Method and apparatus for selecting a communication mode for performing user requested data transfers

• US 20060234762A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ozluturk, Fatih
• Application Number:
  US11/209,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20060234762A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for downloading and uploading digital data using a dual-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When in a first mode, the WTRU communicates with a first network, such as a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS). While the WTRU is in the first mode, a user of the WTRU may request the transfer of data to or from the WTRU, (i.e., a download or an upload). The user of the WTRU may also specify whether the data transfer is to occur when the WTRU is in the first mode, or in a second mode when the WTRU is communicating with a second network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). The data transfer may occur on a real-time basis or at a later time. In an alternative embodiment, predetermined criteria may be established for implementing automatic WTRU mode selection when data is transferred.

Claims

1. A method of transferring data using a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the WTRU having at least two communication modes available for supporting the transfer of data, the method comprising:

(a) the WTRU establishing a connection with a first wireless communication network while the WTRU is operating in a first one of the communication modes;

(b) a user of the WTRU selecting data to be transferred while the WTRU is in the first communication mode;

(c) the user of the WTRU indicating that a second one of the communication modes is to be used to support the transfer of the selected data; and

(d) transferring the selected data while the WTRU is connected to a second wireless communication network associated with the second communication mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein data is transferred from the WTRU to the second wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein data is transferred from the second wireless communication network to the WTRU.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication network is a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS).

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second wireless communication network is and a wireless local area network (WLAN).

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transferred data is used by the WTRU to play a song.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating an address of a data source from which data is to be transferred to the WTRU.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating a time when the data transfer is to take place.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating that the data transfer is to take place immediately.

11. A method of transferring data using a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the WTRU having at least two communication modes available for supporting the transfer of data, the method comprising:

(a) the WTRU establishing a connection with a first wireless communication network while the WTRU is operating in a first one of the communication modes;

(b) a user of the WTRU selecting data to be transferred while the WTRU is in the first communication mode;

(c) the WTRU automatically determining that a second one of the communication modes is to be used to support the transfer of the selected data; and

(d) transferring the selected data while the WTRU is connected to a second wireless communication network associated with the second communication mode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) comprises checking the availability status of at least one of the first and second wireless communication networks on a periodic basis.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) comprises determining the amount of data to be transferred.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) comprises determining a file type associated with the data to be transferred.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein data is transferred from the WTRU to the second wireless communication network.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein data is transferred from the second wireless communication network to the WTRU.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the first wireless communication network is a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS).

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the second wireless communication network is and a wireless local area network (WLAN).

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the transferred data is used by the WTRU to play a song.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

21. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating an address of a data source from which data is to be transferred to the WTRU.

22. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating a time when the data transfer is to take place.

23. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

(e) the user of the WTRU indicating that the data transfer is to take place immediately.

24. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having at least two communication modes available for supporting the transfer of data, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a wireless communication means capable of establishing a connection with a first wireless communication network while the WTRU is operating in a first one of the communication modes;

(b) a menu display capable of presenting menu options to a user of the WTRU; and

(c) a user input unit capable of allowing the user to select data to be transferred and generate a transfer request for the selected data while the WTRU is in the first communication mode, and capable of allowing the user to select a second wireless communication network to support the transfer of the selected data while the WTRU is in a second one of the communication modes.

25. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein data is transferred from the WTRU to the second wireless communication network.

26. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein data is transferred from the second wireless communication network to the WTRU.

27. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein the first wireless communication network is a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS).

28. The WTRU of claim 27 wherein the second wireless communication network is and a wireless local area network (WLAN).

29. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein the transferred data is used by the WTRU to play a song.

30. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

31. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

32. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate an address of a data source from which data is to be transferred to the WTRU.

33. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a time when the data transfer is to take place.

34. The WTRU of claim 24 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate that the data transfer is to take place immediately.

35. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) having at least two communication modes available for supporting the transfer of data, the WTRU comprising:

(a) a wireless communication means capable of establishing a connection with a first wireless communication network while the WTRU is operating in a first one of the communication modes;

(b) a menu display capable of presenting menu options to a user of the WTRU;

(c) a user input unit capable of allowing the user to select data to be transferred and generate a transfer request for the selected data while the WTRU is in the first communication mode; and

(d) an automatic communication mode selector for automatically determining that a second wireless communication network is to be used to support the transfer of the selected data while the WTRU is in a second one of the communication modes.

36. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein data is transferred from the WTRU to the second wireless communication network.

37. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein data is transferred from the second wireless communication network to the WTRU.

38. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the first wireless communication network is a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS).

39. The WTRU of claim 38 wherein the second wireless communication network is and a wireless local area network (WLAN).

40. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the transferred data is used by the WTRU to play a song.

41. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

42. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a destination for data to be transferred to or from a memory located in the WTRU.

43. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate an address of a data source from which data is to be transferred to the WTRU.

44. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate a time when the data transfer is to take place.

45. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein a user of the WTRU uses the user input unit to indicate that the data transfer is to take place immediately.

46. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the results of the determination performed by the automatic communication mode selector is based on the availability status of at least one of the first and second wireless communication networks.

47. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the results of the determination performed by the automatic communication mode selector is based on the amount of data to be transferred.

48. The WTRU of claim 35 wherein the determination performed by the automatic communication mode selector is based on a file type associated with the data to be transferred.