System and method for ensuring handoffs across heterogeneous networks
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating handoffs between heterogeneous communication networks for a user device, the system comprising:
- a first network having a first domain technology;
a second network having a second domain technology different from the first domain technology;
a contextual information server, the contextual information server storing contextual elements corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device; and
a handoff decision function module, the handoff decision function module evaluating at least one of the contextual elements to determine whether to handoff user device communications from the first communication network to the second communication network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a system, method and apparatus for facilitating handoffs from a first communication network to a second communication network, the first communication network and second communication network being heterogeneous with respect to each other. The system, method and apparatus may further include a contextual information server, which stores contextual elements corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device, and a handoff decision function module that evaluates at least one of the contextual elements to determine whether to handoff user device communications from the first communication network to the second communication network. The method and apparatus may further include obtaining at least one contextual element corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device, evaluating the at least one contextual element with a handoff decision function module to establish a handoff decision, establishing a handoff decision, and notifying the user device of the handoff decision. The method for facilitating handoffs from a first communication network to a second communication network may further include receiving a received signal strength indication, receiving a link quality determination, receiving a characteristic of the user device, and determining the location of the user device.
123 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating handoffs between heterogeneous communication networks for a user device, the system comprising:
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a first network having a first domain technology; a second network having a second domain technology different from the first domain technology; a contextual information server, the contextual information server storing contextual elements corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device; and a handoff decision function module, the handoff decision function module evaluating at least one of the contextual elements to determine whether to handoff user device communications from the first communication network to the second communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for facilitating handoffs from a first communication network to a second communication network, the first communication network and second communication network being heterogeneous with respect to each other, the method comprising:
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obtaining at least one contextual element corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device; evaluating the at least one contextual element with a handoff decision function module to establish a handoff decision; establishing a handoff decision; and notifying the user device of the handoff decision. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for facilitating handoffs from a first communication network to a second communication network, the first communication network and second communication network being heterogeneous with respect to each other, the method comprising:
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obtaining at least one contextual element corresponding to a user device and the operating environment of the user device, the at least one contextual element establishing handoff parameters for evaluating a call session quality of service for a user device; monitoring a signal strength received from the first network; and evaluating the call session of the user device and applying the handoff parameters to the call session to determine whether to handoff user device communications from the first communication network to the second communication network. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification