Patent ID: 8437368
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A communications system comprising: a first terminal configured to communicate via a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network; a second terminal configured to communicate via a circuit-switched network; and a gateway configured to map communications between a packet-switched network and at least one circuit-switched network, wherein the gateway is configured to support communication between the first terminal and the second terminal such that the first terminal has a packet-switched connection with the gateway and the second terminal has a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, wherein the first terminal is configured to thereafter initiate a handoff of communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network, the first terminal being configured to establish a circuit-switched connection with the gateway, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the established circuit-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal to thereby handoff communication from the packet-switched network to the circuit-switched network; wherein the first terminal is configured to receive a handoff identifier hosted by the gateway, and wherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway based upon the handoff identifier, and wherein the first terminal is configured to establish the circuit-switched connection with the gateway in an instance in which a signal strength of the packet-switched connection between the first terminal and the gateway is below a predetermined threshold for more than a predefined period of time, and wherein the gateway is configured to connect the circuit-switched connection established between the first terminal and the gateway with the circuit-switched connection between the gateway and the second terminal in instances in which the first terminal establishes the circuit-switched connection with the gateway.