Method and apparatus for handoff between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS)

• US 20070032239A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel, Kiernan, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0083 Determination of parameters used for hand-off, e.g. generation or modification of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing an automatic handoff process of a dual-mode user equipment (UE) from either a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) or from a UMTS to a WLAN. Handoffs may be initiated by the UE, based upon user preference, signal quality, comparison of location coordinates of the UE and the system to be switched to or signal quality. The available channels of one system may be sent to the UE by the other system or the UE may monitor channels of the system to be switched to and lock on to one. The handoff may also be initiated by the UMTS, the selection being power-based.

Claims

1. A method for handoff of a user equipment (UE) operating in a first wireless communication network to a second wireless communication network, the method comprising:

broadcasting from the first wireless communication network information regarding available wireless communication networks, wherein the information includes a list of wireless communication networks available;

receiving the broadcasted information at the UE; and

performing a handoff from the first wireless communication network to a second wireless communication network upon satisfaction of a predetermined criteria, wherein the handoff includes routing data from the first wireless communication network to the second wireless communication network during the handoff.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second wireless communication network is a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication network is a UMTS.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second wireless communication network is a WLAN.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is a user defined preference for an available wireless communication network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is a received signal power level received at the UE, and the predetermined criteria is satisfied when the received signal power level is below a predetermined threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcasted information includes the location of at least one available wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined criteria is the location of the UE within the coverage area of at least one available wireless communication network.