U.S. patent application number 14/615593 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-04 for handoff of a multimedia call session using background network scanning.
This patent application is currently assigned to Broadcom Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Broadcom Corporation. Invention is credited to James D. Bennett, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Nambirajan Seshadri.
Application Number | 20150156683 14/615593 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35116167 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150156683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karaoguz; Jeyhan ; et
al. |
June 4, 2015 |
Handoff Of A Multimedia Call Session Using Background Network
Scanning
Abstract
A method and system supporting handoff of a multimedia call
session using background network scanning is disclosed. A mobile
multimedia handset may engage in the exchange of a multimedia
information stream via a first wireless network, and may sniff a
portion of radio frequency spectrum for a second wireless network.
Information about available services and network quality of service
for the second network may be received by querying the second
wireless network or from advertising by the second wireless
network. Hand-off between the two networks may be based upon the
results of the comparison and one or more user-defined criteria,
and the handoff may be synchronized according to predefined events
in the stream of multimedia information.
Inventors: |
Karaoguz; Jeyhan; (Irvine,
CA) ; Bennett; James D.; (Hroznetin, CZ) ;
Seshadri; Nambirajan; (Irvine, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Broadcom Corporation |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Broadcom Corporation
|
Family ID: |
35116167 |
Appl. No.: |
14/615593 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13359101 |
Jan 26, 2012 |
8983472 |
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14615593 |
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11093940 |
Mar 30, 2005 |
8145219 |
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13359101 |
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60591735 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591841 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591842 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591847 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591844 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591845 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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60591843 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/332 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 65/1043 20130101;
H04W 48/14 20130101; H04L 29/06027 20130101; H04L 65/1083 20130101;
H04W 36/28 20130101; H04L 65/80 20130101; H04W 36/0085 20180801;
H04N 21/4126 20130101; H04W 8/005 20130101; H04W 36/00835 20180801;
H04W 36/0022 20130101; H04W 36/0083 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/00 20060101
H04W036/00; H04W 8/00 20060101 H04W008/00 |
Claims
1. A method for hand-off of a network communication session using
background network scanning, the method comprising: initiating, at
a mobile access device, exchange of multimedia information with a
wireless wide area network; activating a communication path by the
wireless wide area network to communicate multimedia information
between the wide area network and the mobile access device;
activating background network scanning by the mobile access device
to detect a broadband access gateway; and detecting, by the mobile
access device, signals from the broadband access gateway; analyzing
the signals from the broadband access gateway and send information
about the signals to the wireless wide area network; and providing,
by the wireless wide area network, information about the broadband
access gateway to the mobile access device.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information enables
the mobile access device to access the broadband access
gateway.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting a
user interface with a first option to continue using the wireless
wide area network and a second option to use the broadband access
gateway.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising, in response
to a selection on the user interface of the second option,
exchanging messaging with the broadband access gateway to request
service.
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising, in response
to the request of service, accepting service for the mobile access
device and notifying the mobile access device of acceptance.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing
a path for communication with the mobile access device through the
broadband access gateway.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising exchanging
messaging from the mobile access device to the wireless wide area
network to dismantle the communication path between the wireless
wide area network and the mobile access device.
8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing a
round trip delay for the path for communication with the mobile
access device though the broadband access gateway and a round trip
delay of the communication path between the wide area network and
the mobile access device; and in response to the comparison
automatically select between the path for communication with the
mobile access device though the broadband access gateway and the
communication path between the wide area network and the mobile
access device.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing a
round trip delay for the path for communication with the mobile
access device though the broadband access gateway and a round trip
delay of the communication path between the wide area network and
the mobile access device; and in response to the comparison
presenting a user interface with a first option to continue using
the wireless wide area network and a second option to use the
broadband access gateway.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing
an error bit rate for the path for communication with the mobile
access device though the broadband access gateway and an error bit
rate of the communication path between the wide area network and
the mobile access device; and in response to the comparison
automatically select between the path for communication with the
mobile access device though the broadband access gateway and the
communication path between the wide area network and the mobile
access device.
11. A mobile device configured to hand-off a network communication
session using background network scanning, the mobile device
comprising: at least one processor configured to: initiate exchange
of multimedia information with a wireless wide area network;
activate a communication path to communicate multimedia information
with a wide area network; activate background network scanning to
detect a broadband access gateway; detect signals from the
broadband access gateway; analyze the signals from the broadband
access gateway and send information about the signals to the
wireless wide area network; and receive, through the wireless wide
area network, information about the broadband access gateway.
12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the
information enables the mobile device to access the broadband
access gateway.
13. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising
presenting a user interface with a first option to continue using
the wireless wide area network and a second option to use the
broadband access gateway.
14. The mobile device according to claim 13, further comprising, in
response to a selection on the user interface of the second option,
exchanging messaging with the broadband access gateway to request
service.
15. The mobile device according to claim 14, further comprising, in
response to the request of service accepting service, receiving a
notification of acceptance prior to establishing a path for handing
off the network communication session with the broadband access
gateway.
16. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising
establishing a path for communication with the mobile device
through the broadband access gateway.
17. A broadband access gateway configured to hand-off a network
communication session with a mobile access device using background
network scanning, the broadband access comprising: at least one
processor configured to: transmit signals to a mobile device
performing background network scanning; receive a request for
information about communication characteristics of the broadband
access gateway; provide information about the communication
characteristics of the broadband access gateway to a wireless wide
area network information for transmission to the mobile access
device; and establish a communication path with the mobile access
device.
18. The broadband access gateway according to claim 17, wherein the
information comprises a cost, a bit rate, or a bandwidth.
19. The broadband access gateway according to claim 17, wherein the
information comprises a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a
color depth, or a frame rate.
20. The broadband access gateway according to claim 17, wherein the
information comprises an error rate, a quality of service, or a
network delay.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/359,101 filed on Jan. 26, 2012, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/093,940 filed
on Mar. 30, 2005 and makes reference to, claims priority to, and
claims the benefit of the following United States Provisional
Patent Applications, the complete subject matter of each of which
is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.
TABLE-US-00001 Ser. Date No. Title Filed 60/591,735 Method and
System for Handoff Through Jul. 28, 2004 Simulcasting 60/591,847
Method and System for Handling Calls Jul. 28, 2004 Through
Simulcasting 60/591,844 Method and System for Handling Jul. 28,
2004 Multimedia Information Through Simulcasting 60/591,841 Method
and System for Simulcasting or Jul. 28, 2004 Multicasting
Multimedia Information in a Broadband Wired and/or Wireless LAN or
Personal Area Network (PAN) Via a Broadband Access Gateway
60/591,845 Method and System for Consuming Jul. 28, 2004
Simulcasted and Multicasted Content in a PAN/WAN/WLAN Serviced by a
Broadband Access Gateway 60/591,843 Method and System for Handoff
of a Jul. 28, 2004 Multimedia Stream by Sniffing 60/591,842 Method
and System for Sniffing to Jul. 28, 2004 Provide Association with a
New Network
[0002] The present application also makes reference to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/021,294, entitled "Method And System For
Extended Network Access Services Advertising Via A Broadband Access
Gateway", filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,608, the
complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference, in its entirety.
[0003] The present application also makes reference to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/094,045, entitled "Handling Of Multimedia
Call Sessions And Attachments Using Multi-Network Simulcasting",
filed Mar. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,684,374, the complete
subject matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference,
in its entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0004] [Not Applicable]
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0005] [Not Applicable]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One major common problem faced by cellular and landline
service providers is market competition. In today's climate of
competitive markets, cellular service providers have found that one
way for them to grow market share and defend their businesses is to
be proactive and form alliances, and to partner with landline
service providers. In addition, cellular service providers seek to
differentiate their service offerings, and to capture the largest
portion of market revenue by meeting an ever increasing demand for
access to a wide range of media forms such as MP3 encoded audio,
still and video imaging, data, instant messaging, and email. In a
similar manner, the landline service providers have found that to
grow market share and ward off competition, they too must be
proactive and form alliances, and to partner with cellular service
providers. Support for broad economical access to these converging
forms of communication is needed to enable unfettered market
growth, and to support the development and use of new handheld
devices needed to provide increasing levels of mobile multimedia
communication functionality.
[0007] Although the formation of alliances and partnerships between
cellular service providers and landline service providers may help
to ward off competition, such alliances and partnerships are faced
with other problems. For example, the erection of cellular
infrastructure such as cellular towers may be an expensive venture
since this may require acquisition of real estate, whether in the
form of outright purchases or through leasing. Cellular
infrastructure also requires the establishment of one or more
expensive backbone links to handle core network traffic. Another
cellular-related problem is that the cellular signals do not
penetrate and propagate in buildings such as homes and offices very
well. This is especially true with the frequencies that are
typically utilized in the United States, which may vary between 800
MHz and 1900 MHz or 1.9 GHz.
[0008] Users of wireless access devices may migrate within the
coverage areas of a number of wireless networks while using an
access device. A user may be aware of the existence of the various
wireless networks, and may take advantage of such networks when in
a geographic location served by a known wireless network. Many more
wireless networks may exist than those of which the user is aware,
and the user of a wireless access device may therefore be unaware
of the opportunity to make use of those other networks for
communication. Some of the available networks may be suitable for
the communication activities of a particular access device user,
while others may not. In addition, wireless service providers are
continually adding new network capabilities and features, and new
wireless service providers enter the market each day. Depending
upon the number of active subscribers and/or users, and the
activities of each subscriber and/or user, a wireless network that
one day provides satisfactory quality of service may, on another
day or at another time, be unable to meet a particular wireless
access device user's needs. At the present time, there is no way
for a user of a wireless access device to have up-to-date
information of the service provider options available to them, and
to know what services and/or features each service provider has
available.
[0009] Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and
traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the
art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the
present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present
application with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A system and method supporting hand-off of a multimedia call
session using background network scanning, substantially as shown
in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures,
as set forth more completely in the claims.
[0011] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of
the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated
embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the
following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of an
exemplary communications system in which a representative
embodiment of the present invention may be practiced.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system that may be utilized for handoff of a
multimedia call session using background network scanning of radio
frequency spectrum in, for example, a broadband wireless local area
network (WLAN) or personal area network (PAN), in accordance with a
representative embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display notifying a user of a
mobile access device that may correspond to, for example, the
mobile access device of FIG. 2, of the detection of a new
communication network, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display notifying a user of a
mobile access device that may correspond to, for example, the
mobile access device of FIG. 2, of the automatic selection of a new
communication network, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a message exchange diagram illustrating an
example of hand-off of a multimedia information stream using
background network scanning, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a message exchange diagram illustrating an
example of hand-off of a multimedia information stream using
background network scanning in which a mobile access device
establishes a simulcast connection with a second wireless service
provider to actively determine network characteristics, in
accordance with a representative embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of
supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as, for example,
the mobile access device of FIG. 2 using background network
scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating another exemplary method
of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as, for
example, the mobile access device of FIG. 2 using background
network scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of
the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 7C is a flowchart illustrating yet another exemplary
method of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as,
for example, the mobile access device of FIG. 2 using background
network scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7D is a flowchart illustrating still another exemplary
method of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as,
for example, the mobile access device of FIG. 2 using background
network scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Aspects of the present invention relate to communication
over hybrid wired and wireless networks. More specifically, certain
embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system
for hand-off of a multimedia call session using background network
scanning. A multimedia call session may comprise, for example, one
or more streams of multimedia information. In representative
embodiments of the present invention, background network scanning
may comprise, for example, sniffing of a wireless network
environment. A representative embodiment of the present invention
allows a user of a wireless access device greater freedom of
movement, and a wider variety of communication options than is
available using conventional technology.
[0023] An aspect of the invention provides seamless merging of wide
area networks (WANs), from any kind of wired and/or wireless wide
area networks, to pockets of wired and/or wireless local area
networks (WLANs) and personal area network (PANs), which may be
located in homes or other environment such as an office or
business. The merging of these various types of networks enables
transparent communication of all types of media between access
devices, which may be wired or wirelessly coupled to one or more of
these networks. Seamless communication may be provided to access
devices as they transition from one type of network to another type
of network. In a representative embodiment of the present
invention, a user of a wireless access device engaged in a
communication session may be kept aware of other wireless networks
providing service at their present location, and may elect to make
use of one of those other networks to continue their current
communication activity.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of an
exemplary communications system in which a representative
embodiment of the present invention may be practiced. Referring to
FIG. 1, there is shown a first location 102, a second location 104,
a broadband access provider (BAP) 106, a public switched telephone
network (PSTN) 108, a transport network 110, wireless service
provider networks including a CDMA network 112 and a GSM/EDGE/GPRS
network 114, and access devices 122, 124, 126, and 128. The first
location 102 comprises a gateway 118 having a modem 116, a wireless
interface(s) block 120, and the access devices 122, 124. The access
devices 122, 124, 126, 128 may comprise, for example, a mobile
multimedia handset having a high level of functionality such as,
for example, that of one or more of a digital video or still
camera, a portable audio (MP3) player, a personal digital
assistant, and a voice handset. The access devices 122, 124, 126,
128 may be capable of operating using, for example, a personal area
network and/or wireless local area network compliant with, for
example, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n, and/or IEEE 802.15.3a
ultra-wideband standards. The second location 104 comprises a
router 130 having a modem 132, and a plurality of wireless access
devices. The plurality of wireless access devices at the second
location 104 may comprise a personal computer (PC) 138, a laptop
136 and a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) 134. A
peripheral such as a digital camera 142 may be coupled to the
personal computer 138. Other peripherals such as printers, digital
scanners, speakers, and the like, which are not shown, may also be
coupled to the personal computer 138 and/or laptop 136. The
wireless interface block 120 may comprise a plurality of interfaces
such as a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE 802.15.3a ultra-wideband
interface, and any combination of an IEEE 802.11 a, b, g and/or n
interface.
[0025] FIG. 1 also comprises an "other broadband access provider"
block 144, an "other cellular/PCS service provider" block 146, a
central control and management block 148, and content provider 150.
The "other broadband access provider block 144" may be, for
example, a cable, DSL, or other type of broadband access provider.
The central control and management block 148 may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to handle content
delivery and security functions such as authentication, validation,
key or certificate management, and authorization. The central
control and management block 148 may also be adapted to handle
provisioning, service management, and accounting. In a
representative embodiment of the present invention, the central
control and management block 148 may establish communications links
with, for example, the gateway 118, the broadband access provider
106, the other broadband access provider 144, the other
cellular/PCS service provider 146, the CDMA network 112, and the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114 using actual or virtual connections.
[0026] The broadband access provider 106 may be, for example, a
cable operator, telephone company, or satellite operator providing
Internet access along with other communication services. In
instances where BAP 106 is a telephone company, broadband service
to locations 102, 104 may be provided via DSL or other broadband
access technology. Accordingly, the modems 116, 132 may be DSL
modems. In instances where BAP 106 is a cable operator, broadband
service to locations 102, 104 may be provided via cable.
Accordingly, the modems 116, 132 may be DOCSIS compliant or other
type of cable modem. Given the rapid decrease in the cost of leased
telephone lines over the past decade or more, the connection to the
location 102, 104 may also be T1 or T3 connections. For example, a
switch located at a central office (CO) (not shown) may be utilized
to couple a T1 or T3 connection between the second location 104 and
the PSTN 108.
[0027] The gateway 118 may comprise an integrated DSL modem, cable
modem or other high-speed modem that may be required for handling a
connection such as a T1 or T3 connection. Alternatively, the
gateway 118 may be coupled to an external DSL modem, cable modem or
other high-speed modem that may be capable of handling connections
such as a T1 or a T3 connection. The gateway 118 may be adapted so
that it has access to protocol stack information that may be
related to the GSM and/or CDMA networks 114, 112, respectively. The
gateway 118 may also be adapted to provide protocol support for
communication with "other cellular/PCS service provider" block
146.
[0028] Each of the CDMA and GSM/EDGE/GPRS networks 112, 114 may
comprise a plurality of cell sites (a/k/a cellular towers) that are
located in geographical cells within each of the networks. Within
the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114, each of the cell sites such as, for
example, cell site 114a may comprise a base transceiver station
(BTS), and one or more base transceiver stations (BTSs) may be
coupled to wireless carrier central office 114b. The wireless
carrier central office 114b may comprise a base station
controller/radio network controller (BSC/RNC) such as BSC/RNC 114d.
One or more base station controllers/radio network controllers
(BSCs/RNCs) may be coupled to the core network 114e, that comprises
a network edge switch called a mobile switching center (MSC), such
as MSC 114g, and a serving GPRS support node (SGSN)/packet data
serving node (PDSN) 114f, of the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114. The
mobile switching center may be coupled to, for example, the PSTN
108 via the transport network 110. As an access device moves out of
range of a first cell site to within range of a second cell site,
the decrease signal power received from the first cell site and the
increase in signal power received from the second cell site causes
initiation of handoff of a call from the first cell site to the
second cell site. In cases where there is no second cell site to
handoff to, the call may be maintained by the first cell site power
until it is attenuated to a threshold where it is no longer
feasible to maintain the call. At the point where the power reaches
or falls below this threshold, the call may drop and any related
call resources may be relinquished. In a home and/or office
environment, it may be desirable to have a second network to which
the call may be handed off.
[0029] As an illustration, a user may be on their way home and as
the user approaches their home, the signal may fall below a minimum
signal power threshold that is required to maintain a call.
However, instead of dropping the call, the call may be handed off
to, for example, a PAN or a wireless local area network (WLAN) that
may be located within the user's home or an unlicensed wireless
access system that may be located in the user's home. For example,
with reference to FIG. 1, as access device 126 migrates from the
vicinity of the serving cell site 114a in GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114
towards the wireless interface 120 in the first location 102, the
call may be handed off from the cell site 114a of the GSM/EDGE/GPRS
network 114 to the wireless interface 120 coupled to the gateway
(GW) 118 at the first location 102. Accordingly, instead of the
call being dropped, the call has been seamlessly handed off and is
now being handled by the gateway 118 via the wireless interface
120. The resulting wireless data may then be communicated to the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114 via the broadband connection to the BAP
106 which is connected to the broadband wireless local area network
controller (BWC) 114c.
[0030] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, a
mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile access device
124 of FIG. 1 may be adapted to sniff for compatible broadband
access networks and their available services, while the mobile
access device moves from one point to another and is currently
being serviced by another wireless service provider such as, for
example, the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114. Accordingly, whenever the
mobile access device 124 is within range of a broadband access
gateway or access point such as, for example, the broadband access
gateway 118 and wireless interface 120 of FIG. 1, the mobile access
device 124 may be adapted to inform a wireless carrier central
office at its current wireless service provider (e.g., the wireless
carrier central office 114b of the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114) that
a broadband access gateway or access point has been detected. More
generally, the mobile access device 124 may notify the current
wireless carrier central office of the serving wireless service
provider that a second communication path or channel (e.g., the
gateway 118 with wireless interface 120) has been detected and is
available for communicating with the wireless service provider
(e.g., the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114). In a wide area wireless
network such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114 of FIG. 1, the
current wireless carrier central office may be defined by the cell
site that is currently providing service to the mobile access
device.
[0031] In response to receiving a notification that a mobile access
device such as, for example, the mobile access device 124 has found
an alternate communication path, the serving wireless carrier
central office (e.g., the wireless carrier central office 114b) in
a representative embodiment of the present invention may
automatically cause pricing information and/or content information
to be presented on a display of the mobile access device 124.
Alternatively, the mobile access device 124 may be adapted to
request pricing information and/or content information from the
serving wireless carrier central office via the wireless
communication path established by the wireless service provider
(e.g., GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114). Notwithstanding, a user of the
mobile access device 124 may select from various options presented
on the display of the mobile access device 124, which communication
path best suits their needs. In some representative embodiments,
the pricing information may also include a comparison between the
cost of service for the serving wireless service provider and for
that of competing wireless networks.
[0032] In another representative embodiment of the present
invention, the serving wireless carrier central office may also
provide a list of media content information or other services that
may be provided to the mobile access device 124. For example, the
serving wireless carrier central office may provide a list of
files, their associated formats, and associated costs/charges of
those that may be available for downloading by the mobile access
device 124.
[0033] In yet another representative embodiment of the present
invention, a mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile
access device 124 may be currently receiving service via a first
pathway from a wireless service provider such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS
network 114, for example. Although this example refers to receiving
service, the service may comprise either or both of receiving and
sending of multimedia information. As the mobile access device 124
moves from one location to another, the mobile access device 124
may sniff a portion of radio frequency spectrum and locate a second
communication network, which may be provided by, for example, a
broadband access gateway, a wireless access point or a hot spot. In
response to detecting the second communication network, the mobile
access device 124 may be adapted to query the second communication
network in order to determine the type of services and the quality
of service (QoS) that may be offered. In another aspect of the
invention, the second communication network may advertise the types
of services and QoS it provides, in which case, the mobile access
device will automatically know the type of services that are
offered by the second communication network. Quality of service may
comprise, for example, error rates, frame rates, spatial
resolution, color depth, sample rates, bits per sample, network
delays, and the like. Notwithstanding, the mobile access device 124
may inform the wireless service provider that it has sniffed out a
new network and new information content. The mobile access device
124 may be adapted to compare the QoS of the first communication
network with the QoS of the second communication network and
desired service selections may be made based on this comparison.
For example, if the second communication network is capable of
providing a higher QoS than the first communication network, then a
user of the mobile access device may choose to switch operation to
the second communication network. If, for example, use of the
second network is cost prohibitive, the user of the mobile access
device 124 may choose to remain in communication with the first
communication network in order to save on cost. Switching from one
communication network to another communication network may be
automatic or manual.
[0034] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, service
may be automatically switched from a first communication network to
a second communication network based on a given criteria. The
criteria may reside within the mobile access device and/or at a
wireless carrier central office, for example, and may be set by the
subscriber/user of the mobile access device. Accordingly, the
mobile access device may switch from one communications network to
another based on occurrence of the given criteria. In some
representative embodiments of the present invention, switching of
wireless service from one communication network to another may be
adapted to occur at certain predetermined reference or
synchronizations points in the communication of the information
content being exchanged. For example, if an Motion Picture Experts
Group (MPEG)-encoded information stream is being received, then the
next reference frame in the multimedia information stream may be
located and switching or hand-off between communication networks
may occur at that reference frame. Various rules may be utilized to
facilitate the switch.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication system 200 that may be utilized for handoff of a
multimedia call session using background network scanning of radio
frequency spectrum in, for example, a broadband wireless local area
network (WLAN) or personal area network (PAN), in accordance with a
representative embodiment of the present invention. In a
representative embodiment of the present invention, background
network scanning may comprise, for example, the sniffing of one or
more portions of radio frequency spectrum. The exemplary
communication system 200 of FIG. 2 may provide handoff through
scanning for wireless network traffic, for an active subscriber,
from a wireless service provider servicing the active subscriber to
a broadband wired and/or a wireless LAN (WLAN), and/or PAN using a
broadband access gateway. Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a
first location 202, a broadband access provider (BAP) 206, a
transport network block 232, an Internet 204, a WANs, PSTN, etc
networks block 208, a content providers block 210, wireless wide
area service provider networks 212, 214, access points 205, 207,
209, and a plurality of mobile access devices 224, 226, 228. The
illustration of FIG. 2 also comprises a central control and
management block 248 that may correspond, for example, to the
central control and management block 148 of FIG. 1.
[0036] The first location 202 comprises a broadband access gateway
218 with a modem 216, a wireless interface 220, and a user profile
219. The first location may be a home, and the broadband access
gateway 218 with the modem 216 and the wireless interface 220 may
support a personal area network (PAN) and/or wireless local area
network (WLAN), and may be referred to as a home network 202a. The
wireless interface 220 may comprise a plurality of interfaces such
as a Bluetooth interface, an IEEE 802.15.3a ultra-wideband
interface, and any combination of IEEE 802.11 a, b, g and/or n
interfaces. In a representative embodiment of the present
invention, the broadband access gateway 218 may comprise, for
example, a set top box that may be coupled in a wireless or wired
fashion to access devices such as, for example, a laptop computer
or television, such as the laptop 217 and the television 215 of
FIG. 2. Service may be provided to the home network 202a supported
by the broadband access gateway 218 via the cable modem 216, which
is coupled to the broadband access provider 206. The wireless
interface 220, the gateway 218 with modem 216, the BAP 206, the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the transport network 232, and the CDMA
network 236 of FIG. 2 may correspond, for example, to the wireless
interface 120, the gateway 118 with modem 116, the BAP 106, the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 114, the transport network 110, and the CDMA
network 112, respectively, of FIG. 1.
[0037] The broadband access provider 206 may be, for example, a
cable company, telephone company (Telco), or an Internet service
provider (ISP). The broadband access provider 206 may utilize any
of the standardized formats such as DOCSIS, digital subscriber line
(DSL), or local multipoint distribution system (LMDS). LMDS
utilizes broadband wireless technology to deliver voice, video,
data, and/or Internet services utilizing licensed or unlicensed
spectrum in the frequency range of 25 GHz and higher. LMDS utilizes
point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication to provide
broadband services, some of which rely on line of sight (LOS). LMDS
is a fixed wireless solution, and as such, no mobility support is
required.
[0038] The broadband access provider 206 may be also be a WiMAX or
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
802.16-compliant service provider. The IEEE 802.16 standard offers
a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) air interface which
provides network access to buildings via external antennas that
receive signals from a remotely located central base station. The
signal received at the building may be communicated to a wired
network infrastructure such as an IEEE 802.3 compliant
communication network, or a wireless network infrastructure such as
an IEEE 802.11a/b/g and/or n-compliant network. In instances where
WiMAX is utilized, then antenna 202b may be utilized to receive and
transmit signals between the broadband access provider 206 and the
home network 202a.
[0039] The WANs, PSTN, etc networks block 208 may comprise networks
such as private or public communication networks. For example, the
WANs, PSTN, etc networks block 208 may comprise a public switched
telephone network (PSTN) and a packet network such as a cellular
digital packet data (CDPD) network.
[0040] The content providers block 210 may comprise network
providers, which supply data and/or multimedia content. In a
representative embodiment of the present invention, the content
providers block 210 may comprise, for example, one or more mobile
virtual network operators (MVNOs). A MVNO is a mobile service
provider that provides mobile services to its subscribers by
utilizing the network infrastructure of another company. In this
regard, the MVNO enters into an agreement with a network operator
to purchase network time such as minutes, which it resells to it
own customers/subscribers. The MNVO utilizes the purchased time to
provide, for example, multimedia content delivery to its
subscribers.
[0041] The wireless service provider network 212 may, for example,
utilize CDMA, 3G or 4G access technology and may comprise a
plurality of cell sites. Cell site 212a may provide cellular
service to the mobile access device 228 while the mobile access
device 228 is within range of the cell site 212a. The wireless
service provider network 214 may, for example, utilize the time
division multiple access (TDMA) access technology of the GSM
standard, and may include enhanced data rates for GSM evolution
(EDGE) and/or general packet radio service (GPRS) data capability.
The wireless service provider network 214 may comprise a plurality
of cell sites and a wireless carrier central office 214b, the
latter of which may comprise a mobile switching center (MSC) 214g.
Cell site 214a may provide cellular service to mobile access device
226 while the mobile access device 226 is within range of the cell
site 214a.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 2, in accordance with a
representative embodiment of the present invention, a mobile access
device 224 may be currently receiving service via a first pathway
from, for example, a wireless service provider 214. Although this
example refers to receiving service, the service may, for example,
comprise either or both of receiving and sending of multimedia
information. As the mobile access device moves from network 214
towards network 202a, the mobile access device may sniff a portion
of radio frequency spectrum and locate the second communication
network 202a, which may be accessible by, for example, a broadband
access gateway 218, a wireless access point, or a hot spot. The
wireless service provider 214 and the second communication network
202a may, for example, occupy separate portions of radio frequency
spectrum and/or employ the same or incompatible communication
protocols. In response to detecting the second communication
network 202a, the mobile access device 224 may be adapted to query
the second communication network 202a in order to determine the
type of services and QoS that are offered. Quality of service may
comprise, for example, error rates, frame rates, spatial
resolution, color depth, sample rates, bits per sample, network
delays, and the like. In another aspect of the invention, the
second communication network 202a may advertise the types of
services and QoS it provides, in which case, the mobile access
device 224 may automatically know the type of services that are
offered by the second communication network. Notwithstanding, the
mobile access device 224 may inform the wireless service provider
214 that it has sniffed out a new network and new information
content. The mobile access device may be adapted to compare the QoS
of the first communication network 214 with the QoS of the second
communication network 202a and desired service selections may be
made based on this comparison. For example, if the second
communication network 202a is capable of providing a higher QoS
than the first communication network 214, then a user of the mobile
access device 224 may choose to switch operation to the second
communication network 202a. If, for example, use of the second
network is cost prohibitive, the user of the mobile access device
224 may choose to remain in communication with the first
communication network 202a in order to save on cost. Switching or
hand-off from one communication network to another communication
network may be automatic or manual.
[0043] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, service
may be automatically switched from a first communication network
214 to a second communication network 202a based on a given
criteria. Accordingly, the mobile access device 224 may switch from
one network to another based on occurrence of the given criteria.
Switching may be adapted to occur at certain reference or
synchronizations points. For example, if an MPEG information stream
is being received, then the next reference frame may be located and
switching may occur at that reference frame. Various rules may be
established and utilized to facilitate the switch.
[0044] In one representative embodiment of the present invention, a
mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile access
devices 224 may be served by a wireless wide area network such as
the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214. While being served by the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device 224 may
function to "sniff" the radio frequency spectrum in which the
mobile access device 224 is capable of operating to detect the
presence of other communication networks. Upon detecting the
presence of other communications network(s), the mobile access
device 224 may notify the current serving wireless wide area
network (e.g., the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214) of the presence of
the newly detected network(s). The mobile access device 224 may
provide details of the nature of the newly detected network such
as, for example, the frequency band used, bit rate(s) supported,
type of modulation, protocol parameters, quality of service (QoS)
indicators, and other information. The mobile access device 224 may
request the serving wireless wide area network (e.g., the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214) to provide, for example, what services
the other network(s) may support, the cost of services available
via the other network(s), network performance information such as
available bandwidth and transmission delays, information and/or
parameters used to enable access (e.g., radio frequencies used,
security keys or methods used, access protocols supported, bit
rates, modulation types, operator identification), and other
factors. In another representative embodiment of the present
invention, the mobile access device 224 may contact network
entities other than the elements of the serving wireless wide area
network. For example, the mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2 may
contact an Internet-based database containing information about
wireless networks available for service, using the current serving
wireless wide area network. The mobile access device 224 may
inquire about the existence and availability of any networks having
for example, the detected frequency band used, bit rate(s)
supported, type of modulation, protocol parameters, quality of
service (QoS) indicators, and other information. The database may
respond by providing information identifying the detected network,
available services, costs, bandwidths, bit rate, protocols, and the
operator identifier for the detected network.
[0045] In another representative embodiment of the present
invention, a mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile
access devices 224 of FIG. 2 may be served by a wireless wide area
network such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214. While being served
by the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device 224 may
function to "sniff" the radio frequency spectrum in which the
mobile access device 224 is capable of operating to detect the
presence of other communication networks. Upon detecting the
presence of other communications network(s), the mobile access
device 224 may inquire of a newly detected communication network,
for example, what services the new network has to offer, the cost
of services that are available via the new network, and network
performance information such as, for example, the amount of
available bandwidth, transmission delays, error rates, and other
factors. In the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214 of FIG. 2, such
information may be provided by, for example, the wireless carrier
central office 214b. In one representative embodiment of the
present invention, the mobile access device 224 may notify the user
of detection of the new network, and may prompt the user to
determine whether a switch or hand-off between communication
networks is desired, and may present the user with the information
about the services the other network has to offer, the cost of
services that are available via the new network, and network
performance information such as, for example, the amount of
available bandwidth and transmission delays.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary display 300 notifying a user of a
mobile access device that may correspond to, for example, the
mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2, of the detection of a new
communication network, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention. The display 300 of FIG. 3
comprises a network indicator 310, a network services indicator
area 312, a battery life indicator, a time of day indicator, and a
day and date indicator. In addition, in the example of FIG. 3, the
network services indicator area 312 has been updated to comprise an
Internet protocol (IP) phone service icon 315, a printer service
icon 316, a stereo entertainment icon 317, a pay music service icon
318, a video entertainment icon 319, and a storage service icon 320
showing those services advertised by the wireless broadband access
gateway as being available. The display 300 also comprises a
display area 322 to allow an access device to present graphical or
textual information for a variety of reasons and from a number of
sources. In the illustration of FIG. 3, the mobile access device
has displayed information 340 about a newly detected network, and
has included a prompt 346 requesting a user response 348 of whether
a switch to the newly detected network should be performed.
[0047] In another representative embodiment of the present
invention, the mobile access device 224 may automatically choose to
switch to being served by the newly detected network. The decision
to change networks may be based upon a set of criteria comprising
guidelines, rules, and parameters, for example, that may be
determined by the user of the mobile access device 224 and stored
in a user profile or subscriber database such as, for example, the
user profile 219 on the mobile access device 224 or the user
profile 235 at the wireless carrier central office 214b.
[0048] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary display 400 notifying a user of a
mobile access device that may correspond to, for example, the
mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2, of the automatic selection of a
new communication network, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention. The display 400 of FIG. 4
comprises a network indicator 410, a network services indicator
area 412, a battery life indicator, a time of day indicator, and a
day and date indicator. In addition, in the example of FIG. 4, the
network services indicator area 412 has been updated to comprise an
Internet protocol (IP) phone service icon 415, a printer service
icon 416, a stereo entertainment icon 417, a pay music service icon
418, a video entertainment icon 419, and a storage service icon 420
showing those services advertised by the wireless broadband access
gateway as being available. The display 400 also comprises a
display area 422 to allow an access device to present graphical or
textual information for a variety of reasons and from a number of
sources. In the illustration of FIG. 4, the mobile access device
has displayed information 440 about a newly detected network
indicating that a hand-off or switch of serving networks has been
automatically performed in accordance with user-defined criteria.
Although the exemplary displayed information 440 shown in FIG. 4
shows only the usage cost and available bandwidth of the new
serving network, a greater or lesser number of characteristics may
be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0049] In yet another representative embodiment of the present
invention, a mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile
access devices 224 may be served by a wireless wide area network
such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, for example. While being
served by the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device
224 may function to "sniff" the radio frequency spectrum in which
the mobile access device 224 is capable of operating to detect the
presence of other communication networks. Upon detecting the
presence of other communications network(s), the mobile access
device 224 may configure itself to receive information broadcast by
the new network. The broadcast information may advertise, for
example, what services the new network has to offer, the cost of
services that are available via the new network, and network
performance information such as, for example, the amount of
available bandwidth and transmission delays, channels in use,
protocols supported, operator identifier, and other factors. The
mobile access device 224 may present such information to the user
for consideration. FIGS. 3 and 4 show network services indicator
areas 312, 412 containing icons representing services that may be
advertised by such a network. A representative embodiment of the
present invention may, for example, use such a graphical display
tool, or other graphical or textual formats to notify a user about
services that may be available via a newly detected wireless
communication network. A description of the advertising of network
services via a broadband access gateway may be found in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/021,294, entitled "Method And System For
Extended Network Access Services Advertising Via A Broadband Access
Gateway" (Attorney Docket No. 15723U502 BU3607.2), filed Dec. 23,
2004, the complete subject matter of which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference, in its entirety.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a message exchange diagram 500 illustrating an
example of hand-off of a multimedia information stream using
background network scanning, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention. In the illustration of FIG. 5,
the three vertical lines represent a wireless wide area network
502, a mobile access device 504, and a broadband access gateway 506
that may correspond to, for example, the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214,
the mobile access device 224, and the broadband access gateway 218,
respectively, of FIG. 2. The horizontal lines of FIG. 5 represent
message traffic or groups of messages exchanged between a source
and a destination, the destination being indicated by the arrow
head. The vertical dimension represents time, advancing downward on
the message exchange diagram 500.
[0051] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the
mobile access device 504 may initiate an exchange of multimedia
information via the wireless wide area network 502 using messaging
510, 512 with any of several network entities including, for
example, another mobile access device served by the wireless wide
area network 502, or a party accessible via the transport network
232 of FIG. 2 such as, for example, the content provider 210.
Although this example describes the initiation of an exchange by
the mobile access device 504, a similar sequence of events within
the spirit and scope of the present invention may be applied to
exchanges involving the mobile access device 504 that are initiated
by other than the mobile access device 504. The messaging 510, 512
may comprise multiple messages for establishing communication
between the mobile access device 504 and the wireless wide area
network 502. In the illustration of FIG. 5, the wireless wide area
network 502 may activate path 514 and may use the path 514 to
transport multimedia information between the wireless wide area
network 502 and the mobile access device 504. The mobile access
device 504 may then activate background network scanning
functionality 515, to detect the presence of compatible wireless
networks. At a later time, the mobile access device 504 may migrate
to within the coverage area of a wireless service provider such as,
for example, the broadband access gateway 506 that may correspond
to the broadband access gateway 218 with wireless interface 220, of
FIG. 2. The background network scanning functionality 515 of the
mobile access device 504 may detect the presence of signals 516
from the broadband access gateway 506, may analyze the received
signals, and may send information about the detected signals to the
serving wireless network (i.e., the wireless wide area network 502)
as messaging 518. The serving wireless wide area network 502 may
respond in messaging 520 with information about the broadband
access gateway 506 including, for example, information enabling the
mobile access device 504 to access the broadband access gateway
506. The mobile access may present the user with options regarding
continued service with the present wireless service provider (e.g.,
the wireless wide area network 502), and about the newly detected
coverage provided by the broadband access gateway 506.
[0052] The user may elect to hand-off or switch coverage to the
broadband access gateway 506, and may cause messaging 522 to be
sent to the broadband access gateway 506 to request service. The
broadband access gateway may accept service for the mobile access
device 504, may notify the mobile access device using messaging
524, and may establish a path 526 for communication with the mobile
access device 504. The mobile access device 504 may, once service
via the newly detected coverage of broadband access gateway 506 is
established, exchange messaging 528, 530 to dismantle path 532 that
was originally establish as path 514. At yet a later time, the user
of the mobile access device 504 may decide to end the exchange of
multimedia information, and may cause messaging 534 to be sent to
the broadband access gateway 506. The broadband access gateway may
acknowledge the request with messaging 536, and may then disable
the path 538 (originally established as path 526) between the
broadband access gateway 506 and the mobile access device 504.
[0053] In still another representative embodiment of the present
invention, a mobile access device such as, for example, the mobile
access devices 224 may be served by a wireless wide area network
such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, for example. While being
served by the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device
224 may function to "sniff" the radio frequency spectrum in which
the mobile access device 224 is capable of operating to detect the
presence of other communication networks. Upon detecting the
presence of another communications network such as that supported
by the broadband access gateway 218 with the wireless interface
220, for example, the mobile access device 224 may establish a
second communication link using the new network. Once the second
communication path is established, the mobile access device 224 may
use the connection to actively determine characteristics of the new
network for exchange of the same or similar information as that
being carried by the current serving communication network. This
may permit the mobile access device to accurately determine the
expected performance of the new network in serving the current
needs of the user of the mobile access device.
[0054] For example, while exchanging multimedia information via the
GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device 224 may
establish a second communication path via the broadband access
gateway 218 and BAP 206 by which to exchange a portion of the
multimedia information. During the exchange, the mobile access
device 224 may observe network characteristics of the second
communication path such as, for example, round-trip-delay and
packet error rate. Based upon the corresponding characteristics for
each of the two communication paths, the mobile access device 218
may automatically, or with user involvement, select use of one or
both of the two communication paths for the remainder of the
communication session. A representative embodiment of the present
invention may, by actively analyzing characteristics of a newly
detected network, determine that the quality of service provided a
user may be improved by selecting the newly detected and analyzed
network. Although the analysis and selection of only one additional
communication path is described here, the mobile access device may
become aware of, analyze the characteristics of, and select from a
greater number of additional communication paths without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 6 shows a message exchange diagram 600 illustrating an
example of hand-off of a multimedia information stream using
background network scanning in which a mobile access device
establishes a simulcast connection with a second wireless service
provider to actively determine network characteristics, in
accordance with a representative embodiment of the present
invention. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the three vertical lines
represent a wireless wide area network 602, a mobile access device
604, and a broadband access gateway 606 that may correspond to, for
example, the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214, the mobile access device
224, and the broadband access gateway 218, respectively, of FIG. 2.
The horizontal lines of FIG. 6 represent message traffic or groups
of messages exchanged between a source and a destination, the
destination being indicated by the arrow head. The vertical
dimension represents time, advancing downward on the message
exchange diagram 600.
[0056] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the
mobile access device 604 may initiate an exchange of multimedia
information via the wireless wide area network 602 using messaging
610, 612 with any of several network entities including, for
example, another mobile access device served by the wireless wide
area network 602, or a party accessible via the transport network
232 of FIG. 2 such as, for example, the content provider 210.
Although this example describes the initiation of an exchange by
the mobile access device 604, a similar sequence of events within
the spirit and scope of the present invention may be applied to
exchanges involving the mobile access device 604 that are initiated
by other than the mobile access device 604. The messaging 610, 612
may comprise multiple messages for establishing communication
between the mobile access device 604 and the wireless wide area
network 602. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the wireless wide area
network 602 may activate path 614 and may use the path 614 to
transport multimedia information between the wireless wide area
network 602 and the mobile access device 604. The mobile access
device 604 may then activate background network scanning
functionality 615, to detect the presence of compatible wireless
networks. At a later time, the mobile access device 604 may migrate
to within the coverage area of a wireless service provider such as,
for example, the broadband access gateway 606 that may correspond
to, for example, the broadband access gateway 218 with wireless
interface 220, of FIG. 2. The background network scanning
functionality 615 of the mobile access device 604 may detect the
presence of signals 616 from the broadband access gateway 606, and
may analyze the received signals. In one representative embodiment,
the mobile access device 604 may send information about the
detected signals to the serving wireless network (i.e., the
wireless wide area network 602) as messaging 618. The serving
wireless wide area network 602 may respond in messaging 620 with
information about the broadband access gateway 606 including, for
example, information enabling the mobile access device 604 to
access the broadband access gateway 606. The mobile access device
604 may then engage in messaging 622, 624 to establish a path 626
between the mobile access device 604 and the broadband access
gateway 606. In another representative embodiment, the mobile
access device 604 may, using information about the detected signals
from the background network scanning functionality 615, contact the
broadband access gateway 606 directly using messaging 622, 624 to
establish a path 626 via the broadband access gateway 606.
[0057] Once the path 626 is established, the mobile access device
may use the path 626 to carry some or all of the information
previously being transported by the path 614 of with wireless wide
area network 602. The mobile access device may observe messaging on
both of the paths 614 and 626, and may, for example, determine
actual path characteristics such as, for example, bit rates, error
rates, round-trip delays, and quality of service. In one
representative embodiment of the present invention, the user may be
notified of the properties and characteristics of the two paths,
and may manually choose to hand-off or switch coverage to the
broadband access gateway 606. In another representative embodiment
of the present invention, the mobile access device 604 may use
user-defined criteria such as guidelines, rules, parameters, and
limits, for example, to automatically hand-off or switch the path
626 via which to continue the exchange of multimedia
information.
[0058] Once the path 626 is established as the carrier of
multimedia information being exchanged by the mobile access device
604, the mobile access device may exchange messaging 628, 630 with
the wireless wide area network 602 to dismantle the path 632 that
originated as path 614. At some later time, the user of the mobile
access device 604 may choose to end the exchange of multimedia
information, and may cause messaging 634 to be sent to the
broadband access gateway 606. The broadband access gateway may
acknowledge the request with messaging 636, and may then disable
the path 638 (originally established as path 626) between the
broadband access gateway 606 and the mobile access device 604.
[0059] FIG. 7A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of
supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as, for example,
the mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2 using background network
scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of the
present invention. As an aid to understanding the method of FIG.
7A, the following description makes reference to elements of FIG.
2. The method of FIG. 7A begins with a mobile access device such
as, for example, the mobile access device 224 in an idle state
(block 710). At some point, the user of the mobile access device
224 elects to initiate or accept the establishment of a
communication path or channel for the exchange of multimedia
information (block 712). This may result from the placing or
acceptance of a call involving multimedia information, or an
attempt to access a source of multimedia information via, for
example, a wireless wide area network such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS
network 214 of FIG. 2. Following establishment of the communication
path, the mobile access device 224 may commence scanning portions
of the radio frequency spectrum with which it is compatible (block
714), to determine whether other networks may be available. The
mobile access device then determines whether a new network is
present (block 716). If no new network is detected (block 716), a
determination is made as to whether the call or connection has
ended (block 728). If the call or connection has ended (block 728),
the method of FIG. 7A ends (block 730). If the call or connection
has not ended, the method loops and again sniffs for the presence
of signals from another network (block 714).
[0060] If a new network is detected (block 716), the mobile access
device may determine characteristics of the new network (block
718). In one representative embodiment of the present invention,
the mobile access device may be capable of autonomously determining
sufficient information to enable it to access the newly detected
network. In another representative embodiment, the mobile access
device may provide information about the newly detected network to
the current serving network, or to another entity accessible via
the current serving network, in order to determine information
enabling access to the newly detected network. In either case, the
mobile access device 224 may inform the user of the characteristics
of the newly detected network, and may prompt the user to make a
selection (block 720). If the user elects to remain with the
current serving network (block 722) the method of FIG. 7A checks
for the end of the call or connection (block 728) and follows the
events described above. If, however, the user elects to switch to
the new detected network (block 722), the mobile access device may
cause a new path to be established via the new network (block 724),
and the previous path to be dropped (block 726). The method of FIG.
7A then continues by checking for the end of the call or connection
(block 728), as described above.
[0061] FIG. 7B is a flowchart illustrating another exemplary method
of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as, for
example, the mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2 using background
network scanning, in accordance with a representative embodiment of
the present invention. As an aid to understanding the method of
FIG. 7B, the following description makes reference to elements of
FIG. 2. The method of FIG. 7B begins with a mobile access device
such as, for example, the mobile access device 224 in an idle state
(block 710). At some point, the user of the mobile access device
224 elects to initiate or accept the establishment of a
communication path or channel for the exchange of multimedia
information (block 712). This may result from the placing or
acceptance of a call involving multimedia information, or an
attempt to access a source of multimedia information via, for
example, a wireless wide area network such as the GSM/EDGE/GPRS
network 214 of FIG. 2. Following establishment of the communication
path, the mobile access device 224 may commence scanning portions
of the radio frequency spectrum with which it is compatible (block
714), to determine whether other networks may be available. The
mobile access device then determines whether a new network has been
detected (block 716). If no new network is detected (block 716), a
determination is made as to whether the call or connection has
ended (block 734). If the call or connection has ended (block 734),
the method of FIG. 7B ends (block 736). If the call or connection
has not ended, the method of FIG. 7B loops and again sniffs for the
presence of signals from another network (block 714).
[0062] If a new network is detected (block 716), the mobile access
device may determine characteristics of the new network (block
718). In one representative embodiment of the present invention,
the mobile access device may be capable of autonomously determining
sufficient information to enable it to access the newly detected
network. In another representative embodiment, the mobile access
device may provide information about the newly detected network to
the current serving network, or another entity accessible via the
current serving network, in order to determine information enabling
access to the newly detected network. In either case, the mobile
access device 224 may establish a second path via the newly
detected network (block 720), and may begin exchanging, via the
second path, some or all of the multimedia information currently
being exchanged via the path via the wireless wide area network
(block 722). The mobile access device may analyze network
characteristics of the exchanges of the original and second network
paths (block 724), may inform the user of the characteristics of
the original and the newly detected networks, and may prompt the
user to make a selection (block 726). If the user elects to remain
with the current serving network (block 728), the method of FIG. 7B
checks for the end of the call or connection (block 734) and loops
back, following the events described above. If, however, the user
elects to switch to the new detected network (block 728), the
mobile access device may use the new path via the newly detected
network for the entire exchange (block 730), and the previous path
may be dropped (block 732). The method of FIG. 7B then continues by
checking for the end of the call or connection (block 734), and the
method either ends (block 736), or loops as described above.
