Call forwarding methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices which operate in WWANS and WLANS

1. A method for use by a mobile communication device in facilitating voice calls through a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular telecommunications network, the mobile communication device having a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) identity for identification in the WLAN and a telephone number for identification in the cellular telecommunications network, the WLAN including a SIP proxy server and a gateway which is connected to a telephone network, the method comprising:

operating in the WLAN for Voice over IP (VoIP) communications, including:

registering with registrar server functionality of the SIP proxy server with the SIP identity, the SIP identity being further communicated to a location server;

in response to an incoming voice call from a caller via the telephone network, receiving an INVITE request which is issued from the gateway and forwarded from the SIP proxy server, and sending a response to the SIP proxy server which is communicated to the caller via the gateway;

when switching communication operations from the WLAN to the cellular telecommunications network:

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the cellular telecommunications network, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

when switching communication operations from the cellular telecommunications network to the WLAN:

sending, via the cellular telephone network, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the WLAN comprises an IEEE 802.11-based wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after switching the communication operations to the cellular telephone network:

detecting a predetermined condition; and

sending the message for forwarding voice calls directed to the telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity in response to detecting the predetermined condition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an association is made between the SIP identity and a home location register (HLR) of the cellular telecommunications network for the forwarding of voice calls.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein an association is made between the cellular telephone number and a location server of the WLAN for the forwarding of voice calls.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium;

computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device which has a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) identity for identification in a WLAN and a telephone number for identification in a cellular telecommunications network, the WLAN including a SIP proxy server and a gateway which is connected to a telephone network, the computer instructions being executable for:

operating in the WLAN for Voice over IP (VoIP) communications, including:

registering with registrar server functionality of the SIP proxy server with the SIP identity, the SIP identity being further communicated to a location server;

in response to an incoming voice call from a caller via the telephone network, receiving an INVITE request which is issued from the gateway and forwarded from the SIP proxy server, and sending a response to the SIP proxy server which is communicated to the caller via the gateway;

when switching communication operations from the WLAN to the cellular telecommunications network:

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the cellular telecommunications network, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

when switching communication operations from the cellular telecommunications network to the WLAN:

sending, via the cellular telephone network, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein an association is made with the SIP identity at a home location register (HLR) of the cellular telecommunications network for the forwarding of voice calls.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein an association is made with the cellular telephone number at the location server of the WLAN for the forwarding of voice calls.

11. A mobile communication device which is configured to utilize a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) identity for identification in a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a telephone number for identification in a cellular telecommunications network, the mobile communication device comprising:

a first RF transceiver portion which is configured for communications with the cellular telecommunications network;

a second RF transceiver portion which is configured for communications with the WLAN;

one or more processors coupled to the first and the second RF transceiver portions;

the one or more processors being configured for:

operating in the WLAN for Voice over IP (VoIP) communications, including:

registering with registrar server functionality of a SIP proxy server with the SIP identity, the SIP identity being further communicated to a location server;

in response to an incoming voice call from a caller via a telephone network, receiving an INVITE request which is issued from a gateway and forwarded from the SIP proxy server, and sending a response to the SIP proxy server which is communicated to the caller via the gateway;

when switching communication operations from the WLAN to the cellular telecommunications network:

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the cellular telecommunications network, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured for:

when switching communication operations from the cellular telecommunications network to the WLAN:

sending, via the cellular telephone network, a message for forwarding voice calls directed to the telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device; and

sending, via the WLAN to the location server, a message for canceling the forwarding of voice calls directed to the SIP identity of the mobile communication device to the telephone number of the mobile communication device.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein the WLAN comprises an IEEE 802.11-based wireless network.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured for:

after switching the communication operations to the cellular telephone network:

detecting a predetermined condition; and

sending the message for forwarding voice calls directed to the telephone number of the mobile communication device to the SIP identity in response to detecting the predetermined condition.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein an association is made with the SIP identity at a home location register (HLR) of the cellular telecommunications network for the forwarding of voice calls.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 11 , wherein an association is made with the cellular telephone number at a location server of the WLAN for the forwarding of voice calls.