Method and apparatus for handing off a mobile terminal between a mobile network and a wireless LAN
US7693522B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 18, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/06
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for performing a handover of a mobile terminal between a 3G cell and a WLAN cell when the mobile terminal moves within a 3G cell into the coverage area of the WLAN cell. The present invention proposes that the handover be performed when there are no active calls. If there are ongoing calls, method proposes to wait until the calls are terminated before the handover is performed. After the ongoing calls are terminated, the handover is performed by disassociating from the radio access network of the 3G cell and associating with the access point of the WLAN, using the relatively straightforward disassociation and association procedures. The handover method according to the present invention obviates the need for complex and expensive protocols to ensure a seamless and error free handover of calls when moving from the coverage of the 3G cell to the coverage of the WLAN cell. This method can be used with either the loose coupling arrangement or the tight coupling arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.