IP Library Granted Patent US 8,547,912
Granted Patent B1
US 8,547,912 · App. 12/537,999 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Mobility between two different wireless access networks

Inventors: Jeremy R. Breau (Leawood, KS); Robert C. Pippert (Lenexa, KS); Charles Brent Hirschman (Overland Park, KS)
Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,547,912
App. No.
12/537,999
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of assigning a single packet address to a wireless communication device in a communication system comprising a first wireless network and a second wireless network comprises, in the wireless communication device, transferring a first network service request to a router in the first wireless network, wherein the first network service request includes a first network user identifier; in the router, transferring an authorization request to an authorization system, wherein the authorization request includes the first network user identifier; in the authorization system, determining whether the wireless communication device associated with the first network user identifier comprises dual-mode functionality, and determining whether a session for the second wireless network exists based on the first network user identifier; and in the router, transferring a first network service response to the wireless communication device, wherein the first network service response includes a packet address for the second wireless network.

Claims (57)

1. A method of assigning a single packet address to a wireless communication device in a communication system comprising a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising:

in the wireless communication device, transferring a first network service request to a router in the first wireless network, wherein the first network service request includes a first network user identifier;

in the router, transferring an authorization request to an authorization system, wherein the authorization request includes the first network user identifier;

in the authorization system, determining whether the wireless communication device associated with the first network user identifier comprises dual-mode functionality, and determining whether a session for the second wireless network exists based on the first network user identifier;

if the session for the second wireless network does not exist, then in the authorization system, translating the first network user identifier into a second network user identifier, transferring a pre-authorization request that includes the second network user identifier to a subscriber system, wherein the subscriber system generates an information block in response to the pre-authorization request, receiving the information block in response to the pre-authorization request, wherein the information block comprises the second network user identifier and an authorization key, and transferring a request for a packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router; and

in the router, transferring a first network service response to the wireless communication device, wherein the first network service response includes the packet address enabled for the second wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the session for the second wireless network exists, then in the authorization system, transferring a second network user identifier to the router.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in the router, transferring the second network user identifier to a gateway in the second wireless network.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

in the gateway, determining the packet address enabled for the second wireless network associated with the second network user identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

in the gateway, transferring the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, in the authorization system, transferring the request for the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router comprises transferring the information block and the request for the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

in the router, transferring a second network service request to a gateway in the second wireless network based on the gateway identifier, wherein the second network service request includes the second network user identifier and the authorization key.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

in the gateway, transferring the second network service request to the subscriber system.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

in the subscriber system, comparing the authorization key included in the second network service request to the authorization key included in the information block, and if the authorization key included in the second network service request matches the authorization key included in the information block, then transferring an authorization approval to the gateway.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

in the gateway, assigning the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the wireless communication device associated with the second network user identifier, and transferring the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless network comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) core network and the second wireless network comprises a long term evolution (LTE) core network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the dual-mode functionality comprises code division multiple access (CDMA) and long term evolution (LTE) modes.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the router comprises a home agent and the authorization system comprises an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the session for the second wireless network exists, then in the authorization system, transferring a second network user identifier to the router;

in the router, transferring the second network user identifier to a gateway in the second wireless network; and

in the gateway, determining the packet address enabled for the second wireless network associated with the second network user identifier, and transferring the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the session for the second wireless network does not exist, then in the authorization system, translating the first network user identifier into a second network user identifier;

in the authorization system, transferring a pre-authorization request to a subscriber system, wherein the pre-authorization request includes the second network user identifier;

in the subscriber system, generating an information block in response to the pre-authorization request and transferring the information block to the authorization system, wherein the information block comprises the second network user identifier, a gateway identifier, and an authorization key;

in the authorization system, transferring the information block to the router;

in the router, transferring a second network service request to a gateway in the second wireless network based on the gateway identifier, wherein the second network service request includes the second network user identifier and the authorization key;

in the gateway, transferring the second network service request to the subscriber system;

in the subscriber system, comparing the authorization key included in the second network service request to the authorization key included in the information block, and if the authorization key included in the second network service request matches the authorization key included in the information block, then transferring an authorization approval to the gateway; and

in the gateway, assigning the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the wireless communication device associated with the second network user identifier, and transferring the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router.

16. A method of assigning a single packet address to a wireless communication device in a communication system comprising a first wireless network and a second wireless network, the method comprising:

in the wireless communication device, transferring a first network service request to a router in the first wireless network, wherein the first network service request includes a first network user identifier;

in the router, transferring an authorization request to an authorization system, wherein the authorization request includes the first network user identifier;

in the authorization system, determining whether the wireless communication device associated with the first network user identifier comprises dual-mode functionality, and translating the first network user identifier into a second network user identifier;

in the authorization system, transferring a pre-authorization request to a subscriber system, wherein the pre-authorization request includes the second network user identifier;

in the subscriber system, generating an information block in response to the pre-authorization request and transferring the information block to the authorization system, wherein the information block comprises the second network user identifier, a gateway identifier, and an authorization key;

in the authorization system, transferring the information block and a request for a packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router;

in the router, transferring a second network service request to a gateway in the second wireless network based on the gateway identifier, wherein the second network service request includes the second network user identifier and the authorization key;

in the gateway, transferring the second network service request to the subscriber system;

in the subscriber system, comparing the authorization key included in the second network service request to the authorization key included in the information block, and if the authorization key included in the second network service request matches the authorization key included in the information block, then transferring an authorization approval to the gateway;

in the gateway, assigning the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the wireless communication device associated with the second network user identifier, and transferring the packet address enabled for the second wireless network to the router; and

in the router, transferring a first network service response to the wireless communication device, wherein the first network service response includes the packet address enabled for the second wireless network.

17. A method of assigning a single packet address to a wireless communication device in a communication system comprising a code division multiple access (CDMA) core network and a long term evolution (LTE) core network, the method comprising:

in the wireless communication device, transferring a CDMA service request to a home agent, wherein the CDMA service request includes a CDMA user identifier;

in the home agent, transferring an authorization request to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server, wherein the authorization request includes the CDMA user identifier;

in the AAA server, determining whether the wireless communication device associated with the CDMA user identifier comprises dual-mode functionality, and determining whether a LTE session exists based on the CDMA user identifier;

if the LTE session does not exist, then in the AAA server, translating the CDMA user identifier into an LTE user identifier, transferring a pre-authorization request that includes the LTE user identifier to a subscriber system, wherein the subscriber system generates an information block in response to the pre-authorization request, receiving the information block in response to the pre-authorization request, wherein the information block comprises the LTE user identifier and an authorization key, and transferring a request for an LTE packet address to the home agent; and

in the home agent, transferring a CDMA service response to the wireless communication device, wherein the CDMA service response includes the LTE packet address.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2009
From: BREAU, JEREMY R.; PIPPERT, ROBERT C.; HIRSCHMAN, CHARLES BRENT
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 023070/0684 →