Voice and data continuity between wireless devices

• US 10,512,038 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2018
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Su, Li, Shamim, Tahir, Shi, Jianxiong, Zhang, Wanping
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh C
• Application Number:
  US16/025,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20180317167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/25 Maintenance of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An accessory wireless device partakes in a data session with a remote device. The data session may be a voice call or other service. To preserve the battery power of the accessory wireless device, the accessory wireless device opportunistically offloads medium-to-long range radio transmission and reception tasks to the companion wireless device while maintaining call continuity. The accessory wireless device and the companion wireless device communicate through a local connection. In one embodiment, the accessory wireless device pushes a wireless wide area network (WWAN) connection to the companion device by sharing selected security and network information with the companion wireless device. When the accessory device and/or the companion device determine that the local connection may not be sustainable, the accessory device pulls the WWAN connection of the companion device back to itself.

Claims

1. A method to maintain continuity of a data session between a first wireless device and a remote device by relaying data to the first wireless device from a second wireless device, the method comprising:

at the second wireless device;

receiving a signaling message from the first wireless device over a local connection, wherein the signaling message comprises;

a request to receive data for the data session via the local connection, and

a base station identifier identifying a base station of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) via which the first wireless device established the data session with the remote device;

receiving a first key from the first wireless device;

establishing, using the first key, a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the base station identified by the base station identifier;

receiving, from the base station subsequent to the establishing, data for the data session originating from the remote device; and

transmitting the data to the first wireless device via the local connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the second wireless device;

receiving a request from the first wireless device to establish the local connection; and

establishing the local connection with the first wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first wireless device, a second key, an integrity key (IK), and a cipher key (CK).

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI) from the first wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

establishing, using the second key and the TMSI, a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) connection to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the WWAN.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second key comprises a NAS encryption key.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first key comprises an RRC encryption key.

8. A wireless device comprising:

one or more antennas; and

processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas and comprising one or more processors and a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signaling message from an accessory wireless device over a local connection, wherein the signaling message comprises;

a request to receive data for a data session between the accessory wireless device and a remote device via the local connection, and

a base station identifier identifying a base station of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) via which the accessory wireless device established the data session with the remote device;

receiving a first key from the accessory wireless device;

establishing, using the first key, a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the base station identified by the base station identifier;

receiving, from the base station subsequent to the establishing, data for the data session originating from the remote device; and

transmitting the data to the accessory wireless device via the local connection.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request from the accessory wireless device to establish the local connection; and

establishing the local connection with the accessory wireless device.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the accessory wireless device, a second key, an integrity key (IK), and a cipher key (CK).

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI) from the accessory wireless device.

12. The wireless device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing, using the second key and the TMSI, a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) connection to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the WWAN.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the second key comprises a NAS encryption key.

14. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the first key comprises an RRC encryption key.

15. An apparatus configurable for operation in a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to perform operations comprising;

receiving a signaling message from an accessory wireless device over a local connection, wherein the signaling message comprises;

a request to receive data for a data session between the accessory wireless device and a remote device via the local connection, and

a base station identifier identifying a base station of a wireless wide area network (WWAN) via which the accessory wireless device established the data session with the remote device;

receiving a first key from the accessory wireless device;

establishing, using the first key, a radio resource control (RRC) connection with the base station identified by the base station identifier;

receiving, from the base station subsequent to the establishing, data for the data session originating from the remote device; and

transmitting the data to the accessory wireless device via the local connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request from the accessory wireless device to establish the local connection; and

establishing the local connection with the accessory wireless device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the accessory wireless device, a second key, an integrity key (IK), and a cipher key (CK).

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a temporary mobile station identifier (TMSI) from the accessory wireless device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing, using the second key and the TMSI, a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) connection to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the WWAN.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the second key comprises a NAS encryption key; and

the first key comprises an RRC encryption key.