2) United States Patent Gazzard et (54) SELECTIVE RETRY OF ATTACH AND. LOCATION UPDATE PROCEDURE! (75) Inventors: Daryl Gazeard, Alpharetta, GA (US) John Carvalho, Slovgh (GB) (93) Assignee: AT&T Mobility Hl, LLC, Aanta, GA (ws) (4) Notice: Suibjectto any disclaimer, the term of this pateat is extended of adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 421 days 107740,527 Dee. 22, 2003 on) (2006.01) (2) -485/432.3; 370/353; 370/315; 455/445; 455/426.1; 455/456 (58) Field of Classification Search 455/432, “455/438.3, 582.1, 583.1 See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS. 6404929 4+ £2000 Jose ot al assus 6422503 & > 92000 Daly 456419 6188902 BI? 22001 Yamada asSa4s ‘US007346348B1 (10) Patent No. (4s) Date of Patent: US 7,346,348 B1 Mar. 18, 2008 6243579 BLY 62001 Kan 4584261 GASROSS BL* 102002 Lupien sf amas 2ootioo0oss? AL* "7/2001 Vantnen ass456 30020088511 AI* 72002. Koponen oa 370318 20020111169 A1* 2002 Vanek 45545, 3020123848 AL* 93002 Willan oa 455436, a0200457 AL* 92002 Geach etal "0939 20090037755 AL* 22005 Hind ea “assu3s3 2nv6010ssi0 AL* $2006 Gauschke 445558 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—Lester G. Kinesid Assistant Examiner Diego Herrera (74) Atorney, Agent oF Firm—Michael J. Donohue; Davis Weight Tremaine LP on ABSTRACT The present invention i directed toa system and method for providing improved wireless services in a GPRS network ‘operating in network operation mode 1. Ia an embodiment fof the present invention, a MS attempts a combined attach If the combined attach is not accepted by the network, the MS repeats the attempt. If the combined attach is not accepted by the end ofthe second attempt, the MS attempts to gain access only to GSM services. Once the MS gains sccess to the GSM serviees, the MS may attempt the ‘combined attach while connected to GSM network. 20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets Ce> 02 ‘Atach Requoe’ Stara Tine J poe 06 Risen hecepinst > —— +l Gonnec mer Expired? 308 Repost Ata | 210 Cennoct “Afom fo guia sose88 ony Gsltserseee |US 7,346,348 BL Sheet 1 of 3 Mar. 18, 2008 U.S. Patent bold ver, i ze ‘spomen d)\__!9 uD rewarxg od ser f sudo ot wso zoL sw tor : wis NiSdINASI D ou ozs oorUS 7,346,348 BL Sheet 2 of 3 Mar. 18, 2008 U.S. Patent ¢ ols Ta 1dWOO HOVILY S 1d300¥ HGVLLv 1d399¥ 3LVddN NOILY9O1'€ ISSNOsY SIVAN NOILWOOT ISSNOSY HOWILV TF YwIWOSN NSOS ssa SWU.S. Patent Mar. 18,2008 Sheet 3 of 3 US 7,346,348 B1 1 302 Attach Request Start a Timer /~ 306 —— Connect Timer Expired? 308 Repeat Attach Request/ pete Reset and Restart the timer 314 Connect N Attempt to gain access only to eae GSM services FIG. 3US 7,346,348 BI 1 SELECTIVE RETRY OF ATTACH AND LOCATION UPDATE PROCEDURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The pest invention rates gener to communist sys orp oping oe ne 2. Description of Relat Art Global system for mobile communication (GSM) is one ofthe most widely used wires access systems in tday's fist growing communication systems. GSM provides c= ctavitehed data services fo tbseibers, such as mobile telephone or computer wes. General Packt Rado Service (GERS), which isan extension to GSM technology into= Aiuees packet switching to GSM networks. GPRS uses @ packet esed wireless communistion technology to ansfer Fiahand iw speed data and signaling inan sit manner GPRS optimizes the vse of network and radio resources thos enbling the est ciletive and efien se of GSM nctwork resources or packet mode da apications E161 shows a comentonl GSMIGPRS netwod architecture 'As shown in FIG. 1, GSMIGPRS network 100 incodes a GSMcore network 10] ands GPRS newark 130-GSM core network TOT inciades 4 Mobile Station (MS) 102, a lest, ‘ne Bas Traracciner tation (BIS) 104, sn ose Sion Controller (BSC) 106. MS 102 is physical equipment or Mobile Equipment (ME), sch sa noble pon oF atop computer that is used by motile subscribers, wih a Sabe Serbo Ment’ Module (SIN0, The SIM iclndes a Inte national Mobile Subserber enti IMSD, which i Unique Mentifer of a subscribe. BIS. 104 is physical soipment, sich os a radio tower, that enables radio interic to communicate with the MS, Each BTS may serve nore than one MS. BSC 106 manages radio exoures, including the BTS. The BSC may be connected fo several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components n combination, are feneilly referred to as a Bast Staton Sytem (BSS). (GSM core network 101 slo incides a Mobile Siting Conte (MISC) 108, Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 110, a Home Location Regier (HLR) 112, Visitor Location Reaiser (VER) M1, an Authentication Conte (Ant) 116, and an Equipment Identity Resistor (EIR) 118, MSC 108 performs a switching faction forte nwo, The MSC slay perorms ace fctons, sich a rouitaton, stthentcatien, locaton updating, handoves, Shu call rung. OMSC 110 provides aaa betwsen te GSM network and other networks, such a Integrated Series Digital Nework (SDN) or