MODULAR CELL PHONE FOR FIXED MOBILE CONVERGENCE

• US 20090252117A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Ron, Uri, Bychkov, Eyal
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A communication system including a communication system, including a modular cell phone, including a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device, and a mobile electronic device, including a modem for connecting to the core mobile network via an IP access network, a port for physically connecting the modular cell phone to the mobile electronic device, and a connection enhancer for receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, in response to the modular cell phone being connected with the mobile electronic device port. A method is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a modular cell phone, comprising;

a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network; and

a connector for physically connecting the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device; and

a mobile electronic device, comprising;

a modem for connecting to the core mobile network via an IP access network;

a port for physically connecting said modular cell phone to the mobile electronic device; and

a connection enhancer for receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between said modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, in response to said modular cell phone being connected with said mobile electronic device port.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said connection enhancer seamlessly hands over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection only if said connection enhancer confirms that said mobile electronic device is connected to the IP access network.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said modular cell phone further comprises a connection preserver for receiving a connection of an ongoing voice over IP phone call, between said mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a cellular connection, between said modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, in response to said modular cell phone being disconnected from said mobile electronic device port.

4. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said connection preserver seamlessly hands over the ongoing phone call to a cellular connection only if said connection preserver confirms that said modular cell phone is located within a cellular coverage zone.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device modem is a wireless modem that communicates with said modular cell phone within a short range, and wherein said connection enhancer hands over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, in response to said mobile electronic device being in short range wireless communication with said modular cell phone.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device modem is a Wi-Fi radio.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said Wi-Fi radio includes a scanner for determining if said mobile electronic device is within range of any of a plurality of known Wi-Fi access points.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device is a laptop computer.

9. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a UMA network controller for connecting the IP access network to the core mobile network.

10. A method for communication, comprising:

receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between a modular cell phone and a core mobile network via a cellular network; and

seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between a laptop computer and the core mobile network via an IP access network, in response to the modular cell phone being connected with the laptop computer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said seamlessly handing over to a voice over IP connection is conditional upon confirming that the laptop computer is connected to the IP access network.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving a connection of an ongoing voice over IP phone call, between the laptop computer and the core mobile network via the IP access network; and

seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a cellular connection, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, in response to the modular cell phone being disconnected from the laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said seamlessly handing over to a cellular connection is conditional upon confirming that the modular cell phone is located within a cellular coverage zone.

14. A laptop computer, comprising:

a modem for connecting to a core mobile network via an IP access network;

a port for physically connecting a modular cell phone to the laptop computer; and

a connection enhancer for receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via a cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the laptop computer and the core mobile network via the IP access network, in response to the modular cell phone being connected with said port.

15. The laptop computer of claim 14 wherein said connection enhancer seamlessly hands over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection only if said connection enhancer confirms that the laptop computer is connected to the IP access network.

16. The laptop computer of claim 14 wherein said modem communicates wirelessly with the modular cell phone within a short range, and wherein said connection enhancer hands over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, in response to the laptop computer being in short range wireless communication with the modular cell phone.