Dual-mode capacity reallocation

• US 8,249,643 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Tailor, PinalKumari K., Mistry, Hetal J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierre, Peguy Jean
• Application Number:
  US12/423,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/525, 455/500, 455/512, 455/524, 455/73
• US Class Current: 455/525
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation

Abstract

Using a first station, a wireless device is communicated with via a first type of wireless service. Resources associated with the wireless device are determined they should be re-allocated. A command and an indicator that result in the wireless device scanning for a second type of wireless service are sent to the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, comprising:

communicating, using a first station, with a wireless device via a first type of wireless service;

determining that resources associated with the wireless device should be reallocated;

sending a command and an indicator to the wireless device that result in the wireless device scanning for a second type of wireless service and not attempting to establish a wireless link with the first station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that resources associated with the wireless device should be reallocated is based on a profile associated with the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile is associated with a quality of service to be provided to the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the profile is a quality of service to be provided to a traffic flow being communicated with the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command instructs the wireless device to enter an idle mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating, using a second station, with the wireless device via the second type of wireless service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of wireless service is a high bandwidth wireless service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second type of wireless service is a cellular service.

9. A communication system, comprising:

a first station configured to communicate with a wireless device using a first type of wireless service and, in response to a determination that resources associated with the wireless device should be re-allocated, send a command to the wireless device and an indicator that results in the wireless device scanning for a second type of wireless service and not attempting to establish a wireless link with the first station; and

,

a second station, selected by the wireless device during scanning, configured to communicate with the wireless device using the second type of wireless service.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the command instructs the wireless device to enter an idle mode.

11. The communication system of claim 9, wherein determining that resources associated with the wireless device should be reallocated is based on a profile associated with the wireless device.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the profile is associated with a quality of service to be provided to the wireless device.

13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the profile is a quality of service to be provided to a service flow being communicated with the wireless device.

14. A method of operating a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, from a first station using a first type of wireless service, a command and an indicator, the command causing the wireless device to deregister from the first type of wireless service being provided by the first station, the indicator causing the wireless device to not attempt to receive the first type of wireless service with the first station;

scanning for a second type of wireless service; and

,

communicating using the second type of wireless service.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

registering with a second station using the second type of wireless service.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending an indicator of a requested service level; and

,

receiving an indication that the requested service level is available.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the requested service level is associated with a minimum throughput.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the requested service level is associated with a modulation and coding scheme.