Abstract: A presence agent (101) receives a message with a request for a status of one or more entities. The presence agent (101) determines the status of the entities, and transmits a message with the status of the entities. Transmitting the message includes initiating a connection to a communication device (107). A watcher (103) monitors the status of the entities, and provides updated information regarding the status to the users. The watcher (103) receives a request for a status of entities, determines the status of the entities, and transmits, in response to receipt of the request, a response indicating the status. A communication device (107) transmits a message having a request for status of entities. The communication device receives, from a connection initiated by a communication network (105), a message with a status of the entities, and processes the status of the entities, in response thereto.

Abstract: To address the need for an apparatus and method for handoff from a cellular wireless network to a non-cellular wireless network (WLAN, e.g.), the present application describes an access gateway (214) and a dual mode mobile station (201) that enable such handoffs. The MS provides information to the access gateway so that it can initiate a handoff with the serving cellular MSC (251). By triggering handoffs in this manner, cellular networks need not have special information about non-cellular networks to support handoffs. Instead, dual mode MSs can determine when a handoff to a non-cellular network is preferred and request a handin (302) from the non-cellular network.

Abstract: To address the need for an apparatus and method for handoff from a cellular wireless network to a non-cellular wireless network (WLAN, e.g.), the present application describes an access gateway (214) and a dual mode mobile station (201) that enable such handoffs. Dual mode MSs can determine when a handoff to a non-cellular network is preferred and request a handin (302) from the non-cellular network. The access gateway provides information to the MS (304) so that it can initiate a handoff through the serving cellular network. Triggering handoffs in this manner, allows cellular networks to handle handoffs to non-cellular networks in much the same way they handle inter-MSC handoffs today, i.e., source initiated.

Abstract: To address the need for an apparatus and method for handoff from a cellular wireless network to a non-cellular wireless network (WLAN, e.g.), the present application describes an access gateway (214) and a dual mode mobile station (201) that enable such handoffs. The MS provides information to the access gateway so that it can initiate a handoff with the serving cellular MSC (251). By triggering handoffs in this manner, cellular networks need not have special information about non-cellular networks to support handoffs. Instead, dual mode MSs can determine when a handoff to a non-cellular network is preferred and request a handin (302) from the non-cellular network.

Abstract: A method of selecting a wireless communication network, where each wireless communication network has one or more base transceiver stations. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first base transceiver station of a first wireless communication network. The first signal is indicative of one or more communication service types offered by the first wireless communication network. The method further includes receiving a second signal from a second base transceiver station of a second wireless communication network. The second signal is indicative of one or more communication service types offered by the second wireless communication network. One of the first and second wireless communication networks is selected based at least in part on the first and second signals.

Abstract: To address the need for an apparatus and method for handoff from a cellular wireless network to a non-cellular wireless network (WLAN, e.g.), the present application describes an access gateway (214) and a dual mode mobile station (201) that enable such handoffs. Dual mode MSs can determine when a handoff to a non-cellular network is preferred and request a handin (302) from the non-cellular network. The access gateway provides information to the MS (304) so that it can initiate a handoff through the serving cellular network. Triggering handoffs in this manner, allows cellular networks to handle handoffs to non-cellular networks in much the same way they handle inter-MSC handoffs today, i.e., source initiated.

Abstract: A method of selecting a wireless communication network, where each wireless communication network has one or more base transceiver stations.