HANDOFF OF A MULTIMEDIA CALL SESSION USING BACKGROUND NETWORK SCANNING

• US 20120129533A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Bennett, James D., Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008357 Determination of target cell based on access point [AP] properties, e.g. AP service capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and system supporting handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning is disclosed. A mobile multimedia handset may engage in the exchange of a multimedia information stream via a first wireless network, and may sniff a portion of radio frequency spectrum for a second wireless network. Information about available services and network quality of service for the second network may be received by querying the second wireless network or from advertising by the second wireless network. Hand-off between the two networks may be based upon the results of the comparison and one or more user-defined criteria, and the handoff may be synchronized according to predefined events in the stream of multimedia information.

Claims

1. A method supporting hand-off of a multimedia call session using background network scanning, the method comprising:

in a handheld communication device,

communicating a first user multimedia information stream via a first wireless network;

determining one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first stream of user multimedia information;

detecting a radio frequency signal of a second wireless network using background network scanning of at least one portion of radio frequency spectrum;

determining one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network by automatically establishing communication via the second wireless network of a second user multimedia information stream;

comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

deciding to hand-off communication of the user multimedia call session to the second wireless network based on the comparing; and

after comparing and deciding, handing-off communication of the user multimedia call session to the second wireless network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on a spatial resolution.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on a grey scale level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on a color depth.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on a frame rate.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on an error rate.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises one of:

receiving, from the second wireless network, advertising information for the one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

informing the first wireless network of detection of the second wireless network; and

receiving, from the first wireless network, information about the one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handing-off comprises one of:

automatically selecting one of;

the first wireless network or the second wireless network, based upon the comparison and at least one user-defined criteria;

or

selecting to communicate the multimedia information stream via the second wireless network in response to input from a user.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user of a result of the comparison; and

receiving, from the user, input related to selection of a wireless network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein user multimedia information comprises one or more of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and/or digitized music.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless network and the second wireless network one or both of:

occupy separate portions of radio frequency spectrum and/or employ incompatible communication protocols.

13. A mobile access device supporting hand-off of a stream of user multimedia information using background network scanning, the device comprising:

at least one wireless interface communicating a first stream of user multimedia information with a first wireless network while scanning at least a portion of radio frequency spectrum to detect a radio frequency signal of a second wireless network, wherein the mobile access device determines one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first stream of user multimedia information, and wherein the mobile access device, responsive to the detection, determines one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

software comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network and for deciding to hand off the user multimedia information between the first wireless network and the second wireless network; and

wherein after comparing and deciding, the device hands off the communication of user multimedia information between the first wireless network and the second wireless network based upon the at least one user-defined criteria and the comparison of the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the user multimedia information comprises one or more of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and/or digitized music.

15. The device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one user-defined criteria comprises one or more of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, and/or a network delay.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein the handing-off comprises:

communicating one portion of the user multimedia information stream via the first wireless network while communicating a separate other portion of the user multimedia information stream via the second wireless network, based upon the comparison.

17. One or more circuits for use in a handheld communication device supporting hand-off of a multimedia call session using background network scanning, the one or more circuits comprising:

at least one processor operably coupled to circuitry for communicating via a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

communicate a first user multimedia information stream via the first wireless network;

determine one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first stream of user multimedia information;

detect a radio frequency signal of the second wireless network using background network scanning of at least one portion of radio frequency spectrum;

responsive to the detection, determine one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

compare the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

decide to hand-off communication of the user multimedia call session to the second wireless network based on the comparing; and

after comparing and deciding, hand-off communication of the user multimedia call session to the second wireless network.

18. The one or more circuits according to claim 17, wherein the one or more performance characteristics are compared based on one or more of a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, or a network delay.

19. The one or more circuits according to claim 17, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving, from the second wireless network, advertising information for the one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

20. The one or more circuits according to claim 17, wherein the determining comprises:

informing the first wireless network of detection of the second wireless network; and

receiving, from the first wireless network, information about the one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.