Apparatus for supporting the handover of a telecommunication session between a licensed wireless system and an unlicensed wireless system

• US 7,720,481 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mohammed, Jahangir, Gallagher, Michael D
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/688,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/439, 455/436, 455/552.1, 370/331, 370/328, 709/228, 340/571.1
• US Class Current: 455/439
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• 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 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

The invention discloses a wireless communication handset comprising licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The invention further discloses a control circuit connected to both the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry, and a computer readable memory for directing the control circuit to function in a specified manner. This memory includes instructions to formulate a measurement report containing signal strength information that corresponds to the strength of a signal received through the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The measurement report also contains a request to transfer a wireless communication session from a licensed wireless system to an unlicensed wireless system. The memory further includes instructions to transmit the measurement report to the licensed wireless system through the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at an indoor system server of an unlicensed wireless communication system, establishing a connection between a mobile station and the unlicensed wireless communication system through the indoor system server, wherein the mobile station is in a communication session with a licensed wireless communication system;

receiving, at the indoor system server, a handover request message from the licensed wireless communication system indicating that a handover of the communication session is required;

selecting a handover reference value (HO-Ref) by the indoor system server; and

sending a handover acknowledge message comprising the HO-Ref from the indoor system server to the licensed wireless communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, at the indoor system server, from the mobile station, a handover access message comprising the HO-Ref in order to initiate a handover of said communication session from the licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said HO-Ref is received by the mobile station in a handover command from the licensed wireless communication system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handover acknowledge message comprises a command instructing the mobile station to switch the communication session to the established connection between the mobile station and the indoor system server.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising receiving, from the mobile station, a message indicating that the mobile station has switched the communication session to the established connection between the mobile station and the indoor system server.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a message to the licensed wireless communication system indicating that the handover of the communication session has been performed.

7. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a processor of an indoor system server of an unlicensed wireless communication system, the computer program comprising:

a set of instructions for establishing a connection between the indoor system server and a mobile station, wherein the mobile station has established an ongoing communication session using a licensed wireless communication system;

a set of instructions for receiving, at the indoor system server, a handover request from the licensed wireless communication system indicating the licensed wireless communication system has determined that a handover of the communication session is required;

a set of instructions for selecting a handover reference value (HO-Ref) by the indoor system server; and

a set of instructions for sending a handover acknowledge message comprising the HO-Ref from the indoor system server to the licensed wireless communication system.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving a handover access message comprising the HO-Ref at the indoor system server from the mobile station.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for initiating a handover of said communication session by the indoor system server from the licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the handover acknowledge message comprises a command instructing the mobile station to switch the communication session to the established connection between the mobile station and the indoor system server.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for receiving, from the mobile station, a message indicating that the mobile station has switched the communication session to the established connection between the mobile station and the indoor system server.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the program further comprises a set of instructions for sending a message to the licensed wireless communication system indicating that the handover of the communication session has been performed.

13. An indoor system server to operate in an unlicensed wireless communication system, the indoor system server for facilitating a handover of an active call of a mobile station from a licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system, the indoor system server comprising:

a) a first interface for establishing a connection with the mobile station through which messages are sent to and received from the mobile station;

b) a second interface for connecting the unlicensed wireless communication system to the licensed wireless communication system; and

c) circuits for handling a set of messages exchanged with the licensed wireless communication system through the second interface, said set of messages comprising (i) a handover request message received from the licensed wireless communication system and (ii) a handover acknowledge message sent to the licensed wireless communication system through the second interface,

wherein the indoor system server is for selecting a handover reference value (HO-Ref) to identify the active call, wherein said handover acknowledge message comprises said HO-Ref.

14. The indoor system server of claim 13, wherein the first interface is for receiving a handover access message comprising the HO-Ref from the mobile station.

15. The indoor system server of claim 14, wherein the indoor system server is further for initiating a handover of said active call from the licensed wireless communication system to the unlicensed wireless communication system.

16. The indoor system server of claim 13, wherein the handover acknowledge message comprises a command instructing the mobile station to switch the active call to the established connection between the mobile station and the indoor system server.