Method and a device for roaming in a local communication system

• US 9,161,202 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Blox AG (u-blox Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: U-Blox AG (u-blox Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bergkvist, Pelle, Anderberg, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kaship
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MONG-THUY THI
• Application Number:
  US13/812,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/434, 455/448, 455/444, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A local communication network (16) comprising a first client communication unit (10) and at least one second communication unit (12), and a method of roaming. The client communication units comprise a first interface unit (14) and a second interface unit (18) for connecting to said local communication network (16) and a remote network (20), respectively, and a bridging unit (22). The client communication units are operative in a first mode, in which said first client communication unit (10) bridges traffic between said local communication network (16) and said remote communication network (20) through a first communication path, and in a second mode, in which said second communication unit (12) scans for an alternative second communication path. A roaming control unit (24) determines whether the alternative second communication path is preferred over said first communication path. If this is the case mode of operation is switched and bridging is taken over by said second client communication unit (12).

Claims

1. A local communication network comprising a plurality of client communication units, each of said client communication units comprising:

a first interface unit and a second interface unit, said first interface unit being operatively connected to said local communication network and said second interface unit being operatively connected to a remote communication networks;

a bridging network unit capable of transparently bridging traffic between said local communication network and said remote communication network; and

a roaming control unit comprising means for determining whether a communication path is preferred, wherein the preferred communication path exhibits improved transmission properties;

wherein

a first of the client communication units operates in a first mode, in which the first client communication unit bridges traffic between said local communication network and said remote communication network through a first communication path; and

a second of the client communication units operates in a second mode, in which the second client communication unit scans for a second communication path alternate to the first communication path;

wherein

the roaming control unit of said first client communication unit is operatively connected to the second client communication unit for establishing communication through said second communication path,

said second client communication unit is operatively connected to said first client communication unit for checking operational status of the first client communication unit, and

said first client communication unit arranged for switching mode from said first mode to said second mode and for switching mode of said second client communication unit from said second mode to said first mode when the second communication path is determined as preferred, and for activating said bridging network unit of said second client communication unit, now operating in said first mode, to transparently bridge traffic between said local communication network and said remote communication network so as to allow only one of the first client communication unit and second client communication unit to bridge traffic at a time.

2. A local communication network as claimed in claim 1, wherein said client communication units each comprise fail detection means.

3. A local communication network as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fail detection means comprises a watch dog unit including a timer for repeatedly transmitting poll requests from the client communication units when operating in the second mode, and for acknowledging poll requests from the client communication units when operating in the first mode.

4. A method of roaming in a local communication system comprising a plurality of client communication units, said method comprising steps of:

a) establishing a first communication path between a first of the client communication units and a remote communication network, said first client communication unit operating in a first mode,

b) in a second of the client communication units, while operating in a second mod, continuously scanning for a second communication path for providing improved transmission properties as compared to the first communication path,

c) in said second client communication unit, preparing and establishing the second communication path,

d) executing roaming of communication from said first communication path to said second communication path upon a determination that the second communication path provides improved transmission properties as compared to the first communication path and said communication path with improved transmission properties is preferred,

e) disrupting communication between said first client communication unit of said local communication system and said remote communication network so as to allow only one of the first client communication unit and second client communication unit to bridge traffic at a time,

f) in said second client communication unit continuously monitoring said first client communication unit for fail detection and

g) in said first client communication unit of said local communication system while operating in said second mode continuously scanning for a further communication path providing improved transmission properties as compared to said second communication path.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, also including steps of continuously transmitting in said second client communication unit fail detection signals to said first client communication unit and changing mode of operation to said first mode on detecting a failure of said first client communication unit.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, also including a step of transmitting a poll request from said second client communication unit to said first client communication unit when a predefined timeout time has elapsed.

7. A method as claimed in claim 4, also including steps of rebooting the local communication system, whereby the plurality of client communication units operate in a third mode of operation and act as available, and automatically changing mode of operation to the first mode in a first of the client communication units operating in the third mode.

8. A method as claimed in claim 4, also including the steps of providing a plurality of the client communication units operating in a third mode of operation and acting as available, changing mode of operation to said first mode in a first of the client communication units operating in the third mode and sending instructions from said client communication unit changed to operate in said first mode to a second of the client communication units operating in the third mode for changing mode of operation into said second mode.

9. A method as claimed in claim 4, also including the steps of

a) providing a plurality of the client communication units operating in a third mode of operation and acting as available;

b) continuously transmitting from said first client communication unit fail detection signals to said second client communication unit; and

c) sending instructions from said first client communication unit to one of the client communication units operating in said third mode to change mode of operation to said second mode upon detecting a failure of said second client communication unit.