System and method for multi-network coverage

• US 9,345,063 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Nikhil, Horn, Gavin Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US12/686,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,316 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/437, 455/438, 455/443, 455/454, 455/448, 370/328, 370/331, 370/338, 370/395.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT) to access multi-network coverage. The method registers a multi-network AT in a first communications network. In response to registering with the first network, the AT receives information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network (e.g., an IEEE 802.20 or 1×EV-DO network). The AT obtains services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network. For example, the second network access information may be system information, channel information, or access point parameters. The AT retains the option of obtaining services accessed via the first network if the second network cannot be accessing the second network.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first network wireless access point (AP) operating in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, a paging message from a second network wireless AP operating in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology; and

transmitting, by the first network wireless AP, the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the second network wireless AP.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first network wireless AP, access information for the second network wireless AP; and

transmitting, by the first network wireless AP, the access information to the AT, the access information enabling the AT to directly and wirelessly communicate with the second network wireless AP.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises at least one of system information, channel information, or access point parameters.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises at least one of channel hopping information, control channel timing, pilot information, or antenna information.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises at least one of an AP identifier identifying the second network wireless AP, GPS information, or AP neighbor information.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises channel hopping information indicative of channel hopping used by the second network wireless AP.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises control channel timing information indicative of control channel timing used by the second network wireless AP.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises pilot information indicative of a pilot used by the second network wireless AP.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information comprises information for a channel to be used for wireless communication between the AT and the second network wireless AP.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the access information is received directly and wirelessly from the second network wireless AP.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting presence of the second network wireless AP via a first wireless interface that uses the second type of radio access technology,

wherein the paging message is transmitted via a second wireless interface that uses the first type of radio access technology.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications network supports higher data rates than the first communications network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network wireless AP transmits the access information when the second network wireless AP ceases transmitting of the access information.

14. A method for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first network wireless access point (AP) operating in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, access information and a paging message from a second network wireless AP operating in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology;

transmitting, by the first network wireless AP, the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the second network wireless AP;

receiving, by the first network wireless AP, a request for the access information from the AT; and

providing the access information to the AT in response to the request, the access information enabling the AT to directly and wirelessly communicate with the second network wireless AP.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the request for the access information from the AT comprises an AP identifier referencing the second network wireless AP.

16. An apparatus configured to operate in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, the apparatus comprising:

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface configured to receive a paging message from a network wireless access point (AP) configured to operate in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology; and

a second communications subsystem with a wireless interface configured to transmit the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the network wireless AP.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the first communications subsystem is further configured to receive access information for the second network wireless AP; and

the second communications subsystem is further configured to transmit the access information to the AT, the access information enabling the AT to directly and wirelessly communicate with the second network wireless AP.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access information comprises at least one of system information, channel information, or access point parameters.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access information comprises at least one of channel hopping information, control channel timing, pilot information, or antenna information.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the access information comprises at least one of an AP identifier identifying the network wireless AP, GPS information, or AP neighbor information.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the first communications subsystem is further configured to detect presence of the network wireless AP via the second type of radio access technology,

the second communications subsystem is further configured to transmit the paging message via the first type of radio access technology.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second communications network supports higher data rates than the first communications network.

23. An apparatus configured to operate in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, the apparatus comprising:

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface configured to receive access information and a paging message from a network wireless access point (AP) configured to operate in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology; and

a second communications subsystem with a wireless interface configured to transmit the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the network wireless AP, and configured to receive a request for the access information from the AT, and configured to provide the access information to the AT in response to the request, the access information enabling the AT to directly and wirelessly communicate with the network wireless AP.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the request for the access information from the AT comprises an AP identifier referencing the network wireless AP.

25. An apparatus configured to operate in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a paging message from a network wireless access point (AP) configured to operate in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology; and

means for transmitting the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the network wireless AP.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device encoded with a computer program of machine-readable instructions executable to perform operations for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the operations comprising:

receiving, by a first network wireless access point (AP) operating in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, a paging message from a second network wireless AP operating in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology; and

transmitting, by the first network wireless AP, the paging message to an access terminal (AT) to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the second network wireless AP.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 26, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving access information for the second network wireless AP, the access information enabling the AT to directly and wirelessly communicate with the second network wireless AP.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the access information comprises at least one of channel hopping information, control channel timing, pilot information, or antenna information.

29. An access point configured to operate in a first communications network associated with a first type of radio access technology, the access point comprising:

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface configured to receive a paging message from a second network wireless access point configured to operate in a second communications network associated with a second type of radio access technology that is different from the first type of radio access technology;

an antenna; and

a second communications subsystem with a wireless interface f-configured to transmit the paging message to an access terminal (AT) via the antenna to enable the AT to respond to the paging message by directly and wirelessly communicating with the second network wireless access point.