Session initiation protocol (SIP) based user initiated handoff

• US 20050141456A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/37 E-mail addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/026 using e-messaging for transporting management information, e.g. email, instant messaging or chat
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• 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 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a solution to the handoff problem includes negotiation of new media codes (coders/decoders) for utilization in cases where the two devices involved in the handoff are incompatible. Although mobile IP (MIP) is presently utilized to perform handoff procedures, this technique lacks a trigger mechanism to initiate handoff between two different devices which communicate with two different networks or one common network. In addition, MIP does not address the issue of compatibilities between media types, codes and supported bit rate. The handoff utilizes a session protocol (SIP) message for handoff.

Claims

1. A method for handoff of a real-time session from a first type of wireless device to a second type of wireless device different from said first type of wireless device wherein said first type of wireless device conducts a real time session through a first type of network and said second type of wireless device is capable of conducting a real time session through a second type of network different from said first type of network, comprising:

said second type of wireless device being activated to initiate a handoff to said first type of wireless device;

said second type of wireless device responsive to activation, establishing communication with said second type of network;

said second type of wireless device conveying a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to said second type of network requesting a handoff (HO) from said first to said second type of wireless device;

said second type of network, responsive to said SIP message, transmitting to said second type of wireless device acceptance of said HO request;

said second type of wireless device responsive to said acceptance message sending an SIP acknowledgement (ACK); and

said handoff being completed by said second type of network whereby said real time session continues with the first type of wireless device being replaced by second type of wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second type of network, responsive to said SIP ACK, transmits a terminate signal to said first type of wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first type of wireless device, responsive to receipt of the terminate message of said real time session, sends an acknowledge message.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second type of network responsive to said message acknowledging the termination received from said first type of wireless device sends an SIP ACK to said first type of wireless device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said first type of wireless device terminates its participation in said real-time session after sending said acknowledge message.

6. Apparatus for handoff of a real-time session from a first type of wireless device to a second type of wireless device different from said first type of wireless device wherein said first type of wireless device conducts a real time session through a first type of network and said second type of wireless device is capable of conducting a real time session through a second type of network different from said first type of network, comprising:

said second type of wireless device having means to initiate a handoff to said first type of wireless device when activated;

means responsive to activation for establishing communication with said second type of network;

means for conveying a session initiation protocol (SIP) message to said second type of network requesting a handoff (HO) from said first to said second type of wireless device;

said second type of network comprising;

means for responsive to said SIP message for transmitting to said second type of wireless device acceptance of said HO request; and

said second type of wireless device comprising;

means responsive to said acceptance message for sending an SIP acknowledgement (ACK);

whereby said handoff is completed by said second type of network, said real time session continuing with the first type of wireless device being replaced by the second type of wireless device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second type of network further comprises:

means responsive to said SIP ACK for transmitting a terminate signal to said first type of wireless device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first type of wireless device further comprises:

means responsive to receipt of the terminate message of said real time session, for sending an acknowledge message.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said second type of network further comprises:

means responsive to said message acknowledging the termination received from said first type of wireless device for sending an SIP ACK to said first type of wireless device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first type of wireless device further comprises:

means for terminating its participation of said first type of wireless device in said real-time session after sending said acknowledge message.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first type of network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second type of network is one of a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

13. The apparatus of claim 11 said first type of wireless network further includes an access point (AP).

14. The apparatus of claim 11 said second type of wireless network further includes an access point (AP).