Abstract:
Systems and methods for establishing and/or routing wireless data and/or voice connections across a hybrid network based upon a user&#39;s selection or preference. Routing a wireless connection across a hybrid network includes allowing a user to select a routing preference, routing the wireless connection via a short-haul communications network if the routing preference indicates a short-haul communications network choice, and routing the wireless connection via a cellular network if the routing preference indicates a cellular network choice. In addition, a system and method for learning the user&#39;s data, cellular, and/or VoIP access habits in order, to optimize the user&#39;s experience and one that allows carriers to comply with CALEA and E911 rules by identifying the location of hybrid devices within the hybrid network are disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/666,676, filed Mar. 30, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates in general to wireless networks and, more particularly, to a system and method for routing a connection in a hybrid wireless network based on a user selection or preference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless service rates are driven by competition among carriers. As new wireless environments are developed, rate structures must become even more competitive. An exemplary hybrid environment consists of a cellular network, such as a GSM or PCS network, coupled to a computer network, such as a wireless computer network using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In order to take full advantage of this hybrid environment, users may operate hybrid phones or other devices capable of operating in different networks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for establishing and/or routing wireless connections via a hybrid network. In one exemplary embodiment, a user selects at least one routing preference. After his or her preferences have been selected, the user&#39;s wireless connections are routed according to those preferences. For example, a method may comprise routing the wireless connection via a short-haul communications network if the routing preference indicates a short-haul communications network choice, and routing the wireless connection via a cellular network if the routing preference indicates a cellular network choice. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention may provide a system and method for learning the user&#39;s data, cellular, and/or VoIP access habits over a period of time for optimizing the user&#39;s preferences. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention may provide a system and method that complies with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), for example, by allowing telecommunications carriers to assist law enforcement in executing electronic surveillance pursuant to court order or other lawful authorization. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention may provide a system and method that complies with Enhanced 9-1-1 (E911) rules, for example, by allowing telecommunications carriers to report the telephone number of a wireless 9-1-1 caller and the location of the antenna or base station that received the call upon valid request by a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). These and other embodiments may be made possible, for example, by the identification of a hybrid device&#39;s location within a hybrid wireless network. 
     Certain aspects of the present invention may comprise a hybrid network in the form of, for example, a cellular network (such as a GSM, TDMA, CDMA, PCS, etc.), coupled to a wireless computer network using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), or the like. VoIP allows voice signals to be delivered as packets of data using the Internet Protocol (IP). One advantage of using VoIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids expensive tolls charged by ordinary telephone service. However, as a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize in light of this disclosure, other protocols may be used. 
     Other aspects of the present invention may include, for example, hybrid wireless telephones, wireless modems, pagers, PDAs, laptops, computers, and the like. A hybrid phone or device may be capable of operating in at least one network of the hybrid wireless network comprising cellular networks and wireless IP networks. 
     In one embodiment, the invention may use a server-client architecture as well as device level programming through the use of TCP/IP and cellular signal processing for routing data, each of which is well known in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a hybrid system embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of a method for selecting routing preferences, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a call flow diagram, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diagram of hybrid system  100  embodying the present invention is depicted. Hybrid device  105  may communicate through first wireless link  106  with an antenna at cellular base station  110 . Such communication is well known in the art and is employed, for example, in many wireless networks throughout the world. Cellular base station  110  and other similar base stations are connected to cellular network  130  through a mobile switching center (not shown). Cellular network  130  may include various network components well-known in the art and used to communicate with other networks, such as, for example, a Public Switched Telephone Network (not shown). Additionally or alternatively, hybrid device  105  may also connect to wireless base station  120  through a second wireless link  107 , thereby communicating with computer network  140 . 
     Cellular network  130  may be, for example, a wireless telephony network complying with the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Digital-Advanced Mobile Phone Service (DAMPS), Interim Standard (IS)  136 , IS 95 standards, or any other Personal Communications Services (PCS) wireless network. The term “network” as used herein refers generally to typical infrastructure and components of a telecommunications network, such as base stations, mobile switching centers, switching and control networks, and any other related nodes or elements, including Visitor Location Registers (VLR), Signaling Control Points, message centers, and the like. Computer network  140  may be, for example, an interne service provider (ISP) network connected to the Internet, while wireless base station  120  may be, for example, a base station complying with the WiFi (IEEE 802.11) or WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) standards. Together, computer network  140  and wireless base station  120  form a short-haul communications network. 
     Hybrid network  160  comprises cellular network  130  coupled to computer network  140  through control network  150 . In one embodiment, control network  150  may comprise an applications processor, a gateway, and a location entity, such as a Home Location Register (HLR). U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,672, issued Nov. 2, 1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,935, issued Jan. 30, 2001, both entitled MOBILITY EXTENDED TELEPHONE APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE AND METHOD OF USE and hereby incorporated by reference, disclose systems and methods for interconnecting different networks into a hybrid network. As disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,672, the applications processor and gateway of control network  150  may function as an interface by converting and reformatting messages between cellular network  130  and computer network  140 . 
     Control network  150  may include a location entity that allows carriers to comply with CALEA and E911 rules by identifying the current routing information and location of hybrid device  105 . In one embodiment, control network  150  may allow a law enforcement agency to access current routing information. In another embodiment, control network  150  may provide current routing information to the law enforcement agency. In yet another embodiment, control network  150  may provide location information associated with a 9-1-1 call to an emergency service using current routing information. 
     Control network  150  is coupled to routing preferences server  170  (hereinafter referred to as User-Notification Directed Routing or UNDR server). UNDR server  170  may employ, for example, a server-client architecture and/or device level programming through the use of TCP/IP and cellular signal processing methods to communicate with control network  150  and to route a wireless connection based on a user&#39;s routing preference. UNDR server  170  may store a user&#39;s preference setting in a database. In one embodiment, the user accesses UNDR server  170  through wireless base station  120  and computer network  140 . Alternatively, the user may access UNDR server  170  through cellular base station  110  and cellular network  130 . In another embodiment, the user accesses, enters, modifies, and/or saves user preferences into UNDR server  170  using a web-enabled device such as, for example, laptop computer  108 . Laptop computer  108  may access UNDR  170  through a third wireless link  109  or through any other communications link. Alternatively, the user may access and/or enter its preferences stored at UNDR server  170  using hybrid device  105 . UNDR server  170  may also configure IP routing and addressing based on default preferences so that the user has a default starting point when a preferred location is not available or is unreliable. It will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that deviations from this exemplary embodiment fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a method for selecting routing preferences  200  stored in UNDR server  170  (of  FIG. 1 ) embodying the present invention is depicted. In step  205 , a user may access a set of basic data preferences. Exemplary basic data preferences  205  are shown in block  206 , and may include one or more data access areas. A data access area may be selected by providing a physical address such as, for example, a street address and/or a zip code. In the non-limiting embodiment of block  206 , a user&#39;s first data network preference indicates that the user would like to access data using free WiFi services first. The user&#39;s second data network preference indicates that a CDMA network connection should be attempted if the first preference is not fulfilled. The user&#39;s third preference is that any available WiFi network for a given rate should be used if the first and second preferences are not fulfilled. The user&#39;s fourth preference is that a GSM network should be accessed if the first, second, and third preferences cannot be fulfilled. Finally, the fifth preference is that the system provide a prompt indicating any available networks and requisition input from the user. Block  206  may also include a smart option, which is described in more detail below with respect to step  215 . 
     In step  210 , the user may access a set of network preferences. Exemplary network preferences  210  are shown in block  211 , and may include a preferred cellular network provider, a computer network provider, roaming preferences, and hybrid device features. In the non-limiting embodiment of block  211 , the user has indicated two preferred GSM data network providers. The user has also indicated that roaming to both no-charge and paid WiFi hotspots is allowed. Although, the user has not to selected any preferred CDMA data network providers, it has indicated two preferred VoIP providers. Hybrid device features may include handset type, Multimedia Message Service (MMS) capabilities, User-Plane Position Determining Entity (PDE) capabilities, and VoIP capabilities. 