Pie Sched Tele- hone Neworks (PSTN) 120. In other words, the GNSC provides inmerworKng finetonaliy with exeral networks THLR 112 isa database tht contains administative infor imation garding cach bribe epstcred ina comepond- ing GSM network. The THER also contins the corent Inetion ofeach MS. VLR 114i «ditabase that contains ‘clct administrative information fom he LR. The VLR. ‘outains information necessary forall contol and provision ‘of subsrib services foreach MS cenily located in courphical ae controlled by the VLR. The HIR and the VER. togsier with the MSC. provide the cll ong and roaming capabilites of GSM. AUC 116 proves the param ‘tors neodad for authentication and encryption furetions Such parameters allow vriaton ofa subscriber's identity. FIR TI stows socuty-senstive infomation about te mobile equipment 0 o 2 To gain access to GSM serviees, such as speech, data and short message service (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate its current location by performing locaton update and IMST attach procedure, The MS sends a locaton update message including its current locaton infor ‘mation to the MSC/VILR, via the BTS and the BSC. The location information is then sent othe MS's HLR. The HLR is updated with the location information received fom the -MSCIVLR. The location update is also performed when the ‘MS moves to a new location area. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to update the database as location updating events occur GPRS network 130 is logically implemented on the GSM core network architecture by introducing two packet-switeh- ing network nodes, a Serving GPRS support node (SGSN) 132 anda Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 134. SGSN 132 sat the same hierarchical level asthe MSC in the GSM rework. The SGSN controls the connection between the GPRS network and the MS. The SGSN also keeps track of individual MS's locations and manages security functions And socess controls. GGSN 13 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a public pocket data network (PDN) for other GPRS networks 136. That is, the GGSN provides interworking functionality with extemal packet data net- works, and sets up a logical Tink to the MS throngh the SGSN. When packetswitehed data leaves the GPRS net- ‘work, itis transfered to an extemal TCP-IP network 136, such as an X.25 network or the Itemet, In order to aecess GPRS services, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network by performing an stich procedure, The MS then sctivates a packet data protocol (PDP) context, thus activat- ing a packet communication session between the MS, the GSN, and the GGSN, 48 GSMIGPRS network, GPRS. services and GSM services can be used in parallel. The MS can operate in one of thewe classes: class A, class B, and class C..\ clas A MS fan attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSM services simultaneously. Cass A MS also supports simulta ‘nus cpertion of GPRS services and GSM services. For ‘example, class A mobiles ean receive GSM voiceldata/SMS calls and GPRS data calls at the sae time. ‘A class B MS also can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSM services simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not support simultaneous operation of GPRS services und GSM services. That i, a class BMS ca only use ane of the two servos ata given time ‘A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS. services and GSM services at atime. Simnltancous attach: ‘meat and operation of GPRS services and GSM secvices is ‘ot possible witha class C MS. Curreally a GPRS network can be designed to operate in three network operation modes NOMI, NOM2, and NOMS). 4 network operation mode of a GPRS network is indicated by a parameter in system information messages ‘ansmitted within a cell The system information messages tcttes @ MS where to listen for paging messages and how to signal towanis the network. The network operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRS network. Ia NOMI network, a MS can receive pages from a cireuit switched ‘domain voice call when engaged in a data call. The MS ean suspend the data call or tke both simultaneously, depending ‘on the ability of the MS. In NOM network, a MIS may not receive pages from a circuit switched domain when engaged jn a data call, since the MS is receiving data and is not Tistening to a paging channel, In NOM network, « MS ean monitor pages fom a circuit switched network while receiv= ing data and view versaUS 7,346,348 BI 3 In NOM 4, a MS performs a combined attach procedure ‘The combined altach is similar to the GSM registration process where the MS perform a location update aud IMST (GPRS) attach. The MS initiates the combined attach pro- cedure by sending a request to the network for both location Update for eicuit switched operation and GPRS attach for packet switched services. FIG. 2 shows a combined attach procedure in accordance with