System and method for handing over a call from a packet-switched network to a circuit-switched network
First Claim
1. A communications system comprising:
- a first terminal configured to communicate via a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network;
a second terminal configured to communicate via a circuit-switched network; and
a gateway configured to map communications between a packet-switched network and at least one circuit-switched network,wherein the gateway is configured to support communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, wherein the first terminal is configured to thereafter initiate a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network, the first terminal being configured to establish a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the established circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal to thereby handoff communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network;
wherein the first terminal is configured to receive a handoff identifier hosted by the gateway, and wherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway based upon the handoff identifier, andwherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway in an instance in which a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal in instances in which the first terminal establishes the circuit-switched connection with the gateway.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system and method are provided for handing over a call from a packet-switched network (e.g., IP network) to a circuit-switched network (e.g., PLMN, PSTN, etc.). The system includes a first terminal capable of communicating via a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network, and a second terminal capable of communicating via a circuit-switched network. The system also includes a gateway capable of mapping communications between a packet-switched network and at least one circuit-switched network. The gateway can support communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway. The first terminal can then establish a circuit-switch connection with the gateway. Thereafter, the gateway can connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communications system comprising:
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a first terminal configured to communicate via a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network; a second terminal configured to communicate via a circuit-switched network; and a gateway configured to map communications between a packet-switched network and at least one circuit-switched network, wherein the gateway is configured to support communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, wherein the first terminal is configured to thereafter initiate a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network, the first terminal being configured to establish a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the established circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal to thereby handoff communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network; wherein the first terminal is configured to receive a handoff identifier hosted by the gateway, and wherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway based upon the handoff identifier, and wherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway in an instance in which a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal in instances in which the first terminal establishes the circuit-switched connection with the gateway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method comprising:
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setting up communication between a first terminal and a second terminal over a gateway such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway; initiating, at the first terminal, a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network; establishing a circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway via a circuit-switched network; and connecting the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal, wherein establishing a circuit-switched connection comprises establishing a circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway based upon a handoff identifier hosted by the gateway, and monitoring a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway, wherein establishing a circuit-switched connection comprises establishing a circuit-switched connection when the signal strength of the packet-switched connection is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and wherein connecting the circuit-switched connection comprises connecting the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal in instances in which the circuit-switched connection is established between the first terminal and the gateway. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus comprising,
at least a processor, a memory having computer coded instructions, said instructions, when executed by the processor, being configured to cause the apparatus to: -
map communications between a packet-switched network and at least one circuit-switched network, support communication between a first terminal and a second terminal such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the apparatus and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the apparatus, receive an indication of the first terminal initiating a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network, communicate with the first terminal to establish a circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the apparatus, connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the apparatus with the circuit-switched connection between the apparatus and the second terminal to thereby handoff communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network, host a handoff identifier, communicate with the first terminal to establish the circuit-switched connection based upon the handoff identifier, and wherein the instructions are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to; communicate with the first terminal to establish the circuit-switched connection when a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the apparatus is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the apparatus with the circuit-switched connection between the apparatus and the second terminal in instances in which the first terminal establishes the circuit-switched connection with the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program portions configured to perform a method comprising:
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setting up communication between a first terminal and another terminal over a gateway such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the other terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway; initiating, at the first terminal, a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network; establishing a circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway via a circuit-switched network; connecting the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the other terminal, wherein establishing a circuit-switched connection comprises establishing a circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway based upon a handoff identifier hosted by the gateway, and monitoring a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway, and wherein establishing a circuit-switched connection comprises establishing a circuit-switched connection when the signal strength of the packet-switched connection is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and wherein connecting the circuit-switched connection comprises connecting the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the other terminal in instances in which the circuit-switched connection is established between the first terminal and the gateway. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification