Handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning

• US 8,145,219 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Seshadri, Nambirajan, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US11/093,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455436-444, 370/331, 370/332, 370/333, 370/334
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A method and system supporting handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning is disclosed. A mobile multimedia handset may engage in the exchange of a multimedia information stream via a first wireless network, and may sniff a portion of radio frequency spectrum for a second wireless network. Information about available services and network quality of service for the second network may be received by querying the second wireless network or from advertising by the second wireless network. Hand-off between the two networks may be based upon the results of the comparison and one or more user-defined criteria, and the handoff may be synchronized according to predefined events in the stream of multimedia information.

Claims

1. A method supporting hand-off of a multimedia call session using background network scanning, the method comprising:

in a handheld communication device,

communicating a first user multimedia information stream via a first wireless network having one or both of;

a first set of services and/or a first quality of service;

determining one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first user multimedia information stream;

detecting a radio frequency signal of a second wireless network using the background network scanning of at least one portion of radio frequency spectrum;

responsive to the detection, determining one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network by automatically establishing communication via the second wireless network of a second user multimedia information stream;

comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

deciding to hand-off communication of the multimedia call session to the second wireless network based on the comparing; and

after the comparing and deciding, handing-off the communication of the multimedia call session to the second wireless network, wherein the handing-off is synchronized to a predetermined event in one or both of;

the first user multimedia information stream and/or the second user multimedia information stream.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises one of:

receiving, from the second wireless network, advertising information for one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

informing the first wireless network of detection of the second wireless network; and

receiving, from the first wireless network, information about one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handing-off comprises one of:

automatically selecting one of;

the first wireless network or the second wireless network, based upon the comparison and at least one user-defined criteria;

or

selecting to communicate a multimedia information stream via the second wireless network in response to input from a user.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one user-defined criteria comprises one of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, or a network delay.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a user of a result of the comparison; and

receiving, from the user, input related to selection of a wireless network.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless network comprises a wireless wide area network.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wireless wide area network comprises one of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and/or a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless network comprises one or more of:

a broadband access gateway, an access point, a hotspot, and/or a broadband network.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the broadband network comprises one or more of:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cable network, a satellite network, a local multipoint distribution system (LMDS), and/or the Internet.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is compliant with one or more of:

a Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification and/or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a or compatible ultrawideband network specification.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless network is compliant with one or more of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n standards.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein user multimedia information comprises one or more of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and/or digitized music.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless network and the second wireless network one or both of:

occupy separate portions of radio frequency spectrum and/or employ incompatible communication protocols.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein quality of service comprises one or more of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, and/or a network delay.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the background network scanning comprises sniffing of the radio frequency spectrum.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second user multimedia information stream comprises content same as that of the first user multimedia information stream.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more performance characteristics comprise one of a network delay and a packet error rate.

19. A mobile access device supporting hand-off of a stream of user multimedia information using background network scanning, the device comprising:

at least one wireless interface communicating a first stream of user multimedia information with a first wireless network while scanning at least a portion of radio frequency spectrum to detect a radio frequency signal of a second wireless network, wherein the first wireless network supports one or both of;

a first set of services and/or a first quality of service, wherein the mobile access device determines one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first stream of user multimedia information, and wherein the mobile access device, responsive to the detection, determines one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network by automatically establishing communication via the second wireless network of a second user multimedia information stream;

storage comprising at least one user-defined criteria employed in selecting one of the first and second wireless networks;

software comparing the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network and for deciding to hand off the user multimedia information between the first wireless network and the second wireless network; and

wherein after the comparing and deciding, the mobile access device hands off the communication of user multimedia information between the first wireless network and the second wireless network based upon the at least one user-defined criteria and the comparison of the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network, and wherein the hand-off is synchronized with a predetermined event in the stream of user multimedia information.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the user multimedia information comprises one or more of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and/or digitized music.

21. The device according to claim 19, wherein the first wireless network comprises one or more of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and/or a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

22. The device according to claim 19, wherein the second wireless network is compliant with one or more of:

a Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a or compatible ultrawideband network specification, and/or one of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n standard.

23. The device according to claim 19, wherein quality of service comprises one or more of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, and/or a network delay.

24. The device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one user-defined criteria comprises one or more of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, and/or a network delay.

25. The device according to claim 19, wherein the scanning comprises sniffing of the radio frequency spectrum.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the hand-off comprises:

communicating one portion of the user multimedia information stream via the first wireless network while communicating a separate other portion of the user multimedia information stream via the second wireless network, based upon the comparison.

27. The device according to claim 19, wherein the second user multimedia information stream comprises content same as that of the first user multimedia information stream.

28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the one or more performance characteristics comprise one of a network delay and a packet error rate.

29. One or more circuits configured to operate in a handheld communication device supporting hand-off of a multimedia call session using background network scanning, the one or more circuits comprising:

at least one processor operably coupled to circuitry configured to communicate via a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

communicate a first user multimedia information stream via the first wireless network having one or both of;

a first set of services and/or a first quality of service;

determine one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network during communication of the first user multimedia stream;

detect a radio frequency signal of the second wireless network using the background network scanning of at least one portion of radio frequency spectrum;

responsive to the detection, determine one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network by automatically establishing communication via the second wireless network of a second user multimedia information stream;

compare the one or more performance characteristics of the first wireless network and the one or more performance characteristics of the second wireless network;

decide to hand-off communication of the multimedia call session to the second wireless network based on the comparing; and

after the comparing and deciding, hand-off communication of the multimedia call session to the second wireless network, wherein the hand-off is synchronized to a predetermined event in one or both of;

the first user multimedia information stream and/or the second user multimedia information stream.

30. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the determining comprises:

receiving, from the second wireless network, advertising information for one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

31. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the determining comprises:

informing the first wireless network of detection of the second wireless network; and

receiving, from the first wireless network, information about one or both of;

a second set of services and/or a second quality of service.

32. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the hand-off comprises one of:

automatically selecting one of;

the first wireless network or the second wireless network, based upon the comparison and at least one user-defined criteria;

or

selecting to communicate a multimedia information stream via the second wireless network in response to input from a user.

33. The one or more circuits according to claim 32, wherein the at least one user-defined criteria comprises one of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, or a network delay.

34. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is operable to:

notify a user of a result of the comparison; and

receive, from the user, input related to selection of a wireless network.

35. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the first wireless network comprises a wireless wide area network.

36. The one or more circuits according to claim 35, wherein the wireless wide area network comprises one of:

a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, and/or a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) network.

37. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the second wireless network comprises one or more of:

a broadband access gateway, an access point, a hotspot, and/or a broadband network.

38. The one or more circuits according to claim 37, wherein the broadband network comprises one or more of:

a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a cable network, a satellite network, a local multipoint distribution system (LMDS), and/or the Internet.

39. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the second wireless network is compliant with one or more of:

a Bluetooth V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification and/or an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a or compatible ultrawideband network specification.

40. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the second wireless network is compliant with one or more of:

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n standards.

41. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein user multimedia information comprises one or more of:

streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text, digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and/or digitized music.

42. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the first wireless network and the second wireless network one or both of:

occupy separate portions of radio frequency spectrum and/or employ incompatible communication protocols.

43. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein quality of service comprises one or more of:

a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, and/or a network delay.

44. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the background network scanning comprises sniffing of radio frequency spectrum.

45. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the second user multimedia information stream comprises content same as that of the first user multimedia information stream.

46. The one or more circuits according to claim 29, wherein the one or more performance characteristics comprise one of a network delay and a packet error rate.