Patent ID: 8068870
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a network of a plurality of dual-mode phones each having a first radio for communicating with a cellular network comprising a plurality of cell towers and a second radio for communicating with a mobility controller associated with an enterprise wireless network via at least one of a plurality of access nodes, the method comprising: collecting cell tower identification information by a dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is connected to both the cellular network and the enterprise wireless network; transferring the cell tower identification information by the dual-mode phone to the mobility controller that collects cell tower identification from the plurality of dual-mode phones to form a list of cell towers having an access node within a coverage area; increasing scanning for access nodes by the dual-mode phone if the dual-mode phone is in communications with a cell tower on the list of cell towers; moving the second radio to a lower power state by the dual-mode phone when the dual-mode phone is out of range of the enterprise wireless network; and moving the second radio to a higher power state by the dual-mode phone when the first radio of the dual-mode phone is connected to a cell tower on the list of cell towers associated with enterprise wireless availability.