Method and system for system discovery and user selection
First Claim
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1. A method for a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) in communication with a cellular network to become aware of and establish a communicative coupling with an accessible wireless local area network (WLAN), comprising:
- providing a communicative coupling between the WTRU and the cellular communication system;
providing the cellular system with the locations of WLANs within its service area;
tracking the position of the WTRU;
comparing the position of the WTRU with the known locations of the WLANs;
detecting when the WTRU is in the vicinity of a WLAN such that the WTRU can establish a communicative coupling with the WLAN;
notifying the WTRU that a WLAN is in its vicinity;
determining if the WTRU should establish a communicative coupling with the WLAN; and
if affirmative, the WTRU establishing a communicative coupling with the WLAN.
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Abstract
The invention includes a method and apparatus for mobility handling across different wireless technologies by efficiently performing alternate network discovery and enabling a mobile station to select the most desirable candidate radio access technology, depending on parameters such as location and network policy settings.
214 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A method for a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) in communication with a cellular network to become aware of and establish a communicative coupling with an accessible wireless local area network (WLAN), comprising:
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providing a communicative coupling between the WTRU and the cellular communication system;
providing the cellular system with the locations of WLANs within its service area;
tracking the position of the WTRU;
comparing the position of the WTRU with the known locations of the WLANs;
detecting when the WTRU is in the vicinity of a WLAN such that the WTRU can establish a communicative coupling with the WLAN;
notifying the WTRU that a WLAN is in its vicinity;
determining if the WTRU should establish a communicative coupling with the WLAN; and
if affirmative, the WTRU establishing a communicative coupling with the WLAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) able to receive and process information regarding at least one wireless local area network WLAN in its vicinity, determine which of a plurality of possible communication couplings is a preferred coupling, and establish the preferred communication coupling, comprising:
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a cellular component for communicating via a communicative coupling with a cellular network;
a WLAN component for communicating via a communicative coupling with a WLAN; and
a media independent handover-handover (MIHHO) component for facilitating the discovery of available networks, determining which of a plurality of possible communication couplings is a preferred coupling, and facilitating establishing the preferred communication coupling. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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16. The WTRU of claim 16 wherein the cellular network is one of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, a Global System for Mobile communications (GMS) system, a General Packet Radio System (GPRS) and a 3GPP compliant system, and the WLAN is an IEEE 802.X compliant WLAN.
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25. A wireless local area network (WLAN) access point comprising:
a media independent handover (MIH) device configured to transmit MIH information to facilitate a handover between the WLAN and a cellular network of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the MIH information comprising for each of a plurality of identified networks a network identifier, a network location, a system operator identifier, a system capability, a quality of service (QoS) parameter, and a radio access type. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
a media independent handover (MIH) device configured to receive MIH information to facilitate a handover of the WTRU between a WLAN and a cellular network, the MIH information comprising for each of a plurality of identified networks a network identifier, a network location, a system operator identifier, a system capability, a quality of service (QoS) parameter, and a radio access type. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A network access point comprising:
a media independent handover (MIH) device configured to transmit MIH information to facilitate a handover between the network and a cellular network of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the MIH information comprising for each of a plurality of identified networks a network identifier, a network location, a system operator identifier, a system capability, a quality of service (QoS) parameter, and a radio access type. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for use by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
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providing a communicative coupling between the WTRU and a first network using a first access technology;
receiving MIH information to facilitate a handover of the WTRU between the first network and a preferred network using a second access technology, the MIH information comprising for each of a plurality of identified networks a network identifier, a network location, a system operator identifier, a system capability, a quality of service (QoS) parameter, and a radio access type;
evaluating the MIH information to determined the preferred network; and
initiating a handover of the WTRU to the preferred network. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification