Methods and apparatuses for effecting handover in integrated wireless systems

• US 7,933,598 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Agrawal, Satish, Evans, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago-Cordero; Marivelisse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arevalo; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/080,714
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552, 455/517, 455/446, 455/426.1, 455/423, 455/448, 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/445, 455/436, 455/414.1, 455/132.2, 455/67.11, 455/432.1, 455/415, 455/552.1, 455/433, 455/411, 455/132.1, 455/434, 455/456.1, 455/435.2, 455/426, 370/331, 370/329, 370/328, 370/338, 370/352, 370/321, 370/310, 370/395.2, 370/353, 370/401, 370/351, 348/14.02, 348/E7.081
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for effecting handover between the licensed and unlicensed portions of an integrated wireless network. For one embodiment, prior to hand out of a communication from the unlicensed wireless system (UWS), a cell identifier associated with a user terminal is changed from the cell identifier corresponding to the internet access point to the cell identifier corresponding to the unlicensed network controller. This allows the destination MSC of the licensed wireless system (LWS) to accept and fulfill a handover request from the UWS. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, after a hand in of a communication to the UWS, a cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from the cell identifier corresponding to the UNC to the cell identifier corresponding to the internet access point. This change allows providing location-based services to the UT being serviced by the UWS.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a handover in an integrated wireless system comprising an unlicensed first wireless system and a licensed second wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving a handover request to perform the handover for a communication in progress, the handover being from the unlicensed first wireless system to the licensed second wireless system; and

prior to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover of the communication in progress, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed first wireless system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an unlicensed network controller of the unlicensed first wireless system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

sending a message indicating that the handover has been performed from the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point to the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the unlicensed network controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the licensed second wireless system is one of a time division multiple access system, a code division multiple access system, a frequency division multiple access system, and a spatial division multiple access system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the licensed second wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed by forwarding a handover performed message from the unlicensed network controller to a mobile switching center, the mobile switching center providing an interface between the licensed second wireless system and the unlicensed first wireless system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication in progress is one of an active call, a short message service (SMS) communication, and a data transmission.

7. A method for effecting a handover in an integrated wireless system comprising an unlicensed first wireless system and a licensed second wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving a handover request to perform the handover for a communication in progress, the handover being from the licensed second wireless system to the unlicensed first wireless system; and

subsequent to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover of the communication in progress, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed first wireless system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an unlicensed network controller of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed first wireless system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point indicates a geographic location of the access point.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

using the indicated geographic location of the access point to provide location based services to a user of the user terminal.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending a message indicating that the handover has been performed from a cell associated with the unlicensed network controller to a cell associated with the access point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the licensed second wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the message is a handover performed message.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a processor, the computer program for effecting a handover in an integrated wireless system comprising an unlicensed first wireless system and a licensed second wireless system, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a handover request to perform the handover for a communication in progress, the handover being from the unlicensed first wireless system to the licensed second wireless system; and

prior to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover of the communication in progress, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed first wireless system.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an unlicensed network controller of the unlicensed first wireless system.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, the computer program further comprising a set of instructions for sending a message indicating that the handover has been performed from the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point to the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the unlicensed network controller.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the licensed second wireless system is one of a time division multiple access system, a code division multiple access system, a frequency division multiple access system, and a spatial division multiple access system.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the licensed second wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed by forwarding a handover performed message from the unlicensed network controller to a mobile switching center, the mobile switching center providing an interface between the licensed second wireless system and the unlicensed first wireless system.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a processor, the computer program for effecting a handover in an integrated wireless system comprising an unlicensed first wireless system and a licensed second wireless system, the computer program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a handover request to perform the handover for a communication in progress, the handover being from the licensed second wireless system to the unlicensed first wireless system; and

subsequent to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover of the communication in progress, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed first wireless system.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an unlicensed network controller of the unlicensed first wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed first wireless system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point indicates a geographic location of the access point.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 20, the computer program further comprising a set of instructions for using the indicated geographic location of the access point to provide location based services to a user of the user terminal.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, the computer program further comprising a set of instructions for sending a message indicating that the handover has been performed from a cell associated with the unlicensed network controller to a cell associated with the access point.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the licensed second wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the message is a handover performed message.

24. A wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a licensed first wireless system comprising one or more mobile switching centers, each mobile switching center communicatively coupled to at least one base station controller, each base station controller coupled to at least one base station transceiver system; and

an unlicensed second wireless system comprising one or more access points and an unlicensed network controller communicatively coupled to the licensed first wireless system through a particular mobile switching center, the unlicensed network controller communicatively coupled to at least one access point, wherein a handover of a communication in progress from the unlicensed second wireless system to the licensed first wireless system comprises, prior to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed second wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed second wireless system.

25. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 24, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed second wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of the unlicensed network controller.

26. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 25, wherein a message indicating a completion of the handover from the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point to the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the unlicensed network controller, and the handover is initiated between the unlicensed second wireless system and the licensed first wireless system.

27. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 24, wherein the licensed first wireless system is one of a time division multiple access system, a code division multiple access system, a frequency division multiple access system, and a spatial division multiple access system.

28. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 27 wherein the licensed first wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed by forwarding a handover performed message from the unlicensed network controller to the mobile switching center.

29. A wireless telecommunications system comprising:

a licensed first wireless system comprising one or more mobile switching centers, each mobile switching center communicatively coupled to at least one base station controller, each base station controller coupled to at least one base station transceiver system; and

an unlicensed second wireless system comprising one or more access points and an unlicensed network controller communicatively coupled to the licensed first wireless system through a particular mobile switching center, the unlicensed network controller communicatively coupled to at least one access point, wherein a handover of a communication in progress from the licensed first wireless system to the unlicensed second wireless system comprises, subsequent to effecting the handover, changing a cell identifier associated with a user terminal in conjunction with the handover, wherein the cell identifier is changed from a cell identifier of a first region of the unlicensed second wireless system to a cell identifier of a second region of the unlicensed second wireless system.

30. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 29, wherein the cell identifier associated with the user terminal is changed from a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of the unlicensed network controller of the unlicensed second wireless system to a cell identifier corresponding to a service region of an access point of the unlicensed second wireless system.

31. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 30, wherein the cell identifier corresponding to the service region of the access point indicates a geographic location of the access point.

32. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 31, wherein the indicated geographic location of the access point is used to provide location-based services to a user of the user terminal.

33. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 30, wherein a message is sent indicating that the handover has been performed from a cell associated with the whole unlicensed network controller to a cell associated with the access point.

34. The wireless telecommunications system of claim 33, wherein the licensed first wireless system is a Global System for Mobile communications system, and the message is a handover performed message.