existing GSM/GPRS stan- ‘dards. The MS frst sends an ATTACH REQUEST message ‘including the IMSI to the SGSN, and starts a fist mer set to expire aller 15 seconds, The SGSN receives the message from the MS via a Gb interfce (see FIG. 1). The SGSN may ‘authenticate the MS. The SGSN then sends 2 LOCATION, UPDATE REQUEST message to the MSC/VLR. via a Gs interface, for the location update procedure. The location update procedure establishes SGSN-VLR association and allows the VLR to maintain eunent location information of the MS. Once the location update procedure is completed, 2 LOCATION UPDATE ACCEPT’ message is sent t0 the SGSN, Ifthe combined attach is accepted by the network, the SGSN sends an ATTACH ACCEPT message including ‘cation area identification (LAD to the MS. Upon receiv ing the ATTACILACCEPT message, the MS stores the LAT ‘and stops the first timer. The MS then sends an ATTACH COMPLETE message to the SGSN, In aeeordance with existing standard, ifthe combined tac is not accepted by the network by the first expiry of the first timer, the MS resets and restarts the frst timer, and the MS retransmits the ATTACH REQUEST message. This retransmission is repeated four times fora total of about one ‘minute of attempts. On te fith expiry ofthe first timer, the ‘combined attach procedure is aborted and an attach attempt ‘counter is incremented, Ifthe attach attempt counter is less than five, a second timer, set to expire after 15 seconds, is started. Upon the expiry ofthe second timer, the combined attach procedure is repeated, When the attach attempt ‘counter reaches five, the MS-aborts the combined attach procedure and stats third timer. The MS then receives an ATTACH REJECT message, which includes a reject eats, from the network. If the rejection cause included in the ATTACH REIECT message indicates that the GPRS isthe ‘cause of the rejection, the MS attempts 10 gain access only to the GSM services by performing the location update procedure, The MS sends a location update message directly to the MSC/VER. ‘Thus, nder present GSM/GPRS standards, when a com= bined attach isnot accepted by the nework, a MS attempts the combined attach for about 25 times (i.e, fOr more than seven minutes) before the MS attempts to gin access only 'o GSM services. During this time period, the MS (i.e. @ subscriber) is unable to receive any GSM services, even though the GSM network may be available to the MS. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The present invention provides a method for providing improved wireless services in a GPRS network. In the present invention, a MS attempts a combined procedure in NOM 1 substantially in accordance with exist- Ing standards. However, instead of waiting over seven minutes before attempting 1 gain aevess only to GSM services, the present invention reduces the period of the Fimers and/or the number of attempts for the combined procedure before atempting t0 gain access only to GSM Services. Thus, the present invention reduces the waiting time before attempting to gain access only to GSM services when a combined procedure is not accepted by a network. 0 o 4 Consequently, i is possible in accordance withthe prese jvention to eliminate the possibility of @ network anomaly inthe packet switched domain from preventing a subscriber to recvive circuit switched features, such as voice calls. Once the MS gains access to the GSM services, the MS. say seta different tine to periadically tempt the com bined procedure while connected to the GSM. network Alternatively, the MS may wait for # period of time, for ‘example, until a periodic loation update timer expires oF until a location area border is erossed, before attempting the combined procedure again, "The present invention caa be applied to. combined attach procedie. The present invention also can be applied 1 2 ‘combined location update procedure. Further. the present invention can be applied even when the rejection cause indicates the fsilure in both of the GSM sand GPRS, [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates conventional GPRS network architec: FIG. 2illustates a combine attach procedure in a GPRS. network operating in NOM 1 FIG. 3 is ow chart illustrating an exemplary series of steps in accordance with the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, an example of whieh isillastrated in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is flow chart illustrating an exemplary series of steps in aovordance with the preseat invention. In this ‘exemplary series of steps, a MS initiates a combined attach procedure in a GPRS network operating in NOM 1. The MS sends an ATTACH REQUEST message to a SGSN (shown in FIG. 1) aad starts a timer at step 302, Ifthe combined attach is accepted by the network at step 304, the MS receives an ATTACH ACCEPT message from the SGSN. ‘The MS then stops the timer and sends an ATTACH COM- PLETE message to the SGSN. The MS is now attached 