MXPA98003621A - Multimodal communication device and method for operating a multimous communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and communication device (102) provide multimodal communication with multiple multimodal communication systems with multiple autonomous communication systems, including a first communication system (104) and a second communication system (106). The resources are dedicated to communication in the respective communication systems. To minimize the cost of the product, whenever possible and share the resources in communication in the respective modes. A system supervisor (304) establishes priorities, plans and controls the communication produced between the device and the autonomous communication systems

Description

MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE Field of the invention The present invention relates, in general, to communication devices. More specifically, it relates to multimodal communication devices and methods for operating them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multimodal communication devices are devices configured to allow communication such as being by radio in more than one mode of communication. For example, such communication modes include analog and digital signaling, different frequency bands for communication and communication according to different communication protocols. Examples of such protocols are the Advanced Mobile Telephony Service (AMPS), the N American digital cellular service according to J-STD-009, the minimum performance standard 1900 MHz for the mobile station based on PCS IS-136 and J-STD-010. , the minimum performance standard 1900 MHz base station based on PCS IS-136 ("IS-136"); the code division multiple access telephony (CDMA) service according to the provisional EIA / TIA 95 standard Base station / mobile station compatibility for the dual-band broadband cellular system ("IS-95"); Global system for mobile communication ("GSM") and satellite protocols such as those proposed by Iridium, L.L.C. ("Iridium;" Iridium® is a registered trademark and a service mark of Iridium, L. L. C.). A typical communication system provides communication in one of these modes in a limited geographical area. A multimodal communication device may employ one or more of these modes for communication. Existing multimodal radiotelephones include some cell phones. For example, cell phones designed under IS-136 and IS-95 allow to be operated in both analog and digital modes. Cell phones designed under IS-36 are dual-band communication devices in the sense that they operate in a first frequency band close to 800 MHz and in a second frequency band close to 1900 MHz. These radiotelephones are communicate with a single type of communication system in different modes. These previous radiotelephones are restricted by the limited geographical coverage of the system. When the radiotelephone moves to a new area located beyond the borders of the system, the service is no longer available. While other systems provide the service in the new zone, unless the service is compatible with the radiotelephone, it can not communicate with the system. In addition, it is possible that for a time there is no service in the system. Although other systems (incompatible) provide the service to the same area, it is not possible to use the radiotelephone. A new type of radiotelephone is designed that can operate in autonomous communication systems. Autonomous communication systems are independent communication systems that can be superimposed on their geographical coverage areas. Thus, in a certain area, a radiotelephone of this new class can communicate with a terrestrial system such as GSM and with a satellite system such as Iridium. In another area, the radiotelephone can communicate with a GSM system and with an IS-95.

The communication made with multiple autonomous communication systems differs from the conventional communication achieved with a single system that has multiple modes. In these systems, a mobile station such as a radiotelephone communicates with many fixed base stations located in the communication system. The base stations, in turn, communicate with a network controller or a mobile telephone switching office that coordinates the system and provides a transmission of base-to-base and mode-to-mode communications. In autonomous communication systems, the respective systems are autonomous in the sense that there is little or no intercommunication between the two systems. It is not possible to carry out the transmission between the systems. A mobile station for use in multimodal communication with autonomous systems must adapt to these limitations.

Also, in the field of communication devices there is a constant desire to minimize the cost of the product of such devices. A common way to reduce the cost of the product is to eliminate the double components by reusing a single component in different applications. For example, in double-mode radios designed according to IS-136 and IS-95, it is known that a single antenna is used for both analog and digital operating modes. Other shared equipment resources include voltage controlled oscillators and other components of the frequency synthesizer, digital signal processors and permission to receive and transmit. To be economically viable, future multimodal communication devices should exploit this concept of shared resources while communicating with multiple autonomous systems. Therefore, in the matter there is a need to have a multimodal communication device and a method to operate said device that solves these problems.

Brief description of the schemes The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth in detail in the appended claims. It is possible to better understand the invention, together with the other objects and advantages derived therefrom, by referring to the following description taken together with the schematics that accompany it in the different figures of which like reference numbers identify identical elements, and where: FIG 1 is a block diagram of a communication device and a plurality of communication systems; FIG 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the communication device of FIG 1; FIG 3 is a block diagram of the communication device of FIG 1; FIG 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the communication device of FIG 3; FIG 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a communication system and the communication device of FIG 1.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment With respect to FIG 1, a communication device 102 can be operated in a plurality of communication systems, including a first communication system 104 and a second communication system 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the first communication system includes a first base station 108, a second base station 110, a third base station 112 and a network controller 114. The second communication system 106 includes a first base station 115, a second base station 116, a third station of base 118 and a system controller 120. Each base station of each communication system provides radio communication with mobile stations as the communication device 102 in a fixed geographical area adjacent to the base station. The network controller of each communication system controls the communication produced between the mobile stations and the base stations of the communication system and provides a communication loop to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

In the illustrated embodiment, the second communication system 106 is autonomous with respect to the first 104. The communication systems are autonomous in that they are independent of each other. For example, there is little or no communication between the systems and their programming is not synchronized. There is no provision for transmission between the two communication systems. One system has no knowledge of the other. The communication device 102 communicates independently with each system. While FIG. 1 illustrates two communication systems, there may be any number of communication systems serving the geographical area in which the communication device 102 is located. They can include satellite communication systems, such as the Iridium., and terrestrial systems such as AMPS, GSM, IS-136, IS-95 and others. In addition, communication systems can operate at different frequency scales, such as GSM at 900 MHz and GSM at 1800 MHz. Also, while the first communication device 104 and the second 106 are illustrated as terrestrial systems, it is understood that or both can be satellite systems with orbits or geosynchrons that fulfill the function of base stations. The communication device 102 comprises an antenna 122, a first transceiver 124, a second transceiver 126, a synthesizer 132 that includes a controlled voltage oscillator 134, a controller that includes memory 144, a user interface 138 that includes memory 146, a speech processor 140 and a battery 142. The components of the communication device 102 are contained in a box 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the communication device is a portable multimodal radiotelephone that can be operated in a plurality of communication systems including the first communication system 104 and second communication system 106. A first mode of operation corresponds to the operation performed in a first radiotelephone system and a second mode of operation corresponds to the operation performed in a second radiotelephone system. As an alternative, the first mode of operation corresponds to the operation performed in a first frequency range and the second mode of operation corresponds to the operation performed in a second frequency range. In general, the first transceiver 124 includes a transmitter 150 and a receiver 152 connected to the antenna 122 for radio communication with the first communication system 104 of the plurality of communication systems. The first transceiver 124 comprises hardware and software elements designed to operate in accordance with the communication protocol (AMPS, GSM, IS-136, IS-95, Iridium, etc.) which employs the first communication system 104 and in the band of frequency (eg 800 MHz, 1900 MHz, etc.) using the first communication system 104. The first transceiver 124 may also include a microcontroller or other processor and saved program instructions. The instrumentation of such a transceiver can be easily achieved by known techniques. The first transceiver 124, of this. mode, provides the first resources to operate the communication device 102 according to a first mode. Similarly, the second transceiver 126 includes a transmitter 154 and a receiver 156 connected to the antenna 122 for radio communication with the second communication system 106 of the plurality of communication systems. The second transceiver 126 comprises hardware and software elements designed to operate in accordance with the communication protocol employing the second communication system 106 and in the frequency band using the second communication system 106. Also, the second transceiver 126 can include a microcontroller or other processor to operate in response to stored program instructions. The second transceiver 126 provides second resources for operating the communication device 102 according to a second mode, which is autonomous of the first mode. The synthesizer 132 generates oscillating signals necessary for the operation of the first transceiver 124 and the second transceiver 126. The oscillating signals in the transmitter 150 of the first transcept are modulated.or 124 and the transmitter 154 of the second transceiver 126 for transmitting information to the first communication system 104 and the second system 106, respectively. The oscillating signals can be diverted to tune the transceivers in certain channels within their assigned frequency bands. It is possible to use multiple voltage controlled oscillators such as VCO 134, especially when the multimodal capability of the communication device 102 includes dual band operation or another type of multiband operation. The controller 136 controls the operation of the communication device 102. It is possible to implement the controller 136, for example, as a microcontroller that can be operated in response to program instructions stored in the memory 144. The program instructions can be stored in other destinations to which the controller can access, such as the first 124 and the second transceiver 126 and the memory 146 of the user interface 138. The user interface 138 includes hardware and software elements required for a user to perform the operation and control of the communication device 102. Examples include a data interface for exchanging data with other equipment, a keyboard, a screen, a microphone and a speaker or headset. Also, the user interface 138 includes software stored in memory 146 for controlling the hardware elements.

