better channel before responding to a page message without resulting in a call failure even in instances in which a network has not enabled the device to perform an AEHO procedure. A voice call and/or other service for which the page message is received can accordingly be serviced on a better channel of the second network, thus reducing the risk of call drops, reducing the incidence of network signaling overhead from performance of a handover to a better channel shortly after responding to the page message, and improving user experience. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a wireless communication system  100  in accordance with some example embodiments. The system  100  can include a wireless communication device  102 . By way of non-limiting example, the wireless communication device  102  can be a cellular phone, such as a smart phone device, a tablet computing device, a laptop computing device, or other computing device configured to support communication via one or more RATs, such as one or more cellular RATs. In some embodiments, such as some embodiments in which the wireless communication device  102  is configured to support communication via a network implementing an LTE RAT, such as an LTE network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), and/or other present or future developed LTE RAT, the wireless communication device  102  can be referred to as user equipment (UE). 
     The wireless communication device  102  can be in an area of overlapping deployment of a first network  104  and a second network  106 . The first network  104  and second network  106  can each implement any respective RAT. However, a RAT implemented by the first network  104  can be different than a RAT implemented by the second network  106 . 
     In some example embodiments, the first network  104  can be a legacy network having a CS domain configured to support CS services, such as CS voice calls. By way of non-limiting example, the first network  104  can be a third generation (3G) network, such as a CDMA2000 1X network; a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), such as a Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) network or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) network; or other 3G network. As a further example, the first network  104  can be a second Generation (2G) network, such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network. 
     In some example embodiments, the second network  106  can implement a RAT including a packet switched (PS) domain for supporting PS data sessions, but which does not include a circuit switched (CS) domain for supporting CS services, such as CS voice calls. Thus, for example, the second network  106  of some example embodiments, can implement an LTE RAT (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, and/or other present or future developed LTE RAT), and/or other fourth generation (4G) RAT an LTE or other 4G network, that does not include a CS domain. 
     In some example embodiments, the wireless communication device  102  can use a single radio to support communication with both the first network  104  and the second network  106 . For example, in some embodiments in which the second network  106  implements an LTE RAT, the wireless communication device  102  can be an SRLTE device. 
     Wireless communication device  102  can have an active connection to the second network  106  and can receive a page message on a first channel of the first network  104 . The page message can, for example, be a page for a mobile terminated (MT) voice call and/or other CS service. For example, in embodiments in which the first network  104  is a CDMA2000 1X network, the page message can be a General Page Message (GPM). In response to receiving the page message, the wireless communication device  102  can suspend its connection to the second network  106  so that the wireless communication device  102  can respond to the page message on the first network  106  and accept the MT voice call and/or other service for which the wireless communication device  102  is being paged. As described further herein below, the wireless communication device  102  of some example embodiments can transition to a second channel of the first network  104  prior to responding to the page message and can send a response message, such as a page response message (PRM), in response to the page message on the second channel of the first network  104  rather than the first channel of the first network  104 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus  200  that can be implemented on a wireless communication device  102  in accordance with some example embodiments. In this regard, when implemented on a computing device, such as wireless communication device  102 , apparatus  200  can enable the computing device to operate within the system  100  in accordance with one or more example embodiments. It will be appreciated that the components, devices or elements illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 2  below may not be mandatory and thus some may be omitted in certain embodiments. Additionally, some embodiments can include further or different components, devices or elements beyond those illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
     In some example embodiments, the apparatus  200  can include processing circuitry  210  that is configurable to perform actions in accordance with one or more example embodiments disclosed herein. In this regard, the processing circuitry  210  can be configured to perform and/or control performance of one or more functionalities of the apparatus  200  in accordance with various example embodiments, and thus can provide means for performing functionalities of the apparatus  200  in accordance with various example embodiments. The processing circuitry  210  can be configured to perform data processing, application execution and/or other processing and management services according to one or more example embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus  200  or a portion(s) or component(s) thereof, such as the processing circuitry  210 , can include one or more chipsets, which can each include one or more chips. The processing circuitry  210  and/or one or more further components of the apparatus  200  can therefore, in some instances, be configured to implement an embodiment on a single chip or chipset. In some example embodiments in which one or more components of the apparatus  200  are embodied as a chipset, the chipset can be capable of enabling a computing device to operate in the system  100  when implemented on or otherwise operably coupled to the computing device. Thus, for example, one or more components of the apparatus  200  can provide a chipset configured to enable a computing device to operate over the first network  104  and/or the second network  106 . In accordance with some example embodiments, one or more components of the apparatus  200  can provide a cellular baseband chipset. 
