Patent ID: 7518994
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating streaming multimedia communications between a content-originating server and a mobile node in a multi-network communication system, the system having at least a first wireless network and a second wireless network through both of which, data from the content-originating server is sent, said method for facilitating the transfer of streaming multi-media communications data by the mobile node, from the first network to the second network, said method comprising the steps of: determining at a session control node, from at least one message received from a mobile node, that a network transfer is desirable, said at least one message received from a mobile node indicating at least one of: a priority level for said network transfer and the identity of a network to which a transfer of streaming multi-media communications data is to be made, the session control node being separate and distinct from, but operatively coupled to both the first wireless network and the second wireless network, the content originating server being separate and distinct from but operatively coupled to: the session control node and both the first and second wireless networks; buffering, in the session control node, subsequent to detection that a network transfer is desirable, streaming multimedia data from the content-originating server that is being transmitted to the mobile node through the first wireless network during a first communication session; notifying the mobile node that data buffering in the session control node has commenced; terminating communication of the mobile node with the first network; establishing communication of the mobile node to the second network; and transmitting the streaming multimedia data buffered in the session control node to the mobile node through the second network such that the mobile node receives the streaming multimedia from the content-originating server without substantial interruption.