US 9,854,487 B2 · Simplified call continuity

Abstract

A server device may identify an ongoing call associated with a received handover call. The handover call may have been placed via a first network, and the ongoing call may be associated with a second network. The server device may detect that the user device has performed a handover of the ongoing call from the second network to the first network; and may process the ongoing call via the first network based on the detecting. A user device may establish a first call via a first network; detect a handover condition associated with the first network; place, based on detecting the handover condition, a second call via a second network, the second call being placed while the first call is in progress; receive an instruction to perform a handover; and send and receive, based on receiving the instruction to perform the handover, call traffic via the second call.

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Drawings

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server device, an indication that a first call has been placed by a user device, the first call being placed via a first network and being simultaneously executed with a second call established, prior to the first call, via a second network that is different than the first network, wherein the first call has been placed by the user device based on the user device detecting a handover condition,
wherein the user device simultaneously outputs call traffic via both the first call and the second call, the call traffic including at least one of audio call traffic or video call traffic,
wherein detecting the handover condition includes determining that, at least one of:
a measure of uplink throughput, of the second network, is below a threshold uplink throughput, or
a measure of downlink throughput, of the second network, is below a threshold downlink throughput;
identifying, by the server device, the ongoing second call in which the user device is a party, the ongoing second call being carried, while the first call is in progress, via the second network;
outputting, by the server device, to the user device, and in response to the indication that the first call has been placed by the user device, a handover instruction, to the user device, regarding the first call and the second call;
detecting, by the server device, that the user device, in accordance with the handover instruction, has performed a handover of the second call, from the second network to the first network, the performing of the handover including the user device processing call traffic, received via the first call, instead of processing call traffic, received via the second call, the detecting including:
monitoring the first call for audio or video call traffic from the user device;
detecting, based on the monitoring, that audio or video call traffic has been received via the first call, from the user device;
and
instructing, by the server device and based on the detecting that audio or video call traffic has been received via the first call, one or more devices of the of the first network to process call traffic that corresponds to the first call.

9 more elements

A server device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory device storing a set of processor-executable instructions;
and
a processor configured to execute the processor-executable instructions, wherein executing the processor-executable instructions causes the processor to:
identify that a user device has established a second call while simultaneously engaged in a first call, the second call being established subsequent to the first call and via a second network that is different from a first network via which the first call is carried, wherein the first call has been placed by the user device based on the user device detecting a handover condition, the detecting of the handover condition including determining that, at least one of:
a measure of uplink latency, of the first network, exceeds a threshold uplink latency, or
a measure of downlink latency, of the first network, exceeds a threshold downlink latency;
output, to the user device and in response to identifying that the second call has been established, handover instructions, to the user device, regarding the first call and the second call;
detect that the user device performed a handover, in accordance with the handover instructions, of the first call from the first network to the second network, the detecting including:
monitoring the second call for call traffic from the user device;
detecting, based on the monitoring, audio or video call traffic, from the user device, via the second call;
and
instruct, based on detecting audio or video call traffic via the second call, one or more devices of the of the first network to process call traffic that corresponds to the handed over first call.

9 more elements

A method, comprising:

establishing, by a user device, a first call, via a first network;
sending and receiving, by the user device, call traffic via the first call that is established via the first network, the call traffic including at least one of audio or video call traffic;
detecting, by the user device, a handover condition of the first network, wherein detecting the handover condition includes detecting that, at least one of:
a measure of uplink throughput, of the first network, is below a threshold uplink throughput,
a measure of downlink throughput, of the first network, is below a threshold downlink throughput,
a measure of uplink latency, of the first network, exceeds a threshold uplink latency,
a measure of downlink latency, of the first network, exceeds a threshold downlink latency,
a measure of packet loss, of the first network, exceeds a threshold packet loss, or
a measure of packet jitter, of the first network, exceeds a threshold packet jitter;
identifying, by the user device, a telephone number via which a call handover server can be contacted;
placing, by the user device and based on detecting the handover condition, a second call to the telephone number via a second network that is different from the first network,
the second call being established while the first call is in progress such that the first call and the second call are active simultaneously;
continuing, by the user device and before receiving an instruction to perform a handover from the first call to the second call, to send outgoing call traffic via the first call, the outgoing call traffic including at least one of audio or video call traffic;
sending, by the user device and before receiving the instruction to perform the handover from the first call to the second call, the outgoing call traffic via the second call, such that the outgoing traffic is simultaneously sent via both the first call and the second call;
processing, by the user device and while simultaneously sending the outgoing call traffic via the first and second calls, incoming call traffic via the first call prior to receiving the instruction to perform the handover;
receiving, by the user device and from a network device, the instruction to perform the handover from the first call to the second call,
wherein the network device monitors the second call for call traffic from the user device and outputs the instruction when detecting, based on the monitoring, call traffic from the user device via the second call;
and
sending and receiving, by the user device and based on the instruction to perform the handover, subsequent call traffic via the second call instead of the first call.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,720 words

Summary109 words

#Wireless networks, such as cellular telecommunications networks, may provide connectivity to user devices, such as cellular telephones, in order to enable the user devices to place calls. As wireless technology evolves, different types of wireless networks may be available to user devices to place calls. For example, user devices may be able to access Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (“CDMA”) 1× networks, Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) networks, “Wi-Fi” networks, and/or other types of networks. In some situations, a particular user device may be in range of multiple different types of networks during an active call, and a handover of the call from one network to another may be desirable.

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example overview of one or more implementations described herein;

#FIGS. 2-4 illustrate example environments in which systems and/or methods, described herein, may be implemented;

#FIG. 5 illustrates example components of a call handover server, according to some implementations;

Detailed description9,512 words

#The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

#Techniques described herein may allow for the handover of active calls from one wireless network to another. The techniques described herein may be simplified, as compared to other existing techniques (e.g., as described in the document, “Digital Cellular Telecommunications System (Phase 2+); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); LTE; Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC); Stage 2 (3GPP TS 23.215 Version 11.10.0 Release 11),” European Telecommunications Standards Institute (“ETSI”) Technical Specification (“TS”) 123 216 V11.10.0, December 2013). For example, in order to implement such existing techniques, numerous modifications to existing systems may be required, including modifications to user devices, radio access networks (“RANs”), and other networks. Some implementations described herein may allow call handovers to be performed, without requiring such modifications.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example overview of some implementations described herein. In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, assume that the user device, illustrated in these figures, is capable of communicating with multiple wireless networks, such as an LTE network and a CDMA2000 1× network (hereinafter referred to simply as “1× network”). Further assume that the user device is capable of simultaneously conducting multiple calls (e.g., conducting one call via the LTE network and another simultaneous call via the 1× network). Further, in some implementations, the user device may be capable of simultaneously sending and/or receiving voice and/or data via a particular network (e.g., simultaneously maintaining a voice connection and a data connection via the LTE network).

Facts

Application

14/158,118Filed 17 Jan 2014

Published

US 2015/0208306 A123 Jul 2015

Granted

26 Dec 2017

Term ends

23 Mar 2034

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 65 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

H04W 36/18
Performing reselection for specific purposes: for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
H04W 36/1443
Over a different radio air interface technology: between licensed networks
H04W 76/16
Setup of multiple wireless link connections: involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with…
H04W 76/11
Connection setup: allocation or use of connection identifiers

Timeline

17 Jan 2014Application filedUS 14/158,118
17 Jan 2014Assigned to Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
23 Jul 2015PublishedUS 2015/0208306 A1
26 Dec 2017GrantedUS 9,854,487 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
23 Mar 2034Term endsEstimated, includes 65 days of adjustment

Simplified call continuity

Life of this patent

Simplified call continuity

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims22

Description9,720 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description9,720 words