System and method for routing a wireless connection in a hybrid network

• US 7,894,807 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Drennan, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US11/389,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/443, 455/553.1, 455/445, 455/433, 455/417, 455/422.1, 455/435, 455/459, 455/564, 379/49, 379/201.07, 379/207.02, 379/142.14, 379/202.01, 379/88.02, 340/539.13, 340/7.21, 340/573.4, 340/7.22, 340/539.18, 345/863, 370/352, 370/227, 370/351, 370/286, 370/400, 709/316, 709/231, 709/217, 709/240, 709/232, 709/225, 701/1, 701/16, 701/202, 701/201, 705/25, 715/744, 706/12, 358/1.15, 704/235, 704/277
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• 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

Systems and methods for establishing and/or routing wireless data and/or voice connections across a hybrid network based upon a user'"'"'s selection or preference. Routing a wireless connection across a hybrid network includes allowing a user to select a routing preference, routing the wireless connection via a short-haul communications network if the routing preference indicates a short-haul communications network choice, and routing the wireless connection via a cellular network if the routing preference indicates a cellular network choice. In addition, a system and method for learning the user'"'"'s data, cellular, and/or VoIP access habits in order, to optimize the user'"'"'s experience and one that allows carriers to comply with CALEA and E911 rules by identifying the location of hybrid devices within the hybrid network are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call across a hybrid network having a cellular network and a short-haul communications network, the method comprising:

storing a user'"'"'s routing preference in a routing preferences server;

communicating the routing preference from the routing preferences server to a control network that couples the cellular network to the short-haul network; and

using the control network to route a call across the hybrid network, wherein the call is originated by the user from a hybrid device that is associated with the user and wherein the hybrid device is configured to communicate with a cellular base station of the cellular network via a first wireless link and to communicate with a base station of the short-haul communication network via a second wireless link;

wherein;

the call is routed via the short-haul communications network if the routing preference of the user that originated the call indicates a short-haul communications network choice; and

the call is routed via the cellular network if the routing preference of the user that originated the call indicates a cellular network choice.

2. The method of claim 1 where the call may be one of:

a data call, and a voice call.

3. The method of claim 1 where the routing preference comprises a data access area.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a law enforcement agency to access current routing information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing location information associated with a 9-1-1 call to an emergency service using current routing information.

6. The method of claim 1 where the routing preference comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider preference.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing a data call based on a data access habit of the user.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing a voice call based on a cellular network access habit of the user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing a VoIP call based on a VoIP access habit of the user.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the user a service that is dependent upon the user'"'"'s location.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the connection is routed based on one or more of an access habit of the user, an access pattern of the user, or a reliability of a service provided to the user.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-haul communication network complies with at least one of WiFi and WiMax standards.

10. A system comprising:

a routing preferences server for storing a routing preference selected by a user;

a control network coupled to the routing preferences server, where the control network is one of an applications processor, a gateway, or a location entity, and is operable to connect a cellular network to a short-haul communications network;

wherein the routing preferences server is operable to communicate the routing preference selected by the user to the control network;

wherein the control network is operable to route a call across the hybrid network, wherein the call is originated by the user from a hybrid device that is associated with the user and wherein the hybrid device is configured to communicate with a cellular base station of the cellular network via a first wireless link and to communicate with a base station of the short-haul communication network via a second wireless link; and

wherein;

the control network routes the call via the short-haul communications network if the routing preference of the user that originated the call indicates a short-haul communications network choice; and

the control network routes the call via the cellular network if the routing preference of the user that originated the call indicates a cellular network choice.

11. The system of claim 10 where control network is operable to route the call via the short-haul communications network if the routing preference indicates a short-haul communications network choice.

12. The system of claim 10 where control network is operable to route the call via the cellular network if the routing preference indicates a cellular network choice.

13. The system of claim 10 where the cellular network is selected from the group consisting of:

a Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, and a Personal Communications Services (PCS) network.

14. The system of claim 10 where the short-haul communications network comprises an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network.

15. The system of claim 10 where the short-haul communications network includes a wireless base station.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for allowing a law enforcement agency to access current routing information.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for providing current routing information to a law enforcement agency.

18. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for providing location information associated with a 911 call to an emergency service using current routing information.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the routing preferences server is operable to provide to the user a service that is dependent upon the user'"'"'s location.

23. A method comprising:

at a routing preferences server, storing a user'"'"'s routing preference;

at the routing preferences server, receiving a registration request from a hybrid device;

from the routing preferences server, querying a location entity of a control network for the location of the hybrid device;

at the routing preferences server, receiving the location of the hybrid device;

from the routing preferences server, acknowledging receipt of the registration request to the hybrid device and pushing updates for local wireless to the hybrid device based on the location of the hybrid device.