Method and apparatus for handoff between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS)

• US 8,140,112 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaheen, Kamel M., Kiernan, Brian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US11/545,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/444, 455/454, 455/422.1, 455/445, 455/426.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/168.1, 370/252, 370/320, 370/328, 370/331, 370/332, 370/338, 370/412, 370/466, 370/470, 709/205, 709/227, 709/235
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing an automatic handoff process of a dual-mode user equipment (UE) from either a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) or from a UMTS to a WLAN. Handoffs may be initiated by the UE, based upon user preference, signal quality, comparison of location coordinates of the UE and the system to be switched to or signal quality. The available channels of one system may be sent to the UE by the other system or the UE may monitor channels of the system to be switched to and lock on to one. The handoff may also be initiated by the UMTS, the selection being power-based.

Claims

1. A method for use in a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

the UE communicating data via a cellular access network using a first Internet Protocol (IP) address;

the UE sending a request message via the cellular access network, the request message indicating a request for information related to access networks available for handoff;

the UE receiving a network information message via the cellular access network, wherein the network information message is responsive to the request message and indicates a plurality of wireless local area networks (WLANs) available for handoff;

the UE selecting a WLAN from the plurality of WLANs for handoff based on the network information message;

the UE performing a handoff from the cellular access network to the selected WLAN; and

the UE communicating data via the selected WLAN using a second IP address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the WLAN for handoff is further based on a user preference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the WLAN for handoff is further based on a received signal power level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network information message further indicates a location of each of the WLANs.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the request message indicates a request for information related to access networks available for handoff in an area close to the UE.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the request message is performed based on a user preference.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network information message indicates coordinates of each of the WLANs.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information via the WLAN that indicates the second IP address.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the request message indicates a request for information related to access networks available for handoff in a cell serving the UE.

9. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a first transceiver configured to;

receive a service via a cellular access network using a first Internet Protocol (IP) address;

send a request message via the cellular access network, the request message indicating a request for information related to access networks available for handoff;

receive a network information message via the cellular access network, wherein the network information message is responsive to the request message and indicates a plurality of wireless local area networks (WLANs) available for handoff; and

a processor configured to select a WLAN of the plurality of WLANs for handoff based on the network information message; and

a second transceiver configured to;

perform a handoff from the cellular access network to the selected WLAN; and

communicate data via the selected WLAN using a second IP address.

10. The UE of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the handoff further based on a user preference.

11. The UE of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the handoff further based on a received signal power level.

12. The UE of claim 9, wherein the network information message further indicates a location of each of the WLANs.

14. The UE of claim 9 wherein the request message indicates a request for information related to access networks available for handoff in a cell serving the UE.

15. The UE of claim 9 wherein the request message indicates a request for information related to access networks available for handoff in an area close to the UE.

16. The UE of claim 9, wherein the first transceiver is configured to send the request message based on a user preference.

17. The UE of claim 9, wherein the network information message indicates coordinates of each of the WLANs.

18. The UE of claim 9, wherein the second transceiver is further configured to receive information via the WLAN that indicates the second IP address.

19. A method for use in a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

the UE communicating data via a cellular access network using an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

the UE sending a request message via the cellular access network, the request message indicating a request for information related to access networks available for handoff;

the UE receiving a network information message via the cellular access network, wherein the network information message is responsive to the request message and indicates a plurality of wireless local area networks (WLANs) available for handoff;

the UE selecting a WLAN from the plurality of WLANs for handoff based on the network information message;

the UE performing a handoff from the cellular access network to the selected WLAN; and

the UE communicating data via the selected WLAN using the IP address.

20. A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a first transceiver configured to;

receive a service via a cellular access network using an Internet Protocol (IP) address;

send a request message via the cellular access network, the request message indicating a request for information related to access networks available for handoff;

receive a network information message via the cellular access network, wherein the network information message is responsive to the request message and indicates a plurality of wireless local area networks (WLANs) available for handoff; and

a processor configured to initiate a handoff from the cellular access network to a WLAN of the plurality of WLANs based on the network information message; and

a second transceiver configured to;

perform a handoff from the cellular access network to the selected WLAN; and

communicate data via the selected WLAN using the IP address.