Circuit-switched and packet-switched communications

A method, comprising:

• communicating between a first terminal and a second terminal using a communication system comprising a network having a first network access point and a second network access point and configured to carry data between the first network access point and the second access point using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit-switched bearer;
• connecting the first terminal to the first network access point;
• connecting the second terminal to the second network access point;
• and
• simultaneously supporting, using each of the terminals, a packet-switched connection and a circuit-switched connection with the other terminal via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of one bearer type is established at the commencement of communication between the terminals using addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals, and a connection of the other bearer type is subsequently established between the terminals when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the other bearer type;
• and
• configuring each terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals is different from the addresses of the second bearer type of the respective terminals.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to connect to an access point of a network and simultaneously support a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with another terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement,
• wherein the processor is configured to establish a connection of the first bearer type at a commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the processor is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

A method, comprising:

• operating a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

A terminal application, configured to:

• operate in a terminal configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• and
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the terminal is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

A method, comprising:

• operating an application for a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• establishing the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

A computer program tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium operable to control an apparatus in a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;

• the computer program being configured to perform the following:
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the computer program is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

An apparatus, configured to:

• operate in a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer -type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• use an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal.

A system, comprising:

• a network having a first network access point and a second network access point and configured to carry data between the first network access point and the second access point using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit-switched bearer;
• and
• a first terminal configured to connect to the first network access point and a second terminal configured to connect to the second network access point, each terminal being configured to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with the other terminal via the network as a single logical communication arrangement, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa, wherein
• the connection of the first bearer type is configured to be established at the commencement of communication between the terminals using addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals, and the connection of the second bearer type is configured to be subsequently established between the terminals when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type,
• wherein each terminal is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals are different from the addresses of the second bearer type of the respective terminals;
• wherein the terminals are configured to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• each terminal communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• and
• wherein each terminal is configured to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal and the proxy server is configured to be responsive to that address to provide the packet-switching address of that other terminal.

A method, comprising:

• communicating between a first terminal and a second terminal using a communication system comprising a network having a first network access point and a second network access point and configured to carry data between the first network access point and the second access point using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit-switched bearer;
• connecting the first terminal to the first network access point;
• connecting the second terminal to the second network access point;
• and
• simultaneously supporting, using each of the terminals, a packet-switched connection and a circuit-switched connection with the other terminal via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of one bearer type is established at the commencement of communication between the terminals using addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals, and a connection of the other bearer type is subsequently established between the terminals when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the other bearer type;
• and
• configuring each terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice-versa and the addresses of the first bearer type of the respective terminals is different from the addresses of the second bearer type of the respective terminals;
• configuring the terminals to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections;
• establishing the circuit-switched connection;
• and
• transmitting, by each terminal, the terminal's respective packet-switching address to the other terminal using the circuit-switched connection;
• each terminal communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• configuring each terminal to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal;
• and
• configuring the proxy server to be responsive to that address to provide the packet-switching address of that other terminal.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to connect to an access point of a network and simultaneously support a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with another terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement,
• wherein the processor is configured to establish a connection of the first bearer type at a commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the processor is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal
• wherein the processor is configured to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• and
• the processor is configured to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal.

A method, comprising:

• operating a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal;
• configuring the terminal to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• transmitting the terminal's packet-switching address to the other terminal using the circuit-switched connection;
• communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• configuring the terminal to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal;
• and
• configuring the proxy server to be responsive to that address to provide the packet-switching address of that other terminal.

A terminal application, configured to:

• operate in a terminal configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• and
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the terminal is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal;
• wherein the application is configured to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• wherein the application is configured to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal.

A method, comprising:

• operating an application for a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establishing a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• establishing the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal;
• configuring the application to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• transmitting the terminal's packet-switching address to the other terminal using the circuit-switched connection;
• communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• configuring the application to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal;
• and
• configuring the proxy server to be responsive to that address to provide the packet- switching address of that other terminal.

A computer program tangibly embodied on a computer-readable storage medium operable to control an apparatus in a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;

• the computer program being configured to perform the following:
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establish a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa,
• wherein the computer program is configured to establish the connection of the second bearer type using an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal, and
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal and configure the terminals to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections;
• establish the circuit-switched connection;
• and
• transmit, by each terminal, the terminal's respective packet-switching address to the other terminal using the circuit-switched connection;
• each terminal communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• configure each terminal to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal;
• and
• configure the proxy server to be responsive to that address to provide the packet-switching address of that other terminal.

An apparatus, configured to:

• operate in a terminal, the terminal being configured to connect to an access point of a network and to support simultaneously a connection of a first bearer type and a connection of a second bearer type with an other terminal using a packet-switched bearer and a circuit switched bearer via the network as a single logical communication arrangement;
• establish a connection of the first bearer type at the commencement of communication with the other terminal using an address of the first bearer type of the other terminal, and subsequently establishing a connection of the second bearer type with the other terminal when a new type of data is introduced into the communication, transmission of which is better supported by a connection of the second bearer type, wherein the first bearer type is a packet-switched bearer and the second bearer type is a circuit-switched bearer or vice versa;
• and
• use an address of the second bearer type of the other terminal to establish the connection of the second bearer type,
• wherein the address of the first bearer type of the other terminal is different from the address of the second bearer type of the other terminal
• wherein the apparatus is configured to perform an operation to establish the simultaneous packet-switched and circuit-switched connections by
• establishing the circuit-switched connection, and
• communicating with a proxy server of the network to obtain from the proxy server the packet-switching address of the other terminal;
• wherein the apparatus is configured to provide the respective proxy server with a network address of the other terminal.