MOBILE TELEPHONE VOIP/CELLULAR SEAMLESS ROAMING SWITCHING CONTROLLER

• US 20120033658A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VASU Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Vasu Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Ganesan, Vasudevan
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• 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 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A nomadic server and a related system provides seamless roaming for a mobile communication device between different types of wireless networks, such as WiFi and cellular networks for voice, data and video communication. Use of the nomadic server enables a combination of WiFi and cellular networks for providing access to cellular phones and make use of the VOIP networks for switching the calls wherever possible. The nomadic server is a telephone communication processing and switching server that will “hold” the present, in-progress telephone communications without dropping, while roaming without losing the present, in-progress communication. For example, a telephone communication can be seamlessly switching between VOIP and cellular telephone networks using the nomadic server. Nomadic server resources interface with the VOIP and cellular network switches to provide the hand-off between networks. This approach enables switching of telephone communications over a VOIP network wherever possible either through WiFi or through cellular networks.

Claims

1. A method of providing communications for a mobile communication device that roams between multiple different types of wireless networks, the method comprising:

a. establishing a first communication link between the mobile communication device and an end destination device, wherein the first communication link includes a first wireless communication link between the mobile communication device and a first type of wireless network;

b. monitoring a signal strength of the first wireless communication link;

c. when the signal strength drops below a predetermined threshold, notifying an interface server and establishing a second communication link between the interface server and the end destination device;

d. notifying the mobile communication device to terminate transmission over the first communication link; and

e. re-directing the second communication link from the interface server to the mobile communication device, thereby establishing a second wireless communication link between the mobile communication device and the second type of wireless network

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of wireless communication link comprises a WiFi communication link, and the first type of wireless network includes a WiFi network access point.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second type of wireless network includes a wireless cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the first communication link includes routing through a VOIP network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the first communication link includes routing through a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the second communication link includes routing through a VOIP network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the second communication link includes routing through a cellular network.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a connectivity status by the mobile communication device to the interface server while the mobile communication device is within a first coverage area of the first type of wireless network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a routing association to a mobile switching center within the second type of wireless network, wherein the routing association associates the mobile communication device to the interface server.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising routing a termination communication intended for the mobile communication device from the mobile switching center to the interface server according to the routing association when the connectivity status is active, and routing the termination communication from the interface server to the mobile communication device over the first type of wireless network.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising when the connectivity status is not provided to the interface server, the router association is removed from the mobile switching center.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising registering the mobile communication device with a mobile switching center within the second type of wireless network when the signal strength drops below the predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising setting up the second communication link with the end destination device and forwarding the second communication link to the interface server.

14. A method of providing communications for a mobile communication device that roams between multiple WiFi coverage areas, the method comprising:

a. associating the mobile communication device with a nomadic server, wherein the nomadic server is coupled to one or more WiFi access points;

b. establishing a first WiFi communication link between the mobile communication device and a first WiFi access point;

c. registering the mobile communication device with the nomadic server including providing an IP address of the first WiFi access point to the nomadic server;

d. configuring a communication path to the mobile communication device via the nomadic server according to the IP address of the first WiFi access point and the first WiFi communication link;

e. detecting movement of the mobile communication device into a coverage area of a second WiFi access point;

f. registering the mobile communication device with the nomadic server including an IP address of the second WiFi access point;

g. establishing a second WiFi communication link between the mobile communication device and the second WiFi access point; and

h. re-configuring the communication path according to the IP address of the second WiFi access point and the second WiFi communication link;

wherein the mobile communication device notifies the nomadic server if the first communication link falls below a threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising associating the mobile communication device to the nomadic server at the mobile switching center.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a routing association to a mobile switching center within a cellular network, wherein the routing association associates the mobile communication device to the interface server.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising routing a termination communication intended for the mobile communication device from the mobile switching center to the interface server according to the routing association, and routing the termination communication from the interface server to the mobile communication device over the communication path.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein registering the mobile communication device with the nomadic server provides a connectivity status of the mobile communication device while the mobile communication device is within a specific coverage area of a specific WiFi access point.

19-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A method of providing communications between mobile communication devices, the method comprising:

a. routing a communication over a first communication link between a first mobile communication device and a first cellular base station, wherein the communication is directed from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device;

b. routing the communication over a second communication link between the first cellular base station and a first controller device;

c. routing the communication over a third communication link between the first controller device and a second controller device, wherein the third communication link comprises a Internet Protocol network;

d. routing the communication over a fourth communication link between the second controller device and a second cellular base station; and

e. routing the communication over a fifth communication link between the second cellular base station and the second communication device;

wherein the mobile communication device notifies an interface server if the first communication link falls below a threshold.