Method and system for user initiated inter-device, inter-system, and inter-internet protocol address handoff

• US 20040122954A1
• Filed: 09/02/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0019 adapted for mobile IP [MIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/365 by manual user interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/38 by fixed network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Apparatus and method by which Internet Protocol (IP) traffic can be transferred (i.e. handoff) between two different terminals operating according to two different technology standards in two different systems with two different IP addresses. For example, a session handoff can be made between a terminal in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) a terminal in a 3GPP UMTS or between a terminal in CDMA2000 and a terminal in a 3GPP UMTS. These terminals can be either physically separate entities or logical entities that are encapsulated within a common enclosure.

Claims

1. A method for providing a handoff (HO) between first and second wireless terminals respectively configured for communication with first and second systems, said first terminal being different from said second terminal, said first system having a technology standard different from said second system, and respectively identified by different internet protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:

a) said first terminal initiating a request for an HO to said second terminal during a current session with said first system;

b) alerting the first terminal to ensure that the second terminal is on and is connected to the second system;

c) inquiring if the first system has the connection information;

d) obtaining the IP address of the second terminal from said connection information; and

e) initiating a rerouting process of said current session from said first terminal to said second terminal responsive to receipt of a confirmation of the second terminal IP address.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step of obtaining the IP address of the second terminal further comprises:

checking existence of said IP address.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining the connection information further comprises:

obtaining the connection information from the subscriber in the event that the first system does not have the connection information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of requesting connection information comprises:

obtaining the system ID, terminal ID and IP address for use with the second system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second terminals are separate independent entities.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second terminals are logical entities housed within a common enclosure.

7. A method for providing a handoff (HO) between first and second wireless terminals respectively configured for communication with first and second systems, said first terminal being different from said second terminal, said first system having a technology standard different from said second system, and respectively identified by different internet protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:

a) said first terminal initiating a request for an HO to said second terminal during a current session with said first system;

b) alerting the first terminal to ensure that the second terminal is on and is connected to the second system;

c) inquiring if the first system has the connection information;

d) obtaining the IP address of the second terminal from said connection information;

e) confirm receipt of the IP address of the second terminal;

f) instructing the second terminal to switch on and confirm if the confirmation of step (e) is not received; and

g) repeating steps (a) through (e) responsive to receipt of the confirmation requested in step (f), and

h) said first terminal to said second terminal responsive to receipt of a confirmation of the second terminal IP address.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising aborting the HO procedure if the confirmation requested in step (f) is not received.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising aborting the HO process during if a confirmation is not received during the repeated performance of step (e).

10. A method for providing a handoff (HO) between first and second wireless terminals respectively configured for communication with first and second systems, said first terminal being different from said second terminal, said first system having a technology standard different from said second system, and respectively identified by different internet protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:

a) said first terminal initiating a request for an HO to said second terminal during a current session with said first system;

b) alerting the first terminal to ensure that the second terminal is on and is connected to the second system;

c) inquiring if the first system has the connection information;

d) contacting a home subscriber server (HSS) in said first system;

e) obtaining the internet protocol (IP) address of the second terminal responsive to confirmation that the second terminal is on; and

f) performing the rerouting process.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of obtaining the connection information further comprises:

obtaining the connection information from the subscriber in the event that the first system does not have the connection information.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of requesting connection information comprises:

obtaining the system ID, terminal ID and IP address for use with the second system.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first and second terminals are separate independent entities.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second terminals are logical entities housed within a common enclosure.

15. A method for providing a handoff (HO) between first and second wireless terminals respectively configured for communication with first and second systems, said first terminal being different from said second terminal, said first system having a technology standard different from said second system, and respectively identified by different internet protocol (IP) addresses, comprising:

a) said first terminal initiating a request for an HO to said second terminal during a current session with said first system;

b) alerting the first terminal to ensure that the second terminal is on and is connected to the second system;

c) inquiring if the first system has the connection information;

d) contacting a home subscriber server (HSS) in said first system;

e) obtaining the internet protocol (IP) address of the second terminal responsive to confirmation that the second terminal is on; and

f) instructing the second terminal to switch on and confirm if the confirmation of step (e) is not received; and

g) repeating steps (a) through (e) responsive to receipt of the confirmation requested in step (f), and

h) said first terminal to said second terminal responsive to receipt of a confirmation of the second terminal IP address.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising aborting the HO procedure if the confirmation requested in step (f) is not received.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising aborting the HO process during if a confirmation is not received during the repeated performance of step (e).