The speech processor 140 includes a speech processing circuit and software for processing speech. The received speech is processed in the microphone of the user interface 138, for example by digital coding, and is sent to the transmitter 150 of the first transceiver 124 or to the transmitter 154 of the second transceiver 126 to transmit in accordance with the communication protocol of the corresponding communication system. Similarly, the coded speech received by the receiver 152 of the first transceiver 124 or the receiver 156 of the second transceiver 126 for extracting the speech sent from the communication system is processed in the speech processor 140. The speech is then sent to the user interface speaker or to other destinations (such as the memory to store a voice mail message) of the communication device 102. According to the present invention, the antenna 122, the synthesizer 132, the VCO 134, the user interface 138, the speech processor 140 and the battery 142 form shared resources necessary to operate the communication device 102 together with the first resources (i.e., the first transceiver 124) according to the resources of the first and second modes (i.e. the second transceiver 126) by virtue of a second mode. It is feasible to combine portions of the first 124 and the second transceiver 126 to form other shared resources. The two transceivers can be fully combined as a shared resource. The controller 136 forms a resource manager to selectively allocate the shared resources in response to the operation of the communication device 102 under the first and second modes. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication device 102 comprises a radiotelephone and the first resources include a first communication circuit, first transceiver 124, for radio communication with a first remote transceiver, such as a base station 112, in a first communication system 104. The second resources include a second communication circuit, the second transceiver 126, for radio communication with a second remote transceiver, such as a base station 118 in a second communication system 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the second transceiver 126 is contained in a removable module 148. This module 148 can be disassembled from the box 160 and replaced by other modules similar to it. For reasons of convenience, the removable module 148 may comprise a subscriber identity module (SIM) card. The other modules, according to the present invention, contain transceivers that can be operated according to different modes, such as different communication protocols or in different frequency bands. The removable module 148 allows a user of the communication device 102 to adjust the components of said device 102 for the anticipated communication systems with which it is to be found. As an example, the second transceiver 126 of the detachable module 148 can be selected to provide service in the specific systems that the user will find. For example, for a trip through Europe, the user can select a GSM module as module 148. To travel through the United States, the user selects an IS-95 module. Additionally, the first transceiver 124 may be a transceiver for use in a satellite radiotelephone system, such as an Iridium system. The first transceiver 124 (of the illustrated embodiment) is not removable and the satellite service supports a service available worldwide when local service is not available through the detachable module 148. When more than one communication system is available , the device 102 must establish priorities regarding the use it makes of communication systems. The priority must be based on several factors, such as the cost of the system, a specific local system, the convenience of displacement, etc. The controller 136 analyzes the availability of the system and gives priority to access to the system, as will be described below in greater detail. FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the communication device 102 of FIG. 1. In the flow diagram of FIG. 2, it is assumed that one of the many communication systems that provides service in the geographical location of the communication device 102 is a preferred system and that others are non-preferred systems. A system may be preferred for any reason, including the cost of access, the quality of service or the availability of service features. Further, it is assumed that the communication device 102 defines a priority A and a priority B. Priority A is applied when a communication circuit such as the first transceiver 124 or the second transceiver 126 is actively using the shared resources of the communication device. 102 communication and can not be interrupted. Priority B is applied when a communication circuit would like to use the shared resources but can be interrupted at any time. The method begins in step 200. In 202, the communication device 102 determines whether the preferred system is active. This can be achieved, for example, by trying to receive the transmission in control channels of the base stations of the preferred system. If the preferred system is not active, the control proceeds to step 214. If the preferred system is active, in step 204, the communication device 102 places the transceiver for the non-preferred system in an inactive state. In the inactive state, the transceiver is prevented from using the shared resources. In step 206, the communication device 102 establishes communication in a first communication system, the preferred system, using a first communication circuit, as the first transceiver, and a shared communication resource of the communication device. Beginning in step 208, the communication device seeks interruptions of the