Method and apparatus for providing a hand-in to a wireless local area network

• US 20040264424A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirsbrunner, Alex P., Belkin, Anatoly S., Idnani, Ajaykumar
• Granted Patent: US 7,414,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A communication unit (10) with dual-mode operating capability comprises: a receiver (203, 204) and a transmitter (207, 208) for supporting an initial connection with another communication unit (12) on a first wireless network (16, 18, 20); and a controller (205), coupled to and controlling the receiver and transmitter, to maintain the initial connection and receive messages from or send messages to the other communications unit to effectuate a new connection over a second wireless network (11). A corresponding method includes while participating in an initial connection (302) detecting availability of a new connection (304) and establishing the new connection by exchanging messages between the communication units over the initial connection (310, 312).

Claims

1. A method for providing a communication unit with a hand-in from an initial network to a wireless local area network while the communication unit currently has an initial connection with a target communication unit on the initial network, the method comprising:

detecting coverage for the wireless local area network;

sending a hand-in request to the target communication unit when the coverage is detected;

accepting a new connection with the target communication unit over the wireless local area network, the new connection initiated by the target communication unit; and

terminating the initial connection with the target communication unit on the initial network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending one of an in-band and an out of band message to the target communication unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending a tone in-band message to the target communication unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending an out of band Integrated Services Digital Network user to user message to the target communication unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending a Short Messaging Service out of band message to the target communication unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending a packet data message to the target communication unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the hand-in request further comprises sending an out of band internet protocol message to the target communication unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial network is a cellular wide area network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial network is another wireless local area network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering with the wireless local area network after detecting the coverage for the wireless local area network to determine if the communication unit can operate on the wireless local area network.

11. A method for providing a communication unit with a hand-in from an initial network to a wireless local area network while a target communication unit currently has an initial connection with the communication unit on the initial network, the method comprising:

receiving a hand-in request from the communication unit;

initiating a new three-way connection with the communication unit over the wireless local area network; and

terminating the initial connection with the communication unit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving the hand-in request from the communication unit further comprises receiving one of an in-band and an out of band message from the communication unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving the hand-in request from the communication unit further comprises receiving one of a tone in-band message, an out of band Integrated Services Digital Network user to user message, a Short Messaging Service out of band message, a packet data message and an out of band internet protocol message from the communication unit.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the initiating of the new three-way connection with the communication unit over the wireless local area network further comprises initiating the new connection via a public enterprise number associated with the communication unit.

15. A communication unit with dual-mode operating capability comprising:

a receiver and a transmitter for supporting an initial connection with another communication unit on a first wireless network; and

a controller, coupled to and controlling the receiver and transmitter, to maintain the initial connection and to one of receive messages from and send messages to the other communications unit to effectuate a new connection over a second wireless network.

16. The communication unit of claim 15 wherein:

the receiver coupled to the controller is further for detecting coverage for a wireless local area network; and

the transmitter and the receiver are controlled by the controller for establishing a new connection with the other communication unit over the wireless local area network and then terminating the initial connection with the other communication unit.

17. The communication unit of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is further for sending a hand-in request to the other communication unit prior to the establishing the new connection.

18. The communication unit of claim 17, wherein the transmitter is further for sending the hand-in request as one of a tone in-band message, an out of band Integrated Services Digital Network user to user message, a Short Messaging Service out of band message, a packet data message and an out of band internet protocol message.

19. The communication unit of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is further for registering with the wireless local area network prior to establishing the new connection to determine if the communication unit can operate on the wireless local area network.

20. The communication unit of claim 15, wherein the receiver is further for receiving a hand-in request from the other communication unit via the initial connection.

21. The communication unit of claim 20, wherein the transmitter cooperatively with the controller is further for initiating the new connection by contacting a public enterprise number associated with the other communication unit.