Architecture for WLAN offload in a wireless device

• US 9,094,864 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Payyappilly, Ajith Tom, Vangala, Venkata Satish Kumar, Namburi, Shanta Pavan, Zhao, Suli
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghowrwal, Omar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kirillova, Ellen A
• Application Number:
  US13/408,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 370/235
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0846 between network providers, e.g. operators selecting a network or a communication service H04W40/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Architecture for performing WLAN offload in a wireless device is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes an application section configured to form IP packets from data to be transmitted, a modem section configured to apply a cellular protocol to the IP packets to form cellular protocol packets, an endpoint configured to encapsulate the cellular protocol packets to form outer IP tunnel packets, and a WLAN interface configured to transmit the outer IP tunnel packets over a WLAN communication channel. In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a WLAN interface configured to receive outer IP tunnel packets over a WLAN communication channel, an endpoint configured to extract cellular protocol packets from the outer IP tunnel packets, a modem processor configured to remove a cellular protocol from the cellular protocol packets to form IP packets, and an application processor configured to extract received data from the IP packets.

Claims

1. Apparatus for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the apparatus comprising:

an application processor configured to form IP packets from data to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

an offload module coupled to the application processor and configured to receive the IP packets to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel and to route the IP packets for transmission over the WLAN channel if it is determined that the WLAN communication channel is available, wherein the IP packets routed for transmission over the WLAN channel are not transmitted over the cellular communication channel, and wherein the offload module applies a cellular protocol to the IP packets that are routed for transmission over the WLAN channel to form cellular protocol packets that are stored in a memory;

an endpoint coupled to receive the cellular protocol packets from the memory and configured to encapsulate the cellular protocol packets to form outer IP tunnel packets to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel; and

a WLAN interface coupled to receive the outer IP tunnel packets and configured to transmit the outer IP tunnel packets from the user device over the WLAN communication channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory configured to pass the IP packets from the application processor to the modem processor, and to pass the cellular protocol packets from the modem processor to the endpoint.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application processor is configured to execute a selected operating system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the data is associated with an application running under the selected operating system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the offload module is configured to forward the IP packets for transmission over the cellular communication channel if it is determined that the WLAN channel is not available.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the offload module determines if the WLAN channel is available by checking a status of all communication channels associated with the user device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the offload module configured to:

determine that the IP packets are to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel if the WLAN communication channel is available; and

determine that the IP packets are to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel if the WLAN communication channel is not available.

8. A method for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the method comprising:

forming IP packets from data to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

receiving the IP packets to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel and to route the IP packets for transmission over the WLAN channel if it is determined that the WLAN communication channel is available, wherein the IP packets routed for transmission over the WLAN channel are not transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

applying a cellular protocol to the IP packets that are routed for transmission over the WLAN channel to form cellular protocol packets that are stored in a memory;

retrieving the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

encapsulating the cellular protocol packets to form outer IP tunnel packets to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel; and

transmitting the outer IP tunnel packets from the device over the WLAN communication channel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

passing the IP packets through the memory to apply the cellular protocol; and

passing the cellular protocol packets through the memory for encapsulation to form the outer IP tunnel packets.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising obtaining the data from an application running under a selected operating system.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the WLAN communication channel is available to perform the WLAN offload.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the outer IP tunnel packets over the WLAN communication channel to a cellular home network.

13. Apparatus for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the apparatus comprising:

means for forming IP packets from data to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

means for receiving the IP packets to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel and to route the IP packets for transmission over the WLAN channel if it is determined that the WLAN communication channel is available, wherein the IP packets routed for transmission over the WLAN channel are not transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

means for applying a cellular protocol to the IP packets that are routed for transmission over the WLAN channel to form cellular protocol packets that are stored in a memory;

means for retrieving the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

means for encapsulating the cellular protocol packets to form outer IP tunnel packets to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel; and

means for transmitting the outer IP tunnel packets from the device over the WLAN communication channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

means for passing the IP packets through the memory to apply the cellular protocol; and

means for passing the cellular protocol packets through the memory for encapsulation to form the outer IP tunnel packets.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for obtaining the data from an application running under a selected operating system.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for determining if the IP packets are to be transmitted over a cellular communication channel or the WLAN communication channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining that the IP packets are to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel if the WLAN communication channel is available; and

means for determining that the IP packets are to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel if the WLAN communication channel is not available.

