Abstract: A multi-mode mobile station includes a first interface for wireless communication with a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a second interface for wireless communication with a wireless wide area network (WWAN). The multi-mode mobile station is associated with a particular conference bridge, through which all calls to and from the multi-mode mobile station are routed. For example, when a call involving the multi-mode mobile is established via the WLAN, the call includes a WLAN call leg that extends from the conference bridge to the multi-mode mobile station via the WLAN. To effect a handoff during the call, a WWAN call leg is established between the multi-mode mobile station and the conference bridge via the WWAN. The conference bridge bridges the WLAN and WWAN call legs. To complete the handoff, the multi-mode mobile station drops the WLAN call leg and continues the call using the WWAN call leg.

Abstract: A method of handing off an ongoing wireless telecommunication session with a mobile station when the mobile station is engaging in the ongoing communication session via a first access system, and then registers in a second access system, is provided. When communicating with the first access system the mobile station communicates with a first access node according to a first protocol. When communicating with the second access system the mobile station communicates with a second access node according to a second protocol, which is a different protocol than the first protocol. After registration of the mobile station in the second access system, the ongoing communication session is carried between the mobile station and the second access node according to the second protocol over the first protocol. More specifically, the ongoing communication session is carried between the mobile station and the second access node using the first protocol encapsulated in the headers of the second protocol.

Abstract: A mobile station communicating with a first radio network, such as a WLAN, may detect that it is communicating with an access point located at a perimeter of a coverage area of the first radio network rather than communicating with an access point located within an interior of the coverage area. The mobile station might further detect one or both of first and second directional signals transmitted from the access point. In response, the mobile station might perform one or more predetermined actions, such as checking the availability of a radio network other than the WLAN, performing a handoff, sounding an alarm or some other action.

Abstract: A mobile station provides arbitration and hand-off between two or more differently formatted computer and/or telecommunication networks. To facilitate the mobile station arbitration and hand-off, the mobile station operates at a given location in which it can communicate according to a first protocol via a first-access system and at which it can communicate according to a second protocol via a second-access system. At the given location, the mobile station arbitrates between communicating real-time media according to the first protocol via the first-access system and communicating real-time media according to the second protocol over the first protocol via the second-access system. To carry out the arbitration, mobile station may be provisioned with one or more arbitration policies. Based on these arbitration policies, the mobile station commits resources to carry on a communication session via a selected access system.

Abstract: A method for allowing multiple service providers to provide services via a common access network. The access network is arranged with multiple logical network layers, each specific to a respective service provider. Upon successful authentication of a subscriber by a given service provider, the access network assigns that subscriber to the logical layer specific to the authenticating service provider. The access network then handles communication traffic in that logic layer in a manner specific to the service provider.