Handoff for cellular and internet protocol telephony

• US 7,502,615 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bridgeport Networks, Inc. (Alianza, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilhoite, Michael T., Singh, Inderdeep, Blumenthal, Steven H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): THIER, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/183,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/420, 455/422.1, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0011 for data sessions of end-to-end connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/249 according to timing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/10 adapted for application session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A telephone system supports communication with user devices over both a cellular radio network as well as over an Internet Protocol (IP) network, and enables roaming and active call handoff between cellular and IP domains. Components of the system interact with conventional cellular telephone systems, for example, by emulating behavior of control components, providing proxy services for conventional components, transporting cellular telephone control communication over IP connections, or by simulating cellular operating characteristics of user devices operating in an IP domain.

Claims

1. A telecommunication device comprising:

an interface to a data network;

an interface to a telephone system;

wherein the telecommunication device is configured to communicate with a mobile unit over the interface to the data network, and to simulate, over the interface to the telephone system, presence of the mobile unit on a radio network associated with the telephone system by outputting one or more spoofed signal values that exceed corresponding signal values of the radio network; and

wherein the telecommunication device is further configured to receive, in response to the one or more spoofed signal values, an indication that the mobile unit is granted registration with the data network.

2. The telecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication device is further configured to simulate, over the interface to the telephone system, presence of the mobile unit on the radio network by outputting one or more spoofed signal values that are below corresponding signal values of the radio network;

and

wherein the telecommunication device is further configured to receive, in response to the one or more spoofed signal values, an indication that the mobile unit is denied registration with the data network.

3. The telecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication device is configured to remove the mobile unit from association with the data network if the mobile unit goes outside a range of the data network.

4. The telecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication device is further configured to simulate the presence of the mobile unit on the radio network by transmitting radio channel information to the radio network.

5. The telecommunication device of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication device is further configured to simulate the presence of the mobile unit on the radio network by transmitting authentication information to the radio network.