18. A computer program product for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium embodying codes executable by a processor to;

form IP packets from data to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

receive the IP packets to be transmitted over the cellular communication channel and to route the IP packets for transmission over the WLAN channel if it is determined that the WLAN communication channel is available, wherein the IP packets routed for transmission over the WLAN channel are not transmitted over the cellular communication channel;

apply a cellular protocol to the IP packets that are routed for transmission over the WLAN channel to form cellular protocol packets that are stored in a memory;

retrieve the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

encapsulate the cellular protocol packets to form outer IP tunnel packets to be transmitted over the WLAN communication channel; and

transmit the outer IP tunnel packets from the device over the WLAN communication channel.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to:

pass the IP packets through the memory to apply the cellular protocol; and

pass the cellular protocol packets through the memory for encapsulation to form the outer IP tunnel packets.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to determine that the WLAN communication channel is available to perform the WLAN offload.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to transmit the outer IP tunnel packets over the WLAN communication channel to a cellular home network.

22. Apparatus for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the apparatus comprising:

a WLAN interface configured to receive outer IP tunnel packets at the device over the WLAN communication channel, wherein the IP tunnel packets include encapsulated cellular protocol packets;

an endpoint configured to extract the cellular protocol packets from the outer IP tunnel packets, wherein the cellular protocol packets are stored in a memory;

a modem processor configured to retrieve the cellular protocol packets from the memory and to remove a cellular protocol from the cellular protocol packets to form IP packets and to store the IP packets in the memory; and

an application processor configured to retrieve the IP packets from the memory and extract received data from the IP packets.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, the memory configured to pass the IP packets from the modem processor to the application processor, and to pass the cellular protocol packets from the endpoint to the modem processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the application processor is configured to execute a selected operating system.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the data is associated with an application running under the selected operating system.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the modem processor is configured to communicate the cellular protocol packets over a cellular communication channel.

27. A method for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the method comprising:

receiving outer IP tunnel packets at the device over the WLAN communication channel, wherein the IP tunnel packets include encapsulated cellular protocol packets;

extracting the cellular protocol packets from the outer IP tunnel packets, wherein the cellular protocol packets are stored in a memory;

retrieving the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

removing a cellular protocol from the cellular protocol packets to form IP packets and storing the IP packets in the memory;

retrieving the IP packets from the memory; and

extracting received data from the IP packets.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

passing the cellular protocol packets through the memory to remove the cellular protocol to form the IP packets; and

passing the IP packets through the memory to extract the received data.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising extracting the received data for an application running under a selected operating system.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving the outer IP tunnel packets over the WLAN communication channel from a cellular home network.

31. Apparatus for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving outer IP tunnel packets at the device over the WLAN communication channel, wherein the IP tunnel packets include encapsulated cellular protocol packets;

means for extracting the cellular protocol packets from the outer IP tunnel packets, wherein the cellular protocol packets are stored in a memory;

means for retrieving the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

means for removing a cellular protocol from the cellular protocol packets to form IP packets;

means for storing the IP packets in the memory;

retrieving the IP packets from the memory; and

means for extracting received data from the IP packets.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

means for passing the cellular protocol packets through the memory to remove the cellular protocol to form the IP packets; and

means for passing the IP packets through the memory to extract the received data.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for extracting the received data for an application running under a selected operating system.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for receiving the outer IP tunnel packets over the WLAN communication channel from a cellular home network.

35. A computer program product for performing wireless local area network (WLAN) offload in a user device having a cellular communication channel and a WLAN communication channel, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium embodying codes executable by a processor to;

receive outer IP tunnel packets at the device over the WLAN communication channel, wherein the IP tunnel packets include encapsulated cellular protocol packets;

extract the cellular protocol packets from the outer IP tunnel packets, wherein the cellular protocol packets are stored in a memory;

retrieve the cellular protocol packets from the memory;

remove a cellular protocol from the cellular protocol packets to form IP packets; and

extract received data from the IP packets.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to:

pass the cellular protocol packets through the memory to remove the cellular protocol to form the IP packets; and

pass the IP packets through the memory to extract the received data.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to extract the received data for an application running under a selected operating system.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35, further comprising codes configured to cause the processor to receive the outer IP tunnel packets over the WLAN communication channel from a cellular home network.