Mobile radio communication device and method of managing connectivity status for the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of managing connection status for a channel connecting a server device to a mobile radio communication device including a client/server pair ( 44, 46 ), the method including upon receiving an indication that the client/server pair ( 44, 46 ) is disconnected, sending from the mobile radio communication device a status signal to the server device ( 46 ) indicating that the client ( 44 ) has reset connection between the client/server pair ( 44, 46 ), and upon receiving an indication that the client ( 44 ) has connected to the server device ( 46 ), sending from the mobile radio communication device a status signal to the server device ( 46 ) indicating that the client ( 44 ) is connected to the server device ( 46 ).

1 . A method of managing connection status for a server device within a mobile radio communications device, the mobile radio communications device including a local client/server pair, the method including the steps of:
 receiving an indication of a change of connection status for a local client/server pair, wherein said change of connection status is a change to a state in which the server is listening for a connection from a remote client, or receiving an indication of a change of network status;   processing the received indication to discriminate between said change of connection status and said change of network status;   generating, in response to said processing, a client/server status signal when a change of connection status for the local client/server pair occurs, the generated client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from the remote client, and generating a different status signal when a change of network status occurs; and   sending the generated client/server status signal and/or said different status signal to the server device.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, when an indication of a change of connection status for the local client/server pair is received, said processing step determines the nature of said change; and said generation step generates a corresponding client/server status signal in dependence on a result of said determination. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the client/server status signal indicating the server is listening for a connection from the remote client is generated prior to the remote client sending a request. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in any previous claim, wherein a client/server status signal indicating the client/server pair is connected is generated after a remote client sends a request. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said client/server status signal indicating the client/server pair is connected is generated subsequent to the client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from a remote client. 
     
     
         6 . A mobile radio communications device for communicating with a network, the device comprising: a local client/server pair; and a device for managing connection status of a server device for a channel between said server device and the local client/server pair;
 wherein said managing device is configured for:
 receiving an indication of a change of connection status for a local client/server pair, wherein said change of connection status is a change to a state in which the server is listening for a connection from a remote client, or receiving an indication of a change of network status; 
 processing the received indication to discriminate between said change of connection status and said change of network status; 
 generating, in response to said processing, a client/server status signal when a change of connection status for the local client/server pair occurs, the generated client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from the remote client, and generating a different status signal when a change of network status occurs; and 
 sending the generated client/server status signal and/or said different status signal to the server device. 
   
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising a smartcard server device. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said client/server pair is a transport connection protocol client/server pair. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said managing device is configured for:
 processing a received indication of a change of connection status for the local client/server pair to determine the nature of said change; and   generating a corresponding client/server status signal in dependence on said determination.   
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the managing device is configured such that the client/server status signal indicating the server is listening for a connection from the remote client is generated prior to a remote client sending a request. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the managing device is configured such that a client/server status signal indicating the client/server pair is connected is generated after the remote client sends a request. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the managing device is configured such that said client/server status signal indicating the client/server pair is connected is generated subsequent to the client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from the remote client. 
     
     
         13 . A server device for use with a mobile radio communications device, the server device comprising:
 a first device for establishing a channel with a local client/server pair of the mobile radio communications device;   a second device for receiving a client/server status signal from the mobile radio communications device when a change of connection status for the local client/server pair occurs, the client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from the remote client, and for receiving a different status signal from the mobile radio communications device when a change of network status occurs;   a third device for processing the received status signal to discriminate between said client/server status signal and said different status signal; and   a fourth device for maintaining the channel when said client/server status signal is received.   
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second device is configured to receive a subsequent client/server signal indicating that the client/server pair is connected; and
 said server device comprises a fifth device for exchanging data over said channel after receipt of said client/server signal indicating the client/server pair is connected.   
     
     
         15 . A method performed in a server device for managing communication with a mobile radio communications device, the method including the steps of:
 establishing a channel with a local client/server pair of the mobile radio communications device;   receiving a client/server status signal from the mobile radio communications device, the client/server status signal indicating that the server is listening for a connection from the remote client, wherein the status signal is a client/server status signal generated in response to a change in client/server status or receiving a different status signal generated in response to a change in network status;   processing the received status signal to discriminate between said client/server status signal and said different status signal; and   maintaining the channel when said processing indicates a client/server status signal is received.   
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said receiving step comprises receiving a subsequent client/server signal indicating that the client/server pair is connected; and wherein said method further comprises exchanging data over said channel after receipt of said client/server signal indicating that the client/server pair is connected.