     In some example embodiments, the processing circuitry  210  can include a processor  212  and, in some embodiments, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , can further include memory  214 . The processing circuitry  210  can be in communication with or otherwise control a radio  216 , radio control module  218 , and/or page response module  220 . 
     The processor  212  can be embodied in a variety of forms. For example, the processor  212  can be embodied as various hardware-based processing means such as a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), some combination thereof, or the like. Although illustrated as a single processor, it will be appreciated that the processor  212  can comprise a plurality of processors. The plurality of processors can be in operative communication with each other and can be collectively configured to perform one or more functionalities of the apparatus  200  as described herein. In some example embodiments, the processor  212  can be configured to execute instructions that can be stored in the memory  214  or that can be otherwise accessible to the processor  212 . As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor  212  capable of performing operations according to various embodiments while configured accordingly. 
     In some example embodiments, the memory  214  can include one or more memory devices. Memory  214  can include fixed and/or removable memory devices. In some embodiments, the memory  214  can provide a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that can store computer program instructions that can be executed by the processor  212 . In this regard, the memory  214  can be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions and/or the like for enabling the apparatus  200  to carry out various functions in accordance with one or more example embodiments. In some embodiments, the memory  214  can be in communication with one or more of the processor  212 , radio  216 , radio control module  218 , or page response module via a bus (or buses) for passing information among components of the apparatus  200 . 
     The apparatus  200  can further include a radio  216 . The radio  216  can be configured to enable the apparatus  200  to send wireless signals to and receive signals from both the first network  104  and the second network  106 . In this regard, the apparatus  200  of some example embodiments can use a single radio to support communication via both a RAT implemented by the first network  104  and a RAT implemented by the second network  106 . As such, the radio  216  can be configured to support any type of cellular or other wireless communication technology that may be implemented by the first network  104  and/or second network  106 . 
     The apparatus  200  can further include radio control module  218 . The radio control module  218  can be embodied as various means, such as circuitry, hardware, a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium (for example, the memory  214 ) storing computer readable program instructions that are executable by a processing device (for example, the processor  212 ), or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processor  212  (or the processing circuitry  210 ) can include, or otherwise control the radio control module  218 . The radio control module  218  can be configured to control operation of the radio  216 . For example, in some example embodiments, the radio control module  218  can be configured to tune the radio  216  (e.g., to perform a tune away) to/from a network, such as the first network  104  and second network  106 . As a further example, in some example embodiments, the radio control module  218  can be configured to control the radio  216  to transition between channels of a network, such as between channels of the first network  204 . As a more particular example, the radio control module  218  can be configured to cause the wireless communication device  102  to perform an idle mode handoff to another channel, such as based on a measured channel quality metric indicating that the target channel is better than a current channel. The radio control module  218  can additionally or alternatively be configured to control the wireless communication device  102  to perform channel hashing to another channel. 
     The apparatus  200  can further include page response module  220 . The page response module  220  can be embodied as various means, such as circuitry, hardware, a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium (for example, the memory  214 ) storing computer readable program instructions that are executable by a processing device (for example, the processor  212 ), or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processor  212  (or the processing circuitry  210 ) can include, or otherwise control the page response module  220 . The page response module  220  can be configured to decode and/or otherwise process a received page message. The page response module  220  can be further configured to format and send a response message in response to a received page message. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. In this regard,  FIG. 3  illustrates operations that can be performed by a wireless communication device  102  in accordance with some example embodiments. One or more of processing circuitry  210 , processor  212 , memory  214 , radio  216 , radio control module  218 , or page response module  220  can, for example, provide means for performing one or more of the operations illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     Operation  300  can include the wireless communication device  300  receiving a page message on a first channel of the first network  104 . In embodiments in which the first network  104  is a CDMA2000 1X network, the page message can be a GPM. The page message can, for example, be a page message for an MT voice call and/or for another CS service, which can be serviced by the first network  104 . The received page message can be decoded by the page response module  220 . 