operation in the preferred system to begin operation in a non-preferred system. In step 208, the communication device 102 checks whether there is a request from the transceiver for the non-preferred system to operate. In case of having received such an order, the control goes to step 222. Otherwise, in step 210, the communication device 102 determines if a scheduled time has arrived for the non-preferred system. Examples of scheduled hours of operation are the assigned time fractions used in code division multiple access (TDMA) communication systems and the fractional paging mode specified for IS-95 CDMA systems. In this way, the communication device 102 detects a request for communication in a second communication system as the non-preferred; this second system is autonomous with respect to the first. In case this time has not arrived, in step 212, the communication device 102 determines whether the communication in the preferred system is complete. If so, the operation concludes; otherwise, it returns to step 206. If, in step 208 or 210, the communication device detected an interruption situation requiring transfer to the non-preferred system, in step 222 the communication device determines whether the preferred system has requested Priority A. In this case, communication in the preferred system can not be interrupted and the request to operate in the non-preferred system must be delayed. If priority A has not been requested, in step 224 communication device 102 deactivates the first communication with the preferred system. The transceiver corresponding to the preferred system is put in idle mode and the control is transferred to step 214. The communication device 102 establishes the second communication in the second communication system using a second communication circuit and the shared communication resource of the device . Said device 102 starts to operate in the non-preferred system. In step 216, during operation in the non-preferred system, the communication device 102 determines whether there has been a request to operate in the preferred system.

That request could also correspond to a scheduled operation time for the preferred system, such as a pre-assigned fraction of time or a fraction of the fractional paging mode. In response to this interruption, in step 218, the communication device 102 determines whether the transceiver corresponding to the non-preferred system has requested priority A. In this case, communication in the non-preferred system can not be interrupted and must be delayed. the order to operate in the preferred system. The control returns to step 214. If priority A has not been selected, the control proceeds to step 204. If, in step 216, no order has been received to operate in the preferred system, control continues in the step 220, wherein the communication device 102 determines whether the communication produced in the non-preferred system is complete. If so, the process ends. Otherwise, the control returns to step 214 to continue communication in the non-preferred system. It will be recognized that the operation can be modified by modifying the priorities assigned to the communication systems and defining priority A and other priorities. For example, it is possible to define the preferred additional systems, together with the priorities such as the first preferred system and the second preferred system. Alternatively, a priority C (and other priorities) can be defined to control access to other systems. FIG 3 shows an alternative block diagram of the communication device 102 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is organized to show various blocks of functional control of the communication device. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication device 102 includes equipment 300, a user interface 302, a system supervisor 304, a plurality of system controllers including a first system controller 306, a second system controller 308 and a third system controller 130, and an operation system 312. The communication device 102 also includes an abstraction layer of the equipment 314. In the illustrated embodiment, the user interface 302, the system supervisor 304, the first system controller 306, the second controller 308, third controller 310, operating system 312 and the abstraction layer of equipment 314 represent program instructions for controlling a single microcontroller, such as controller 136, of communication device 102. Equipment 300 represents all components of the equipment of the communication device 102, including the controller 136, the first transceiver 124 and the second transceiver 126, the 132, the battery 142 and the user interface equipment 138. The user interface 302 corresponds to the instructions for controlling the user interface equipment (keyboard, screen, etc.) of the communication device 102. For example , the user interface 203 recognizes the keyboard pressures as indications that a user enters a telephone number to call or return a voice mail message. In other examples, the user interface 302 interprets the messages received from a communication system. These messages include a "ring" signal, which leads to the user interface 302 to produce an alert to the user of an incoming call, or a short text message, which causes the user interface 302 to display the text on the screen . The supervisor of the system 304 performs a priority control to access the different communication systems available to the communication device. The supervisor of the system 304 arbitrates the use of the shared resources of the communication device 102. For example, said supervisor determines whether the device 102 is in a call or in a communication system and, if so, prevents another