Switching a call from a network assisted communication mode to a direct communication mode
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for changing a call from a network facilitated calling mode to a direct calling mode, comprising:
- establishing a call between a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device via a communications network, the first and second mobile communication devices communicating with the communications network using a first wireless communications protocol in a first communications frequency band;
determining that the first and second mobile communication devices are within sufficient radio proximity to allow the direct calling mode to commence; and
commencing the call using the direct communication mode where the first and second mobile communication devices communicate directly with each other using a second wireless communications protocol in a second communications frequency band;
wherein determining that the first and second mobile communication devices are within sufficient radio proximity is performed by the communications network comparing a timing advance index number of the first mobile communication device with a timing advance index number of the second mobile communication device when the first and second mobile communication devices are within the same communication cell.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile communication device (214) in a communication system (200) initiates a call over the fixed equipment network of the communication system to another mobile communication device (216). If the two mobile communication devices are within sufficient proximity to each other, they may switch to a direct mode of communication. (318). The direct mode and network mode of communication are in different frequency bands using different air interface protocols.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for changing a call from a network facilitated calling mode to a direct calling mode, comprising:
-
establishing a call between a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device via a communications network, the first and second mobile communication devices communicating with the communications network using a first wireless communications protocol in a first communications frequency band; determining that the first and second mobile communication devices are within sufficient radio proximity to allow the direct calling mode to commence; and commencing the call using the direct communication mode where the first and second mobile communication devices communicate directly with each other using a second wireless communications protocol in a second communications frequency band; wherein determining that the first and second mobile communication devices are within sufficient radio proximity is performed by the communications network comparing a timing advance index number of the first mobile communication device with a timing advance index number of the second mobile communication device when the first and second mobile communication devices are within the same communication cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for initiating a direct communication mode between a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device in a wireless communication system, comprising:
-
registering the first and second mobile communication devices for communication service with the wireless communication system; initiating a network-assisted call from the first mobile communication device to the second mobile communication device via the wireless communication system; determining that the first and second mobile communication devices are within sufficient radio proximity to support a direct communication mode, performed by the wireless communication system comparing a timing advance index number of the first mobile communication device with a timing advance index number of the second mobile communication device when the first and second mobile communication devices are within the same communication cell; switching to a direct communication mode at both the first and second mobile communication devices; and continuing communications between the first and second mobile communication devices using the direct communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification