Setting mode of communication

Abstract

A method in a communication system is disclosed. In the method a procedure for setting up a communication link between a first user equipment and a second user equipment via a communications network is initiated. Information regarding at least two modes of communication that can be used for communication via the communication link is signalled between the first and second user equipment. An indicator regarding a mode to be used for the communication is also signalled between the first user equipment and the second user equipment. After the signalling steps, a procedure for setting the mode of communication in accordance with the indicator is initiated in at least in one of the user equipment. According to an alternative embodiment signalling for reserving a possibility for at least tow different communication modes occurs between elements of the communication system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for setting up a communication link comprising a first communication leg between a first user equipment and a communication network and a second communication leg between a second user equipment and the communication network, the method comprising:
 signalling, by the first user equipment, information regarding a first plurality of modes supported by the first user equipment to the second user equipment via the communication network, wherein the information comprises a preference for at least one preferred mode of the first plurality of modes for use in beginning a communication;   receiving, by the first user equipment, an indicator indicating at least one of a second plurality of modes supported by the second user equipment, the first plurality of modes and the second plurality of modes having at least two modes in common;   initiating, in the first user equipment, establishment of the communication link using at least one of the preferred modes that is also indicated by said indicator as supported by the second user equipment; and   changing, at the first user equipment, to another mode of the at least two modes supported by the first user equipment and the second user equipment in response to an activation from either of the first user equipment or the second user equipment during the initiated communication;   wherein the first user equipment communicates with the second user equipment via a corresponding one of the first communication leg and the second communication leg, each comprising a respective wireless interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication link is established for a call. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the modes are related to a call communication. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the modes comprise at least speech call and video call. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the information signalled by the first user equipment further comprises a reservation of at least one other mode of the first plurality of modes for possible use during the communication;
 and wherein another mode of the at least two modes supported by the first user equipment and the second user equipment is one of the at least one other mode of the first plurality of modes reserved for possible use during the communication.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the communication network comprises:
 a first communication network to which the first user equipment communicates via the first communication leg; and   a second communication network to which the first user equipment communicates via the first communication leg.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the communication network further comprises:
 an interworking network element coupling the first communication network to the second communication network;   wherein one of the first and second communication networks is a circuit switched environment and the other one of the first and second communication networks is a packet switched environment.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for setting up a communication link comprising a first communication leg between the apparatus and a communication network and a second communication leg between a user equipment and the communication network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:
 signal, to the user equipment via the communication network, information regarding a first plurality of modes supported by the apparatus, the information comprising a preference for at least one preferred mode of the first plurality of modes for use in beginning a communication; 
 receive an indicator indicating at least one of a second plurality of modes supported by the user equipment, the first plurality of modes and the second plurality of modes having at least two supported modes in common; 
 initiate establishment of the communication link using at least one of the preferred modes that is also indicated by said indicator as supported by the user equipment; and 
 change to another mode of the at least two modes supported by the apparatus and the user equipment in response to an activation from either of the apparatus or the user equipment during the initiated communication; 
   wherein the apparatus communicates with the user equipment via a corresponding one of the first communication leg and the second communication leg, each comprising a respective wireless interface.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the communication link is established for a call. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the modes are related to a call communication. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the modes comprise at least speech call and video call. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the signalled information further comprises a reservation of at least one other mode of the first plurality of modes for possible use during the communication;
 and wherein the another mode of the at least two modes supported by the apparatus and the user equipment is one of the at least one other mode of the first plurality of modes reserved for possible use during the communication.