system from producing a communication. interruption. The supervisor 304 coordinates the plurality of system controllers for multimodal operation of the communication device 102. The first controller of the system 306, the second 308, and the third 310 form a plurality of system controllers, each of which controls the transceiver of the communication device 102 in communication with one or more corresponding remote transceivers of an autonomous communication system. The first, the second and the third system controller 306, 308 and 310 are the program instructions necessary to implement the communications protocol defined for each of the first, second and third communication systems. As necessary, more or less system controllers can be used. In one example, the first controller of the system 306 corresponds to the protocol for a satellite communication system, such as the Iridium system, the second controller of the system 308 corresponds to the protocol for a GSM system, and the third controller of the system 310 corresponds to the protocol for an IS-136 system. When the communication device 102 attempts to communicate with any of these systems, the supervisor of the system 304 activates the appropriate controller to control the equipment 300 of the device 102. The operating system 312 is the operating system of the microcontroller that controls the operation of the communication device. 102. For example, if the microcontroller is a 68HC11, available through Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Illinois, the operating system 312 is the instruction set of the 68HC11 microcontroller. The abstraction layer of the equipment 314 corresponds to the data and instructions necessary to operate the determined hardware components of the hardware 300. For example, the abstraction layer of the equipment 314 defines the counter values needed to implement the synthesizer 132 (FIG. 1) on the frequency of interest for the communication systems defined by the system controllers.

FIG. 4 shows a method for operating the communication device of FIG. 3 together with a plurality of autonomous communication systems. FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the communication device to locate all available systems with which the device can be communicated (using its first, second and third resources) and registering as many of those systems as possible. Since many exchanges made between a base station and a mobile station are periodic (ie, control signals and time fractions), the communication device must divide its total active time between all these periodic exchanges and other planned communications until a call is initiated. In FIG. 4, the communication device 102 initially determines which of the systems of the many autonomous communication systems are active. In step 400, a variable x is initialized and in step 402 the device 102 determines whether the system x is present and active. This is done, for example, by looking for control channels defined by the x system, or by locating a pilot signal (in an IS-95 CDMA system). If the system x is present, the communication device 102 is synchronized with a base station of the system x through any known method and, in step 406, increments the variable x. If no system x was located, the variable x is increased. In step 408, x is compared with a limit. If that limit is not reached, the control returns to step 402 to search for additional systems. In case this limit is reached, the control proceeds to step 410. It should be understood that it is feasible to employ other loop controls in addition to a variable when a search is made of all the available systems. After locating systems, the communication device 102 registers with as many active communication systems as possible. In step 410, a variable y is initialized. The variable y corresponds to the active communication systems identified in steps 400-408. In step 412, the device 102 registers with the system y. Preferably, this is done during the idle time in other systems, when the shared resources of the device 102 are available. For example, if the communication device 102 is currently communicating with a TDMA system, the registration with a new system occurs during a time fraction of the TDMA system not assigned to the communication device, when the shared resources can be reassigned for the registration process. The register generally comprises the exchange of identification over information existing between a mobile station such as the communication device and the communication system. The communication system uses the registration information to locate and identify the mobile station. In order to efficiently route calls to a particular mobile station, each mobile station generally registers its location with the nearest base station. Then the network controller directs an incoming call to that base station which then establishes a radio communication with the mobile station to complete the call. In step 414, if necessary, the system supervisor 304 (FIG.3) schedules the active time with the system y. The system supervisor 304 negotiates the communication aspects for communication between the device and the systems with which the device has been registered. For example, if the system y is a TDMA system, the supervisor 304 negotiates the time fractions for communication between the device 102 and the system y. Other aspects of the communication that could be negotiated include the frequency of the channel. Negotiation is necessary because it is possible that the communication device has already registered other systems and assigned portions of its resources or communication assets to those systems. In an alternative embodiment, the