Efficient handoffs between cellular and wireless local area networks
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating a handoff between a cellular network and a wireless local area network, WLAN, the method comprising:
- a) providing a communication session to a mobile terminal from a packet data serving node via a first packet control function associated with a base station controller for facilitating cellular access for the mobile terminal;
b) determining a need for a handoff to provide the communication session to the mobile terminal via a second packet control function for facilitating WLAN access for the mobile terminal;
c) terminating the communication session to the mobile terminal via the first packet control function;
d) providing the communication session to the mobile terminal via the second packet control function such that the handoff of the communication session occurs from the cellular network to the WLAN;
e) establishing a WLAN association between an access router and the mobile terminal;
f) establishing a first data tunnel between the access router and the second packet control function; and
g) establishing a second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node wherein the WLAN association, the first data tunnel, and the second data tunnel are associated to provide the communication session via the second racket control function,wherein the communication session provided via the first packet control function is facilitated by a radio channel between the mobile terminal and the base station controller associated with a third data tunnel between the first packet control function and the packet data serving node and the step of terminating the communication session further comprises removing the third data tunnel prior to establishing the second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention facilitates a handoff between cellular and wireless local area networks (WLANs). To facilitate a WLAN interface with the cellular network, a proxy packet control function (P-PCF) establishes a data tunnel to a packet data serving node (PDSN), as well as a WLAN association with a mobile terminal. The WLAN association is a tunnel, and is preferably implemented via an Access Router acting as a liaison between the proxy PCF and an Access Point. The Access Router and the proxy PCF establish an IP tunnel, which carries the WLAN user'"'"'s PPP traffic. Handoffs between the cellular and WLAN networks are facilitated by effecting a same-PDSN, inter-PCF handoff wherein the communication session with the mobile terminal is effectively changed from between the PDSN and the proxy PCF to between the PDSN and a PCF associated with a base station controller facilitating the cellular access, and vice versa.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating a handoff between a cellular network and a wireless local area network, WLAN, the method comprising:
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a) providing a communication session to a mobile terminal from a packet data serving node via a first packet control function associated with a base station controller for facilitating cellular access for the mobile terminal; b) determining a need for a handoff to provide the communication session to the mobile terminal via a second packet control function for facilitating WLAN access for the mobile terminal; c) terminating the communication session to the mobile terminal via the first packet control function; d) providing the communication session to the mobile terminal via the second packet control function such that the handoff of the communication session occurs from the cellular network to the WLAN; e) establishing a WLAN association between an access router and the mobile terminal; f) establishing a first data tunnel between the access router and the second packet control function; and g) establishing a second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node wherein the WLAN association, the first data tunnel, and the second data tunnel are associated to provide the communication session via the second racket control function, wherein the communication session provided via the first packet control function is facilitated by a radio channel between the mobile terminal and the base station controller associated with a third data tunnel between the first packet control function and the packet data serving node and the step of terminating the communication session further comprises removing the third data tunnel prior to establishing the second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for facilitating a handoff between a wireless local area network, WLAN, and a cellular network, the method comprising:
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a) providing a communication session to a mobile terminal from a packet data serving node via a first packet control function for facilitating WLAN access for the mobile terminal; b) determining a need for a handoff to provide the communication session to the mobile terminal via a second packet control function associated with a base station controller for facilitating cellular access for the mobile terminal; c) terminating the communication session to the mobile terminal via the first packet control function; and d) providing the communication session to the mobile terminal via the second packet control function such that the handoff of the communication session occurs from the WLAN to the cellular network; e) establishing a first radio channel between the mobile terminal and the base station controller; and f) packet data serving node wherein the first radio channel and the first data tunnel are associated to provide the communication session via the first racket control function, wherein the communication session provided via the first packet control function is facilitated by a WLAN association between an access router and the mobile terminal, a second data tunnel between the access router and the second packet control function, and a third data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node; and
the step of terminating the communication session further comprises removing the third data tunnel prior to establishing the second data tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for facilitating a handoff between a cellular network and a wireless local area network, WLAN, comprising:
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a) providing a communication session to a mobile terminal via a first packet control function; b) determining a need for a handoff to provide the communication session to the mobile terminal via a second packet control function; c) providing the communication session to the mobile terminal via the second packet control function, the first packet control junction facilitating the communication session between a packet data serving node and the mobile terminal via one of a cellular access or WLAN access and the second packet control function facilitating the communication session via an other of the cellular access or WLAN access; d) establishing a WLAN association between an access router and the mobile terminal; e) establishing a first data tunnel between the access router and the second packet control function; and f) establishing a second data tunnel between the second racket control function and the packet data serving node wherein the WLAN association, the first data tunnel, and the second data tunnel are associated to provide the communication session via the second packet control function, wherein the communication session provided via the first packet control function is facilitated by a radio channel between the mobile terminal and the base station controller associated with a third data tunnel between the first packet control function and the racket data serving node and terminating the communication session by removing the third data tunnel prior to establishing the second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the racket data serving node. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for facilitating a handoff between a wireless local area network, WLAN, and a cellular network, the system comprising:
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a) at least one network interface; and b) a control system associated with the at least one network interface and adapted to; i) determine a need for a handoff to provide a communication session to a mobile terminal, which is being provided the communication session via a first packet control function associated with a base station controller for facilitating cellular access for the mobile terminal; ii) send a message to a packet data serving node to facilitate a handoff from the first packet control function; iii) establish a WLAN association between an access router and the mobile terminal; iv) establish a first data tunnel between the access router and a second packet control function; and v) establish a second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node wherein the WLAN association, the first data tunnel, and the second data tunnel are associated to provide the communication session via the second packet control function, wherein the communication session provided via the first packet data function is facilitated by a radio channel between the mobile terminal and the base station controller associated with a third data tunnel between the first packet control function and the packet data serving node, and terminating the communication session by removing the third data tunnel prior to establishing the second data tunnel between the second packet control function and the packet data serving node. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification