System and method for offering seamless connectivity across multiple devices in a communications environment

• US 20060256751A1
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grayson, Mark, Jagadeesan, Ramanathan T., Nguyen, Bich T., Hamel, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• 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 65/1095 Inter-network session transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• 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]

Abstract

An apparatus for providing connectivity is provided that includes a mobility server operable to coordinate a communication session between a first and a second end-user device. The first end-user device is associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device is associated with a second call leg. A handoff is executed in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device. In more particular embodiments, the mobility server is operable to receive signal strength information from the first end-user device and to execute the handoff based on the signal strength information. In addition, the handoff is executed based on an end-user preference that is provided in a subscription that is accessed by the mobility server.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing connectivity across multiple devices, comprising:

a first end-user device operable to facilitate a communication session, wherein the communication session may be transferred to a second end-user device, the first end-user device being associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device being associated with a second call leg, and wherein a handoff is executed in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is operable to transmit signal strength information to a mobility server that is operable to coordinate the communication leg transfer and to provide a third-party control function.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication leg transfer occurs due to an end user preference that is provided in a subscription.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handoff employs a make-before-break protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handoff occurs due an end user request.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end-user device and the second end-user device each include their own separate registrations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end-user device is a selected one of a group of end-user devices, the group consisting of:

a) a mobile station;

b) a television;

c) a laptop computer;

d) a personal computer;

e) an interactive radio;

f) a VoIP telephone; and

g) a personal digital assistant.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein preference information is provided to transfer only one out of a plurality of communication sessions between the devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication leg transfer may include a period of bi-casting a plurality of communication sessions to the first end-user device and the second end-user device.

10. An apparatus for providing connectivity across multiple devices, comprising:

a mobility server operable to coordinate a communication session between a first and a second end-user device, the first end-user device being associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device being associated with a second call leg, wherein a handoff is executed in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobility server is operable to receive signal strength information from the first end-user device and to execute the handoff based on the signal strength information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handoff is executed based on an end-user preference that is provided in a subscription that is accessed by the mobility server.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handoff is executed based on an end-user request.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the end-user request is provided by the first end-user device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the end-user request is provided by the second end-user device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobility server is operable to provide a third-party control function.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handoff employs a make-before-break protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein mobility server is operable request a frequency of received signal strength measurements.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the frequency of received signal strength measurements requested is independently set for when the end-user device has a communication session active or when the end-user device has no communication session active.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobility server is operable to elect whether to execute the communication leg transfer based on a comparison of signal strength information received from the first and second end-user devices.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mobility server is operable to elect whether to bi-cast a communication leg simultaneously to the first and second end-user devices based on a comparison of signal strength information received from the first and second end-user devices.

22. A method for providing connectivity across multiple devices, comprising:

coordinating a communication session between a first and a second end-user device, the first end-user device being associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device being associated with a second call leg; and

executing a handoff in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving signal strength information from the first end-user device and executing the handoff based on the signal strength information.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

accessing a subscription that includes an end-user preference for either the first or the second end-user device, wherein the handoff is executed based on the end-user preference.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a third-party control function.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the handoff employs a make-before-break protocol.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

electing whether to execute the handoff based on a comparison of signal strength information received from the first and second end-user devices.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein preference information is provided to transfer only one out of a plurality of communication sessions between the devices.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication leg transfer may include a period of bi-casting a plurality of communication sessions to the first end-user device and the second end-user device.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the handoff is executed based on an end-user request.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the end user request is provided by the first end-user device.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the end user request is provided by the second end-user device.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

requesting a frequency of received signal strength measurements.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the frequency of received signal strength measurements requested is independently set for when the end-user device has a communication session active or when the end-user device has no communication session active.

35. Software for providing connectivity across multiple devices, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

coordinate a communication session between a first and a second end-user device, the first end-user device being associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device being associated with a second call leg; and

execute a handoff in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device.

36. The medium of claim 35, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive signal strength information from the first end-user device and executing the handoff based on the signal strength information.

37. The medium of claim 35, wherein the code is further operable to:

access a subscription that includes an end-user preference for either the first or the second end-user device, wherein the handoff is executed based on the end-user preference.

38. The medium of claim 35, wherein the code is further operable to:

provide a third-party control function.

39. The medium of claim 35, wherein the code is further operable to:

elect whether to execute the handoff based on a comparison of signal strength information received from the first and second end-user devices.

40. A system for providing connectivity across multiple devices, comprising:

means for coordinating a communication session between a first and a second end-user device, the first end-user device being associated with a first call leg and the second end-user device being associated with a second call leg; and

means for executing a handoff in transferring the communication session from the first end-user device to the second end-user device.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

means for receiving signal strength information from the first end-user device and executing the handoff based on the signal strength information.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

means for accessing a subscription that includes an end-user preference for either the first or the second end-user device, wherein the handoff is executed based on the end-user preference.

43. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

means for providing a third-party control function.

44. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

means for electing whether to execute the handoff based on a comparison of signal strength information received from the first and second end-user devices.