     In response to receipt of the page message, the wireless communication device  300  can suspend a connection to the second network  106 , at operation  310 . In some example embodiments suspension of the connection to the second network  106  can include the radio control module  218  sending a message to the second network  106 , which is configured to trigger suspension of the connection to the second network  106 . For example, in some embodiments in which the second network  106  implements an LTE RAT, operation  310  can include sending an Extended Service Request (ESR) to the second network  106 . In some embodiments in which a message is sent to the second network  106  to trigger suspension of the connection, operation  310  can include the radio control module  218  tuning the radio  216  away from the first network  104  to the second network  106 , sending the message, and then tuning the radio  216  back to the first network  104 . An example method for suspending the connection to the second network  106  in accordance with some such embodiments in which a message configured to trigger suspension of the connection is sent to the second network  106  is illustrated in and described in more detail with respect to  FIG. 4  below. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the wireless communication device  300  can suspend a connection to the second network  106  internally without sending a message or other notification to the second network  106 . 
     Operation  320  can include the wireless communication device  102  transitioning to a second channel of the first network  104  prior to responding to the page message. Operation  320  can, for example, be performed at least partially under the control of the radio control module  218 , which can, in some example embodiments, control the radio  216  to transition to the second channel. The second channel can, for example, be a channel (e.g., a pilot channel) having a better signal quality than the first channel. In some example embodiments, the transition to the second channel can occur while waiting for the suspension of the connection to the second network  106  to be completed. In some example embodiments in which performance of operation  310  includes tuning the radio  216  away from the first network  104  to the second network  106  and sending a message configured to trigger suspension of the connection to the second network  106 , such as illustrated in and further described with respect to  FIG. 4  below, transitioning to the second channel of the first network  104  can be performed after the radio  216  is tuned back to the first network  104  and the connection to the first network  104  comes out of a sleep state. In embodiments in which the connection to the first network  104  is not put in a sleep state to facilitate performance of operation  310 , transitioning to the second channel of the first network  104  can be performed at any time. 
     In some example embodiments, transitioning to the second channel can include the wireless communication device  102  performing one or more idle mode handoffs. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, transitioning to the second channel can include the wireless communication device  102  performing channel hashing to one or more channels. In this regard, the wireless communication device  102  can receive an overhead message, such as a channel list message, that can be sent by the first network  104 , which can include a list of channels and the wireless communication device  102  can use hashing techniques based on an identifier, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), that can be unique to the wireless communication device  102  to perform hashing on the channel list and determine a channel(s) on which the wireless communication device  102  is permitted to camp. The wireless communication device  102  can accordingly perform channel hashing to a permitted channel. In some example embodiments, channel hashing can, for example, be performed in accordance with the 3GPP2 CDMA C.S0005 specification. In some instances, transitioning to the second channel can include a mix of one or more idle mode handoffs and channel hashing, such as illustrated in and described with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 7  below. 
     As operation  320  can include the wireless communication device  102  performing one or more idle mode handoffs and/or performing channel hashing to one or more channels (e.g., one or more channel hashes), it will be appreciated that in some instances, transitioning to the second channel can include indirectly transitioning from the first channel to the second channel via one or more intermediate channels of the first network  104 . As a non-limiting example of such an indirect transition, the wireless communication device  102  can perform an idle mode handoff from “Channel A” to “Channel B.” The wireless communication device  102  can then receive and process a channel list message and determine that it is not permitted to camp on “Channel B.” The wireless communication device  102  can then perform channel hashing to a permitted “Channel C” based on hashing the channel list message. 
     The transition to the second channel can, for example, include a transition to a second channel on the same base station/sector as the first channel. As another example, the transition to the second channel can be an inter-base station and/or inter-sector transition such that the second channel can be a channel on a different base station/sector than the base station/sector of the first channel. In some example embodiments, the channel of the first network  204  on which the page message is received (e.g., the first channel) and the second channel to which the wireless communication device  102  transitions in operation  320  can both be associated with a same System ID/network ID (SID/NID). 