system controller of the communication device for the system and schedules the time with the system supervisor without negotiating with the system and, taking into account only the total active time of the communication device 102. This has the advantage of limiting communication with the system and, reduce system traffic and conserve the battery power of the communication device. Once the active time for the system is programmed and, in step 416 the supervisor of the system 304 updates a table of priorities. This table of system priorities defines the scheduled communication hours and the relative priorities among the plurality of communication systems. For example, if the communication device is configured to communicate in an Iridium system and a GSM, the supervisor of the system 304 can set a priority as follows: If it is in the local GSM system, the priority is 1. GSM 2. Iridium If you are traveling in a GSM system, the priority is 1. Iridium 2. GSM.

Factors such as the relative cost of time in the air, etc. inform the priority decision. Thus, the device 102 establishes a priority of registered systems to establish communication. In step 418, the communication device 102 determines whether there is sufficient downtime in the total active time to support communication with another system. If so, in step 420 the variable y is increased, and another active system is accessed for the record. Otherwise, the communication device begins to monitor the registered systems in search of call activity. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the communication device 102 of FIG. 3. Call activity monitoring begins at step 500. At step 502, the communication device waits for call activity. In step 504, said device determines if that activity has been detected. The call activity may be an indication of incoming call activity received from a communication system or an attempt to initiate a call made by a user pressing keyboard keys. If call activity is detected, in step 506, the call is processed and the control returns to step 502. If no activity is detected in step 504, the device 102 then determines whether the actual time, according to the board clock , corresponds to the time of a scheduled event. A scheduled event hour corresponds, for example, to a fraction of the time allocated in a registered communication system or a time to try to register a system. The hours of scheduled events are those for which the device 102 is programmed to communicate with one of the many communication systems. If it is not currently a scheduled event time, the control returns to step 502. If the actual time corresponds to a scheduled event time, in step 510, the communication device 102 allocates shared resources for communication with the system of interest. , designated in FIG. 5 as a z system. In step 512, the communication device 102 determines whether it is necessary to respond to the system z. A response may not be necessary, for example, if the scheduled event corresponds to a fraction of the reception time and it did not indicate an incoming call for the communication device. If the reception time fraction only contained control or synchronization information, it is not necessary for the device 102 to respond and, then, it can de-allocate the shared resources and the control returns to step 502. If it is not necessary for the device communication 102 responds, in step 514 the system controller (as the first controller of system 306 of FIG.3) requests priority A from system supervisor 304 (FIG.3). If priority A, step 518, is not awarded, system supervisor 304 schedules the event that requires response, if possible, and control returns to step 502. In case priority A is granted in step 518, device 102 begins to communicate in system z in step 520. Communication continues until complete, step 522. When communication ends, priority A is released, step 524 and control returns to step 502. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of a communication system and the communication device of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 illustrates the steps crossed to enter and exit the inactive state both in the communication device and in a communication system. In FIG. 6, the operation of the communication system (as a base station in a land cellular system or a satellite transceiver in a satellite communication system) is illustrated in the sector on the left. On the other hand, in the sector on the right, the operation of the communication device is illustrated (as a multimodal cell phone). In step 602, the communication system establishes communication between the system and the device. A similar step occurs in step 604 for the communication device. In the illustrated embodiment, the device initiates entry in idle mode. The provision is made for the user to enter inactive mode or for the device to automatically determine the time of entry and the duration. User input may occur, for example, if a user knows that he is about to start a plane trip and will not be able to access it through any terrestrial system, or even from any satellite system. The user can define a time of initiation of inactivity and its duration so that it corresponds to the time of the flight. In step 606, the device controls user input. If there is one, in step 608 it receives from the user the initiation time of the idle state and its duration. In case no data is provided, in the 610 the device determines the time to start the idle state and its duration. You can do it, for example, in response to an impending timeframe in another system. In order for the device to be ready to receive its fraction of time in the other system, it determines the time and duration