Apparatus for Supporting the Handover of a Telecommunication Session between a Licensed Wireless System and an Unlicensed Wireless System

• US 20070232312A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mohammed, Jahangir, Gallagher, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

The invention discloses a wireless communication handset comprising licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The invention further discloses a control circuit connected to both the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry, and a computer readable memory for directing the control circuit to function in a specified manner. This memory includes instructions to formulate a measurement report containing signal strength information that corresponds to the strength of a signal received through the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The measurement report also contains a request to transfer a wireless communication session from a licensed wireless system to an unlicensed wireless system. The memory further includes instructions to transmit the measurement report to the licensed wireless system through the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method comprising:

a) establishing a communication session with a mobile station using a licensed wireless communication system;

b) establishing a connection between the mobile station and an unlicensed wireless communication system through an indoor system server;

c) determining by the licensed wireless communication system that a handover of the communication session is required;

d) sending a handover request from the licensed wireless communication system to the indoor system server;

e) selecting a handover reference value (HO-Ref) by the indoor system server;

f) sending a handover acknowledge comprising the HO-Ref from the indoor system server to the licensed wireless communication system.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

sending a handover command comprising the HO-Ref from the licensed wireless communication system to the mobile station.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

sending a handover access message comprising the HO-Ref from the mobile station to the indoor system server enabling the indoor system server to initiate a handover of said communication session from the licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system.

19. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by an indoor system server of an unlicensed wireless communication system, the program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) establishing a connection between the indoor system server and a mobile station, wherein the mobile station has established an ongoing communication session using a licensed wireless communication system;

b) receiving at the indoor system server a handover request from the licensed wireless communication system indicating the licensed wireless communication system has determined that a handover of the communication session is required;

c) selecting a handover reference value (HO-Ref) by the indoor system server; and

d) sending a handover acknowledge comprising the HO-Ref from the indoor system server to the licensed wireless communication system.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the program further comprises sets of instructions for:

receiving a handover access message comprising the HO-Ref at the indoor system server from the mobile station.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the program further comprises sets of instruction for:

indicating a handover of said communication session by the indoor system server from the licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system.