# US 2013/0157663 A1 · Intelligent handoffs for enhancing or avoiding dropped and interrupted communication sessions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157663 A1 - Document ID: US20130157663A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,629 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Bandwidth.com, Inc. - Inventors: L. Anders Brownworth; Jared Kashimba; Timothy Jones; Sai Rathnam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157663A1 ## CPC - H04W 36/0016: {Hand-off preparation specially adapted for end-to-end data sessions} - H04L 61/4535: using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers - H04L 65/4015: {where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference} - H04M 7/006: {Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer (H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42)} - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04W 36/144: {over a different radio air interface technology} - H04W 36/18: for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection - H04W 36/302: {due to low signal strength} - H04L 67/148: Migration or transfer of sessions - H04L 69/14: Multichannel or multilink protocols - H04W 76/15: Setup of multiple wireless link connections - H04W 88/10: adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Systems and methods for intelligently enhancing communication sessions or avoiding dropped and interrupted communication sessions between or among communication devices. Characteristics of a communication link are monitored and are compared to intelligent communication session data to predictively determine whether a handoff may be needed or whether multi-streaming should be invoked or terminated. Intelligent communication session data may be monitored, recorded and/or stored by a handoff service, a bridging service and/or a multi-streaming service, as well as applications executed on communication devices or other network devices. Intelligent communication session data may be any data relating to a communication session, including detected signal strengths, available networks, protocol and buffer statistics and analysis, environmental and/or geographical factors, the performance of access points and other network components, past interactions between or among communication devices, and access points and other network components, context of conversations during voice calls. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for enhancing or avoiding a dropped or interrupted communication session, comprising: monitoring characteristics of a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device; comparing said monitored characteristics of the communication session to intelligent communication session data stored in a data store to predictively determine whether a handoff may be needed to enhance or avoid an interruption in or dropping of the communication session; in response to determining that the handoff may be needed, causing at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device to handoff the communication session from a first network to a second network; and storing said monitored characteristics of the communication session in the data store as additional intelligent communication session data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored characteristics are selected from the group comprising: detected signal strengths, available networks, protocol and buffer statistics and analysis, environmental factors, geographical factors, performance of access points and other network components, past interactions between or among communication devices, and access points and other network components, and context of conversations during voice calls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching a location where communication sessions tend to or may be likely to be interrupted. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching a location where communication quality tends to or may be likely to degrade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching or encountering an accessible location that is capable of providing a higher level of quality for the communication session. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is connected to an access point that is prone to service interruptions or poor communication quality. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein causing at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device to handoff the communication session from a first network to a second network comprises transmitting a handoff instruction to at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent communication session data was received from at least one of the first communication device, the second communication device, other communications, and other network devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing a first communication link with the first communication device in response to receiving a request from the first communication device to establish the communication session with the second communication device; in response to establishing the first communication link, establishing a second communication link with the second communication device; in response to establishing the second communication link, connecting the first communication link and the second communication link to a bridge to establish the communication session. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: monitoring the bridge to determine if at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device loses its connection to the bridge; in response to determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device loses its connection to the bridge, attempting to reestablish a connection with said at least one communication device; and in response to reestablishing the connection with said at least one communication device, reconnecting said at least one communication device to the bridge to resume the communication session. ### Claim 11 A system for enhancing or avoiding a dropped or interrupted communication session, comprising: a memory for storing intelligent communication session data; and a processor for executing code to: monitor characteristics of a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device; compare said monitored characteristics with said intelligent communication session data to predictively determine whether a handoff may be needed to enhance or avoid an interruption in or dropping of the communication session; in response to determining that the handoff may be needed, cause the communication session to be handed-off from a first network to a second network; and store said monitored characteristics of the communication session in the memory as additional intelligent communication session data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the monitored characteristics are selected from the group comprising: detected signal strengths, available networks, protocol and buffer statistics and analysis, environmental factors, geographical factors, performance of access points and other network components, past interactions between or among communication devices, and access points and other network components, and context of conversations during voice calls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching a location where communication sessions tend to or may be likely to be interrupted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching a location where communication quality tends to or may be likely to degrade. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is approaching or encountering an accessible location that is capable of providing a higher level of quality for the communication session. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein predictively determining that the handoff may be needed comprises determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device is connected to an access point that is prone to service interruptions or poor communication quality. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a communication interface for receiving said intelligent communication session data from at least one of the first communication device, the second communication device, other communications, and other network devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a communication interface, and wherein the processor further executes code to: establish a first communication link with the first communication device in response to receiving a request from the first communication device to establish the communication session with the second communication device; in response to establishing the first communication link, establish a second communication link with the second communication device; in response to establishing the second communication link, connect the first communication link and the second communication link to a bridge to establish the communication session. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes code to: monitor the bridge to determine if at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device loses its connection to the bridge; in response to determining that at least one of the first communication device and the second communication device loses its connection to the bridge, attempt to reestablish a connection with said at least one communication device; and in response to reestablishing the connection with said at least one communication device, reconnect said at least one communication device to the bridge to resume the communication session.