of the fraction. In an alternative embodiment, only the duration of the inactivity time corresponding to the duration of the inactivity state is determined. In step 612, an inactivity message is transmitted from the device and, at 614, the message is received in the communication system. The inactivity message indicates that the communication device will not be available for a predetermined period of time. The inactivity message can include all appropriate information, including the duration of the inactivity time, the initiation time and a simple request to enter the idle state. In steps 616 and 618, the system and the communication device negotiate the inactivity state parameters. For example, if it was not previously specified, the negotiated parameters include the duration of the inactivity and the initiation time. In an alternative embodiment, no negotiation occurs and the device dictates the parameters of inactivity. In step 620, at the time of the start of inactivity, the communication system interrupts the communication maintained with the device. In step 622, the device executes a similar procedure. In the communication system, the communication loop can be kept active, for example, by not reallocating the time fraction of the loop or by continuing to provide control and synchronization signals to the device. As an alternative, to increase the capacity of the system, it is feasible to reassign the communication resources as the hourly fraction and the frequency during the duration of the inactivity of the device. An advantage presented by informing the system that the device will remain inactive is the conservation of system resources. If the system knows that the device is inactive it does not waste its resources, for example, trying to locate the device with an incoming call. In this way, in step 624, the system determines if there is an incoming call destined to the system. If so, in step 626, the system sends an informational message in response to the incoming message received during the period of inactivity. In an alternative embodiment, part of the user information entered in step 606 could include the information that must be presented in the informational message. One possibility is that such a message simply informs the caller about the unavailability of the user, who orders him to leave a voicemail message or who provides any other appropriate message. After providing the message, or in case of not having detected any incoming call, in step 628, the system determines if the device's inactivity term has expired. If so, at step 630, following the duration of the predetermined inactivity term, the device resumes communication with the device. In the device and after interrupting the communication with the system, step 622, the device communicates with another system, step 632. If the device includes shared resources, these are reassigned from the communication with the system to the communication with the other system. . This may include the selection of a different frequency band, using a different communication protocol, etc. The communication produced between the device and the other system can be planned in advance or it can simply be a test for incoming calls. For example, it is possible for the device to receive a fraction that possesses control information (possibly including a page identifying an incoming call) from the other system. Alternatively, the device may have detected the presence of the other system during a previous inactive state and now tries to register the other system during the current inactive state. In step 634, the device determines whether it is time to leave the inactive state and return to communication with the system. In the illustrated embodiment, the device determines whether the communication maintained in the other system has ended. In other embodiments, the device could control the end of the inactivity or other appropriate situation. In step 636, the device resumes communication with the system. As can be seen from the foregoing, the present invention provides a method and a communication device for achieving multimodal communication with multiple autonomous communication systems. The individual resources are dedicated for communication in the corresponding systems. To minimize the cost of the product, resources are shared where possible when communicating in the respective modes. A system supervisor establishes priorities, programs and controls the communication between the device and the autonomous systems. In this way, the device can have access to multiple systems even when moving to different locations that have different types of service. Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has been presented and described, modifications are feasible. Therefore, in the appended claims, it is intended to cover all changes and modifications comprised within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The following is claimed:

Claims (13)

Claims
1. A method for operating a communication device (102) that allows operation in a plurality of communication systems (104, 106), characterized by comprising the steps of: Establish (202) a first communication in a first system (104) using a first circuit (124) and a shared communication resource of the device; Detect (208) an order to communicate in a second communication system (106). The second communication system is autonomous with respect to the first; Deactivate (224) the first communication and establish (214) the second communication in the second system using a second circuit (126) and the share of the communication device.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the order originates in the communication device.
