Multi-mode handset services

• US 20060286984A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bonner, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• 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 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• 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

Delivery of dual-mode GSM/WiFi voice and data services to a consumer with support for transparent network registrations and handovers between GSM and WiFi networks. Aspects include transparently and wirelessly automating call redirection procedures of calls and data (e.g., SMS messages) to legacy telephone devices, to GSM handsets via broadband, and to VoIP devices via broadband. An indoor network is treated as a pseudo visitor PLMN (VPLMN) by the home PLMN (HPLMN) which does not require GSM radio coverage in an indoor network. This innovation provides a means for automating a process of redirecting a subscriber'"'"'s calls from the GSM network to the subscriber'"'"'s home network, and can utilize a Bluetooth access point to provide a beacon signal for triggering redirection.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates redirection of a call, comprising:

a trigger component that facilitates triggering on a signal associated with a handset used in making the call; and

a redirection component that initiates a redirection process between a cellular network and a local network based in part on the signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is from a wireless access point.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal is an unlicensed spectrum beacon signal of the wireless access point.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless access point is inside a residence.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the redirection component automatically redirects the call between a GSM cellular network and a home WiFi network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component triggers on at least one of presence and absence of a wireless beacon signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component triggers on at least one of an ability or inability to access or use a wireless access point.

8. A mobile handset that employs the system of claim 1.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the redirection component facilitates handover of the call from between the cellular network and the local network while maintaining uninterrupted voice communications of the call.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the local network is a VoIP network.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component facilitates power-up of a handset.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component facilitates power-up of a WiFi transceiver of a handset.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the trigger component receives a signal from a VoIP server that initiates power-up of the WiFi transceiver.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the VoIP server runs a GSM inter-working function (IWF).

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component triggers a hysteresis algorithm that facilitates determination of association with an access point.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger component triggers a GSM registration and location update procedure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the GSM registration and location update procedure is associated with cancellation of the redirection process of the call.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the redirection component facilitates redirection of data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data is an SMS message.

20. A system that facilitates redirection of data, comprising:

a trigger component that facilitates triggering on a signal associated with a multi-mode mobile handset; and

a redirection component that initiates redirection of the data between a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network based in part on the signal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the multi-mode handset operates in both a GSM network and a WiFi network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the mobile handset is a GSM handset that operates over the circuit-switched network, and utilizes SIP signaling through the packet-switched network.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the data is a telephone call such that the redirection component facilitates call handover between the circuit-switched network and the packet-switched network

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the trigger component facilitates detection of the mobile handset in a home in which the packet-switched network extends, and outside the home in which the circuit-switched network extends.

25. A system that facilitates redirection of data, comprising:

a trigger component that facilitates triggering on a signal associated with a GSM/WiFi mobile handset; and

a redirection component that initiates redirection of a telephone call between a GSM network and a WiFi network of a home based in part on the signal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a subscriber at least one of originates and terminates the telephone call in the home using at least one of a legacy wireline telephone, the GSM/WiFi mobile handset operating in a cordless telephone mode, and a wired VoIP telephone.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein signaling and bearer traffic is routed to and from the home via at least one of a POTS connection and a broadband connection.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein a mobile number of the handset is utilized as a main number such that the telephone call is first routed to a home PLMN, and thereafter, forwarded to the home.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the redirection of the telephone call is automatically activated and deactivated from the home PLMN to the home via at least one of a POTS connection and a broadband connection.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the redirection component facilitates automatic registration between an IMS and a PLMN.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the PLMN is a home PLMN, and the redirection component facilitates GSM registration to the home PLMN using MAP signaling.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the redirection component facilitates redirection of a VoIP call to a number without routing the telephone call through a GSM gateway MSC.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the redirection component facilitates automatic voice handover from the WiFi network to the GSM network that is transparent to a party of the telephone call.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the trigger component facilitates automatic power-on of a WiFi transceiver of the mobile handset, and WiFi automatic registration thereof.

