SPLIT USAGE OF RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS WITH IMS

• US 20130003652A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: RADOS, Steven R., MACIAS, John F., CHIANG, David, KOTECHA, Lalit R., CHAN, Yee Sin, LEE, Jay J., HAYNES, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,848,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Different access networks may perform signaling and data delivery (bearer connection) for communication services. A device may determine, in response to a request for a service from a user of the device, whether the device is connected to a non-cellular access network. The device may transmit, when it is determined that the device is connected to the non-cellular access network, one or more control messages, relating to establishment of the service, using the non-cellular access network. The device may transmit, when it is determined that the device is not connected to the non-cellular access network, the one or more control messages, using a cellular access network. The device may establish, with a party with which the service is to connect, a bearer connection for the service over the cellular access network.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining, by the mobile device and in response to a request for a service from a user of the mobile device, whether the mobile device is connected to a non-cellular access network;

transmitting, by the mobile device, when it is determined that the mobile device is connected to the non-cellular access network, one or more control messages, relating to establishment of the service, using the non-cellular access network;

transmitting, by the mobile device, when it is determined that the mobile device is not connected to the non-cellular access network, the one or more control messages using a cellular access network; and

establishing, by the mobile device and with a party with which the service is to connect, a bearer connection for the service over the cellular access network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) server, a message to register connection of the mobile device with the non-cellular access network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting transceiver circuitry for the cellular access network in a low power mode when the mobile device is connected to the non-cellular network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

setting the transceiver circuitry for the cellular access network to an active power mode in response to initiation of establishment of a bearer connection over the cellular access network.

5. The method of claim 1, where the non-cellular access network includes a WiFi network and the cellular access network includes a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard network or a 4GPP LTE standard network.

6. The method of claim 1, where the service includes an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) voice or video call.

7. The method of claim 1, where the one or more control messages include session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

8. A method implemented by one or more devices, the method comprising:

determining, by the one or more devices and in response to a request for a service relating to a mobile device, whether the mobile device is connected to a non-cellular access network;

transmitting, by the one or more devices and to the mobile device, when it is determined that the mobile device is connected to the non-cellular access network, one or more control messages, relating to establishment of the service, using the non-cellular access network; and

transmitting, by the one or more devices and to the mobile device, when it is determined that the mobile device is not connected to the non-cellular access network, the one or more control messages, using a cellular access network,

wherein the one or more control messages include a prioritized list of preferred access network technologies to use for a bearer connection that is to be established, for the service, between the mobile device and another device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving registration information, from the mobile device, indicating whether the mobile device is connected to the non-cellular access network; and

maintaining the registration information in a data structure.

10. The method of claim 9, where the determination of whether the mobile device is connected to the non-cellular access network includes:

looking up a connection state of the mobile device in the data structure.

11. The method of claim 8, where the non-cellular access network includes a WiFi network and the cellular access network includes a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard network or a 4GPP LTE standard network.

12. The method of claim 8, where the service includes an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) voice or video call.

13. The method of claim 8, where the one or more control messages include session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.

14. A device comprising:

a communication interface including a plurality of transceiver circuits for connecting to a plurality of radio access networks, the plurality of transceiver circuits including at least a WiFi access circuit and a cellular access network circuit;

a processor; and

a memory to store programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

connect to a WiFi network, using the WiFi access circuit, when a WiFi connection is available,

perform signaling for Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) services through the WiFi access network, and

establish bearer connections for the IMS services, using the cellular access network circuit to connect to a cellular network.

15. The device of claim 14, where the cellular access network circuit connects to a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard network or a 4GPP LTE standard network.

16. The device of claim 14, where the programming instructions further cause the processor to:

register a connection with the WiFi network with an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) service.

17. The device of claim 14, where the programming instructions further cause the processor to:

set the cellular access network circuit to a low power mode when the device is connected to the WiFi network.

18. The device of claim 17, where the programming instructions further cause the processor to:

set the cellular access network circuit to an active power mode in response to the establishment of the bearer connections.

19. The device of claim 14, where the service includes an Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia session (IMS) voice or video call.

20. The device of claim 14, where the signaling is performed using control messages include session initiation protocol (SIP) messages.