     Operation  330  can include the page response module  220  sending a response message, such as a PRM, responsive to the page message on the second channel. As such, the response message can be sent on a channel of the first network  104  other than the channel on which the page message was received by the wireless communication device  102  in operation  300 . However, the page message may have also been sent on the second channel by the first network  104  in some instances. In this regard, in some instances, the first network  104  may not know on which channel the wireless communication device  102  is camped at the time the page message is sent, and can send the page message on multiple channels. For example, in some embodiments, the first network  104  can send the page message on all channels/base stations in a SID/NID zone (e.g., channels/base stations associated with the same SID/NID). 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for suspending a connection to a network in response to receipt of a page message according to some example embodiments. In this regard,  FIG. 4  illustrates operations that can be performed by the wireless communication device  102  attendant to performance of operation  310  in accordance with some example embodiments. One or more of processing circuitry  210 , processor  212 , memory  214 , radio  216 , radio control module  218 , or page response module  220  can, for example, provide means for performing one or more of the operations illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
     Operation  400  can include the radio control module  218  tuning the radio  216  away from the first network  104  to the second network  106 . Operation  410  can include the wireless communication device  102  sending a message configured to trigger suspension of the connection to the second network  106  to the second network  106 . In some example embodiments, such as some embodiments in which the second network  106  implements an LTE RAT, the message can be an ESR. However, it will be appreciated that messages other than ESR messages are contemplated within the scope of the disclosure, and any message that can be used to trigger suspension of the connection can be sent in operation  410 . Operation  420  can include the radio control module  218  tuning the radio  216  back to the first network  104  after sending the message. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart according to another example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. In this regard,  FIG. 5  illustrates operations that can be performed by wireless communication device  102  in accordance with an example embodiment of the method of  FIG. 3  in which the device performs a combination of one or more idle mode handoffs and one or more channel hashes. One or more of processing circuitry  210 , processor  212 , memory  214 , radio  216 , radio control module  218 , or page response module  220  can, for example, provide means for performing one or more of the operations illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     Operation  500  can include the wireless communication device  102  receiving a page message on a first channel of the first network  104 . In this regard, operation  500  can correspond to an embodiment of operation  300 . 
     Operation  510  can include the wireless communication device  102  suspending a connection to the second network  106  in response to receiving the page message. Operation  510  can accordingly correspond to an embodiment of operation  310 . 
     Operation  520  can include the wireless communication device  102  performing an idle mode handoff from the first channel on which the page message is received in operation  500  to a second channel of the first network  104 . The second channel can, for example, be a channel having a better signal quality than the first channel. Operation  520  can, for example, be performed at least partially under the control of the radio control module  218 , which can, in some example embodiments, control the radio  216  to transition to the second channel. 
     Operation  530  can include the wireless communication device  102  performing channel hashing to transition from the second channel to a third channel of the first network  104 . In this regard, the wireless communication device  102  can receive an overhead message, such as a channel list message, that can be sent by the first network  104 , which can include a list of channels and the wireless communication device  102  can use hashing techniques based on an identifier, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), that can be unique to the wireless communication device  102  to perform hashing on the channel list and determine a channel(s) on which the wireless communication device  102  is permitted to camp. The wireless communication device  102  can accordingly perform channel hashing to a permitted channel (e.g., the third channel). For example, in some instances, the second channel to which the wireless communication device  102  can transition through performance of an idle mode handoff in operation  520  may not be a channel on which the wireless communication device  102  is permitted to camp, and the wireless communication device  102  can, in turn, perform a channel hash to a permitted channel after receiving and processing a channel list message. 
     Operations  520  and  530  can, for example, collectively comprise an embodiment of operation  320 . It will be appreciated, however, that while a single idle mode handoff and a single channel hash are illustrated in and described by example with respect to  FIG. 5 , in some instances, the wireless communication device  102  can perform multiple idle mode handoffs and/or multiple channel hashes before responding to the page message. Further, while the performance of a channel hash is illustrated as occurring in operation  530  after performance of an idle mode handoff in operation  520 , it will be appreciated that in some instances, the wireless communication device  102  can perform one or more channel hashes prior to performing an idle mode handoff and/or can perform one or more idle mode handoffs after performing a channel hash. 
     Operation  540  can include the page response module  220  sending a response message responsive to the page message on the third channel. In this regard, operation  540  can correspond to an embodiment of operation  330 . The first network  104  can know the channels on which the wireless communication device  102  is permitted to camp through channel hashing and, as such, can be able to process a page response received on a channel other than that on which the page message is received by the wireless communication device  102  in accordance with some example embodiments. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a signaling diagram according to an example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. In this regard,  FIG. 6  illustrates example signaling that can be exchanged between a wireless communication device  602  and a Channel A  604  of a CDMA2000 1X network, a Channel B  606  of a CDMA2000 1X network, and an LTE network (NW)  608  in accordance with some example embodiments. The wireless communication device  602  in the example of  FIG. 6  can, for example, be an embodiment of wireless communication device  102 . The CDMA2000 1X network in the example of  FIG. 6  can, for example, be an embodiment of the first network  104 . The LTE network  608  in the example of  FIG. 6  can, for example, be an embodiment of the second network  106 . 
