Wireless communication methods and components for facilitating multiple network type compatibility

• US 20060056448A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rahman, Shamim Akbar, Zuniga, Juan Carlos, Shaheen, Kamel M., Carlton, Alan Gerald, Rudolf, Marian, Zaki, Maged
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

This invention relates to wireless local area networks (WLANs), and the interoperability of networks of different types or conforming to different standards, and to methods and apparatus to allow a multimode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), which is able to operate in more than one type of network, to handover from one network type to another without adversely affecting service, utilizing a mechanism and information flows implemented in a new protocol stack.

Claims

1. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured for use in a plurality of types of wireless networks, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive and transmit multiple types of selectively constructed wireless communication signals, each type of signals constructed in accordance with a predefined signal construction used for communication in one type of the wireless networks with which the WTRU is configured to be used;

the transceiver including;

a plurality of signal processing components, each configured to implement the protocols of a different type of network to process that respective type network'"'"'s communication signals received by the transceiver and to selectively construct that respective type of network'"'"'s signals for transmission by the transceiver;

an internetworking decision component configured to identify different networks available for implementing wireless communications based on received signals of different types and to implement a change in the selection of the type of communication signals used in for a WTRU communication; and

an interface component configured to communicate signaling by the internetworking decision component between the signal processing components such that a WTRU communication can be continued while switching from wireless communication using one type of network signals to wireless communication using a different type of network signals.

2. A WTRU according to claim 1 configured for use in both a cellular network and a wireless local are network (WLAN), wherein:

the plurality of signal processing components include;

a cellular signal processing component that processes cellular signals in a cellular physical layer, a cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a cellular radio resource control layer (RRC); and

a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes WLAN signals in a WLAN physical layer, a WLAN MAC layer, and a WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer; and

the internetworking decision component is configured to interface between cellular RRC layer processing of the cellular signal processing unit and WLAN MAC layer processing of the WLAN signal processing unit.

3. A WTRU according to claim 2 wherein the internetworking decision component is configured as an additional layer (Layer 2.5) within the WLAN signal processing component that provides indication services, network advertisement and discovery services and mobility services for inter-network handover and the interface component is configured for signaling between the WLAN 2.5 layer and the RRC layer.

4. A WTRU according to claim 3 wherein the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement Indication Services that set up triggers to the L2.5 mobility service in order to make a handover decision based on triggers from physical and MAC layers, set up triggers to higher protocol layers to be sent on higher layer signaling interfaces, and set up triggers to physical and MAC layers, sent on physical and MAC layer interfaces, the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement network advertisement and discovery services that manage the discovery and selection of networks by maintaining a neighbor list of networks along with each network'"'"'s capabilities where such services are configured to interact with the mobility services to convey the information to the mobility services to enable the mobility services to make appropriate handoff decisions, and the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement mobility services for security context transfer and pre-authentication functions for inter-network handover with respect to the types of networks with which the WTRU is configured to communicate and make handover decisions for a communication from one type of network to another based on desired levels of QoS, communication link conditions and/or user preferences such that the mobility services are configured as independent from network physical requirements addressed by physical and MAC layer components.

5. A WTRU according to claim 1 wherein the internetworking decision component is configured as an additional layer (Layer 2.5) within the interface component that provides indication services, network advertisement and discovery services and mobility services for inter-network handover and the interface component is configured for signaling between the WLAN 2.5 layer and the plurality of signal processing components.

6. A WTRU according to claim 5 configured for use in both cellular networks and wireless local are networks (WLAN), wherein:

the plurality of signal processing components include;

a GSM cellular signal processing component that processes GSM cellular signals in a GSM cellular physical layer, a GSM cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a GSM cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a GSM cellular radio resource control layer (RRC);

a 3GPP cellular signal processing component that processes 3GPP cellular signals in a 3GPP cellular physical layer, a 3GPP cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a 3GPP cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a 3GPP cellular radio resource control layer (RRC);

a 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes 802.11 WLAN signals in a 802.11 WLAN physical layer, a 802.11 WLAN MAC layer, and a 802.11 WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer; and

a 802.16 wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes 802.16 WLAN signals in a 802.16 WLAN physical layer, a 802.16 WLAN MAC layer, and a 802.16 WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer; and

the internetworking decision component is configured to interface among the cellular and WLAN signal processing components.

