Channel search method and system for vertical handoff in wireless network environment

• US 8,111,675 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jae Hoon, Lee, Ji Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US11/790,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/432.1, 455/436, 455/161, 455/166.1, 455/166.2, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/443, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/450, 455/464, 455/502, 455/509, 455/512, 455/525, 455/62, 455/67.11, 370/331, 370/492, 370/465, 370/338, 370/328, 370/437, 370/432, 370/329, 370/407, 370/406, 370/395.31, 370/408, 370/395.42, 370/341, 370/332, 370/324
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A channel search method for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is provided, the channel search method including: collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a wireless local area network (WLAN) service via a channel connection with a WLAN node; and determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information. A channel search system for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment is also provided, the channel search system including: a channel information collection unit for collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a WLAN service via a channel connection with a WLAN node and a search order determination unit for determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information.

Claims

1. A channel search method for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment, the channel search method comprising:

collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a wireless local area network (WLAN) service via a channel connection with a WLAN node, the WLAN node providing a coverage area;

determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information;

selecting a channel where a channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node is allowed, according to the determined channel search order; and

providing the second terminal by the WLAN node with the WLAN service via the selected channel, when the second terminal enters a coverage area of the WLAN node,

wherein the collecting comprises;

collecting the channel information by performing an overhearing with respect to a communication interfacing area of the first terminal,

wherein the collecting of the channel information by performing the overhearing comprises;

performing the overhearing when the second terminal enters the communication interfacing area of the first terminal, before the second terminal enters the coverage area of the WLAN node; and

wherein the providing comprises;

transmitting a registration request message from the second terminal to the WLAN node via the selected channel; and

setting the channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node in response to the transmitted registration request message.

2. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein the collecting of the channel information by performing the overhearing comprises:

performing the overhearing when a communication interfacing area of the second terminal and the communication interfacing area of the first terminal are overlapped.

3. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

identifying a channel connected between the first terminal and the WLAN node by the collected channel information; and

determining the channel search order by setting the identified channel as a channel to primarily search.

4. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein, when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected, the collecting comprises:

acquiring ad hoc routing information from the first terminal when the first terminal and the second terminal exchange a signal; and

collecting the channel information from the acquired ad hoc routing information.

5. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein the determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node relates to a search order for a vertical handoff between WLAN nodes.

6. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein the search order include first searching a set channel determined to be a channel to primarily search, and sequentially searching channels beginning with channels adjacent to the set channel and progressively searching channels adjacent to most recently searched channels.

7. The channel search method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

identifying a channel by which the first terminal and the WLAN are connected based analyzing an amount of traffic being communicated over searched channels, the channel being a channel to primarily search; and

searching channels based on a search order that includes first searching a set channel determined to be a channel to primarily search, and sequentially searching channels beginning with channels adjacent to the set channel and progressively searching channels adjacent to most recently searched channels.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing a channel search method for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment, the channel search method comprising:

collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a WLAN service via a channel connection with a WLAN node, the WLAN node providing a coverage area;

determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information;

selecting a channel where a channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node is allowed, according to the determined channel search order; and

providing the second terminal by the WLAN node with the WLAN service via the selected channel, when the second terminal enters a coverage area of the WLAN node,

wherein the collecting comprises;

collecting the channel information by performing an overhearing with respect to a communication interfacing area of the first terminal,

wherein the collecting of the channel information by performing the overhearing comprises;

performing the overhearing when the second terminal enters the communication interfacing area of the first terminal, before the second terminal enters the coverage area of the WLAN node; and

wherein the providing comprises;

transmitting a registration request message from the second terminal to the WLAN node via the selected channel; and

setting the channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node in response to the transmitted registration request message.

9. A channel search system for a vertical handoff in a wireless network environment, the channel search system comprising:

a channel information collection unit for collecting channel information from a first terminal which is provided with a WLAN service via a channel connection with a WLAN node, the WLAN node providing a coverage area;

a search order determination unit for determining a channel search order for a channel connection between a second terminal and the WLAN node by using the collected channel information;

a channel set unit configured to select a channel where a channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node is allowed, according to the determined channel search order; and

an association processing unit configured to transmit a registration request message from the second terminal to the WLAN node via the selected channel, and setting the channel connection between the second terminal and the WLAN node in response to the transmitted registration request message

wherein the channel information collection unit collects the channel information by performing an overhearing with respect to a communication interfacing area of the first terminal, and

wherein the channel information collection unit performs the overhearing when the second terminal enters the communication interfacing area of the first terminal, before the second terminal enters the coverage area of the WLAN node; and

wherein the WLAN node provides the second terminal by the WLAN node with the WLAN service via the selected channel, when the second terminal enters a coverage area of the WLAN node.

10. The channel search system of claim 9, wherein the channel information collection unit performs the overhearing when a communication interfacing area of the second terminal and the communication interfacing area of the first terminal are overlapped.

11. The channel search system of claim 9, wherein the search order determination unit identifies a channel connected between the first terminal and the WLAN node from the collected channel information, and determines the channel search order by setting the identified channel as a channel to primarily search.

12. The channel search system of claim 9, wherein, when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected, the channel information collection unit acquires ad hoc routing information from the first terminal when the first terminal and the second terminal exchange a signal, and collects the channel information from the acquired ad hoc routing information.

13. The channel search system of claim 9, wherein the second node is adjacent to the WLAN node.