Simulcasting or multicasting of multimedia call sessions in a LAN/WLAN/PAN via a broadband access gateway

• US 8,717,962 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• 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: Karaoguz, Jeyhan, Bennett, James D., Seshadri, Nambirajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, FAHMIDA S
• Application Number:
  US13/190,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20120020270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• 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: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for simulcasting multimedia information via a broadband access gateway and a wireless wide area network, is disclosed. An access device such as, for example, a mobile multimedia handset engaged in a call served by a wireless wide area network may migrate to within the coverage area of an associated broadband access gateway with a wireless interface. The wireless wide area network may simulcast call content to the broadband access gateway via a broadband network. A user in the proximity of the broadband access gateway may be notified of the simulcasting of the call, and may elect to continue the call via a WLAN/PAN-enabled wireless handset or other access device that is compatible with the wired and/or wireless interfaces of the broadband access gateway.

Claims

1. One or more circuits for use in simulcasting of a wireless wide area network call via a gateway device having at least one wireless interface, the one or more circuits comprising:

at least one processor for operably coupling to a plurality of access devices via the wireless wide area network, and to the gateway device via a broadband network, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

transmit, from the wireless wide area network via the broadband network to the gateway device, multimedia information also transmitted wirelessly to a first of the plurality of access devices via a simulcast transmission directly from the wireless wide area network, wherein the simulcast transmission to the gateway device is initiated by the wireless wide area network according to predefined associations of the first of the plurality of access devices, the gateway device, and the wireless wide area network, known to the wireless wide area network;

establish with a second of the plurality of access devices, via the broadband network and the gateway device, a call path for communication of the multimedia information to the second of the plurality of access devices; and

communicate the multimedia information to the second of the plurality of access devices, via the at least one wireless interface.

2. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is operable to, at least:

cause the second of the plurality of access devices to be notified of the establishment of the call path for the communication of multimedia information.

3. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is operable to, at least:

filter multimedia information so as to be compatible with the second of the plurality of access devices.

4. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein 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.

5. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with the Bluetooth V1 .2, or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification.

6. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface is compliant with one or more of:

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

7. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless interface comprises two wireless interfaces.

8. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the broadband network comprises one or more of:

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

9. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the wireless wide area network comprises one or more of:

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

10. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of access devices comprises one or more of:

a mobile multimedia handset, a personal digital assistant (POA), a personal computer (PC), and/or a wireless handset.

11. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the simulcast transmission to the gateway device is initiated by the wireless wide area network using information about physical locations of the first of the plurality of access devices and the gateway device.

12. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the gateway device causes the second of the plurality of access devices to periodically alert a user of the simulcasting of the multimedia information to the gateway device.

13. The one or more circuits according to claim 1 wherein the wireless wide area network causes the first of the plurality of access devices to periodically alert a user of the simulcasting of the multimedia information to the gateway device.

14. A method for simulcasting a multimedia call session comprising:

initiating a transmission to a gateway device and a first access device of a plurality of access devices by a wireless wide area network according to predefined associations of the plurality of access devices, the gateway device, and the wireless wide area network;

transmitting multimedia information from the wireless wide area network via a broadband network to the gateway device;

simulcasting the multimedia information directly to the first access device via the wireless wide area network;

establishing with a second access device of the plurality of access devices, via a broadband network and the gateway device, a call path for communication of the multimedia information to the second access device; and

communicating the multimedia information to the second access device, via at least one wireless interface.

15. A system for simulcasting a multimedia call session comprising:

a processor, the processor comprising at least one module being operable to;

initiate a transmission to a gateway device and a first access device of a plurality of access devices by a wireless wide area network according to predefined associations of the first access device, the gateway device, and the wireless wide area network;

transmit multimedia information from the wireless wide area network via a broadband network to the gateway device;

simulcast the multimedia information directly to the first access device via the wireless wide area network;

establish with a second access device of the plurality of access devices, via a broadband network and the gateway device, a call path for communication of the multimedia information to the second access device, wherein the second access device is separate from the first access device; and

communicate the multimedia information to the second access device, via at least one wireless interface.