System and method for multi-network coverage

• US 20070211675A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Nikhil, Horn, Gavin
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

A system and method are provided for a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT) to access multi-network coverage. The method registers a multi-network AT in a first communications network. In response to registering with the first network, the AT receives information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network (e.g., an IEEE 802.20 or 1xEV-DO network). The AT obtains services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network. For example, the second network access information may be system information, channel information, or access point parameters. The AT retains the option of obtaining services accessed via the first network if the second network cannot be accessing the second network.

Claims

1. In a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT), a method for accessing multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

registering a multi-network AT in a first communications network;

in response to registering with the first network, receiving information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network; and

,

obtaining services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving access information for the second communications network includes receiving access information selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

failing to access the second network; and

,

obtaining services accessed via the first network in response to not accessing the second network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein failing to access the second network includes failing to access the second network in response to an action selected from a group consisting of failing to receive access information for the second network and failing to receive second network wireless coverage.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the AT detecting the presence of the second network;

the AT requesting access information for the second network, from a first network access point (AP); and

,

wherein receiving access information for the second network includes the AT receiving second network access information from the first network AP, in response to the request.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the AT detecting the presence of the second network includes the AT detecting an identifier for an AP in the second network;

and,

wherein the AT requesting access information for the second network includes the AT using the second network AP identifier in the request.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second network paging message via the first network; and

,

accessing the second network in response to receiving the paging message.

8. In a communications network access point (AP), a method for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

providing a first communications network AP;

a second communications network AP detecting the presence of the first network AP; and

,

the second network AP ceasing to broadcast access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the first network AP supplying second network access information selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

the second network AP providing second network access information to the first network AP; and

,

wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes the first network AP supplying the access information provided by the second network AP.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

the first network AP receiving a request for second network access information from an access terminal (AT); and

,

wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes the first network AP supplying second network access information in response to the request.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

the second network AP broadcasting an AP identifier; and

,

wherein receiving the request for second network access information from the AT includes the first network AP receiving a request for access information for the second network AP referenced with the AP identifier.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the second network AP providing second network access information to the first network AP includes the second network AP sending a message to the first network AP, encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the first network AP broadcasting a paging message for the second network AP; and

,

an AT registering with the second network AP in response to receiving the paging message.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes:

the first network AP detecting the presence of the second network AP; and

,

the first network AP advertising the availability of the second network AP.

16. In a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT), a system for accessing multi-network coverage, the system comprising:

a first communications subsystem having a wireless interface for registering the AT in a first communications network, and an interface to supply access information received for a second communications network;

an access module have an interface to receive access information from the first subsystem, and an interface to supply the received access information; and

,

a second communications subsystem with a wireless interface for obtaining services accessed via the second network, where the second network is accessed using only the second network access information received via an interface connected to the access module.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first subsystem receives access information for the second network selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the second subsystem fails to access to the second network and sends an access failure notice to the access module;

wherein the access module sends an access acquire command to the first subsystem in response to receiving the access failure notice; and

,

wherein the first subsystem accesses services via the first network in response to the access acquire command.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the second subsystem fails to access the second network in response to an action selected from a group consisting of failing to receive access information for the second network and failing to receive second network wireless coverage.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the second subsystem detects the presence of the second network and sends a detection notice to the access module;

wherein the access module sends a request command to the first subsystem in response to receiving the detection notice; and

,

wherein the first subsystem requests access information for the second network, from a first network access point (AP), in response to the request command, and receives access information for the second network from the first network AP, in response to the request.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the second subsystem detects an identifier for an AP in the second network;

and,

wherein the first subsystem requests access information for the second network using the second network AP identifier in the request.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the first subsystem wireless interface receives second network paging messages from a first network AP.

23. A system for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the system comprising:

a first access point (AP) including;

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface for detecting the presence of a second AP operating in a first communications network, and an interface for supplying detection information;

a distribution module having an interface to receive the detection information and an interface to supply a cease-broadcast command; and

,

a second communications subsystem having a wireless interface that ceases the broadcast of second communications network access information in response to receiving the cease-broadcast command via an interface connected to the distribution module.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a second AP including a first communication subsystem with a wireless interface for supplying second network access information in the first network, the access information selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the first AP supplies second network access information to the second AP;

and,

wherein the second AP broadcasts the access information supplied by the first AP via the first subsystem wireless interface.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the second AP receives a request for second network access information from an access terminal (AT) via the first subsystem wireless interface, and supplies second network access information to the AT in response to the request.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the first AP broadcasts a first AP identifier;

and,

wherein the second AP receives a request for first AP access information from the AT, referencing by the first AP identifier.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the first AP supplies second network access information to the second AP in a message encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

29. The system of claim 24 where the second AP broadcasts a first AP paging message via the first subsystem wireless interface;

and,

wherein the first AP registers an AT via the second subsystem wireless interface in response to the paging message.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the second AP detects the presence of the first AP, and advertises the availability of the first network AP via a first communications network subsystem.

31. A wireless communications access terminal (AT) capable of accessing multi-network coverage, the AT comprising:

means for registering a multi-network AT in a first communications network;

means for receiving access information for a second communications network via the first network in response to registering with the first network, and,

means for obtaining services accessed via the second network, in response to access information received via the first network.

32. In a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT), a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for accessing multi-network coverage, the operations comprising:

registering a multi-network AT in a first communications network;

in response to registering with the first network, receiving access information for a second communications network via the first network; and

,

obtaining services accessed via the second network, in response to access information received via the first network.

33. In a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT), a processor device for accessing multi-network coverage, the processor device comprising:

a first communications subsystem module with an interface for registering the AT in a first communications network, and receiving access information received for a second communications network; and

,

a second communications subsystem module with an interface for obtaining services accessed via the second network, using the second network access information received via the first subsystem module.

34. A communications network access point (AP) providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the AP comprising:

means for a second communications network AP to detect the presence of a first communications network AP; and

,

means for the second network AP to cease broadcasting access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

35. In a communications network access point (AP), a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the operations comprising:

a second communications network AP detecting the presence of a first communications network AP; and

,

the second network AP ceasing to broadcast access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

36. In a communications network access point (AP), a processor device for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the processor device comprising:

a first communications subsystem module with an interface for receiving a signal indicating the detection of a first communications network AP;

a distribution module to supply a cease-broadcast command in response to the detection of the first network AP; and

,

a second communications subsystem module with an interface to supply a signal that ceases the broadcast of second communications network access information in response to the cease-broadcast command.