Methods and systems for ensuring continuity of services on handover from Wi-Fi to cellular networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12513588-B2
Application number	US-202217966481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2022
Priority date	Apr 20, 2020
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

Methods and systems for ensuring continuity of services on handover from Wi-Fi to cellular networks are disclosed. Embodiments of the disclosure allow a UE to seamlessly engage in a call during a handover, which is triggered on detecting that QoS of the call is less than a threshold within a coverage area of the Wi-Fi. The continuity of the call is ensured by triggering a handover from Wi-Fi to LTE and preventing/reducing handover from Wi-Fi to NR. The UE avails calling services using LTE and data services using NR, by enabling NSA mode. The UE is allowed to avail calling services seamlessly by initiating a handover of the calling services from Wi-Fi to LTE and avail data services seamlessly by initiating a handover of the data services from Wi-Fi to NR. The handover from Wi-Fi to LTE/NR is initiated if QoS of the calling/data services is less than a threshold in Wi-Fi coverage area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for managing service continuity in a User Equipment (UE), the method comprising:
detecting, by the UE, an engagement in at least one of a Voice/Video over Wireless Fidelity (VoWiFi) call and data transfer, in a Wi-Fi coverage area, wherein the UE is camped on one of a 4th Generation (4G) and a 5G cell; and performing, by the UE, at least one action to enable the UE to camp in at least one of the 4G cell and the 5G cell to continue the VoWiFi call and the data transfer, based on a Quality of Service (QOS) of at least one of the VoWiFi call and the data transfer in the Wi-Fi coverage area dropping below a specified threshold; wherein the at least one action includes distinguishing the VoWiFi call from the data transfer and performing a handover of the VoWiFi call to the 4G cell while performing a handover of the data transfer to the 5G cell.

2 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: operating, by the UE, in a Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call and the data transfer and the UE being detected to be camped on the 4G cell, wherein the 4G cell acts as a primary cell in the NSA mode, wherein the UE adds the 5G cell as a secondary cell in the NSA mode.

3 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: operating, by the UE, in the NSA mode, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call and the data transfer and the UE being detected to be camped on the 5G cell, wherein the UE adds the 4G cell acts as the primary cell in the NSA mode, wherein the 5G cell acts as the secondary cell in the NSA mode.

4 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: camping, by the UE, in the 4G cell, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call, wherein the UE is detected to be camped on the 5G cell.

5 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: deprioritizing, by the UE, the 5G cell for reselection, for remaining camped in the 4G cell, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call, wherein the UE is detected to be camped on the 4G cell.

6 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one action includes: disabling 5G capability of the UE; reducing priority of 5G connectivity; blocking inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) measurements; performing a Tracking Area Update (TAU) to the 4G cell through a Registered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN); triggering an inter-RAT handover from 4G to 5G, and enabling the NSA mode.

7 . The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises: undoing the at least one action on detecting at least one of: termination of the VoWiFi call, and the QoS of at least one of the VoWiFi call and the data transfer in the Wi-Fi coverage area is above the specified threshold.

8 . A User Equipment (UE) comprising:
a communication interface comprising communication circuitry; and at least one processor comprising processing circuitry; and a memory storing instructions which, when executed individually and/or collectively by the at least one processor, controls the UE to: detect an engagement in at least one of a Voice/Video over Wireless Fidelity (VoWiFi) call and data transfer via the communication interface, in a Wi-Fi coverage area, wherein the UE is camped on one of a 4th Generation (4G) and a 5th Generation (5G) cell; and perform at least one action to enable camping in at least one of the 4G cell and the 5G cell to continue the VoWiFi call and the data transfer, based on a Quality of Service (QOS) of at least one of the VoWiFi call and the data transfer in the Wi-Fi coverage area dropping below a specified threshold; wherein the at least one action includes distinguishing the VoWiFi call from the data transfer and performing a handover of the VoWiFi call to the 4G cell while performing a handover of the data transfer to the 5G cell.

9 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: operating, by the UE, in a Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call and the data transfer and the UE being detected to be camped on the 4G cell, wherein the 4G cell is configured to act as a primary cell in the NSA mode, wherein the UE is configured to add the 5G cell as a secondary cell in the NSA mode.

10 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: operating, by the UE, in the NSA mode, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call and the data transfer and the UE being detected to be camped on the 5G cell, wherein the UE is configured to add the 4G cell configured to act as the primary cell in the NSA mode, wherein the 5G cell is configured to act as the secondary cell in the NSA mode.

11 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: camping, by the UE, in the 4G cell, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call, wherein the UE is detected to be camped on the 5G cell.

12 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein performing the at least one action includes: deprioritizing, by the UE, the 5G cell for reselection, for remaining camped in the 4G cell, based on the UE being engaged in the VoWiFi call, wherein the UE is detected to be camped on the 4G cell.

13 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the at least one action includes: disabling 5G capability of the UE; reducing priority of 5G connectivity; blocking inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) measurements; performing a Tracking Area Update (TAU) to the 4G cell through a Registered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN); triggering an inter-RAT handover from 4G to 5G, and enabling the NSA mode.

14 . The UE, as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed individually and/or collectively by the at least one processor, controls the UE to: undo the at least one action on detecting at least one of: termination of the VoWiFi call, and the QoS of at least one of the VoWiFi call and the data transfer in the Wi-Fi coverage area is above the predefined threshold.

15 . A method for managing service continuity in a User Equipment (UE), the method comprising:
initiating, by the UE, a Voice/Video over Wireless Fidelity (VoWiFi) call and a data transfer while the UE is connected to at least one of a 4th Generation (4G) cell and a 5G cell; detecting, by the UE, that strength of at least one Wi-Fi signal relevant to the VoWiFi call and the data transfer is below a specified threshold; and performing an action to continue the VoWiFi call and the data transfer, wherein the action includes distinguishing the VoWiFi call from the data transfer, performing a handover of the VoWiFi call to the 4G cell, and performing a handover of the data transfer to the 5G cell.

16 . The method, as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises sending a request to connect to the 5G cell when the VoWiFi call is completed, wherein a check is performed periodically to determine whether the call is completed.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein sending the request to connect to the 5G cell when the call is completed includes increasing the priority of the 5G cell.

18 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein
the 4G cell is a Master Cell Group (MCG) and the 5G cell is a Secondary Cell Group (SCG); or the 5G cell is the MCG and the 4G cell is the SCG.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Agarwal Rishav
• GUHA Shouvik
• Verma Sumit
• Nagarajan Shanthossh

Classifications

• H04W36/1446

  wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed · CPC title

• H04W36/00226 Primary

  wherein the core network technologies comprise IP multimedia system [IMS], e.g. single radio voice call continuity [SRVCC] · CPC title

• H04W36/18

  for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04W36/26 Primary

  by agreed or negotiated communication parameters · CPC title