[0063] FIG. 7C is a flowchart illustrating yet another exemplary
method of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as,
for example, the mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2 using
background network scanning, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention. As an aid to understanding the
method of FIG. 7C, the following description makes reference to
elements of FIG. 2. The actions of the method of FIG. 7C are the
same as the method of FIG. 7B, from the beginning (block 710), up
to and including the analysis of the performance of the second
communication path (block 724). At the next action (block 726),
however, the mobile access device instead of informing a user of
network characteristics for the second path, accesses a set of
user-defined parameters or criteria (e.g., guidelines, limits,
rules, values) that may reside in a user profile such as the user
profile 225, for example. The method of FIG. 7C then makes a
determination of whether the performance of the newly detected
network is correct for a hand-off or switch from the original
serving network (e.g., the GSM/EDGE/GPRS network 214) to the second
path of the newly detected network (e.g., the broadband access
gateway 218 with wireless interface 220) (block 728). If the
performance and characteristics are not correct for a hand-off or
switch (block 728), the method checks whether the exchange of
multimedia information is ended (block 734). If the exchange has
ended (block 734), the method ends (block 736), while if it has not
ended, the method of FIG. 7C loops back to sniff again (block 714),
as described above. If, however, the performance and
characteristics are correct for a hand-off or switch (block 728),
the mobile access device may elect to use the second path for the
remainder of the exchange (block 730), and may drop the original or
first communication path (block 732). The method of FIG. 7C then
checks whether the exchange of multimedia information has ended
(block 734), and if it has not, loops back as described above. If
the multimedia exchange has ended, the method of FIG. 7C terminates
(block 736).
[0064] FIG. 7D is a flowchart illustrating still another exemplary
method of supporting hand-off of a mobile access device such as,
for example, the mobile access device 224 of FIG. 2 using
background network scanning, in accordance with a representative
embodiment of the present invention. As an aid to understanding the
method of FIG. 7D, the following description makes reference to
elements of FIG. 2. The actions of the exemplary method of FIG. 7D
are the same as the method of FIG. 7C, from the beginning (block
710), up to and including the determination of whether the
performance of the newly detected network is correct for a hand-off
or switch (block 728). If the performance and characteristics are
not correct for a hand-off or switch (block 728), the method checks
whether the exchange of multimedia information is ended (block
740). If the exchange has ended (block 740), the method ends (block
742), while if it has not ended, the method of FIG. 7D loops back
to sniff again (block 714), as described above. If, however, the
performance and characteristics are correct for a hand-off or
switch (block 728), the mobile access device may establish a
simulcast exchange of multimedia information via both the original
and second paths (block 730), and may analyze the multimedia
content being exchanged via the paths for a synchronization event
for the hand-off or switch (block 732). For example, if the
multimedia information being exchanged comprises blocks or frames
of information that acts as reference information for other frames
that come after such as with, for example MPEG-encoded video, the
method of FIG. 7D may analyze or examine the multimedia content so
as to recognize such reference frames or events. By recognizing the
importance and occurrence of such reference events or frames, a
representative embodiment of the present invention may minimize the
impact of the switch or hand-off from one communication path to the
other.
[0065] If a synchronization event is not detected (block 734), the
method of FIG. 7D loops and continues analyzing the exchanged
multimedia content (block 732). If, however, the synchronization
event is detected (block 734), the hand-off or switch from the
original to the second communication path may occur, and the second
path may be employed for the exchange from that point forward
(block 736). In addition, the original or first path may be dropped
(block 738). The method of FIG. 7D then checks whether the exchange
of multimedia information is ended (block 740), and if it has not,
loops back as described above (block 714). If, however, the
multimedia exchange has ended, the method of FIG. 7D ends (block
742).
[0066] Aspects of the present invention may be seen in a method
supporting hand-off of a multimedia call session using background
network scanning Such a method may comprise exchanging a multimedia
information stream via a first wireless network having at least one
of a first set of services and a first quality of service,
detecting a second wireless network using background network
scanning of at least one portion of radio frequency spectrum, and
determining at least one of a second set of services and a second
quality of service for the second wireless network. The method may
also comprise comparing the at least one of a first set of services
and a first quality of service and the at least one of a second set
of services and a second quality of service, and handing-off
communication of the multimedia information stream to the second
wireless network. In a representative embodiment of the present
invention, the determining may comprise one of querying the second
wireless network to determine the at least one of a second set of
services and a second quality of service, and receiving from the
second wireless network, advertising information for the at least
one of a second set of services and a second quality of service.
The determining may comprise informing the first wireless network
of detection of the second wireless network, and receiving from the
first wireless network, information about the at least one of a
second set of services and a second quality of service. Handing-off
may comprise one of automatically selecting one of the first
wireless network and the second wireless network based upon the
comparison and at least one user-defined criteria, and selecting to
exchange the multimedia information stream via the second network
in response to input from a user. In various representative
embodiments of the present invention, the at least one user-defined
criteria may comprise one of a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a
spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame
rate, an error rate, a quality of service, and a network delay. A
representative embodiment of the present invention may also
comprise notifying a user of a result of the comparison, and
receiving, from the user, input related to selection of a wireless
network.
[0067] In a representative embodiment of the present invention. the
first wireless network may comprise a wireless wide area network,
and the wireless wide area network may comprise at least one of a
global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a time
division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division multiple
access (CDMA) network, and a universal mobile telecommunications
system (UMTS) network. The second wireless network may comprise at
least one of a broadband access gateway, an access point, a
hotspot, and a broadband network. The broadband network in various
representative embodiments in accordance with the present invention
may comprise at least one of a digital subscriber line (DSL)
network, a cable network, a satellite network, a local multipoint
distribution system (LMDS), and the Internet. In some
representative embodiments of the present invention, the second
wireless network may be compliant with at least one of a Bluetooth
V1.2 or compatible personal area network (PAN) specification and an
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a
or compatible ultrawideband network specification. In other
representative embodiments, the second wireless network may be
compliant with at least one of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n
standards. Multimedia information may comprise at least one of
streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text,
digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and
digitized music. The first wireless network and the second wireless
network may at least one of occupy separate portions of radio
frequency spectrum and employ incompatible communication protocols.
In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the
handing-off may be synchronized to a predetermined event in the
stream of multimedia information. Quality of service may comprise
at least one of a cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial
resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth, a frame rate, an
error rate, a quality of service, and a network delay. In a
representative embodiment of the present invention, background
network scanning may comprise sniffing of radio frequency
spectrum.
[0068] Other aspects of the present invention may be observed in a
mobile access device supporting hand-off of a stream of multimedia
information using background network scanning. In a representative
embodiment of the present invention, the device may comprise at
least one wireless interface capable of exchanging multimedia
information with a first wireless network while scanning at least a
portion of radio frequency spectrum to detect a second wireless
network. The first wireless network may support at least one of a
first set of services and a first quality of service and the second
wireless network may support at least one of a second set of
services and a second quality of service. The device may also
comprise storage comprising at least one user-defined criteria
employed in selecting one of the first and second wireless
networks, and software for comparing the at least one of a first
set of services and a first quality of service and the at least one
of a second set of services and a second quality of service. A
representative embodiment of the present invention may be capable
handing-off the exchanging of multimedia information between the
first wireless network and the second wireless network based upon
the at least one user-defined criteria and the comparison of the at
least one of a first set of services and a first quality of service
and the at least one of a second set of services and a second
quality of service.