     In operation  610 , the wireless communication device  602  can be camped on Channel A  604  and can receive a GPM sent by the CDMA2000 1X network on channel A  604 . The wireless communication device  602  can have an active connection to the LTE network  608  and, in response to receiving the GPM, can tune its radio away from the CDMA2000 1X network to the LTE network  608 . In this regard, the wireless communication device  602  can be an SRLTE device that can use a single radio to support both communication via the CDMA2000 1X network and the LTE network. Operation  630  can include the wireless communication device  602  sending an ESR to the LTE network  608  to trigger suspension of the connection to the LTE network  608 . Operation  640  can include the wireless communication device  602  tuning the radio back to the CDMA2000 1X network and returning to the CDMA2000 1X network from the LTE network  608 . In this regard, operations  620 - 640  can, for example, correspond to an embodiment of operations  400 - 420  as illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
     Operation  650  can include the wireless communication device  602  transitioning to Channel B  606 . Operation  650  can, for example, include the wireless communication device  602  performing one or more idle mode handoffs and/or one or more channel hashes, such as described with respect to operation  320 . In some instances, the wireless communication device  602  can indirectly transition form Channel A  604  to Chanel B  606  via one or more intermediate channels before settling on Channel B  606 . 
     Operation  660  can include the wireless communication device  602  sending a PRM to Channel B  606 . As such, the PRM can be sent on a channel other than the channel on which it was received by the wireless communication device  602 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart according to a further example method for responding to a page message according to some example embodiments. In this regard,  FIG. 7  illustrates operations that can be performed by a wireless communication device  102  in accordance with some example embodiments. One or more of processing circuitry  210 , processor  212 , memory  214 , radio  216 , radio control module  218 , or page response module  220  can, for example, provide means for performing one or more of the operations illustrated in and described with respect to  FIG. 7 . 
     Operation  700  can include the wireless communication device  102  receiving a GPM on a first channel of the first network  104 . Operation  710  can include the wireless communication device  102  performing an idle mode handoff to another channel of the first network  104 . For example, the wireless communication device  102  can perform an idle mode handoff (e.g., inter-base station or intra-base station handoff) to a channel having a better signal quality (e.g., better pilot signal quality) than the fist channel on which the GPM is received. Multiple idle mode handoffs can be permitted and can occur during operation  710 . Operation  720  can include the wireless communication performing channel hashing to a further channel, such as in accordance with the 3GPP2 CDMA C.S0005 specification. 
     If AEHO is enabled for the wireless communication device  102 , operation  730  can include the wireless communication device  102  performing an AEHO to a channel with a stronger pilot. However, operation  730  can be omitted in some instances, such as instances in which the first network  102  has not enabled AEHO for the wireless communication device  102 . 
     Operation  740  can include the wireless communication device  102  entering an update overhead information sub-state of CDMA access state. In this regard, operation  740  can include the wireless communication device  102  processing one or more overhead messages received on the new channel and updating network parameters based on information included in the received overhead message(s) (e.g., after transitioning to the new channel pursuant to performance of one or more of operations  710 - 730 ). 
     Operation  750  can include the wireless communication device  102  sending a PRM on the new channel (e.g., pilot and frequency) that can be selected by the wireless communication device  102  after completion of operations  710 - 740 . As such, in the example of  FIG. 7 , the wireless communication device  102  can transition to another channel prior to responding to the GPM and can respond to the GPM in accordance with an updated state of network parameters based on the overhead message(s) that can be processed in operation  740 . 
     The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. Various aspects of the described embodiments can be implemented by software, hardware or a combination of hardware and software. The described embodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-access memory, CD-ROMs, HDDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
     In the foregoing detailed description, reference was made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in accordance with the described embodiments. Although these embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is understood that these examples are not limiting; such that other embodiments may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described embodiments. 
     Further, the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description of and examples disclosed with respect to the embodiments presented in the foregoing description are provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described embodiments. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, alternative applications, and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. In this regard, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the described embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. Further, in some instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160201
Publication Date: 20170221
Grant Date: 20170221
Priority Date: 20120628
Inventors: GOYAL ANISH K.
CHETTY CHANDRA S.
SHAMIM TAHIR
SHI JIANXIONG
ZHANG WANPING
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04W72/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/026", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W28/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W36/14", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W36/0022", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/10", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/005", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W28/06", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/00", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W72/04", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W88/06", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W76/16", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04W68/02", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 49778091