Handover between a cellular system and a wireless local area network
First Claim
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1. System for handover of a mobile wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) between a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
- a network communication device in a cellular network for communicating between a WLAN and the cellular network;
a cellular network communication device in a mobile unit for communicating between the mobile unit and the cellular network;
a WLAN communication device in the mobile unit for communicating between the mobile unit and the WLAN;
a WTRU location device in the cellular network for determining the location of the mobile unit;
a WLAN location device in the cellular network for determining the coverage area of the WLAN;
a correlation device in the cellular network for correlating the location of the mobile unit with the coverage area of the WLAN;
an informing device in the cellular network for sending a message to the mobile unit informing the mobile unit of the existence of the WLAN when the mobile unit approaches the coverage area of the WLAN prior to handover;
a selection device in the mobile unit to provide user selection of the WLAN in response to the message indicating the availability of WLAN coverage, whereby the WTRU is configured to pre-select acceptance of communication through the WLAN; and
a handoff device in the mobile unit for handing over the mobile unit between the cellular network and the WLAN when the mobile unit is in the corresponding coverage area.
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Abstract
A system facilitates handover of a wireless transmit and receive unit (WTRU) between a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WLAN communicates with a cellular network. A location of the WTRU is determined. The coverage areas of the WLAN and cellular network are determined. The WTRU is informed of the existence of the WLAN when the WTRU approaches the coverage area of the WLAN. The WTRU is handed over from the cellular network to the WLAN when the WTRU is in the coverage area of the WLAN and vice versa.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. System for handover of a mobile wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) between a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
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a network communication device in a cellular network for communicating between a WLAN and the cellular network; a cellular network communication device in a mobile unit for communicating between the mobile unit and the cellular network; a WLAN communication device in the mobile unit for communicating between the mobile unit and the WLAN; a WTRU location device in the cellular network for determining the location of the mobile unit; a WLAN location device in the cellular network for determining the coverage area of the WLAN; a correlation device in the cellular network for correlating the location of the mobile unit with the coverage area of the WLAN; an informing device in the cellular network for sending a message to the mobile unit informing the mobile unit of the existence of the WLAN when the mobile unit approaches the coverage area of the WLAN prior to handover; a selection device in the mobile unit to provide user selection of the WLAN in response to the message indicating the availability of WLAN coverage, whereby the WTRU is configured to pre-select acceptance of communication through the WLAN; and a handoff device in the mobile unit for handing over the mobile unit between the cellular network and the WLAN when the mobile unit is in the corresponding coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless transmit and receive unit (WTRU) comprising:
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a cellular network communication device for communicating with a cellular network and receiving a message from the cellular network prior to handover indicating the availability of a wireless local area network (WLAN) having a coverage area at a geolocation of the WTRU; a handoff acceptance device for accepting a handing over of the WTRU from the cellular network to the WLAN after receiving the WLAN indicator information; a WLAN communication device for communicating with the WLAN; a selection device for providing user selection of the WLAN in response to the message indicating the availability of WLAN coverage, whereby the WTRU is configured to pre-select acceptance of handover; and the handoff accepting device for handing over the WTRU between the cellular network and the WLAN when the WTRU is in the corresponding coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Method for handover of a mobile wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) between a cellular network and a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising:
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establishing communication between the WLAN and a cellular network; determining in the cellular network the location of the mobile unit; determining in the cellular network the coverage area of the WLAN; correlating in the cellular network the location of the mobile unit with the coverage area of the WLAN; providing user selection of the WLAN in response to a message indicating the availability of WLAN coverage, whereby the WTRU is configured to pre-select acceptance of handover; sending the message to the mobile unit by the cellular network prior to handover informing the mobile unit of the existence of the WLAN when the location correlation indicates the mobile unit entering the coverage area of the WLAN; and handing over the mobile unit between the cellular network and the WLAN when the mobile unit is in the corresponding coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A mobile communications system, in which a core network provides wireless service to a plurality of multi-mode mobile units, and a first local network of a first type provides communication with ones of the mobile units, wherein mobile unit communications are handed over between said first local network and a second local network of a second type with which the mobile units are configured to communicate, the system comprising:
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a database, configured to be accessed by the core network, which includes information concerning the first and second local networks and geographic coverage of the first and second local networks; and a position comparison device, configured to be accessed by the core network, to identify a position of at least one mobile unit and to correlate the geographic coverage of the first and second local networks with the position of said one mobile unit and provide information concerning the correlation to a user of said one mobile unit prior to handover; a selection device in said one mobile unit to provide user selection of the second local network in response to receiving said information, whereby the mobile unit is configured to pre-select acceptance of communication through the second local network; and a handover device in said one mobile unit to hand over the mobile unit between the first network and the second network when the mobile unit is in the corresponding coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification