System and method for establishing and/or maintaining a data session across packet data networks
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a communication system to be used by a mobile unit to conduct a data session, the method comprising:
- a) determining a set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems available to the mobile unit, the set of valid terrestrial communication systems including at least two disparate types of communication systems;
b) selecting a communication system from the set of valid terrestrial communication systems;
wherein the method is performed while the mobile unit is conducting the data session using a serving wireless communication system, the serving wireless communication system being in the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems; and
c) performing a hand-off of the mobile unit from the serving wireless communication system to the selected communication system, if the step b) does not select the serving wireless communication system;
wherein the step b) includes the following,b1) assigning a score to each respective communication system in the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems,b2) determining a candidate system for each of the at least two disparate types of communication systems, the candidate system being determined from the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems based on the assigned scores, andb3) applying at least one preference rule to the assigned scores of the candidate systems determined in the step b2) to obtain the selected communication system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system selection algorithm (SSA) implemented by a mobile station chooses between available systems to select a system to serve the mobile station. During initialization, the SSA causes the mobile station to scan the environment and compare available communication systems to determine the best system to provide service. After an initial system is chosen, the SSA causes the mobile station to continuously, or at discrete time intervals, scan the environment for available systems, thus allowing for a seamless switch to an available system whenever a handoff is desired. The SSA chooses the best available system based on measurements of each available system and applying preference rules defined by a service provider and/or user of the mobile station.
47 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a communication system to be used by a mobile unit to conduct a data session, the method comprising:
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a) determining a set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems available to the mobile unit, the set of valid terrestrial communication systems including at least two disparate types of communication systems; b) selecting a communication system from the set of valid terrestrial communication systems; wherein the method is performed while the mobile unit is conducting the data session using a serving wireless communication system, the serving wireless communication system being in the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems; and c) performing a hand-off of the mobile unit from the serving wireless communication system to the selected communication system, if the step b) does not select the serving wireless communication system; wherein the step b) includes the following, b1) assigning a score to each respective communication system in the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems, b2) determining a candidate system for each of the at least two disparate types of communication systems, the candidate system being determined from the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication systems based on the assigned scores, and b3) applying at least one preference rule to the assigned scores of the candidate systems determined in the step b2) to obtain the selected communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for performing a hand-off a data session of a mobile unit from a 3G-based network to an IEEE 802.11-based network, the method comprising:
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a) scanning the environment to detect signals from valid 802.11-based networks, the scanning being performed continuously or at predefined intervals; b) determining, upon detection of a signal from at least one valid 802.11-based network, an available bit rate for each respective network of the at least one valid IEEE 802.11-based network, the available bit rate being determined based on a measured SNR of the respective network; c) selecting a candidate network from the at least one valid IEEE 802.11-based network based on the determined available bit rate; d) determining an available bit rate for the 3G-based network based on at least one of a measured pilot signal-to-interference (Ec/Io) and a received data rate field; e) applying at least one preference rule to the available bit rates of the candidate network and the 3G-based network; f) applying at least one threshold to the received signal strength of the candidate network; g) determining whether the candidate network is preferred over the 3G-based network based on the steps e) and f); and h) performing a hand-off of the data session to the candidate network if the step g) determines that the candidate network is preferred over the 3G-based network.
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29. A method for performing a hand-off a data session of a mobile unit from an IEEE 802.11-based network to a 3G-based network, the method comprising:
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a) scanning the environment to detect signals from valid 3G-based networks, the scanning being performed continuously or at predefined intervals; b) determining, upon detection of a signal from at least one valid 3G-based network, an available bit rate for each respective network of the at least one valid 3G-based network, the available bit rate being determined based on at least one of a measured pilot signal-to-interference (Ec/Io) and a received data rate field of the respective network; c) selecting a candidate network from the at least one valid 3G-based network based on the determined available bit rate; d) determining an available bit rate for the IEEE 802.11-based network based on a measured SNR; e) applying at least one preference rule to the available bit rates of the candidate network and the IEEE 802.11-based network; f) applying at least one threshold to the received signal strength of the candidate network; g) determining whether the candidate network is preferred over the IEEE 802.11-based network based on the steps e) and f); and h) performing a hand-off of the data session to the candidate network if the step g) determines that the candidate network is preferred over the IEEE 802.11-based network.
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30. A method for selecting a communication system to be used by a mobile unit to conduct a data session, the method comprising:
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scanning the environment to detect signals from at least two valid terrestrial wireless communication networks, the scanning being performed continuously or at predefined intervals; determining, upon detection of a signal from the at least two valid terrestrial wireless communication networks, an available bit rate for each perspective valid terrestrial wireless communication network, the available bit rate being determined based on a measured SNR of the respective network; and
,selecting a communication network from the at least two valid terrestrial wireless communication networks based on the determined available bit rate; wherein the method is performed while the mobile unit is conducting the data session using a serving wireless communication system, the serving wireless communication system being one of the at least two valid terrestrial wireless communication networks; and performing a hand-off of the mobile unit from the serving wireless communication system to the selected communication network, if the step of selecting does not select the serving wireless communication system; wherein the step of selecting includes the following, s1) assigning a score to each respective communication network in the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication networks, s2) determining a candidate network for each of the at least two disparate types of communication systems, the candidate network being determined from the set of valid terrestrial wireless communication networks based on the assigned scores, and s3) applying at least one preference rule to the assigned scores of the candidate systems determined in the step s2) to obtain the selected communication network.
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Specification