Unbroken primary connection switching between different communication services

Abstract

A method allows a user of a mobile terminal to switch from a communication service currently active between that mobile terminal and another mobile terminal to a different communication service in such a manner that the end to end connection between terminals appears unbroken to the user. The user initiates the switch by inputting an appropriate command at the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal then transfers a request to the other mobile terminal. The request invokes a user interface on the other mobile terminal and prompts the user of the other mobile terminal to indicate whether or not they agree to switch from the currently active communication service to the other communication service. After receiving the user's response to the prompt, the other mobile terminal sends back a reply indicating the user's response. Signaling to perform the switch is initiated in response to the reply. The active communication service is terminated at the first and second mobile terminal at substantially the same time that the second communication service is initiated at the first and second mobile terminal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of switching between communication services connecting a first mobile terminal with a second mobile terminal, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving in the through a first mobile terminal, operable by a first user, a user request originating from the first user to switch the first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminals terminal, operable by a second user, from a first communication service to a second communication service; 
 (b)determining, by a processor, actions to result in transmitting the user request to switch to the second communication service to the second mobile terminal; and 
 (c) upon receipt of the authorization, associated with the transmitted user request, from the second mobile terminal, causing a switching of the first and second mobile terminals to the second communication service. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the user request through the first mobile terminal; 
 receiving the transmitted user request through the second mobile terminal; 
 generating, based on the received transmitted user request, via an interface of the second mobile terminal, a prompt directed to the second user to indicate whether or not the second user agrees to switch from the first communication service to the second communication service; 
 receiving through the second mobile terminal a response to the prompt originating from the second user; 
 transmitting through the second mobile terminal a reply including an authorization, based on the received response from the second user; and 
 (d)determining actions to result in prompting the second user ofassociated with the second mobile terminal to provide the authorization to switch the second mobile terminal to the second communication service, the prompt indicating a type of the second communication service. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the switching in (c) comprises:
 (i) receiving a connecting signal for the second communication service in the first mobile terminal; and 
 (ii) sending an establishment signal from the first mobile terminal indicating that the first mobile terminal has switched to the second communication service. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication service is a voice call and the second communication service is selected from the list consisting of a video call, and a chat session. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving in (a) through the first mobile terminal comprises:
 (i) entering a messagereceiving a message entered via the first mobile terminal; and 
 (ii) submitting the message along with the and a type of the second communication service that first user wants to switch to. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication service includes a first set of billing parameters and the second communication service includes a second set of billing parameters and the switching in (c) comprises:
 (i) switching the billing parameters in conjunction with the switch in communication services.   
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of billing parameters includes a billing rate and the switching in (i) comprises:
 (l) switching the billing rate in conjunction with the switch in communication.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (d)determining actions for resulting in disconnecting the first communication service substantially simultaneously or after switching to the second communication service. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second communication service comprises a plurality of radio transport protocol sessions. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (d)determining actions for resulting in maintaining the first communication service simultaneously with the second communication service, at least one of during switching and after switching to the second communication service. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first and the second communications services is audio, and the other of the first and second communication services includes at least one of a multimedia component and a chat session. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second communication services is audio and the other of the first and second communication services includes a multimedia component. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication service includes a first set of billing parameters and the second communication service includes a second set of different billing parameters, the method further comprising:
 in conjunction with the switch in communication services, causing a switching of the first set of billing parameters to the second set of billing parameters.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first set of billing parameters includes a first billing rate, the second set of different billing parameters includes a second and different billing rate, and the switching of the billing parameters comprises:
 switching the first set of billing parameters including the first billing rate to the second set of billing parameters including the second billing rate, in conjunction with the switch in communication services.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
 including a type of the second communication service in the user request.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing of the switching comprises:
 initiating a signaling session of the second communication service.   
     
     
       17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
 including a message in the user request to switch; and   determining the message in the causing the switching.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor; and   at least one memory including computer program code,   the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
 receive through a first mobile terminal, operable by a first user, a user request originating from the first user to switch the first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal, operable by a second user, from a first communication service to a second communication service, 
 determine actions to result in transmitting the user request to switch to the second communication service to the second mobile terminal, and 
 upon receipt of the authorization, associated with the transmitted user request, from the second mobile terminal, cause a switching of the first and second mobile terminals to the second communication service. 
   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 transmit the user request from the first mobile terminal,   receive the transmitted user request through the second mobile terminal,   generate, based on the received transmitted user request, via an interface of the second mobile terminal, a prompt directed to the second user to indicate whether or not the second user agrees to switch from the first communication service to the second communication service,   receive at the second mobile terminal a response to the prompt originating from the second user,   transmit from the second mobile terminal a reply including an authorization, based on the received response from the second user, and   determine actions to result in prompting the second user associated with the second mobile terminal to provide the authorization to switch the second mobile terminal to the second communication service, the prompt indicating a type of the second communication service.   
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the switching comprises:
 receiving a connecting signal for the second communication service in the first mobile terminal; and   sending an establishment signal from the first mobile terminal indicating that the first mobile terminal has switched to the second communication service.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first communication service is a voice call and the second communication service is selected from the list consisting of a video call, and a chat session. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
 receive a message entered via the first mobile terminal; and   submit the message and a type of the second communication service that the first user wants to switch to.   
     
     
       23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:
 receive through a first mobile terminal, operable by a first user, a user request originating from the first user to switch the first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal, operable by a second user, from a first communication service to a second communication service,   determine actions to result in transmitting the user request to switch to the second communication service to the second mobile terminal, and   upon receipt of the authorization, associated with the transmitted user request, from the second mobile terminal, cause a switching of the first and second mobile terminals to the second communication service.   
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
 transmit the user request from the first mobile terminal,   receive the transmitted user request through the second mobile terminal,   generate, based on the received transmitted user request, via an interface of the second mobile terminal, a prompt directed to the second user to indicate whether or not the second user agrees to switch from the first communication service to the second communication service,   receive at the second mobile terminal a response to the prompt originating from the second user,   transmit from the second mobile terminal a reply including an authorization, based on the received response from the second user, and   determine actions to result in prompting the second user associated with the second mobile terminal to provide the authorization to switch the second mobile terminal to the second communication service, the prompt indicating a type of the second communication service.