Device handing over communication session from wireless communication to powerline communication

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a wired interface operable to support Power Line Communications (PLC), a wireless interface, a processing module, and memory. The device establishes a wireless communication link to service a communication session, detects availability of PLC communication path, and at least partially hands over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface. A PLC interface (and power converter) may couple to the wired interface to support the PLC communication path. In at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface, the device terminates the wireless communication and services the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path. Alternately the device services a first portion of the communication session via the wireless communication interface and services a second portion of the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.

1 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a wired interface operable to support Power Line Communications (PLC);   a wireless interface;   a processing module;   memory coupled to the processing module, wherein the processing module, the wired interface, and the wireless interface are operable to:
 establish a wireless communication link with at least one wirelessly coupled device to service a communication session; 
 detect availability of PLC communication path via the wired interface; and 
 at least partially handover the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wired interface is a PLC interface that supports communications according to at least one PLC communication standard. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising a PLC interface coupled to the wired interface that is operable to support the PLC communication path. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the PLC interface further comprises a power converter that is operable to provide power to the mobile communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wired interface includes a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication comprises one of:
 a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication;   a cellular communication;   a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) communication; and   a Millimeter Wave (MMW) communication.   
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein in at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface, processing circuitry is operable to:
 terminate the wireless communication; and   service the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1 , wherein in at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface, processing circuitry is operable to:
 service a first portion of the communication session via the wireless communication interface; and   service a second portion of the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.   
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a mobile communication device comprising:
 establishing a wireless communication link with at least one wirelessly coupled device to service a communication session via a wireless interface;   detecting availability of a PLC communication path via a wired interface; and   at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising supporting communications according to a plurality of PLC communication standards. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising supporting the PLC communication path via a PLC interface coupled to the wired interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising further comprising receiving power and wired communication service from a coupled power converter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wired interface communications are serviced according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) communication standard. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless communication comprises one of:
 a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication;   a cellular communication;   a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) communication; and   a Millimeter Wave (MMW) communication.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface comprises:
 terminating the wireless communication; and   servicing the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface comprises:
 servicing a first portion of the communication session via the wireless communication interface; and   servicing a second portion of the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a wired interface;   a power converter/PLC interface operable to support Power Line Communications (PLC) and coupled to the wired interface;   a wireless interface;   a processing module;   memory coupled to the processing module, wherein the processing module, the wired interface, and the wireless interface are operable to:
 establish a wireless communication link with at least one wirelessly coupled device to service a communication session; 
 detect availability of PLC communication path via the wired interface; and 
 at least partially handover the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communication comprises one of:
 a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication;   a cellular communication;   a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) communication; and   a Millimeter Wave (MMW) communication.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , wherein in at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface, processing circuitry is operable to:
 terminate the wireless communication; and   service the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.   
     
     
         20 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17 , wherein in at least partially handing over the communication session from the wireless interface to the wired interface, processing circuitry is operable to:
 service a first portion of the communication session via the wireless communication interface; and   service a second portion of the communication session via the wired communication interface and the PLC communication path.