10 GSMIGPRS network at stop 306, If the combined attach i not secepted by the network at step 204, the MS waits until the timer expires. Whea the ‘im expires a step 308, the MS repeats the transmission of the ATTACH REQUEST message at step 310, The MS also resets and restarls the timer. If the combined attach is accepted by the network at step 312, the MS is attached 10 the network at step 314, Otherwise, ifthe combined attach ‘not accopted by the network at step 312, the MS attempts to gain access only to GSM services by performing location update and IMSI attach procedure at step 316 ‘Once the MS gains access to the GSM services, the MS. ‘ay seta different timer to periodically attempt the com- bined each procedure while connected to a GSM network, Alternatively, the MS may wait for a period of time before attempting the combined attach procedure again. The MS ‘may vat for ony timer that is running to expire before attempting the combined atach procedure again or until an ‘update procedure must be performed due to mobility Tn the present invention, a MS attempts a combined procedure twice before attempis to gain aecess only o GSM Services. Ifthe timer is set to expe, for example, affer 15 seconds in the present invention, a MS waits for about 30 seconds before attempting ta gain access only to GSM services, compare to about seven minutes required byUS 7,346,348 BI 5 present GSM/GPRS standards, Thus, the present inventio reduces the waiting ime before attempting to gain access ‘only to GSM services when a combined attach procedure is not aeepted by a network. Further, the present invention can ‘eliminate the possibilty of «network anomaly inthe packet ‘Switched domain of preventing subscriber to receive circuit switchod features, such as voice calls ‘The present invention also has applicability in aperiodic combined location/outing update procedure. Further, the present invention ean be applied even when the rejection ‘case indicates the faire in both of the GSM and GPRS, networks since the failure might have oecured early on in the combined pmcedure in subsystem of the packst switched domain. “The foregoing disclosure ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention as been presented for purposes of iMlustration and descripion, I is not intended to be exbaus- tive orto limit the invention tothe precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments ‘deseribed herein willbe apparent to one of oninary ski in the art in light of the ahove disclosure, The seope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents. Purher, in describing representative embodiment of the present invention, the specification may have presented the ‘method and/or process ofthe presen invention asa paricu- Jar soquonee of steps. However othe extent thatthe method ‘or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set orth herein, the method or process should not be limited t0 the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordi- nary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of ‘eps may be possible, Therefore, the particular order of the steps st Forth in the specification should not be construed as Timitations on the claims. In adcition, the claims direted 10 the method andor process of the present invention shold not be limited to the performance oftheir steps inthe order ‘writen, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be Varied and sill remain within the spit and scape of the preset invention, “The invention claimed is 1. In a GPRS network operating in-network operation mode 1, # method of reducing an amount of time necessary to complete atleast one form of connectivity when a fst ‘attempt for & combined procedure is not accepted by the network, the method comprising: setting a frst timer after the first attempt; performing a second atempt forthe combined procedure ‘and attempting to gain access only to GSM services of the network immediately. and unconditionally after the second attempt for the combined procedure isnot accepted by the network: setting second timer if ccess to GSMconly serves of the network is pained: and ‘ased upon the second timer, attempting the combined Pracetlure to the network upon gaining acces to the GsMonly services. 2. The method of claim 1, futher comprising attempting the combined procedure periodically based upon the second timer after gaining aecess to the GSM-servies, 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined proce- dure is @ combined attach procedure 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined proce= “dure is @ combined location update procedure, 0 o 6 5. A method for reducing an amount of time necessary t0 complete at least one frm of connectivity between a mobile device and a GPRS network operating in network operation ‘mode 1, comprising: attempting a combined atach procedure to the network: staring a fist timer: ifthe combined attach procedure is nt accepted by a first expiry of the frst timer, repetting the attempt for the combined attach procedure to the network: resetting and restarting te frst timer; and attempting t gain access only to GSM services of the network immediately after and as a direct result of 3 second expiry ofthe frst timer if the combined attach procedure is not accepted by the second expiry ofthe first timers seling a eoond timer iFaocess to GSM-only services of the network is gained: and ‘based upon the second timer, attempting the combined procedure (0 the network upon paining access to the GSMeonly serviee. 