Method and apparatus for a source-initiated handoff from a source cellular wireless network to a target non-cellular wireless network
US6904029B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/16
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
To address the need for an apparatus and method for handoff from a cellular wireless network to a non-cellular wireless network (WLAN, e.g.), the present application describes an access gateway (214) and a dual mode mobile station (201) that enable such handoffs. Dual mode MSs can determine when a handoff to a non-cellular network is preferred and request a handin (302) from the non-cellular network. The access gateway provides information to the MS (304) so that it can initiate a handoff through the serving cellular network. Triggering handoffs in this manner, allows cellular networks to handle handoffs to non-cellular networks in much the same way they handle inter-MSC handoffs today, i.e., source initiated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.