US6725044B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Technique seamless handoff of a mobile terminal user from a wireless telephony network to a wireless LAN
Assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
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Filing: 2002-08-15
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Granted: 2004-04-20
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Expires: 2022-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A mobile terminal user ( 16 ) can trigger a handoff from a first radio access node ( 18 ) to a second radio access node ( 30 ) in a communications network by making such a request to one of the two nodes. The request made by the mobile terminal user ( 16 ) will trigger in the network ( 10 ) a command to relocate (handoff) the mobile terminal user. In response to the command, the mobile terminal user is assigned to the second radio access node ( 30 ) and is released from the first radio access node ( 18 ).
Inventors
- 👤 Shaily Verma
- 👤 Guillaume Bichot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/0005; H04W36/0055; H04W36/0066; H04W36/16; H04W36/18; H04W8/00; H04W8/02; H04W36/34; H04W36/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for effecting a seamless hand-off of a mobile terminal user in a communications network from a first radio access mechanism to a second radio access mechanism, comprising the steps of: receiving in a communications network a forced hand-off request from a mobile terminal user in the form of one of a routing area (RA) update request or a manipulated reduced signal strength report to initiate a forced hand-off request to the second radio access mechanism; triggering in the network a command to relocate (hand-off) the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism from the first radio access mechanism in response to the forced hand-off request made by the mobile terminal user to relocate to the second radio access mechanism; responsive to the command, assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism; and releasing the first radio access node from the mobile terminal user.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for effecting a seamless hand-off of a mobile terminal user in a communications network from a first radio access mechanism to a second radio access mechanism, comprising the steps of: receiving in a communications network a forced hand-off request from a mobile terminal user in the form of one of a routing area (RA) update request or a manipulated reduced signal strength report to initiate a forced hand-off request to the second radio access mechanism; triggering in the network a command to relocate (hand-off) the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism from the first radio access mechanism in response to the forced hand-off request made by the mobile terminal user to relocate to the second radio access mechanism; responsive to the command, assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism; and releasing the first radio access node from the mobile terminal user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of triggering in the network the command to relocate the mobile terminal user comprises the step receiving at the second radio access mechanism the relocation request made by the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of triggering in the network the command to relocate the mobile terminal user comprises the step receiving at the first radio access mechanism the relocation request made by the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism comprises the step of establishing a data path through a Radio Network Control means comprising part of the second radio access mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein the step of assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access node comprises the step of physically configuring a radio channel for carrying communications between the mobile terminal user and a radio access node managed by the Radio Network Control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of updating a stored record in the network to reflect relocation of the mobile terminal user from the first radio access mechanism to the second radio access mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method according to claim 1 further including the steps of: receiving in a communications network a forced hand-off request from a mobile terminal user in the form of one of a routing area (RA) update request or a manipulated reduced signal strength report to initiate a forced hand-off request to the first radio access mechanism; triggering in the network a second command to relocate (hand-off) the mobile terminal user to the first radio access mechanism from the second radio access mechanism; responsive to the second command, assigning the mobile terminal user to the first radio access mechanism; and releasing the second radio access mechanism from the mobile terminal user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of assigning the mobile terminal user to the first radio access mechanism comprises the step of establishing a data path through a second Radio Network Control means comprising part of the first radio access mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of assigning the mobile terminal user to the first radio access node comprises the step of physically configuring a radio channel for carrying communications between the mobile terminal user and a second radio access node managed by the second Radio Network Control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of updating a stored record in the network to reflect relocation of the mobile terminal user from the second radio access mechanism to the first radio access mechanism.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for effecting a seamless hand-off of a mobile terminal user in a communications network from a first radio access mechanism to a second radio access mechanism, comprising: means for receiving in a communications network a forced hand-off request from a mobile terminal user in the form of one of a routing area (RA) update request or a manipulated reduced signal strength report to initiate a forced hand-off request to the second radio access mechanism; means for triggering in the network a command to relocate (hand-off) the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism from the first radio access node in response to a request made by the mobile terminal user to relocate to the second radio access mechanism; means for assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism responsive to the command to relocate the mobile terminal user; and means for releasing the first radio access mechanism from the mobile terminal user.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for effecting a seamless hand-off of a mobile terminal user in a communications network from a first radio access mechanism to a second radio access mechanism, comprising: means for receiving in a communications network a forced hand-off request from a mobile terminal user in the form of one of a routing area (RA) update request or a manipulated reduced signal strength report to initiate a forced hand-off request to the second radio access mechanism; means for triggering in the network a command to relocate (hand-off) the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism from the first radio access node in response to a request made by the mobile terminal user to relocate to the second radio access mechanism; means for assigning the mobile terminal user to the second radio access mechanism responsive to the command to relocate the mobile terminal user; and means for releasing the first radio access mechanism from the mobile terminal user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the first radio access mechanism comprises: a radio access node in a wireless telephony network; and a Radio Network Controller for managing the radio access node in the wireless telephony network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second radio access mechanism comprises: a radio access point in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN); and an Interworking Element for managing the radio access point in the wireless LAN so as to appear as a logical Radio Network Controller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the means for triggering the relocation command comprises a Serving General Packet Radio Service Node (SGSN) in the wireless telephony network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the means for releasing the first radio access mechanism comprises the Radio Network Controller.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |