Modular cell phone for fixed mobile convergence

• US 8,868,075 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Bychkov, Eyal, Ron, Uri
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Amancio
• Application Number:
  US12/415,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A communication system including a communication system, including a modular cell phone, including a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network, and a connector for physically connecting the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device, and a mobile electronic device, including a modem for connecting to the core mobile network via an IP access network, a port for physically connecting the modular cell phone to the mobile electronic device, and a connection enhancer for receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, in response to the modular cell phone being connected with the mobile electronic device port. A method is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a single-mode modular cell phone, comprising;

a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network;

an unlicensed mobile access client for executing a mobile access protocol; and

a connector for physically attaching the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device; and

a mobile electronic device, distinct from said modular cell phone, comprising;

a modem for connecting to the core mobile network via an IP access network;

a port for physically attaching said modular cell phone;

an unlicensed mobile access client comprising an IP security module;

an attachment detector for detecting that said modular cell phone has been physically attached to or physically detached from said port;

an access point scanner coupled with said connection detector for responding to said attachment detector detecting physical attachment by determining if a wireless access point is within range; and

a connection enhancer coupled with said access point scanner for responding to said access point scanner determining that a wireless access point is within range by receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between said modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network and via a mobile access network controller.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said connection enhancer seamlessly hands over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection only if said connection enhancer confirms that said mobile electronic device is connected to the IP access network.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said modular cell phone further comprises a connection preserver for responding to said attachment detector detecting physical detachment by receiving a connection of an ongoing voice over IP phone call, between said mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing voice over IP phone call to a cellular connection, between said modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network.

4. The communication system of claim 3 wherein said connection preserver seamlessly hands over the ongoing voice over IP phone call to a cellular connection only if said connection preserver confirms that said modular cell phone is located within a cellular coverage zone.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device modem comprises a wireless modem that communicates with said modular cell phone within a short range, and wherein said connection enhancer hands over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection, in response to said mobile electronic device being in short range wireless communication with said modular cell phone.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device modem comprises a Wi-Fi radio.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said access point scanner determines if said mobile electronic device is within range of any of a plurality of known Wi-Fi access points.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said mobile electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the mobile access network controller comprises an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) network controller.

10. A method for communication, comprising:

receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between a single-mode modular cell phone and a core mobile network via a cellular network;

determining if a wireless access point is within range, in response to the modular cell phone being physically attached to a laptop computer; and

seamlessly handing over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the laptop computer and the core mobile network via an IP access network and via a mobile access network controller, in response to determining that a wireless access point is within range by said determining.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said seamlessly handing over to a voice over IP connection is conditional upon confirming that the laptop computer is connected to the IP access network.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving a connection of an ongoing voice over IP phone call, between the laptop computer and the core mobile network via the IP access network; and

seamlessly handing over the ongoing voice over IP phone call to a cellular connection, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network, in response to the modular cell phone being physical detached from the laptop computer.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said seamlessly handing over to a cellular connection is conditional upon confirming that the modular cell phone is located within a cellular coverage zone.

14. A laptop computer, comprising:

a modem for connecting to a core mobile network via an IP access network;

a port for physically attaching a single-mode modular cell phone to the laptop computer;

an unlicensed mobile access client comprising an IP security module;

an attachment detector for detecting that the modular cell phone has been physically attached to said port;

an access point scanner coupled with said attachment detector for responding to said connection detector detecting physical attachment by determining if a wireless access point is within range; and

a connection enhancer coupled with said access point scanner for responding to said access point scanner determining that a wireless access point is within range by receiving a connection of an ongoing cellular phone call, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via a cellular network, and seamlessly handing over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection, between the laptop computer and the core mobile network via the IP access network and via a mobile access network controller.

15. The laptop computer of claim 14 wherein said connection enhancer seamlessly hands over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection only if said connection enhancer confirms that the laptop computer is connected to the IP access network.

16. The laptop computer of claim 14 wherein said modem communicates wirelessly with the modular cell phone within a short range, and wherein said connection enhancer hands over the ongoing cellular phone call to a voice over IP connection, in response to the laptop computer being in short range wireless communication with the modular cell phone.

17. A single-mode modular cell phone, comprising:

a baseband modem for connecting to a core mobile network via a cellular network;

an unlicensed mobile access client for executing a mobile access protocol;

a connector for physically attaching the modular cell phone to a port of a mobile electronic device;

a detachment detector for detecting that the modular cell phone has been physically detached from the port of the mobile electronic device; and

a connection preserver coupled with said detachment detector for responding to said detachment detector detecting physical detachment by receiving a connection of an ongoing voice over IP phone call, between the mobile electronic device and the core mobile network via the IP access network, and seamlessly handing over the voice over IP ongoing phone call to a cellular connection, between the modular cell phone and the core mobile network via the cellular network.

18. The modular cell phone of claim 17 wherein said connection preserver seamlessly hands over the ongoing voice over IP phone call to a cellular connection only if said connection preserver confirms that the modular cell phone is located within a cellular coverage zone.