Mobile unit having internet protocol functionality

• US 9,264,086 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Reddy, Gautam G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US14/561,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20150141078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-442, 455/552.1, 455/558, 370/310, 370/338, 370/352, 370/467
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/654 International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile unit includes a handset and a removable storage module having a unique storage module identity, for storing information specific to a user, including an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Additional information regarding a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) which uniquely identifies the subscriber is also stored in the removable storage module. Upon successfully camping on a cell of a mobile network, the IP address is forwarded to an IP-based network capable of communicating with the mobile unit. In an alternate embodiment, the mobile unit has multi-network capabilities which allow it to communicate with an IP-based network and a cellular network at the same time. In another embodiment, existing cellular network services for the mobile unit having multi-network capabilities are routed through the IP-based network.

Claims

1. A mobile unit, comprising:

a user equipment (UE);

having a unique identity for transmitting, receiving and processing wireless communications; and

to store information specific to a user, wherein the stored information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);

wherein the UE is configured to;

communicate with a first network via a connection with the first network to receive services associated with the first network using the IP address;

establish a connection with a second network using the IMSI; and

drop the connection with the first network and access the services associated with the first network through the second network.

2. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the first network is an IP-based network and the IP address is used to gain access to the IP-based network for facilitating the transfer of data to and from the IP-based network.

3. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the stored information further includes:

Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.

4. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the UE includes a removable Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for the stored information.

5. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the UE includes a removable Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) for the stored information.

6. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the UE includes a removable smart card for the stored information.

7. A mobile unit, comprising:

a user equipment (UE);

having a unique identity for transmitting, receiving and processing wireless communications;

to store information specific to a user, wherein the stored information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI); and

means for;

communicating with a first network via a connection with the first network to receive services associated with the first network using the IP address;

establishing a connection with a second network using the IMSI; and

dropping the connection with the first network and accessing the services associated with the first network through the second network.

8. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein the first network is an IP-based network and the IP address is used to gain access to the IP-based network.

9. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein said mobile unit has multi-network capabilities allowing it to communicate with the IP-based network and a cellular network at the same time.

10. The mobile unit of claim 7, further comprising:

means for simultaneously communicating with a cellular network and the IP-based network.

11. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein the UE includes a removable Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

12. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein the UE includes a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Subscriber Identity Module (USIM).

13. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein the UE includes a smart card.

14. The mobile unit of claim 7, wherein the stored information further includes Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.

15. A communications method for establishing communications for a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

providing stored information of the UE specific to a user, wherein the stored information includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);

the UE communicating with a first network via a connection with the first network to receive services associated with the first network using the IP address;

the UE establishing a connection with a second network using the IMSI; and

the UE dropping the connection with the first network and accessing the services associated with the first network through the second network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first network is an IP-based network and the IP address is used to gain access to the IP-based network for facilitating the transfer of data to and from the IP-based network.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the stored information further includes:

Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.