# US 11,310,699 B2 · Network switching method, communications apparatus, and communications device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,699 B2 - Document ID: US11310699B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/975,632 - Filed: 2019-03-22 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-27 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhongxian Chen; Weichen Zhu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310699B2 ## CPC - H04W 36/00: Hand-off or reselection arrangements - H04W 36/0069: {in case of dual connectivity, e.g. decoupled uplink/downlink} - H04W 36/144: {over a different radio air interface technology} - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Embodiments of this application provide a network switching method that comprises connecting, by a terminal device, to a first network, where a first application on the terminal device is connected to the first network, switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network. The method further comprises receiving, by the terminal device, a network connection request from a second application on the terminal device, and connecting, by the terminal device, the second application to the second network. The network switching method does not cause interruption to the connection between the first application and the first network and to the ongoing data transmission between the first application and the first network, thereby improving data transmission performance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network switching method, wherein the method comprises: connecting, by a terminal device, to a first network, wherein a first application on the terminal device is connected to the first network; switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network; receiving, by the terminal device, a network connection request from a second application on the terminal device; and connecting, by the terminal device, the second application to the second network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network comprises: switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to the second network, and keeping a first communications module in the terminal device enabled, wherein the first application is connected to the first network through the first communications module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises: switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to the second network, and recording information about a link between the terminal device and the first network, wherein the information about the link comprises identification information of the first communications module and information about a connection over which the terminal device connects to the first network through the first communications module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein after the recording information about a link between the terminal device and the first network, the method further comprises: detecting whether the connection between the first application and the first network is ended; and if the connection between the first application and the first network is ended, deleting link information corresponding to the first application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises: when all link information corresponding to the first communications module is deleted, controlling the first communications module to be disabled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the connecting, by the terminal device, the second application to the second network comprises: controlling, by the terminal device, a second communications module in the terminal device to be enabled; and connecting, by the terminal device, the second application to the second network through the second communications module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein after the switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to a second network, the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal device, a network connection request from the first application; and connecting, by the terminal device, the first application to the second network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: before the switching, by the terminal device, from the first network to a second network, receiving configuration information of a user, wherein the configuration information is used to retain the connection between the first application and the first network when the terminal device switches from the first network to the second network. ### Claim 9 A communications device, comprising: a memory and a processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the communications device to perform the following: connecting to a first network, wherein a first application on the communications device is connected to the first network; switching from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network; receiving a network connection request from a second application on the communications device; and connecting the second application to the second network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The communications device according to claim 9, wherein the switching from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network comprises: switching from the first network to the second network, and keeping a first communications module in the communications device enabled, wherein the first application is connected to the first network through the first communications module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The communications device according to claim 10, wherein the communications device is further configured to perform: switching from the first network to the second network, and recording information about a link between the communications device and the first network, wherein the information about the link comprises identification information of the first communications module and information about a connection over which the communications device connects to the first network through the first communications module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The communications device according to claim 11, wherein after the recording information about a link between the communications device and the first network, the communications device is further configured to perform: detecting whether the connection between the first application and the first network is ended; and if the connection between the first application and the first network is ended, deleting link information corresponding to the first application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The communications device according to claim 12, wherein the communications device is further configured to perform: when all link information corresponding to the first communications module is deleted, controlling the first communications module to be disabled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The communications device according to claim 9, wherein the connecting the second application to the second network comprises: controlling a second communications module in the communications device to be enabled; and connecting the second application to the second network through the second communications module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The communications device according to claim 9, wherein after the switching from the first network to a second network, the communications device is further configured to perform: receiving a network connection request from the first application; and connecting the first application to the second network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The communications device according to claim 9, wherein the communications device is further configured to perform: before the switching from the first network to a second network, receiving configuration information of a user, wherein the configuration information is used to retain the connection between the first application and the first network when the communications device switches from the first network to the second network. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program runs on a computer, the computer is enabled to perform the following: connecting to a first network, wherein a first application on the computer is connected to the first network; switching from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network; receiving a network connection request from a second application on the computer; and connecting the second application to the second network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the switching from the first network to a second network, and retaining a connection between the first application and the first network comprises: switching from the first network to the second network, and keeping a first communications adaptor enabled, wherein the first application is connected to the first network through the first communications adaptor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the computer is further enabled to perform: switching from the first network to the second network, and recording information about a link between the computer and the first network, wherein the information about the link comprises identification information of the first communications module and information about a connection over which the computer connects to the first network through the first communications module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein after the recording information about a link between the computer and the first network, the computer is further enabled to perform: detecting whether the connection between the first application and the first network is ended; and if the connection between the first application and the first network is ended, deleting link information corresponding to the first application.