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US 7,613,171 B2Granted
Cellular network service over WLAN
AssigneeEphraim Zehavi
InventorsEphraim Zehavi, Doron Herzlich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for communication includes initiating a call between a mobile station in a cellular communication network and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network. A first connection to serve the call is opened between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station. A second connection to serve the call is opened between the mobile station and an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN). While the first connection is open, data traffic is conveyed between the mobile station and the subscriber unit via the second connection.
Claims80
A method for communication, comprising:
- initiating a call between a mobile station in a cellular communication network and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network;
- opening a first connection to serve the call between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station;
- opening a second connection to serve the call between the mobile station and an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- conveying data traffic between the mobile station and the subscriber unit so as to continue the call via the second connection while keeping the first connection open throughout the call.
2 more elements
A method for communication, comprising:
- initiating a call between a mobile station in a cellular communication network and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network;
- opening a first connection to serve the call between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station;
- opening a second connection to serve the call between the mobile station and an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- while the first connection is open, conveying data traffic between the mobile station and the subscriber unit via the second connection,
- wherein conveying the data traffic comprises transmitting null data over the first connection, and
- wherein the mobile station has first and second radio interfaces for communicating via the cellular communication network and the WLAN, respectively, and wherein transmitting the null data comprises sending an instruction to the mobile station via the second radio interface to transmit the null data via the first radio interface while transmitting the data traffic via the second radio interface.
4 more elements
A method for communication, comprising:
- opening a connection, via a base station in a cellular communication network, between a mobile station and a switch in the cellular communication network;
- and
- conveying data traffic between the mobile station and the switch over a call conducted via an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) while keeping the connection via the base station open throughout the call.
A method for communication, comprising:
- opening a connection, via a base station in a cellular communication network, between a mobile station and a switch in the cellular communication network;
- and
- while the connection is open, conveying data traffic between the mobile station and the switch via an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN),
- wherein conveying the data traffic comprises transmitting null data over the connection while conveying the data traffic via the access point, and
- wherein the mobile station has first and second radio interfaces for communicating via the cellular communication network and the WLAN, respective, and wherein transmitting the null data comprises sending an instruction to the mobile station via the second radio interface to transmit the null data via the first radio interface while transmitting the data traffic via the second radio interface.
2 more elements
A method for communication, comprising:
- opening a connection, via a base station in a cellular communication network, between a mobile station and a switch in the cellular communication network;
- and
- conveying data traffic between the mobile station and the switch over a call conducted via an ancillary communication network, while keeping the connection via the base station open throughout the call without conveying the data traffic through the base station.
Apparatus for communication, comprising:
- a mobile station, having a first radio interface for communicating with a cellular communication network, and a second radio interface for communicating with a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- an information switching controller (ISC), which is adapted to receive a message indicative of initiation of a call between the mobile station and a subscriber unit that is accessible via the cellular communication network, and is further adapted, responsively to the message, to open a first connection to serve the call between a base station in the cellular communication network and the mobile station, and to open a second connection to serve the call between the mobile station and an access point in the WLAN, and to cause data traffic to be conveyed between the mobile station and the subscriber unit via the second connection while the first connection is open.
Apparatus for communication, comprising:
- a mobile station, having a first radio interface for communicating with a cellular communication network, and a second radio interface for communicating with a wireless local area network (WLAN);
- and
- an information switching controller (ISC), which is adapted to open a connection, via a base station in the cellular communication network, between the mobile station and a switch in the cellular communication network, and to cause data traffic to be conveyed between the mobile station and the switch so as to conduct a call via an access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) while keeping the connection via the base station open throughout the call.
Apparatus for communication, comprising:
- a mobile station, having a first interface for communicating with a cellular communication network, and a second interface for communicating with an ancillary communication network, which is separate from the cellular communication network;
- and
- an information switching controller (ISC), which is adapted to open a connection, via a base station in the cellular communication network, between the mobile station and a switch in the cellular communication network, and to cause data traffic to be conveyed between the mobile station and the switch via a call conducted over the ancillary communication network while keeping the connection via the base station open throughout the call, without conveying the data traffic through the base station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.