[0069] In various representative embodiments in accordance with the
present invention, the multimedia information may comprise at least
one of streaming video, broadcast video, voice, digital data, text,
digitized audio, digitized still images, digitized video, and
digitized music. The first wireless network may comprise at least
one of a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, a
time division multiple access (TDMA) network, a code division
multiple access (CDMA) network, and a universal mobile
telecommunications system (UMTS) network. The second wireless
network may be compliant with at least one of a Bluetooth V1.2 or
compatible personal area network (PAN) specification, an Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a or
compatible ultrawideband network specification, and one of an
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 a,
802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n standard. The handing-off may be
synchronized with a predetermined event in the stream of multimedia
information. Quality of service may comprise at least one of a
cost, a bit rate, a bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale
level, a color depth, a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of
service, and a network delay, and the at least one user-defined
criteria may comprise at least one of a cost, a bit rate, a
bandwidth, a spatial resolution, a grey scale level, a color depth,
a frame rate, an error rate, a quality of service, and a network
delay. In a representative embodiment of the present invention,
background network scanning may comprise sniffing of radio
frequency spectrum.
[0070] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, the
wireless local area networks may include data networks such as, for
example, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE)
802.11 a/b/g/n compliant wireless networks such as those located in
homes, hot spots or an office. Such local area networks may operate
in unlicensed radio frequency spectrum such as in, for example, the
2.4 and 5-gigahertz regions. Examples of wide area networks may
include cellular digital packet data (CDPD), voice and data
networks such as public switched telephone networks (PSTN), Global
System For Mobile Communication (GSM), GSM General Packet Radio
Service (GPRS), GSM Short Message Service (SMS), GSM Enhanced Data
Rates For Global Evolution (EDGE), North American Time Division
Multiplex Access (TDMA), iDEN, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
and CDMA2000 1.times.RT, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS) network, to name only a few.
[0071] A personal area network (PAN) may be formed by a plurality
of wireless communication access devices such as, for example,
mobile multimedia handsets, PDAs, telephones, and computers. Other
elements of such a network may, for example, include computer
peripherals such as digital scanners, digital cameras, printers,
headphones, and pointing devices, that may be located within the
immediate proximity of a person. A PAN may be an ad-hoc network of
such communication devices. In a representative embodiment of the
present invention, access devices within the PAN may communicate
with other access devices within the PAN and also with other access
devices that are located in other networks accessible via the PAN.
The personal area networks may include data networks such as, for
example, a Bluetooth compliant network, and Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.3a compliant wireless
networks. Such personal area networks may operate in unlicensed
radio frequency spectrum such as, for example, the 2.4 and
5-gigahertz regions. Details of one example of a personal area
network are provided in the document "Bluetooth Core Specification
V1.2", Nov. 5, 2003, from Bluetooth SIG, Inc., the complete subject
matter of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its
entirety. For example, in a Bluetooth.RTM. wireless PAN, a first
Bluetooth.RTM.-enabled wireless access device may communicate with
a second Bluetooth.RTM.-enabled wireless access device within the
PAN. Additionally, either of the first and second
Bluetooth.RTM.-enabled wireless access devices may communicate with
the Internet or another LAN or WAN via the Bluetooth.RTM. wireless
PAN.
[0072] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, a
gateway may be adapted to provide seamless and transparent
communication between a plurality of access devices and a plurality
of networks. The functionality of the gateway may be divided, for
example, into application content functionality, and configuration
and management functionality. The application content functionality
may, for example, deal with the types of applications that may be
supported by the gateway as well as the various types of data that
may be received, processed and/or transmitted by the gateway. In
this regard, application content functionality may also include the
manner in which other devices and/or systems may utilize data from
the gateway.
[0073] Content and application services are considerations because
all the information coming into and leaving the home from either
the WAN side (i.e., the broadband connection side), or from the PAN
side (i.e., the access device side) converges at the gateway. The
PAN side may comprise Bluetooth, wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11
a/b/g/n), IEEE 802.15.3a ultra-wideband, or cellular, for example.
Notwithstanding, the gateway may be adapted to convert, for
example, wirelessly received GSM-formatted information into, for
example, Internet protocol (IP)-formatted information and in
reverse, converts IP-formatted information into wireless
GSM-formatted information suitable for over-the-air transmission.
Support for other wireless communication protocols such as TDMA,
CDMA, and UMTS may also be provided. In a representative embodiment
of the present invention, the gateway may comprise suitable
circuitry, logic and/or code that may be adapted to receive and
process MPEG related data, which may be suitable for display on a
screen. The gateway in an embodiment of the present invention
functions as a focal point where data converges from a plurality of
wired and wireless services. Although, in a particular embodiment
of the present invention the gateway may do very little in terms of
actual content aggregation, there is virtual aggregation of data.
The converged data may be integrated and or otherwise utilized to
offer unique opportunities for launching various content and
application services from a single strategic location. Since the
gateway in an embodiment of the present invention is the focal
point where data converges, one or more protocol stacks may be
employed for launching the various content and application
services.
[0074] The gateway in a representative embodiment of the present
invention may be adapted to route calls based on established rules
that may be programmed into the gateway. For example, the gateway
may be governed by a rule which states that local calls are to be
routed to an incumbent local exchange carrier (iLEC), while long
distance calls are to be handled by Long Distance Carrier Company.
Accordingly, when a call originates at the gateway and it is
determined that the call is a local call, the gateway may be
adapted to route the call to the iLEC. However, if the gateway
determines that the call is a long distance call, then the gateway
may be adapted to route the call to Long Distance Carrier
Company.
[0075] A representative embodiment of the present invention may
leverage existing broadband infrastructure that is commonly found
in many homes and businesses today. Because a consumer is already
paying for the use of the broadband infrastructure in their home or
office, leveraging the use of the existing broadband infrastructure
for communication with wide area networks results in minimal or no
communication costs. The broadband infrastructure may be, for
example, a cable or DSL infrastructure.
[0076] The wireless interface function provided by the gateway
located within a home, for example, may be utilized to route or
communicate a great deal of traffic to a wired network such as a
broadband network or a wireless network such as a GSM or CDMA
network via a broadband connection. In other words, the wireless
gateway infrastructure provided by a representative embodiment of
the present invention provides a scalable network infrastructure
that rides on an existing access infrastructure already supplied by
a broadband service provider to a home, office or business.
Additionally, the scalable infrastructure provided by the gateway
also solves the problems associated with signal penetration and
propagation, thereby providing improved quality of service (QoS).
From a market perspective, a wireless service provider may now have
access to the necessary infrastructure to provide improved wireless
services to users within a home or office. Accordingly, in order to
rapidly increase their growth, wireless service providers may now
target that portion of the in-home landline or plain old telephone
system (POTS) business, which have traditionally been handled by
incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) or other LECs.
[0077] The unlicensed mobile access gateway described above may
possess a significant amount of processing power. The gateways of
existing systems fall short of realizing the full potential of the
merged wired and wireless communication network that is enabled by
a representative embodiment of the present invention. Numerous
basic and enhanced communication services may be enabled or
provided by the gateway. Support for access devices such as, for
example, mobile multimedia handsets and PDAs may be involved in
order to utilize these basic and enhanced communication services
enabled by the new wave of digital technologies. Current and/or
proposed mobile access gateway systems, however, do not provide the
range of support needed for their use by the everyday consumer.
[0078] In a representative embodiment of the present invention, an
access device such as, for example, a mobile multimedia handset
engaged in a call served by a wireless wide area network may
migrate to within the coverage area of an associated broadband
access gateway with a wireless interface. The wireless wide area
network may simulcast call content to the broadband access gateway
via a broadband network. A user in the proximity of the broadband
access gateway may be notified of the simulcasting of the call, and
may elect to continue the call via a cordless phone or other access
device that is compatible with the wired and/or wireless interfaces
of the broadband access gateway.
[0079] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in
hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The
present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at
least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where
different elements are spread across several interconnected
computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus
adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A
typical combination of hardware and software may be a
general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when
being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that
it carries out the methods described herein.
[0080] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer
program product, which comprises all the features enabling the
implementation of the methods described herein, and which when
loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
Computer program in the present context means any expression, in
any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended
to cause a system having an information processing capability to
perform a particular function either directly or after either or
both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or
notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
[0081] While the present invention has been described with
reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the present
invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is
intended that the present invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *