Mobile unit having internet protocol functionality

• US 9,509,356 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Reddy, Gautam G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US14/991,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20160119008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/419, 455/551, 455/552.1, 455/558
• 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 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• 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 processing unit to;

transmit, receive, and process wireless communications,

communicate with a plurality of networks, including communication with a first network via a first connection using a first user data and communication with a second network via a second connection using a second user data, wherein the second user data enables the mobile unit to establish a connection with the second network without going through the first network;

receive services associated with the first network, and

access the services associated with the first network through the second network using the connection established with the second network based on the second user data; and

a storage module, the storage module including user data including the first user data and the second user data.

2. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the user data includes one or more of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

3. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the user data further includes Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.

4. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the storage module is a removable storage module.

5. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the storage module includes a unique storage module identity.

6. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the storage module is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).

7. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of networks includes one or more of a packet switched network and a cellular network.

8. The mobile unit of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes multi-network capability to communicate with the first network and the second network at a same time.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting, receiving, and processing wireless communications;

means for storing information specific to a user, wherein the stored information includes a first user information and a second user information;

means for establishing network connections, including;

means for establishing a connection with a first network via a connection with the first network to receive services associated with the first network using the first user information, and

means for establishing a connection with a second network using the second user information, wherein the second user data enables establishment of the connection with the second network without going through the first network; and

means for ending the connection with the first network and accessing the services associated with the first network through the second network using the connection established with the second network based on the second user data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for storing information specific to a user includes a removable means for storing information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the stored information includes one or more of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the stored information further includes Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for establishing network connections includes multi-network capability to communicate with the first network and the second network at a same time.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for establishing network connections includes means for communicating with an IP-based (Internet Protocol-based) network.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for establishing network connections includes means for communicating with a UTRAN (UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Terrestrial Radio Access Network) node.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

transmitting, receiving, and processing wireless communications;

storing information specific to a user, wherein the stored information includes a first user information and a second user information;

establishing a connection with a first network via a connection with the first network to receive services associated with the first network using the first user information;

establishing a connection with a second network using the second user information, wherein the second user data enables establishment of the connection with the second network without going through the first network; and

ending the connection with the first network and accessing the services associated with the first network through the second network using the connection established with the second network based on the second user data.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein storing information specific to a user includes storing the information on a removable storage.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the stored information includes one or more of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the stored information further includes Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) information.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein establishing network connections includes establishing multi-network connections to communicate with the first network and the second network at a same time.

21. The medium of claim 16, wherein establishing network connections includes communicating with an IP-based (Internet Protocol-based) network.

22. The medium of claim 16, wherein establishing network connections includes communicating with a UTRAN (UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Terrestrial Radio Access Network) node.