Apparatus for supporting the handover of a telecommunication session between a licensed wireless system and an unlicensed wireless system

• US 7,574,213 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mohammed, Jahangir, Gallagher, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Danh C
• Application Number:
  US11/933,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 455/439, 455/438, 455/552.1, 370/331, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/439
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42246 where the subscriber uses a multi-mode terminal which moves and accesses different networks with at least one network having a wireline access including cordless PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

The invention discloses a wireless communication handset comprising licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The invention further discloses a control circuit connected to both the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry and the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry, and a computer readable memory for directing the control circuit to function in a specified manner. This memory includes instructions to formulate a measurement report containing signal strength information that corresponds to the strength of a signal received through the unlicensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry. The measurement report also contains a request to transfer a wireless communication session from a licensed wireless system to an unlicensed wireless system. The memory further includes instructions to transmit the measurement report to the licensed wireless system through the licensed wireless communication signal processing circuitry.

Claims

1. A mobile station comprising:

a) a first wireless interface to access an unlicensed wireless communication network via an unlicensed wireless base station using an unlicensed radio frequency;

b) a second wireless interface to access a licensed wireless communication network using a licensed radio frequency;

c) a third interface to communicate with an unlicensed wireless network controller communicatively coupled to the base station via a broadband network;

d) circuits for handling a first set of messages transmitted over the second interface, the first set of messages comprising a measurement report sent to the licensed wireless communication network over the second interface, wherein the measurement report includes an Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) that is associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network and an indication that a cell associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network has a maximum signal quality; and

e) circuits for handling a second set of messages transmitted over the third interface to support handover of a communication session from the licensed wireless communication network to the unlicensed wireless communication network.

2. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the first set of messages comprises a handover command message received at the mobile station from the licensed wireless communication network, the handover command for indicating that a handover of the communication session is required.

3. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the second set of messages comprises a handover access message sent from the mobile station to the network controller.

4. The mobile station of claim 3, wherein the handover access message is for causing the network controller to initiate traffic channel assignment for handover of the communication session.

5. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein the second set of messages comprises a handover complete message sent from the mobile station to the network controller.

6. The mobile station of claim 1, wherein said maximum signal quality is indicated by setting a value of 63 for a receiving level.

7. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a mobile station, the computer program for performing a handover of a communication session from a licensed wireless communication network to an unlicensed wireless communication network comprising a network controller, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

a) establishing a communication session using the licensed wireless network servicing a licensed wireless service area;

b) establishing a connection between the mobile station and the unlicensed wireless communication network through the network controller;

c) sending a measurement report from the mobile station to the licensed wireless communication network, wherein the measurement report includes an Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) that is associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network and an indication that a cell associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network has a maximum signal quality; and

d) receiving a command at the mobile station from the licensed wireless communication network indicating that a handover to the unlicensed wireless network is required.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for sending a handover access message to the network controller.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for sending a handover complete indication to the network controller.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein said maximum signal quality is indicated by setting a value of 63 for a receiving level.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the computer program further comprises a set of instructions for switching the communication session from the licensed wireless network to the established connection to the unlicensed wireless network.

12. A method of performing a handover of a communication session from a licensed wireless communication network to an unlicensed wireless communication network comprising a network controller, the method comprising:

establishing a communication session using the licensed wireless network servicing a licensed wireless service area;

establishing a connection between a mobile station and the unlicensed wireless communication network through the network controller;

sending a measurement report from the mobile station to the licensed wireless communication network, wherein the measurement report includes an Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN) that is associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network and an indication that a cell associated with the unlicensed wireless communication network has a maximum signal quality; and

receiving a command at the mobile station from the licensed wireless communication network indicating that a handover to the unlicensed wireless network is required.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending a handover access message to the network controller.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending a handover complete indication to the network controller.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said maximum signal quality is indicated by setting a value of 63 for a receiving level.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising switching the communication session from the licensed wireless network to the established connection to the unlicensed wireless network.