Systems, methods and computer program products for mobility management in hybrid satellite/terrestrial wireless communications systems
First Claim
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1. A method of coordinating communications of a radioterminal with a satellite wireless communications network and a terrestrial wireless communications network, the method comprising:
- detecting a potential degradation of coverage for the radioterminal while registered with a first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network;
determining a duration of the degradation of coverage responsive to detecting the potential degradation of coverage while remaining registered with the first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network; and
determining whether to register the radioterminal with a second one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network responsive to whether the determined duration meets a predetermined criterion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods and computer program products that support inter-PLMN coordination in registration and handover operations are provided. Hysteresis is introduced in registration of radioterminals in a hybrid terrestrial/satellite mobile communications environment. Inter-PLMN handover techniques are provided, including techniques for coordination of communication of timing information and traffic channel controls.
235 Citations
73 Claims
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1. A method of coordinating communications of a radioterminal with a satellite wireless communications network and a terrestrial wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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detecting a potential degradation of coverage for the radioterminal while registered with a first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network;
determining a duration of the degradation of coverage responsive to detecting the potential degradation of coverage while remaining registered with the first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network; and
determining whether to register the radioterminal with a second one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network responsive to whether the determined duration meets a predetermined criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for coordinating communications of a radioterminal with a satellite wireless communications network and a terrestrial wireless communications network, the apparatus comprising:
a handover controller configured to detect a potential degradation of coverage for the radioterminal while registered with a first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network, to determine a duration of the degradation of coverage responsive to detecting the potential degradation of coverage while remaining registered with the first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network and to determine whether to register the radioterminal with a second one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network responsive to whether the determined duration meets a predetermined criterion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a satellite wireless communications network;
a terrestrial wireless communications network; and
a handover controller configured to detect a potential degradation of coverage for the radioterminal while registered with a first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network, to determine a duration of the degradation of coverage responsive to detecting the potential degradation of coverage while remaining registered with the first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network and to determine whether to register the radioterminal with a second one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network responsive to whether the determined duration meets a predetermined criterion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for coordinating communications of a radioterminal with a satellite wireless communications network and a terrestrial wireless communications network, the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising:
program code configured to detect a potential degradation of coverage for the radioterminal while registered with a first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network, to determine a duration of the degradation of coverage responsive to detecting the potential degradation of coverage while remaining registered with the first one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network and to determine whether to register the radioterminal with a second one of the satellite wireless communications network and the terrestrial wireless communications network responsive to whether the determined duration meets a predetermined criterion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating first and second public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the method comprising:
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conducting a call between a radioterminal and the first PLMN;
during the call, detecting transit of the radioterminal into a coverage area of the second PLMN; and
handing over the radioterminal to the second PLMN while maintaining the call. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for supporting interoperation of first and second public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the apparatus comprising:
a inter-PLMN handover controller configured to support a call between a radioterminal and the first PLMN, to detecting transit of the radioterminal into a coverage area of the second PLMN during the call, and to hand over the radioterminal to the second PLMN while maintaining the call. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A system comprising:
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first and second public land mobile networks (PLMNs); and
a inter-PLMN handover controller configured to support a call between a radioterminal and the first PLMN, to detect transit of the radioterminal into a coverage area of the second PLMN during the call, and to hand over the radioterminal to the second PLMN while maintaining the call. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer program product for coordinating operations of first and second public land mobile networks (PLMNs), the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising:
program code configured to support a call between a radioterminal and the first PLMN, to detect transit of the radioterminal into a coverage area of the second PLMN during the call, and to hand over the radioterminal to the second PLMN while maintaining the call. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of conducting wireless communications, the method comprising:
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conducting a communications session between a radioterminal and a terrestrial wireless communications system;
detecting a condition for handover of the session from the terrestrial wireless communications system to a satellite wireless communications system;
responsive to detection of the condition for handover, communicating timing information for communications with the satellite wireless communications system from the terrestrial wireless communication system to the radioterminal; and
responsive to the communication of the timing information, conducting a communications session between the radioterminal and the satellite wireless communications system using the communicated timing information. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 60, 61, 62)
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51. An apparatus, comprising:
a handover controller configured to support a communications session between a radioterminal and a terrestrial wireless communications system, to detect a condition for handover of the session from the terrestrial wireless communications system to a satellite wireless communications system, to communicate timing information for communications with the satellite wireless communications system from the terrestrial wireless communication system to the radioterminal responsive to detection of the condition for handover, and to conduct a communications session between the radioterminal and the satellite wireless communications system using the communicated timing information responsive to the communication of the timing information. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A computer program product for supporting wireless communications, the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising:
program code configured to support a communications session between a radioterminal and a terrestrial wireless communications system, to detect a condition for handover of the session from the terrestrial wireless communications system to a satellite wireless communications system, to communicate timing information for communications with the satellite wireless communications system from the terrestrial wireless communication system to the radioterminal responsive to detection of the condition for handover and to conduct a communications session between the radioterminal and the satellite wireless communications system using the communicated timing information responsive to the communication of the timing information. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59)
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63. A method of handing over communications of a radioterminal from a terrestrial wireless communications system to a satellite wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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communicating a handover command message from the terrestrial wireless communications system to the radioterminal; and
responsive to receipt of the handover command message at the radioterminal, waiting a time interval before terminating a traffic channel between the radioterminal and the terrestrial wireless communications system - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A radioterminal comprising;
a handover controller configured to receive a handover command message from a terrestrial wireless communications system for handover to a satellite wireless communications system and to wait a time interval before terminating a traffic channel between the radioterminal and the terrestrial wireless communications system responsive to receipt of the handover command message at the radioterminal. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70)
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71. A computer program product for controlling handover of a radioterminal from a terrestrial wireless communications system to a satellite wireless communications system, the computer program product comprising computer program code embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer program code comprising:
program code configured to receive a handover command message from the terrestrial wireless communications system and to cause the radioterminal to wait a time interval before terminating a traffic channel between the radioterminal and the terrestrial wireless communications system responsive to receipt of the handover command message at the radioterminal. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
Specification