     In step  215 , the user may access a set of smart options or learning preferences. Exemplary smart options  215  are shown in block  216 , and may include a learning activation option, a training period option, and a dynamic profile update option. In one exemplary embodiment, smart options  215  may allow UNDR server  170  to learn the user&#39;s habits (e.g., data, cellular, and/or VoIP connections with associated locations) so that it can optimize the user&#39;s preferences over a period of time. In another exemplary embodiment, UNDR  170  may identify access patterns. For instance, if a user frequently requests data services from a particular location, UNDR server  170  may dynamically adjust the user&#39;s routing preferences in order to minimize the costs of his or her data connections, depending upon which networks are available at that location. Additionally or alternatively, UNDER server  170  may adjust the user&#39;s routing preferences in order to maximize the reliability of services provided. In yet another exemplary embodiment, UNDR server  170  provides added services depending upon the user&#39;s location. Additionally, the hybrid network may provide enhanced 9-1-1 and CALEA services. 
     With respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , method  200  described above allows hybrid network  160  to route a network connection based upon the preferences stored in the UNDR server  170 . Also, method  200  also allows the user to access either computer network  140  or cellular network  160  based on its routing preferences. Furthermore, method  200  allows the user to determine how it will access data or voice in future connections based upon its location and/or in reference to its routing preferences. It will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that deviations from this exemplary embodiment fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, each of the exemplary basic data preferences  206 , network preferences  211 , and learning preferences  216  may each include more or less options, and/or options other than those specifically described above. Moreover, steps  205 ,  210 , and  215  may be grouped together in a single step containing all available options. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a call flow diagram embodying the present invention is depicted. Preferably, scenarios  305 ,  310 , and/or  315  occur after the user has registered its preferences with the UNDR server  170  according to method  200  as described above. In a set-up procedure (not shown), hybrid device  105  may log into computer network  140  to download a basic profile information from UNDR server  170 . In an alternative embodiment, hybrid device  150  accesses UNDR server  170  through the cellular network  160 . Once registered, hybrid device  105  may poll UNDR server  170  to initiate a first data fix procedure. Once the first data fix procedure and a new updated location sensitive data is sent to the hybrid device  105 , the user may then follow one of scenarios  305 ,  310 , and/or  315 . 
     A position request scenario  305  may be, for example, similar to a standard cellular registration flow known in the art. First, hybrid device  105  sends a registration request through any network available ( 130  or  140 ) based on a user profile that exists on device  105 . Second, the network ( 130  or  140 ) passes the registration request through to the UNDR server  170 , which queries the location entity of control network  150  for the location of hybrid device  105 . Third, UNDR server  170  receives location information from the location entity of control network  150 . Finally, UNDR server  170  may acknowledge receipt to hybrid device  105  and push any updates for local wireless to device  105  along with its optimal configuration and preset authentication and quality of service parameters. In an alternative embodiment, position request scenario  305  is configurable. Furthermore, UNDR server  170  may alter the registration dynamically based on user behavior. 
     In data-only session scenario  310 , hybrid device  105  originates a data session directed to one of the available networks ( 130  or  140 ). In an alternative embodiment, hybrid device  105  originates a data session with access parameters presets. Subsequently, the network ( 130  or  140 ) accesses the user&#39;s computer or ISP network  140 . Finally, hybrid device  105  receives access acknowledgment from computer or ISP network  140 , and a data only session between hybrid device  105  and ISP network  140  is established. 
     In VoIP data session scenario  315 , hybrid device  105  originates a VoIP data session directed to a network ( 130  or  140 ). In an alternative embodiment, hybrid device  105  originates a VoIP data session with access parameters presets. Then, the network ( 130  or  140 ) accesses the user&#39;s computer or ISP network  140 , and hybrid device  105  receives access acknowledgment from the computer or ISP network  140 . Finally, hybrid device  105  begins a VoIP session through a VoIP switch within control network  150 . 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.