Method and apparatus for splitting control and media content from a cellular network connection

A method for splitting control and media content signals of a cellular network connection of a mobile station comprising the steps of:

• determining a position of the mobile station relative to an access point of a non-cellular network connection by measuring a signal strength of the mobile station by the access point;
• requesting a status of the mobile station when the mobile station is engaged in a data session with the cellular network connection and is within a proximity of the access point;
• receiving the status of the mobile station;
• authenticating that the mobile station has permission to access a non-cellular network connections and services associated with the non-cellular network connection;
• switching a connection of the mobile station from the cellular network connection to the non-cellular network connection;
• assigning a communication link from the mobile station to a remote device;
• and
• translating a user input generated at the mobile station into a signal that controls an action exhibited by the remote device.

A wireless communication system for switching network connections between at least one mobile station and a server, the system comprising:

• a gateway being effective to send content data and receive control data;
• a mobile station being effective to generate the control data and receive the content data;
• a first network connected to the gateway and being capable of communicating with the mobile station via a first wireless link, the first network being effective to transfer the content data from the gateway to the mobile station and the control data from the mobile station to the gateway;
• and
• a second network connected to the gateway and being capable of communicating with the mobile station via a second wireless link, the second network including an access point and a remote output device, the access point being capable of communicating with the mobile station via the second wireless link and forwarding the control data from the mobile station to the gateway, and the remote output device capable of receiving the content data from the gateway and presenting at least a portion of the content data.

A wireless communication system for switching network connections between at least one mobile station and a server, the system comprising:

• a gateway being effective to send content data and receive control data;
• a mobile station being effective to generate the control data and receive the content data;
• a first network connected to the gateway and being capable of communicating with the mobile station via a wireless link of the first network, the first network being effective to transfer the content data from the gateway to the mobile station and the control data from the mobile station to the gateway;
• and
• a second network connected to the gateway, the second network including a remote output device capable of receiving the content data from the gateway and presenting at least a portion of the content data,
• wherein the content data switches between being provided to the mobile station via the first network and being provided to the remote output device of the second network, whereas all of the control data is provided to the gateway via the first network.