7. A WTRU according to claim 6 wherein the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement Indication Services that set up triggers to the L2.5 mobility service in order to make a handover decision based on triggers from physical and MAC layers, set up triggers to high protocol layers to be sent on higher layer signaling interfaces and set up triggers to physical and MAC layers, sent on physical and MAC layer interfaces, the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement network advertisement and discovery services that manage the discovery and selection of networks by maintaining a neighbor list of networks along with each network'"'"'s capabilities where such services are configured to interact with the mobility services to convey the information to the mobility services to enable the mobility services to make appropriate handoff decisions, and the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement mobility services for security context transfer and pre-authentication functions for inter-network handover with respect to the types of networks with which the WTRU is configured to communicate and make handover decisions for a communication from one type of network to another based on desired levels of QoS, communication link conditions and/or user preferences such that the mobility services are configured as independent from network physical requirements addressed by physical and MAC layer components.

18. A WTRU according to claim 7 wherein the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement Indication Services that set up triggers to the L2.5 mobility service in order to make a handover decision based on triggers from physical and MAC layers, set up triggers to high protocol layers to be sent on higher layer signaling interfaces and set up triggers to physical and MAC layers, sent on physical and MAC layer interfaces, the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement network advertisement and discovery services that manage the discovery and selection of networks by maintaining a neighbor list of networks along with each network'"'"'s capabilities where such services are configured to interact with the mobility services to convey the information to the mobility services to enable the mobility services to make appropriate handoff decisions, and the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement mobility services for security context transfer and pre-authentication functions for inter-network handover with respect to the types of networks with which the WTRU is configured to communicate and make handover decisions for a communication from one type of network to another based on desired levels of QoS, communication link conditions and/or user preferences such that the mobility services are configured as independent from network physical requirements addressed by physical and MAC layer components.

8. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) configured for use in a plurality of types of networks, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive and transmit selectively constructed wireless communication signals for communication in at least one type of wireless network with which the WTRU is configured to be used;

the transceiver including a wireless first signal processing component configured to implement the protocols of a first type of wireless network to process first type network communication signals received by the transceiver and selectively construct first type network signals for transmission by the transceiver;

a second signal processing component configured to implement the protocols of a second type of network to process second type network communication signals received by the WTRU and selectively construct second type network signals for communicating via the second type of network;

an internetworking decision component configured to identify different networks available for implementing communications based on received signals of different types and to implement a change in the selection of the type of communication signals used in for a WTRU communication; and

an interface component configured to communicate signaling by the internetworking decision component between the first and second signal processing components such that a WTRU communication can be continued while switching from communication using one type of network signals to communication using a different type of network signals where at least one of the networks is a wireless network.

9. A WTRU according to claim 8 wherein the second signal processing component is configured to process network communication signals received by the WTRU via a wired connection.

10. A WTRU according to claim 8 wherein the transceiver includes:

a plurality of signal processing components, each configured to implement the protocols of a different type of network to process that respective type network'"'"'s communication signals received by the transceiver and selectively construct that respective type of network'"'"'s signals for transmission by the transceiver; and

the internetworking decision component.

11. A WTRU according to claim 10 configured for use in both a cellular network and a wireless local are network (WLAN), wherein the plurality of signal processing components include:

a cellular signal processing component that processes cellular signals in a cellular physical layer, a cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a cellular radio resource control layer (RRC); and

a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes WLAN signals in a WLAN physical layer, a WLAN MAC layer, and a WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer.

12. A WTRU according to claim 11 wherein the second signal processing component is configured to process network communication signals received by the WTRU via a wired connection.

13. A WTRU according to claim 11 wherein the internetworking decision component is configured as an additional layer (Layer 2.5) within the WLAN signal processing component that provides indication services, network advertisement and discovery services and mobility services for inter-network handover and the interface component is configured for signaling between the WLAN 2.5 layer and the RRC layer.

14. A WTRU according to claim 13 wherein the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement Indication Services that set up triggers to the L2.5 mobility service in order to make a handover decision based on triggers from physical and MAC layers, set up triggers to high protocol layers to be sent on higher layer signaling interfaces and set up triggers to physical and MAC layers, sent on physical and MAC layer interfaces, the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement network advertisement and discovery services that manage the discovery and selection of networks by maintaining a neighbor list of networks along with each network'"'"'s capabilities where such services are configured to interact with the mobility services to convey the information to the mobility services to enable the mobility services to make appropriate handoff decisions, and the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement mobility services for security context transfer and pre-authentication functions for inter-network handover with respect to the types of networks with which the WTRU is configured to communicate and make handover decisions for a communication from one type of network to another based on desired levels of QoS, communication link conditions and/or user preferences such that the mobility services are configured as independent from network physical requirements addressed by physical and MAC layer components.

15. A WTRU according to claim 11 wherein the internetworking decision component is configured as an additional layer (Layer 2.5) within the interface component that provides indication services, network advertisement and discovery services and mobility services for inter-network handover and the interface component is configured for signaling between the WLAN 2.5 layer and the signal processing components.

16. A WTRU according to claim 15 wherein the second signal processing component is configured to process network communication signals received by the WTRU via a wired connection.

17. A WTRU according to claim 15 configured for use in both cellular networks and wireless local are networks (WLAN), wherein:

the plurality of signal processing components include;

a GSM cellular signal processing component that processes GSM cellular signals in a GSM cellular physical layer, a GSM cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a GSM cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a GSM cellular radio resource control layer (RRC);

a 3GPP cellular signal processing component that processes 3GPP cellular signals in a 3GPP cellular physical layer, a 3GPP cellular media access control (MAC) layer, a 3GPP cellular radio link control (RLC) layer, and a 3GPP cellular radio resource control layer (RRC);

a 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes 802.11 WLAN signals in a 802.11 WLAN physical layer, a 802.11 WLAN MAC layer, and a 802.11 WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer; and

a 802.16 wireless local area network (WLAN) signal processing component that processes 802.16 WLAN signals in a 802.16 WLAN physical layer, a 802.16 WLAN MAC layer, and a 802.16 WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer; and

the internetworking decision component is configured to interface among the cellular and WLAN signal processing components.

19. A wireless local area network (WLAN) network station for communication with multimode wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) configured for use in the WLAN and at least one other type of networks, the WLAN network station comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive and transmit WLAN wireless communication signals for communication with the multimode WTRUs;

the transceiver including a wireless signal processing component configured to implement the protocols of a first type of wireless network to process first type network communication signals received by the transceiver and selectively construct first type network signals for transmission by the transceiver; and

an internetworking decision component configured to identify different networks available for implementing communications based on received signals of different types and to implement a change in the selection of the type of communication signals used in for a WTRU communication.

20. A WLAN network station according to claim 19 wherein the wireless signal processing component is configured to process WLAN signals in a WLAN physical layer, a WLAN MAC layer, and a WLAN logical link control (LLC) layer;

and

the internetworking decision component is configured as an additional layer (Layer 2.5) within the WLAN signal processing component that provides indication services, network advertisement and discovery services and mobility services for inter-network handover.

21. A WLAN network station according to claim 20 wherein the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement Indication Services that set up triggers to the L2.5 mobility service in order to make a handover decision based on triggers from physical and MAC layers, set up triggers to high protocol layers to be sent on higher layer signaling interfaces and set up triggers to physical and MAC layers, sent on physical and MAC layer interfaces, the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement network advertisement and discovery services that manage the discovery and selection of networks by maintaining a neighbor list of networks along with each network'"'"'s capabilities where such services are configured to interact with the mobility services to convey the information to the mobility services to enable the mobility services to make appropriate handoff decisions, and the Layer 2.5 internetworking decision component is configured to implement mobility services for security context transfer and pre-authentication functions for inter-network handover with respect to the types of networks with which the WTRU is configured to communicate and make handover decisions for a communication from one type of network to another based on desired levels of QoS, communication link conditions and/or user preferences such that the mobility services are configured as independent from network physical requirements addressed by physical and MAC layer components.