Anticipatory Hand-Off Setup Between Networks

Abstract

A system and method for performing anticipatory hand-off setup between communication networks. Various aspects of the present invention may, for example and without limitation, provide a system and method for performing anticipatory hand-off setup between communication networks. For example and without limitation, prior to a determination to perform a hand-off of a mobile communication device from a first communication network to a second communication network, a determination may be made that hand-off setup information should be communicated with the second communication network. For example, such a determination may be made in anticipation of a hand-off that may or may not happen. Such hand-off setup information may then be communicated with the second communication network. Such communicated setup information may then, for example, be utilized to at least partially prepare for performing the anticipated hand-off.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mobile communication device comprising
 a radio communication circuit operative for radio communication with radio equipment of a first communication network and radio equipment of a second communication network;   a circuit configured to establish a radio communication link between the mobile communication device and the radio equipment of the first communication network;   a handoff control circuit which uses handoff control information for the mobile communication device to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information with the second communication network, and   a circuit configured to communicate the anticipatory handoff setup information from the mobile communication device to radio equipment of the second communication network based on the determination by the handoff control circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using a user profile defined by a user of the mobile communication device which specifies conditions under which the anticipatory handoff setup information will be communicated with the second communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using a user profile defining one or more preferred communication networks or one or more preferred communication service providers to be utilized as the second communication network when available. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile communication device of  claim 3  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using user profile information defining one or more particular radio communication networks and one or more preferred radio communication services for each of the one or more particular radio communication networks, when the one or more preferred radio communication services and the one or more particular radio communication networks are available. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile communication device of  claim 1  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using a user profile established by a communication service operator of the first communication network or the second communication network. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile communication device of  claim 5  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using a user profile established by a network operator defining handoff operation between the first radio communication network and the second radio communication network. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile communication device of  claim 5  wherein the handoff control circuit is configured to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using a user profile established by a network operator defining one or more communication networks selectably communicating the anticipatory handoff setup information. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile communication device comprising
 a radio communication circuit operative for radio communication with radio equipment of a first communication network and radio equipment of a second communication network;   circuitry to establish a radio communication link between the mobile communication device and the radio equipment of the first communication network;   circuitry to receive information about communication service identity for the first communication network or the second communication network;   handoff control circuitry which uses the communication service identity to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information with the second communication network, and   circuitry to communicate the anticipatory handoff setup information from the mobile communication device to radio equipment of the second communication network based on the determination.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8  wherein the handoff control circuitry uses communication service identity information about a type of communication service being presently provided for the mobile communication device to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8  wherein the handoff control circuitry uses communication service identity information about a communication service being presently provide d by the first communication network. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8  wherein the handoff control circuitry uses communication service identity information about service capabilities of the second communication network. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8  wherein the handoff control circuitry uses communication service identity information to determine a current communication service provided by the first communication network and to determine if the second communication network is able to provide the current communication service after handoff occurs. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile communication device of  claim 8  wherein the handoff control circuitry determines to communicate the anticipatory handoff setup information even though a handoff determination has not been made for handing off radio communication from the first communication network to the second radio communication network. 
     
     
         14 . A mobile communication device comprising:
 a radio communication circuit operative for radio communication with radio equipment of a first communication network and radio equipment of a second communication network,   a circuit operative to establish a radio communication link between the mobile communication device and the radio equipment of the first communication network;   a circuit operative to determine a type of service plan associated with the mobile communication device or a user of the mobile communication device;   a handoff control circuit operative to determine, based on the type of service plan, whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information with the second communication network; and   a circuit to communicate the anticipatory handoff setup information from the mobile communication device to radio equipment of the second communication network based on the determination.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile communication device of  claim 14  wherein the handoff control circuit is operative to determine if the service plan associated with the mobile communication device or the user of the mobile communication device allows performance of anticipatory handoff activities. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile communication device of  claim 14  wherein the handoff control circuit is operative to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information even though a handoff determination has not been made for handing off radio communication from the first communication network to the second radio communication network. 
     
     
         17 . A mobile communication device comprising
 a radio communication circuit operative for radio communication with radio equipment of a first communication network and radio equipment of a second communication network,   first radio circuitry to establish a radio communication link between the mobile communication device and the radio equipment of the first communication network;   circuitry to receive a handoff setup initiation signal from the first communication network or the second communication network;   handoff control circuitry responsive to the handoff initiation signal to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information with the second communication network; and   second radio circuitry to communicate the anticipatory handoff setup information from the mobile communication device to radio equipment of the second communication network based on the determination.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17  wherein the first radio circuitry comprises a first communication interface module for radio communication on one of a wide area network and a local area network, and wherein the second radio circuitry comprises a second communication interface module for radio communication on the other of a wide area network and a local area network. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17  wherein the handoff control circuitry is operative to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information even though a handoff determination has not been made for handing off radio communication from the first communication network to the second radio communication network. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile communication device of  claim 17  wherein the handoff control circuitry is operative to retrieve data specifying conditions under which anticipatory handoff setup information will be communicated with the second communication network and wherein the handoff control circuitry is operative to determine whether to communicate anticipatory handoff setup information using the retrieved data.