Handover in a hybrid communications network

• US 7,499,705 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Green, Michael, Rimoni, Yoram
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan; Kiet
• Application Number:
  US10/434,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,125 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/101, 455/426, 455/442, 455/444, 455/441, 370/331, 370/349, 370/339, 370/330, 370/344, 370/412, 370/335, 370/329, 370/401, 370/432.1, 370/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network

Abstract

An apparatus and method of effecting hand-off of a mobile station in a first wireless communication system, which has a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system, is claimed. A handoff required message is received at the first mobile switching node, and sent to a second mobile switching node. A message from the second mobile switching node is sent to request allocation for a handoff. In an embodiment, this message is sent to the VLR of the second wireless communication system. In response, a handoff request acknowledge message is received by the second mobile switching node and sent to the first mobile switching node. An initial address message is sent to initiate a circuit connection between the first mobile switching node and the second mobile switching node. Then, the call is received from the first mobile switching node.

Claims

1. A method of effecting hand-off of a call from a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the method comprising:

receiving a handoff request;

requesting a handoff number, the handoff number used for routing the call from the first base station to the second base station;

receiving the handoff number;

transmitting a prepare handoff message, the prepare handoff message comprising the handoff number;

sending an initial address message via at least one wireless network to initiate a circuit connection from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node; and

receiving the call,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the prepare handoff message further comprises a handoff request acknowledge message.

3. An apparatus for effecting hand-off of a call from a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a handoff request;

means for requesting a handoff number, the handoff number used for routing the call from the first base station to the second base station;

means for receiving the handoff number;

means for transmitting a prepare handoff message, the prepare handoff message comprising the handoff number;

means for sending an initial address message via at least one wireless network to initiate a circuit connection from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node;

means for receiving the call,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein the prepare handoff message further comprises a handoff request acknowledge message.

5. A method of effecting hand-off of a call from a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a handoff required message at the first mobile switching node;

(b) sending a handoff request from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node;

(c) sending a message from the second mobile switching node to request allocation for a handoff;

(d) in response to (c), receiving a handoff request acknowledge message;

(e) sending the handoff request acknowledge message from the second mobile switching node to the first mobile switching node;

(f) sending an initial address message via at least one wireless network to initiate a circuit connection between the first mobile switching node and the second mobile switching node;

(g) receiving the call from the first mobile switching node,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

(h) sending signal from the second mobile switching node to the first mobile switching node that a circuit for the call has been reserved;

(i) upon receipt of (h), sending a handoff execution message from the first mobile switching node;

(j) receiving a handoff commenced message at the first mobile switching node;

(k) receiving a handoff complete message at the second mobile switching node.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein (d) is received from the second wireless communication system.

8. An apparatus for effecting hand-off of a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for receiving a handoff required message at the first mobile switching node;

(b) means for sending a handoff request from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node;

(c) means for sending a message from the second mobile switching node to request allocation for a handoff;

(d) in response to (c), means for receiving a handoff request acknowledge message;

(e) means for sending the handoff request acknowledge message from the second mobile switching node to the first mobile switching node;

(f) means for sending an initial address message via at least one wireless network to initiate a circuit connection between the first mobile switching node and the second mobile switching node; and

(g) means for receiving the call from the first mobile switching node,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

(h) means for sending signal from the second mobile switching node to the first mobile switching node that a circuit for the call has been reserved;

(i) means for upon receipt of (h), sending a handoff execution message from the first mobile switching node;

(j) means for receiving a handoff commenced message at the first mobile switching node; and

(k) means for receiving a handoff complete message at the second mobile switching node.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein (d) is received from the second wireless communication system.

11. An apparatus for effecting hand-off of a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first mobile switching node configured to receive a handoff required message;

(b) a second mobile switching node coupled to the first mobile switching node and configured to receive a handoff request and to request allocation for a handoff; and

(c) a circuit to couple the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node and configured to transfer the call from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node, the circuit being initiated using an initial address message sent via at least one wireless network,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

12. A computer program product on a computer readable medium, comprising:

a computer-readable medium, comprising;

a method of effecting hand-off of a call from a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the method comprising;

codes for causing a computer to receive a handoff request;

codes for causing a computer to request a handoff number, the handoff number used for routing the call from the first base station to the second base station;

codes for causing a computer to receive the handoff number;

codes for causing a computer to transmit a prepare handoff message, the prepare handoff message comprising the handoff number;

codes for causing a computer to send via at least one wireless network an initial address message to initiate a circuit connection between the first mobile switching node and the second mobile switching node; and

codes for causing a computer to receive the call,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.

13. A computer program product on a computer readable medium, comprising:

A computer-readable medium, comprising a method of effecting hand-off of a call from a mobile station in a first wireless communication system of a first type having a first mobile switching node operable with a first base station and a second mobile switching node operable with a second base station, and a second wireless communication system of a second type, the method comprising;

(a) codes for causing a computer to receive a handoff required message at the first mobile switching node;

(b) codes for causing a computer to send a handoff request from the first mobile switching node to the second mobile switching node;

(c) codes for causing a computer to send a message from the second mobile switching node to request allocation for a handoff;

(d) codes for causing a computer to receive a handoff request acknowledge message, in response to (c);

(e) codes for causing a computer to send the handoff request acknowledge message from the second mobile switching node to the first mobile switching node;

(f) codes for causing a computer to send via at least one wireless network an initial address message to initiate a circuit connection between the first mobile switching node and the second mobile switching node; and

(g) codes for causing a computer to receive the call from the first mobile switching node,

wherein at least one of the first mobile switching node or the second mobile switching node is suitable for mapping messages expected in formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type to formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, the formats and structures in the first wireless communication system of the first type being different from the formats and structures in the second wireless communication system of the second type, and wherein the first wireless communication system is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system, the second wireless communication system is selected from a group consisting of an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) system and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system.