Methods and circuits for roaming between different networks
First Claim
1. A method performed by a calling mobile terminal having at least two radio interfaces respectively for a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting presence of the first and second wireless communication networks;
(b) establishing a first connection between the mobile terminal as a calling mobile terminal and a called mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network for establishing a communication session;
(c) sending extra information including a handover request together with a network address of the calling mobile terminal in the first wireless communication network to the called mobile terminal for initiating a second communication with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network, if the second wireless communication network is present;
(d) receiving a response from the called mobile terminal; and
(e) if the response indicates an acceptance of the handover request, establishing the second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network for continuing the communication session.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention takes the advantage of the wireless local area network (WLAN) resources in hotspots for voice and data connections and enables seamless handover between wireless wide area network (WWAN) and WLAN and vice versa, thus achieving cost savings for the end users and WWAN resources savings for the wireless operators. According to one embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal having WWAN and WLAN interfaces establishes a WWAN call with a called mobile terminal via a WWAN. If a WLAN is present, the mobile terminal sends a handover request together with its network address to the called mobile terminal, using a short message service (SMS) technique or a watermarking technique, for initiating a WLAN call with the called mobile terminal via a WLAN. After the WLAN call is established with the called mobile terminal, the mobile terminal releases the WWAN call.
19 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method performed by a calling mobile terminal having at least two radio interfaces respectively for a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting presence of the first and second wireless communication networks; (b) establishing a first connection between the mobile terminal as a calling mobile terminal and a called mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network for establishing a communication session; (c) sending extra information including a handover request together with a network address of the calling mobile terminal in the first wireless communication network to the called mobile terminal for initiating a second communication with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network, if the second wireless communication network is present; (d) receiving a response from the called mobile terminal; and (e) if the response indicates an acceptance of the handover request, establishing the second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network for continuing the communication session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method performed by a called mobile terminal having at least two radio interfaces respectively for a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) accepting a first connection with a calling mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network; (b) during the first connection, detecting whether the second wireless communication network is present, if receiving extra information including a handover request together with a network address from the calling mobile terminal for initiating a second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network; (c) sending a response to the calling mobile terminal with an acceptance of the handover request if the second wireless communication network is present; and (d) accepting the second connection with the calling mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A circuit for a mobile terminal communicating in a first and second wireless communication networks, comprising:
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means for detecting presence of the first wireless communication networks; means for detecting presence of the second wireless communication networks; means for establishing a first connection between the mobile terminal as a calling mobile terminal and a called mobile terminal via a first wireless communication network; means for sending extra information including a handover request together with a network address of the calling mobile terminal in the first wireless communication network to the called mobile terminal for initiating a second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network, if the second wireless communication network is present; means for receiving a response from the called mobile terminal; and means for establishing the second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network, the second connection establishing means establishing the second connection if the response indicates an acceptance of the handover request. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A circuit for a mobile terminal communicating in a first and second wireless communication networks, comprising:
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means for accepting a first connection with a calling mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network, as a called terminal; means for detecting whether the second wireless communication network is present during the first connection, if receiving a handover request from the calling mobile terminal for initiating a second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network; means for sending a response to the calling mobile terminal with an acceptance of the handover request if the second wireless communication network is present; and means for accepting the second connection with the calling mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27, 28)
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26. A computer program product for handover of a calling mobile terminal between a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network, comprising:
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computer readable program code for detecting presence of the first and second wireless communication networks; computer readable program code for establishing a first connection between the mobile terminal as a calling mobile terminal and a called mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network for establishing a communication session; computer readable program code for sending extra information including a handover request together with a network address of the calling mobile terminal in the first wireless communication network to the called mobile terminal for initiating a second communication with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network, if the second wireless communication network is present; computer readable program code for receiving a response from the called mobile terminal; and computer readable program code for establishing the second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network for continuing the communication session, if the response indicates an acceptance of the handover request.
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29. A computer program product for handover of a called mobile terminal between a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network, comprising:
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computer readable program code for accepting a first connection with a calling mobile terminal via the first wireless communication network; computer readable program code for during the first connection, detecting whether the second wireless communication network is present, if receiving extra information including a handover request together with a network address from the calling mobile terminal for initiating a second connection with the called mobile terminal via the second wireless communication network; computer readable program code for sending a response to the calling mobile terminal with an acceptance of the handover request if the second wireless communication network is present; and computer readable program code for accepting the second connection with the calling mobile terminal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification