Call hand-over in a wireless local area network

• US 20050153698A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG (Atos Se)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Sahim, Faramarz, Ozery, Nissim J., Trueman, Nigel, Samayamantry, Mallikarjuna
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatically handing over calls between a wireless LAN and a non-WLAN, with minimum or no disruption of active calls. The invention gives users flexibility in customizing hand-over preferences and allows telephony features to be transferred during the hand-over.

Claims

1. A method for handing over an active call between a first call device and a second call device comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting call hand-over threshold for said first call device;

selecting said second call device from a set of previously defined target hand-over devices; and

establishing a connection to said second call device upon acceptance of said call by said second call device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first call device is a non-WLAN device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first call device is a WLAN device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN device is a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN cellular telephone device uses 3G air interface technology.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN cellular telephone device uses TDMA air interface technology.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN cellular telephone device uses GSM air interface technology.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN cellular telephone device uses CDMA air interface technology.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN cellular telephone device uses UMTS technology.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said non-WLAN device is an office wireline telephone.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein said WLAN device is a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA).

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said first call device supports both WLAN and non-WLAN communications.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said second call device supports both WLAN and non-WLAN communications.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said first call device and said second call device are the same.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said first call device and said second call device are integrated as a single call device.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of dialing telephone number of said second call device after selecting said second call device.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of disconnecting said call from first call device after establishing said connection to said second call device.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand-over threshold is reached when said call Internet Protocol connectivity is lost.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand-over threshold is determined based on Radio Frequency signal strength of the active call.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said hand-over is performed on-demand prior to reaching said hand-over threshold.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said selection of said target device is performed by the caller.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein a user access code is used to perform said on-demand hand-over.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein a user access code is used to select telephony features for transfer from said original device to said target device.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said call remains active after the hand-over is complete.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more hand-overs are performed per call.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein a user associate personalized settings and telephony features with said hand-over devices.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said call hand-over threshold is determine based on available resources in network of said target device.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein said call hand-over threshold is determined based on at least one of call priority or desired call Quality of Service of said call.

29. An apparatus for handing over an active call between a first call device and second call device, said apparatus comprising:

a detector circuit that detects hand-over threshold for said call;

a selector indicator that automatically selects said second call device from a set of previously defined target hand-over devices; and

a mobility server that establishes a connection to said target device upon acceptance of said call by said target device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said first call device is a non-WLAN device.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said first call device is a WLAN device.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a user interface for setting hand-over targets and preferences.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said user interface is provided via a dial up connection.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said user interface is provided via a personal computer.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising a voice prompt generator for notifying other call party when said hand-over is in progress.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said first call device and said second call device are the same.