Method of seamless roaming between wireless local area networks and cellular carrier networks

• US 8,041,360 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraasten Bros Fund BV LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ibe, Oliver C., Zeng, Jianyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; Brandon
• Application Number:
  US12/874,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100323665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 455/448, 455436-445, 455/432.1, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/55, 455/552.1, 455/411, 455/434, 370/328, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00226 wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A scheme that enables seamless roaming between the WLAN and the cellular carrier network by enabling a user that originates a call in the WLAN and happens to go outside the range of the WLAN to automatically switch over to the cellular carrier network without losing connection with the other party. This solution assumes that the mobile device has the capability to operate in at least two modes that include the WLAN mode and one of the cellular carrier modes, such as the GSM, IS-95 CDMA, IS-136 TDMA, and iDEN.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a gateway receiving a message regarding a mobile device initiating a handoff of an in-progress call, wherein the message comprises one or more parameters of the in-progress call for the handoff;

the gateway sending an authentication message to authenticate the mobile device;

the gateway receiving a location of the mobile device and network configuration parameters in response to the authentication message;

the gateway establishing a connection with the mobile device via a wireless local area network based on the location of the mobile device;

the gateway listening on a channel of a cellular carrier network used by the mobile device in the in-progress call; and

the gateway relaying at least one parameter of the one or more parameters about the in progress call between the mobile device and the cellular carrier network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is a short message service (SMS) message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the in-progress call has terminated, the gateway listening on a paging channel of the cellular carrier network for calls destined for the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

the gateway receiving, via the paging channel, a new call destined for the mobile device; and

the gateway delivering the new call to the mobile device via the wireless local area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises information identifying the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information identifying the mobile device comprises at least one telephone number associated with the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters identify the channel of the cellular carrier network used by the mobile device in the in-progress call.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters identify a power level.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the gateway maintaining a record of the cellular carrier network associated with the mobile device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixed radio terminal comprises one or more radios, each radio configured to communicate with one or more cellular carrier networks.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the fixed radio terminal is configured to communicate using any of a plurality of cellular network technologies.

10. A device, comprising:

a fixed radio terminal; and

a gateway configured to;

receive a message regarding a mobile device initiating a handoff of an in-progress call via the fixed radio terminal, wherein the message comprises one or more parameters of the in-progress call for the handoff, send an authentication message to authenticate the mobile device, receive a location of the mobile device and network configuration parameters in response to the authentication message, establish a connection with the mobile device via a wireless local area network based on the location of the mobile device, listen on a channel of a cellular carrier network used by the mobile device in the in-progress call, and relay at least one parameter of the one or more parameters about the in-progress call between the mobile device and the cellular carrier network.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the message is a short message service (SMS) message.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the gateway is further configured to:

after the in-progress call has terminated, listen on a paging channel of the cellular carrier network for calls destined for the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the gateway is further configured to:

receive, via the paging channel, a new call destined for the mobile device; and

deliver the new call to the mobile device.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the message further comprises information identifying the mobile device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the information identifying the mobile device comprises at least one telephone number associated with the mobile device.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more parameters identify the channel of the cellular carrier network used by the mobile device in the in-progress call.