System and method of reducing session transfer time from a cellular network to a Wi-Fi network

• US 20060184795A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Doradla, Anil, Muhamed, Rias
• Application Number:
  US11/056,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/167
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0016 Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A method of transferring a data session of a portable computing device from a cellular network and to a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network is described. The method includes establishing a data session between a cellular network device and a portable computing device while the cellular network device is within a cellular communication region of the cellular network. Further, the method includes receiving a request to begin an advanced Wi-Fi authentication with one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes that provide Wi-Fi data communication coverage within a Wi-Fi coverage region of the Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi network coverage is within the cellular communication region. Further, the advanced Wi-Fi authentication includes authenticating the portable computing device with the Wi-Fi network during the data session with cellular network device before the portable computing device accesses the Wi-Fi network.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a data session of a portable computing device from a cellular network and to a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, the method comprising:

establishing a data session between a cellular network device and a portable computing device, the cellular network device within a cellular communication region of the cellular network; and

receiving a request to begin an advanced Wi-Fi authentication with one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes providing Wi-Fi data communication coverage within a Wi-Fi coverage region of the Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi network coverage that is within the cellular communication region, wherein the advanced Wi-Fi authentication includes authenticating the portable computing device with the Wi-Fi network during the data session with cellular network device before the portable computing device enters the Wi-Fi network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the portable computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the cellular network device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving two or more identification parameters.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first of the two or more identification parameters comprises a user identification associated with a Wi-Fi network account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a second of the two or more identification parameters comprises a media access control (MAC) address associated with the portable computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a third of the two or more identification parameters comprises a cellular network identification of a user associated with the portable computing device.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a location of the portable computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the portable computing device is determined using a cell identifier parameter obtained from the cellular network device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cell identifier parameter is received from the cellular network device via a parlay gateway and a home location register.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising identifying one or more Wi-Fi public access control nodes within the cellular communication coverage region in which the portable computing device is located.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a request for an advanced authentication to at least one Wi-Fi public access control node within the cellular communication coverage region.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the two or more identification parameters to the at least one Wi-Fi public access control node.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting a unique one-time use token to the at least one Wi-Fi public access control node.

15. A method of connecting a portable computing device to a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with a cellular network; and

transmitting an indication to a Wi-Fi-to-cellular transitional authentication server (WCTAS) to perform an advanced authentication process in which the portable computing device is pre-authorized to access the Wi-Fi network before the portable computing device requests access to the Wi-Fi network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising communicating two or more identity parameters to the WCTAS server.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting a Wi-Fi access point at the portable computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a request to establish a Wi-Fi connection with the Wi-Fi access point.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving notice that an expedited authentication has been performed.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising establishing a Wi-Fi connection with the Wi-Fi network via the Wi-Fi access point.

21. A system, comprising:

a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network;

a cellular network;

a Wi-Fi-cellular transitional authentication server coupled to the Wi-Fi network and the cellular network;

wherein the WCTAS comprises;

a database of Wi-Fi public access control nodes; and

a computer program embedded within a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises logic to locate one or more Wi-Fi public access control nodes located within a cellular coverage region based on a location of a portable computing device served by the cellular coverage region.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to begin an advanced Wi-Fi authentication with the one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes while the cellular network continues to provide a data connection to the portable computing device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the advanced Wi-Fi authentication begins after a request is received from the portable computing device.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the advanced Wi-Fi authentication begins after a request is received from a cellular network device.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to transmit two or more identification parameters to the one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising logic to transmit a unique randomly generated one-time token to the at least one Wi-Fi public access control node.

27. A portable computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a cellular communication interface responsive to the processor;

a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication interface responsive to the processor;

a computer readable medium accessible by the processor; and

a computer program embedded within the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising;

instructions to request an advanced authentication process in which the portable computing device is pre-authorized to access a Wi-Fi network after a cellular connection is established, but before the portable computing device has access to the Wi-Fi network.

28. The portable computing device of claim 27, wherein the advanced authorization process is automatically requested after the cellular connection is established.

29. The portable computing device of claim 27, wherein the advanced authorization process is requested in response to a user selection of a button after the cellular connection is established.

30. The portable computing device of claim 27, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to transmit two or more identity parameters.

31. The portable computing device of claim 30, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to detect a Wi-Fi access point.

32. The portable computing device of claim 31, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to request to a Wi-Fi connection to the Wi-Fi access point.

33. The portable computing device of claim 32, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to establish the Wi-Fi connection with the Wi-Fi access point.

34. A server that is coupled to a cellular network and to a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, the server comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable medium accessible to the processor;

a database of Wi-Fi public access control nodes; and

a computer program embedded within the computer readable medium, wherein the computer program comprises logic to locate one or more Wi-Fi public access control nodes within a cellular communication coverage region in which a portable computing device is currently located.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to begin an advanced Wi-Fi authentication with the one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes in order to pre-authorize the portable computing device to access the Wi-Fi network before the portable computing device requests access to the Wi-Fi network.

36. The server of claim 35, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to transmit two or more identification parameters to the one or more Wi-Fi access control nodes.

37. The server of claim 36, further comprising logic to transmit a unique randomly generated one-time token to the at least one Wi-Fi public access control node.