35. A method of controlling a communication signal, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset that can facilitate a telephone call;

bringing the mobile handset into communications range of a network;

triggering on a signal associated with the network; and

redirecting the telephone call between a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network of a home based in part on the signal.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising an act of powering-up a WiFi transceiver of the handset in response to the act of bringing.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising an act of removing the handset from communications range of the network.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising an act of automatically powering-down a WiFi transceiver of the handset in response to the act of removing.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising an act of initiating WLAN subsystem registration and authentication via a WLAN subsystem.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising an act of initiating IMS registration and authentication, which includes subscribing to a VoIP service.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising acts of initiating a location update procedure and routing the telephone call to the packet-switched network via an IMS gateway/media resource function.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising acts of:

activating redirection of the call with the handset; and

deactivating redirection of the call using a cellular network.

43. A method of controlling a communications signal, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset that can facilitate a telephone call;

sensing the mobile handset via an indoor access point of a WiFi network;

associating the handset with the WiFi network of a building;

initiating a WLAN registration and authentication procedure via a handset WiFi client;

initiating an IMS registration and authentication procedure;

initiating a location update procedure; and

routing the telephone call from a circuit-switched network to the WiFi network of the building via an IMS entity.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising acts of:

sending a signal from the indoor access point of the building to a VoIP server; and

triggering the handset to power-on via the VoIP server.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the mobile handset is a GSM/WiFi handset and the circuit-switched network is a PSTN network.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising an act of treating an indoor network of the building as a pseudo visitor PLMN by a home PLMN which does not require GSM radio coverage in the indoor network.

47. A method of controlling a communications signal, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset that can facilitate a telephone call;

sensing absence of the mobile handset via an indoor access point of a WiFi network;

initiating a GSM registration and location update procedure via the handset; and

routing the telephone call over a GSM network to the handset.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising an act of canceling redirection of the telephone call to a WiFi network in response to performing the act of initiating.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising powering-on a GSM transceiver in response to the act of sensing.

50. The method of claim 47, further comprising an act of canceling redirection of data to a WiFi network in response to performing the act of initiating.

51. The method of claim 47, further comprising an act of sending the indoor network a location cancellation message from the GSM network.

52. A method of controlling a communications signal, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset that can facilitate a telephone call;

sensing absence of the mobile handset via an indoor access point of a WiFi network;

triggering an SIP client of the handset;

initiating a VoIP conference session in response to the act of triggering;

returning a conference meeting number associated with the conference session to the handset;

initiating a call to the conference meeting number; and

dropping a voice session to complete handover of the telephone call from the WiFi network to a GSM network.

53. The method of claim 52, the number is an E.164 number.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the act of triggering occurs in response to an existing VoWLAN call.

55. A method of controlling a communications signal, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset that facilitates a telephone call;

sensing the mobile handset via an indoor access point of a WiFi network;

registering the handset to an IMS system and subscribing the handset to a VoIP service via an SIP client of the handset;

initiating an IMS conference VoIP session;

returning a conference meeting number associated with the conference session to a GSM client of the handset;

connecting a GSM call leg to a WiFi VoIP call leg via a VoIP conference server; and

dropping the GSM call leg to complete handover of the telephone call from a GSM network to the WiFi network.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising an act of initiating a GSM ECT procedure to connect the GSM call leg to the WiFi VoIP call leg.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising performing the act of dropping in response to successfully executing the act of initiating the GSM ECT procedure.

58. A method of redirecting a voice call, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset of a subscriber that facilitates a telephone call;

sensing the mobile handset via an indoor access point of a WiFi network;

initiating a GSM location update procedure via an HSS;

querying the HSS for a dual mode roaming number of the subscriber;

routing a circuit-switched call to an IMS and a VoIP conference server;

transcoding the circuit-switched call to VoIP data; and

connecting the telephone call to the handset.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein at least one of the HSS and the VoIP server runs IWF to facilitate a MAP communication.

60. A method of redirecting communications information, comprising:

receiving a mobile handset of a subscriber that facilitates a telephone call;

performing a GSM location update MAP procedure;

redirecting SMS messages from a home PLMN to a roaming number of the subscriber;

performing a MAP query to obtain the roaming number of the subscriber;

sending the SMS message to an SMS message handler;

filtering the SMS message; and

converting the filtered SMS message into a SIP instant messaging message.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the roaming number is an E.164 number, and the SMS message is sent via an SS7 system.