Dual-mode methods, systems, and terminals providing reduced mobile terminal registrations

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile terminal providing wireless communications can include receiving communications service from a first communications network providing service over a first coverage area. While receiving communications service from the first communications network, a first identity code can be received from a second communications network providing service over a plurality of second coverage areas wherein a first one of the second coverage areas includes the first coverage area and wherein the first identity code from the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network in the first one of the second coverage areas. After loss of communications with the first communications network, a second identity code can be received from the second communications network. When the second identity code from the second communications network is different than the first identity code from the second communications network, a registration can be performed with the second communications network so that communications service can be received by the mobile terminal from the second communications network in a second one of the second coverage areas corresponding to the second identity code from the second communications network.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A method of forwarding calls to a dual-mode mobile terminal providing communications with a terrestrial communications network and a satellite communications network, the method comprising: 
 storing a location identifier for the dual-mode mobile terminal wherein the location identifier identifies a location within which the mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network; and    after loss of communications between the dual-mode mobile terminal and the terrestrial communications network, identifying for the satellite communications network the location within which the dual-mode mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the location identifier comprises a visitor location register for a local area station of the terrestrial communications network.  
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein the location is identified to the satellite communications network responsive to receiving a detach message from the dual-mode terminal at the terrestrial communications network wherein the detach message indicates that the mobile terminal is detaching from the terrestrial communications network.  
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 21  further comprising: 
 transmitting a call page to dual-mode mobile terminal at the location corresponding to the location identifier for the dual-mode mobile terminal wherein the location is identified to the satellite communications network responsive to failing to receive a response to the call page from the dual-mode mobile terminal.    
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein identifying the location within which the dual-mode mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network comprises translating the location identifier to a corresponding geographic location.  
   
   
       26 . A mobility management system that forwards calls to a dual-mode mobile terminal providing communications with a terrestrial communications network and a satellite communications network, the mobility management system comprising: 
 a memory that stores a location identifier for the dual-mode mobile terminal wherein the location identifier identifies a location within which the mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network; and    a signal generator wherein after loss of communications between the dual-mode mobile terminal and the terrestrial communications network, the signal generator identifies for the satellite communications network the location within which the dual-mode mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network.    
   
   
       27 . The mobility management system according to  claim 26  wherein the location identifier comprises a visitor location register identification for a local area station of the terrestrial communications network.  
   
   
       28 . The mobility management system according to  claim 26  wherein the signal generator identifies the location to the satellite communications network responsive to receiving a detach message from the dual-mode terminal at the terrestrial communications network wherein the detach message indicates that the mobile terminal is detaching from the terrestrial communications network.  
   
   
       29 . The mobility management system according to  claim 26  further comprising: 
 a call page forwarding generator that forwards a call page to the dual-mode mobile terminal at the location corresponding to the location identifier for the dual-mode mobile terminal wherein the signal generator identifies the location to the satellite communications network responsive to failing to receive a response to the call page from the dual-mode mobile terminal.    
   
   
       30 . The mobility management system according to  claim 26  wherein identifying the location within which the dual-mode mobile terminal has been most recently registered for communications service with the terrestrial communications network comprises translating the location identifier to a corresponding geographic location.  
   
   
       31 . A wireless communications terminal comprising: 
 a receiver that receives signals transmitted from first and second network types wherein the receiver decodes a first signal identity code transmitted by the first network type and wherein the receiver decodes a second signal identity code transmitted by the second network type; and    a memory coupled with the receiver wherein the memory stores the first signal identity code in association with the second signal identity code when both the first and second identity codes are decodable by the terminal at a common location.    
   
   
       32 . The terminal of  claim 31  wherein the first network type comprises a terrestrial communications network and wherein the second network type comprises a satellite communications network.  
   
   
       33 . The terminal of  claim 31  further comprising: 
 a transmitter that transmits a location update request message to a station of the first network type when a subsequently decoded first signal identity code is different than the previously decoded first signal identity code stored in the memory.    
   
   
       34 . The terminal of  claim 31  farther comprising: 
 a transmitter that transmits a location update request message to a station of the second network type when no first signal identity code can be decoded and a subsequently decoded second signal identity code is different than the previously decoded second signal identity code stored in the memory.    
   
   
       35 . The terminal of  claim 31  wherein the first signal identity code comprises a cellular paging area identity code.  
   
   
       36 . The terminal of  claim 31  wherein the second signal identity code identifies one of a plurality of antenna beams in a satellite communication network radiating multiple antenna beams in different directions.  
   
   
       37 . A dual-mode wireless communications network including a wide-area coverage network including wide-area coverage network stations and a local-area coverage network including local-area coverage network stations providing service to mobile communications terminals, the dual-mode wireless communications network comprising: 
 a visitor location register associated with the local-area stations wherein the visitor location register registers which of the mobile communications terminals are currently reachable via an associated local-area station and that registers when a mobile has detached from the local-area coverage network;    a home location register associated with each mobile communications terminal wherein the home location register records a current visitor location register with which the respective mobile communications terminal is registered or a visitor location register from which the respective mobile communications terminal last detached; and    a signaling channel that exchanges information between the wide-area network and the local-area network and that provides the wide-area network with na identity of a visitor location register and associated local area station with which a particular mobile communications terminal last registered or from which the particular mobile communications terminal last detached.    
   
   
       38 . The dual-mode network of  claim 37  wherein the wide-area network comprises a satellite communications network, and wherein the local-area network comprises terrestrial cellular communications network including ground-based cellular base stations.  
   
   
       39 . The dual-mode network of  claim 37  further comprising: 
 a mobility management processor that receives the visitor location register and associated local-area station identity and that translates the local-area station identity to a corresponding indicated geographic location region of the wide-area network within which the associated local-area station lies.    
   
   
       40 . The dual-mode network of  claim 39  further comprising: 
 a call processor for processing requests from the public telephone network or from the internet to send data to or receive data from a selected one of the mobile terminals, the call processor directing a paging message addressed to the selected mobile terminal to be transmitted via the local area station indicated by a visitor location register indicated by the home location register associated with the selected mobile terminal, or the call processor directing a paging message addressed to the selected mobile terminal to be transmitted by a station of the wide-area network that covers the geographic area indicated by the mobility management processor.    
   
   
       41 - 42 . (canceled)