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US7151931B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system enabling roaming between different wireless networks

Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
•
Filing: 2003-02-27
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Granted: 2006-12-19
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Expires: 2023-02-27
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Abstract

Abstract A method and system enabling roaming between different wireless networks. A mobile device supporting low and high-tier wireless network standards is adapted to roam between a low-tier wireless network and a high-tier wireless network with lower bandwidth but more mobility than the low-tier wireless network. Via a virtual GPRS support node, a plurality of data packets and control signals are delivered between low and high-tier wireless networks.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shiao-Li Tsao
  • 👤 Chia-Ching Lin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 10:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/14; H04W36/144; H04W36/1446; H04W80/00; H04W80/04; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/042; H04W84/10; H04W84/12; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 302 words
A method enabling roaming between different wireless networks, for a mobile device supporting a first wireless network standard and a second wireless network standard adapted to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising the steps of: linking to establish bidirectional communication between the mobile device and a host through the first wireless network and to deliver a plurality of data packets between the mobile device and the host through the first wireless network; delivering a plurality of control signals to maintain a link between the mobile device and the first wireless network via a virtual GPRS support node after the mobile device roaming from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; bidirectional communication via the virtual GPRS support node, to deliver a plurality of data packets between low and high-tier wireless networks; returning, wherein the mobile device roams from the second wireless network to the routing area of the first wireless network; recovering the link between the mobile device and the first wireless network using original routing information and notifying the virtual GPRS support node to stop delivery of the data packets if the routing area is the same as an original routing area hosting the mobile device before roaming; and restarting to establish a link between the mobile device and the first wireless network using original routing information obtained from a Serving GPRS support node (SGSN) of the original routing area, notifying the SGSN of the RA to handling the delivery of the data packets, and notifying the virtual GPRS support node to stop delivery of the data packets if the routing area is different from the original routing area hosting the mobile device before roaming; wherein the first wireless network has lower bandwidth but more mobility than the second wireless network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 302 words
A method enabling roaming between different wireless networks, for a mobile device supporting a first wireless network standard and a second wireless network standard adapted to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising the steps of: linking to establish bidirectional communication between the mobile device and a host through the first wireless network and to deliver a plurality of data packets between the mobile device and the host through the first wireless network; delivering a plurality of control signals to maintain a link between the mobile device and the first wireless network via a virtual GPRS support node after the mobile device roaming from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; bidirectional communication via the virtual GPRS support node, to deliver a plurality of data packets between low and high-tier wireless networks; returning, wherein the mobile device roams from the second wireless network to the routing area of the first wireless network; recovering the link between the mobile device and the first wireless network using original routing information and notifying the virtual GPRS support node to stop delivery of the data packets if the routing area is the same as an original routing area hosting the mobile device before roaming; and restarting to establish a link between the mobile device and the first wireless network using original routing information obtained from a Serving GPRS support node (SGSN) of the original routing area, notifying the SGSN of the RA to handling the delivery of the data packets, and notifying the virtual GPRS support node to stop delivery of the data packets if the routing area is different from the original routing area hosting the mobile device before roaming; wherein the first wireless network has lower bandwidth but more mobility than the second wireless network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the mobile deice roams between different nodes of the second wireless network, delivering a plurality of control signals to maintain a link between the mobile device and the first wireless network via a virtual GPRS support node.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a personal digital assistant.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 186 words
A method enabling roaming between different wireless networks, for a mobile device supporting a first wireless network standard and a second wireless network standard adapted to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising the steps of: linking to establish bidirectional communication between the mobile device and a host through the first wireless network and to deliver a plurality of data packets between the mobile device and the host through the first wireless network; processing a standard register procedure of the second wireless network and delivering a control signal to an original node hosting the first wireless network in which the mobile device was situated before roaming, to notify the original node of the mobile device's exit from the first wireless network via a virtual GPRS support node after the mobile device roaming from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; bidirectional communication via the virtual GPRS support node, to deliver a plurality of data packets between low and high-tier wireless networks; wherein the first wireless network has higher bandwidth but less mobility than the second wireless network.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 186 words
A method enabling roaming between different wireless networks, for a mobile device supporting a first wireless network standard and a second wireless network standard adapted to roam between a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising the steps of: linking to establish bidirectional communication between the mobile device and a host through the first wireless network and to deliver a plurality of data packets between the mobile device and the host through the first wireless network; processing a standard register procedure of the second wireless network and delivering a control signal to an original node hosting the first wireless network in which the mobile device was situated before roaming, to notify the original node of the mobile device's exit from the first wireless network via a virtual GPRS support node after the mobile device roaming from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; bidirectional communication via the virtual GPRS support node, to deliver a plurality of data packets between low and high-tier wireless networks; wherein the first wireless network has higher bandwidth but less mobility than the second wireless network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: returning, wherein the mobile device roams from the second wireless network to the first wireless network registration, to process a standard register procedure of the first wireless network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising, when the mobile device roams between different routing areas of the second wireless network, processing a standard roaming procedure of the second wireless network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the second wireless network is a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the second wireless network is a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the first wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the mobile device is a personal digital assistant.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2009-12-18 2010-06-19 2010-12-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2013-12-18 2014-06-19 2014-12-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2017-12-18 2018-06-19 2018-12-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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