Wireless communication components and methods for multiple system communications

Abstract

A method and a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for communication in a first and a different second type of wireless networks. The WTRU includes respective components configured for wireless communication of user data with the respective first and second type of wireless networks and an upper layer application processing component configured to process user data. An interface coupling the upper layer application processing component and the respective types of wireless components selectively controls the flow of user data. The interface include a controllable data buffer switch that defines a multi-pronged bufferable path for user data between the upper layer application processing component and respective types of wireless components. A control device controls the data buffer switch to buffer user data in connection with switching user data flow from one prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path to another prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path. Implementation in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is provided.

1 . A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for communication in a first and a different second two type of wireless networks comprising: 
 a first physical layer component and an associated first physical layer control component configured for wireless communication of user data with the first type of wireless network;    a second physical layer component and an associated second physical layer control component configured for wireless communication of user data with the second type of wireless network;    an upper layer application processing component configured to process user data;    an interface configured to couple the upper layer application processing component and said first and second physical layer control components including: 
 a controllable data buffer switch configured to define a multi-pronged bufferable path for user data between the upper layer application processing component and said first and second physical layer control components such that a first prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path is configured to communicate user data between the upper layer application processing component and said first physical layer control component and a second prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path is configured to communicate user data between the upper layer application processing component and said second physical layer control component; and  
 a data buffer switch control device configured to control said data buffer switch to buffer user data in connection with switching user data flow from one prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path to another prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path.  
   
   
   
       2 . The WTRU of  claim 1  wherein said first physical layer component and associated first physical layer control component are configured for UMTS wireless communications and said second physical layer component and associated second physical layer control component are configured for 802.11 WLAN communications.  
   
   
       3 . The WTRU of  claim 2  wherein the multi-pronged bufferable path for user data is configured to transport packet switched data.  
   
   
       4 . The WTRU of  claim 2  wherein a data path is defined for circuit switch data between the upper layer application processing component and the UMTS physical layer control component.  
   
   
       5 . The WTRU of  claim 2  wherein the interface includes a link monitor and is configured to trigger the initiation of a wireless link through a different type of wireless communication based upon monitored link data meeting predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       6 . The WTRU of  claim 5  wherein the interface includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) reader configured to read a SIM containing a user's identity.  
   
   
       7 . The WTRU of  claim 1  wherein the multi-pronged bufferable path is configured to transport packet switched data.  
   
   
       8 . The WTRU of  claim 1  wherein the interface includes a link monitor and is configured to trigger the initiation of a wireless link through a different type of wireless communication based upon monitored link data meeting predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       9 . A method for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for communication in a first and a different second type of wireless networks wherein the WTRU includes a first physical layer component and an associated first physical layer control component configured for wireless communication of user data with the first type of wireless network, a second physical layer component and an associated second physical layer control component configured for wireless communication of user data with the second type of wireless network and an upper layer application processing component configured to process user data, the method comprising: 
 selectively controlling the flow of user data in an interface coupling the upper layer application processing component and said first and second physical layer control components including: 
 providing a controllable data buffer switch that defines a multi-pronged bufferable path for user data between the upper layer application processing component and said first and second physical layer control components such that a first prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path communicates user data between the upper layer application processing component and said first physical layer control component and a second prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path communicates user data between the upper layer application processing component and said second physical layer control component; and  
 controlling said data buffer switch to buffer user data in connection with switching user data flow from one prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path to another prong of the multi-pronged bufferable path.  
   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  where the first physical layer component and associated first physical layer control component are configured for UMTS wireless communications and the second physical layer component and associated second physical layer control component are configured for 802.11 WLAN communications wherein said controlling said data buffer switch to buffer user data is performed in connection with switching between UMTS wireless communications and 802.11 WLAN communications.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the selectively controlling the flow of user data is of transport packet switched data.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  including defining a data path for circuit switch data between the upper layer application processing component and the UMTS physical layer control component.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  including monitoring wireless communications link data to trigger the initiation of a wireless link through a different type of wireless communication based upon monitored link data meeting predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the selectively controlling the flow of user data includes reading a user's identity from a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the selectively controlling the flow of user data is of transport packet switched data.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  including monitoring wireless communications link data to trigger the initiation of a wireless link through a different type of wireless communication based upon monitored link data meeting predetermined criteria.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the selectively controlling the flow of user data includes reading a user's identity from a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).  
   
   
       18 . An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) configured to provide a continuous communication session when a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) switches a wireless connection from a first wireless communication interface to a second wireless communication interface, the ASIC comprising: 
 an application broker configured to monitor control signaling between a lower layer protocol engine and an upper layer application processing component; and    a communications broker configured to process all user communication data flows and direct the data to the appropriate wireless communication interface in the lower layer protocol engine.    
   
   
       19 . The ASIC according to  claim 18  wherein the application broker and communications broker provide a two-tier middleware architecture that provides a continuous communication session and enables integration of different wireless systems.  
   
   
       20 . The ASIC according to  claim 18  wherein the application broker is configured to receive link status information from the lower layer protocol engine and to determine whether to switch the wireless connection from the first wireless communication interface to the second wireless communication interface based on the quality of service (QoS) of the wireless connection.