6. The method of claim §, wherein the second timer is used to periodically attempt the combined attach procedure ‘upon gaining access to the GSM services. 7. The method of eluim 8, further comprising atempting the combined atach procedure after writing for a period of time according tothe second timer upon gaining focess to the GSM services '8. A method for reducing an amount of time necessary to ‘complete at least one form of connectivity between a mobile ‘device and ia a GPRS network operating in network oper. ‘ion med 1, comprising: attempting a combined location update procedure to the network: staring a first timer; ifthe combined location update procedure is not accepted by a first expiry of the frst timer, repeating the attempt for the combined location update Procedure to the network: resetting and restarting the frst timer; and attempting a GSM-only location update procedure t the ‘network immediately after and as a direct result of second expiry othe first timer ifthe eombined Iocation update procedure is not accepted by the second expiry of the timer, seling second timer ifthe GSM-oaly location update is ‘secepied by the network, and ‘hased upon the sccond timer, attempting the combined location update procedure upon acceptance of the GSMonly location update 9. The method of claim 8, whervin the second timer is used to periodically attempt the combined location updste ‘once the GSMonly location update is accepted by the petwork 10, The method of claim 8, farther comprising attempting the combined location update afer waiting fora period of time according to the sccond timer ance the GSM-only location update is accepted by the network, 11. A method of reducing an amount of time to connect to ‘network when a frst attempt for a combined procedure is fot accepted hy the network, the method comprising: performing s first attempt of a combined procedure tothe network: performing # socond attempt to the combined procedure to the network ifthe netUS 7,346,348 BI 1 attempt of the combined procedure based upon the expiration of a first timer: ‘tempting 10 gain access only to GSM serviees of the ‘network immediately and unconditionally afl the second attempt for the combined procedure isnot accepted by the network: setting second timer if access to GSM-only services of the network is gained: and based upon the second timer, attempting the combined ‘attach procedure tothe network upon gaining access to the GSM-only services 12, The method of claim 11, wherein the second timer is used to periodically attempt the combined procedure upon zaining aecess 10 the GSM services of the network. 13. The method of claim 1, futher comprising attempt- ing the combined procedure after waiting fora period of time according t the second timer upon gaining access 10 the GSM services 14. The method rected in laim 13, wherein the second timer is set to approximately 15 seconds, 18, The method rected in claim 12, ‘wherein the periodically attempting the combined proce: dare is performed until GPRS services are obtained 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the combined procedure is a combined attach procedure 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the combined procedure is a combined location update procedure. 8 18, A method of reducing an amount of time to connect t0 ‘network when a frst attempt for a combined procedure is not accepted by the network, the method eomprising performing first sttempt of a combined procedure tothe s network: performing a second attempt of the combined procedure to the network if the network does not accept the rst attempt ofthe combined procedure before the expirae tion ofa frst timer attempting © gain aceess only (0 GSM services of the network immediately and unconditionally after the Second attempt Tor the combined procedure is. not sceepted by the nctwork, wherein the total time for perfomaing the frst and second attempts is less than 120 second: seting a seoond timer iFaocess to GSM-only services of tho network is gained; and based upon the second timer, attempting the combined ‘procedure to the network upon gaining access 0 the GSMoly serviews 19, The method of claim 18, wherein the combined procedure is a combined atach procedure 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the combined 4. procedure is # combined locaton update procedure.