Extension of a local area phone system to a wide area network with handoff features

• US 20060025141A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lon Communication Mgmt LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Marsh, Gene W., Umpleby, Katherine W., Soledade, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]
• 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 36/14 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 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A soft switch 134 providing wireless PBX voice services to a local area network (WLAN) is used to extend PBX functionality to the cellular domain. A dual mode remote unit is capable of receiving signals both in the cellular system as well as the WLAN. The cellular system is comprised of a data-bearing path and a voice-bearing path. When the dual mode remote unit is within the WLAN, it communicates both voice over IP (VoIP) signaling as well as session initiation protocol (SIP) control signaling over the WLAN. When the remote unit is outside the WLAN, it communicates voice signaling over the voice-bearing path of the cellular network using a standard cellular voice channel. In parallel, it uses the data-bearing path of the cellular network to transmit SIP control signaling.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a call in a cellular communication system from a wireless phone to a remote party comprising:

receiving a vicarious call initiation from the wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation containing an identifier indicating the remote party;

receiving a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system;

correlating the vicarious call initiation with the voice call.

2. The method of 1, further comprising:

placing a second voice call to the remote party.

3. The method of 2, further comprising:

connecting the first voice call to the second voice call.

4. The method of 3, wherein the vicarious call initiation is received over a data-bearing path of the cellular communication system.

5. The method of 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a HyperText Transfer Protocol post message from the wireless phone.

6. The method of 5, wherein the a HyperText Transfer Protocol post message is sent over a secure socket layer.

7. The method of 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a Short Message Services communication.

8. The method of 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is an Internet Protocol Security Protocol encoded message.

9. The method of 4, wherein the vicarious call initiation is communicated over a virtual private network.

10. The method of 4, further comprising:

authenticating the wireless phone through a wireless phone identifier contained in the vicarious call initiation.

11. An apparatus in a cellular communication system comprising:

a third-party application gateway configured to receive a vicarious call initiation from a wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation containing an identifier indicating a remote party;

a connection session manager configured to receive a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system; and

a call controller configured to correlate the vicarious call initiation with the voice call.

12. The apparatus of. 11, wherein the connection session manager is further configured to place a second voice call to the remote party.

13. The apparatus of 12, wherein the call controller is further configured to connect the first voice call to the second voice call.

14. The apparatus of 13, wherein the vicarious call initiation is received over a data-bearing path of the cellular communication system.

15. The apparatus of 14, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a HyperText Transfer Protocol post message from the wireless phone.

16. The apparatus of 15, wherein the a HyperText Transfer Protocol post message is sent over a secure socket layer.

17. The apparatus of 14, wherein the vicarious call initiation is a Short Message Services communication.

18. The apparatus of 14, wherein the vicarious call initiation is an Internet Protocol Security Protocol encoded message.

19. The apparatus of 14, wherein the vicarious call initiation is communicated over a virtual private network.

20. A computer readable medium encoded with data and instructions of initiating a call in a cellular communication system from a wireless phone to a remote party, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to:

receive a vicarious call initiation from the wireless phone, the vicarious call initiation containing an identifier indicating the remote party;

receive a first voice call from the wireless phone over a voice-bearing path of the cellular communication system;

correlate the vicarious call initiation with the voice call.