Seamless WWAN WLAN Voice Call Switching via Muted Bridge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication devices face challenges in seamlessly switching between incompatible wireless networks, such as GSM/GPRS and 802.11, during active voice calls without dropping the call or alerting the parties involved.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a processor-based server connected to a PBX network, capable of managing voice communications across different wireless networks, allowing seamless switching between WWAN and WLAN by maintaining call control and establishing muted bridges to ensure uninterrupted service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device switches between WWAN and WLAN during active voice calls, then network flexibility and user preference satisfaction improve, but call continuity and reliability deteriorate due to call drops
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a muted bridge connection on the target network (WLAN or WWAN) before actually switching the voice call traffic to that network. This preliminary setup ensures that the alternative communication path is ready and tested before the switch occurs, preventing call drops during network transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
A muted bridge serves as an intermediary connection between the mobile device and the network during switching operations. This bridge acts as a temporary mediator that holds the call path ready while the actual network switch occurs, ensuring continuous connectivity without dropping the call.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network switching occurs during active calls, then adaptability improves, but call quality and stability worsen due to potential service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing the muted bridge connection before the actual network switch. This ensures that the alternative network path is pre-configured and ready, allowing the call to switch networks without interruption or degradation in call stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The muted bridge maintains the call connection continuously during the network switching process. By keeping the bridge established throughout the transition, the system ensures that the useful action of voice communication continues without interruption, maintaining call stability despite network changes.
3Ease of operation
If seamless switching is implemented without user awareness, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors network conditions and performs switching operations without requiring user intervention. The call control equipment and mobile device work autonomously to detect when switching is needed and execute the switch through the muted bridge mechanism, providing self-service functionality that improves ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The muted bridge acts as an intermediary that simplifies the switching process by providing a standardized interface between the mobile device and different networks. This mediator handles the complexity of network protocol differences and switching logistics, allowing the system to achieve seamless switching without burdening the user with complex controls.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different transceiver portions are used for WWAN and WLAN, then adaptability to different networks improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple transceivers
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device incorporates multiple transceiver portions that can operate across different network types (WWAN and WLAN). By designing the device with universal transceiver capabilities that can function on multiple network standards, the system achieves multi-network compatibility without requiring entirely separate communication systems for each network type.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A telecommunication system (10a) and methods (100, 110, 120) for automatically and seamlessly switching voice calls on a wireless mobile device (70) between different wireless network services during the same conversation without user interaction and without being noticeable to the parties on the call. For example, a voice call at a mobile device (70) using the services of a wireless wide area network (e.g., GSM/GPRS cellular network) may be switched over to a wireless local area network (e.g., 802.11 wireless network) (100), and vice versa (110), while the call is in progress and without any input from the parties on the call. The system (10a) and another method (130, 140) also provide a mechanism for maintaining a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call while the mobile device moves between wireless access points (AP) and has automatic reconnection (140f, 140g, 140h, 140j, 140k) in case there is a dropped call.