Event notification in a hybrid network

Abstract

When a mobile station requests circuit services notifications through a packet switched network, a mobile switching center sets a forwarding indicator. When the MSC detects an event indicative of a change in the status of the mobile station, the MSC sends an event notification to the packet switched network if the forwarding indicator is set to true. In the packet switched network, the base station can use the event notifications to manage communication resources used for packet data communications with the mobile station.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of managing communication resources in a hybrid network including a circuit switched network and a packet switched network, the method performed in a node within the packet switched network, the method comprising:
 establishing packet data communications between said packet switched network and a mobile station over an access network that is distinct from an access network used for circuit switched communications between said circuit switched network and said mobile station, wherein said hybrid network combines said packet switched network and said circuit switched network with different signaling protocols and different air interfaces; 
 receiving an event notification at said node from said circuit switched network indicative of a change in the status of the mobile station; and 
 managing communication resources used for said packet data communications with the mobile station based on said event notification from said circuit switched network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the event notification indicates a presence of the mobile station in the circuit switched network. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the event notification indicates that the mobile station has powered down. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein managing communication resources comprises releasing communication resources used for packet data communications with said mobile station. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  further comprising notifying an accounting application accounting for the packet data communications that the communication resources were released. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a request from said mobile station for circuit services notifications through said packet-switched network, and invoking a circuit services notification application responsive to said request to provide circuit services notifications to said mobile station. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit-switched network and the packet-switched network include distinct radio access networks. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said node is within the packet switched network's access network, and wherein said receiving comprises receiving the event notification at said node from the circuit switched network's core network. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said node is within the packet switched network's access network, as distinct from the circuit switched network's access network, and wherein said receiving comprises receiving the event notification at said node from a mobile switching center in the circuit switched network's core network. 
     
     
       10. An access network for a packet-switched network included in a hybrid network that also includes a circuit switched network, comprising:
 a radio base station supporting packet data communications with a mobile station; and 
 a controller including a signaling processor configured to:
 route circuit services notifications from the circuit switched network to a mobile station while the mobile station is in the packet switched network, by encapsulating the circuit services notifications within messages conforming to an air interface for said packet switched network, as distinct from an air interface for said circuit switched network, wherein said hybrid network combines said packet switched network and said circuit switched network with different signaling protocols and different air interfaces, 
 receive an event notification indicative of the status of the mobile station from the circuit switched network; and 
 manage communication resources used for said packet data communications responsive to said event notification. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The access network of  claim 10  wherein the event notifications comprise a notification message indicating that the mobile station is present in the circuit switched network. 
     
     
       12. The access network of  claim 10  wherein the event notifications comprise a notification message indicating that the mobile station has powered down. 
     
     
       13. The access network of  claim 10  wherein the signaling processor is further configured to release communication resources used for packet data communications with said mobile station responsive to said event notification. 
     
     
       14. The access network of  claim 13  wherein the signaling processor is further configured to notify an accounting application accounting for the packet data communications that the communication resources were released. 
     
     
       15. The access network of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit-switched network and the packet-switched network include distinct radio access networks. 
     
     
       16. A controller for a packet-switched network included in a hybrid network that also includes a circuit switched network, comprising:
 a signaling processor configured to:
 provide circuit services notifications to a mobile station while the mobile station is in the packet switched network, by encapsulating the circuit services notifications within messages conforming to an air interface for said packet switched network, as distinct from an air interface for said circuit switched network, wherein said hybrid network combines said packet switched network and said circuit switched network with different signaling protocols and different air interfaces; 
 receive an event notification from the circuit switched network indicative of a change in the status of the mobile station; and 
 manage communication resources used for said packet data communications responsive to said event notification message. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The controller of  claim 16  wherein the event notification comprises a notification message indicating that the mobile station is present in the circuit switched network. 
     
     
       18. The controller of  claim 16  wherein the event notification comprises a notification message indicating that the mobile station has powered down. 
     
     
       19. The controller of  claim 16  wherein the signaling processor is further configured to release communication resources used for packet data communications with said mobile station responsive to said event notification. 
     
     
       20. The controller of  claim 19  wherein the signaling processor is further configured to notify an accounting application accounting for the packet data communications that the communication resources were released. 
     
     
       21. The controller of  claim 16 , wherein the circuit-switched network and the packet-switched network include distinct radio access networks.