3. A method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the order originates in the second communication system.
4. A method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the step of deactivating comprises placing the first communication circuit in an inactive mode state.
5. A method as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that: the step of establishing the first communication comprises registering the device with the first communication system and the step of establishing the second communication comprises registering the device with the second communication system and wherein the step of placing the first communication circuit in idle mode comprises deregistering the. device with the first communication system.
6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a request is characterized by comprising the detection (210) of a scheduled communication time for communication in the second system.
7. A method for operating a communication device (102) in a plurality of autonomous communication systems (104, 106) characterized by comprising the steps of: (a) in the communication device, determining (402) which of the communication systems autonomous are active; (b) registering (412) as many communication systems as possible; and (c) monitor (422) registered systems for call activity.
8. A method as set forth in the claim 7, further characterized by comprising a step of establishing (416), after the registration step, a priority of registered systems to establish communication.
9. A method as set forth in the claim 8, furthermore, characterized by understanding the steps of: using the priority of registered systems, determining a system with which communication can originate; Originate the communication in the system, and at the end of the communication in the system, repeat the stages from (a) to (c).
10. A method as set forth in the claim 9, further characterized by comprising a step of deregistering, before originating the communication, one or more registered systems.
11. A method as set forth in claim 7, further characterized by comprising a step of planning one or more communications with at least one system of the registered systems.
12. 12. A method as set forth in claim 11, furthermore, characterized in that it comprises a step of determining, before registering an additional system, whether there is sufficient downtime to support communication with the additional system.
13. 13. A method for coordinating communication between a device and a plurality of autonomous systems, characterized by comprising the steps of: determining active systems of the plurality of autonomous communication systems; Establish communication between the communication device and at least some of the active systems that form registered systems, and negotiate aspects of communication to achieve communication between the device and the registered systems. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the aspects of the communication are characterized by comprising one or more fractions of time to achieve communication between the device and a registered system. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the step of establishing the communication is characterized by comprising the registration of at least some of the active systems to form the registered systems. A method to coordinate the communication between a communication system and a communication device. The device is configured to communicate with a plurality of autonomous communication systems, including the communication system. The method is characterized by understanding the stages of: In the communication system, establish the existing communication between the system and the device; Receive an inactivity status message from the communication device; the message indicates that the device will not be available for a predetermined period of inactivity; Interrupting communication with the device, and Follow the predetermined term, resuming communication with the device. A method as set forth in claim 16, further characterized by comprising the steps of: negotiating with the communication device a start time of the inactivity period to enter an inactive state, and at the time of the start of the inactivity period , interrupt communication with the device. A method as set forth in claim 16, further characterized by comprising the steps of providing an informational message in response to incoming calls received during the course of the predetermined inactivity period. A method as set forth in claim 16, further characterized by comprising the steps of: in the communication device, receiving the user's input that defines the duration of the predetermined inactivity term and transmitting the predetermined period of inactivity period to communication system. A method as set forth in claim 19, further characterized by comprising the steps of: in the communication device, receiving user income defining a start time of the inactivity stage; transmit the start time of said period of inactivity to the communication system, and in the communication system, at the time of the beginning of the period of inactivity, interrupt the communication with the communication device.