WO2010146238A1

WO2010146238A1 - Systems, methods, and apparatuses for facilitating proactive handover

Info

Publication number: WO2010146238A1
Application number: PCT/FI2010/050498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jari PÖYHÖNEN; Tommi Ahokangas; Tero Leimio; Mika Raine Koponen
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2010-06-15
Publication date: 2010-12-23

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems are provided for facilitating proactive hand over. A method may include determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The method may further include causing, in response to the determination, hand over of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. Corresponding apparatuses and systems are also provided.

Description

SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR FACILITATING PROACTIVE

HANDOVER

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD [0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to communication technology and, more particularly, relate to systems, methods, and apparatuses for facilitating proactive handover.

BACKGROUND [0002] The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansion of wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, television networks, and telephony networks are experiencing an unprecedented technological expansion, fueled by consumer demand. Wireless and mobile networking technologies have addressed related consumer demands, while providing more flexibility and immediacy of information transfer and providing convenience to users.

[0003] For example, some mobile networks providers allow dual mode communication devices to access mobile network services, including for example, voice calls, data transfer, Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem/Session Initiation Protocol (IMS/SIP) and/or similar services, over both a cellular network connection through a base station (e.g., connected using cellular access) and over a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection through a WLAN access point (e.g., connected through WLAN access). This dual mode capability, which allows dual mode capable communication devices to access mobile network services over a WLAN is sometimes referred to as Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology and in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards is referred to as Generic Access Network (GAN) standards.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION [0004] Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating proactive handover. In this regard, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided that may provide several advantages to computing devices, computing device users, and network operators. Some example embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating proactive handover of a terminal connected to a mobile network through a WLAN access from the

WLAN to a cellular network in response to detection of a short range communications event that may interfere with quality of service of an ongoing data transmission for a mobile network communication being transmitted over the WLAN access. In this regard, proactive handover in accordance with some example embodiments may prevent or reduce a loss of quality of service that may otherwise occur due to the event affecting use of the frequency spectrum used for the WLAN access. Some example embodiments facilitate proactive handover of a terminal to a cellular network in response to detection of initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry to prevent the Bluetooth inquiry from interrupting ongoing communication, such as a voice call, over the WLAN access. [0005] In a first example embodiment, a method is provided, which comprises determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The method of this embodiment further comprises causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0006] In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus of this embodiment comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus of this embodiment to cause, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0007] In another example embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein. The computer-readable program instructions may include a plurality of program instructions. Although in this summary, the program instructions are ordered, it will be appreciated that this summary is provided merely for purposes of example and the ordering is merely to facilitate summarizing the computer program product. The example ordering in no way limits the implementation of the associated computer program instructions. The first program instruction of this embodiment is configured for determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The second program instruction of this embodiment is configured for causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0008] In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that comprises means for determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The apparatus of this embodiment further comprises means for causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0009] In another example embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a terminal, a wireless local area network, a cellular network, and a mobile network. The terminal of this embodiment comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network.

When connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and engaged in an ongoing communication over the mobile network, the terminal of this embodiment is configured to determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at the terminal, wherein execution of the short range communication event while the terminal is connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with the ongoing mobile network communication. The terminal of this embodiment is further configured to cause, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

[0010] The above summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments of the invention so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the invention in any way. It will be appreciated that the scope of the invention encompasses many potential embodiments, some of which will be further described below, in addition to those here summarized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) [0011] Having thus described embodiments of the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a terminal according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a system for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the invention; and

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. [0019] As used herein, the term 'circuitry' refers to (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog circuitry and/or digital circuitry); (b) combinations of circuits and computer program product(s) comprising software and/or firmware instructions stored on one or more computer readable memories that work together to cause an apparatus to perform one or more functions described herein; and (c) circuits, such as, for example, a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of 'circuitry' applies to all uses of this term herein, including in any claims. As a further example, as used herein, the term 'circuitry' also includes an implementation comprising one or more processors and/or portion(s) thereof and accompanying software and/or firmware. As another example, the term 'circuitry' as used herein also includes, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, other network device, and/or other computing device. [0020] As previously discussed, dual mode communication devices may be configured to access mobile network services over both a cellular network connection through a base station (e.g., connected using cellular access) and over a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection through a WLAN access point (e.g., connected through WLAN access). However, as data may be transferred over WLAN connections using an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum that may be shared with other data transmission technologies and communication devices, voice or other data being transmitted and/or received by dual mode communication devices connected to a mobile network through

WLAN access mode may encounter interference due to another use of the radio frequency spectrum used for connection to the WLAN network. Some example embodiments described herein may accordingly serve to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of such interference.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The example embodiments illustrated and described herein are merely provided by way of example and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. It will be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure encompasses many potential embodiments in addition to those illustrated and described herein. As such, while FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a configuration of a system for facilitating proactive handover, numerous other configurations may also be used to implement embodiments of the present invention.

[0022] In at least some example embodiments, the system 100 includes a terminal 102 configured to access and engage in communication over a mobile network 104. The mobile network 104 may comprise a public land mobile network. The terminal 102 may be registered to (e.g., may comprise a subscriber identity module associated with the mobile network 104) and/or may be used by a subscriber of the mobile network 104. The system 100 may further comprise a base station 106 configured to provide access to a cellular network 108 and a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point 110 configured to provide access to the WLAN 112. The WLAN 112 may comprise a network operating in accordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards. However, it will be appreciated that IEEE 802.11 is just one example of a networking technology according to which the WLAN 112 may operate and thus where IEEE 802.11 is mentioned herein, it will be appreciated that other wireless local area networking technologies, such as, for example, Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum standards, High Performance Radio LAN (HiperLAN) standards, and/or the like, may be substituted for IEEE 802.11 within the scope of the invention.

[0023] In some example embodiments, the terminal 102 comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network 104 both through an unlicensed radio spectrum technology (e.g., the WLAN 112) and through a cellular network (e.g., the cellular network 108). In this regard, the terminal 102 may be configured to establish a radio connection with the base station 106 to access the mobile network 104 through the cellular network 108 and to establish a radio connection with the WLAN access point 110 to access the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112. The terminal 102 may be configured to operate in "Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) preferred mode" wherein the terminal 102 may be configured to connect to the mobile network 104 through an unlicensed mobile network (e.g., through a WLAN 112) when a connection to an unlicensed mobile network is available and to connect to the mobile network 104 through a cellular network if a connection to an unlicensed mobile network is unavailable. [0024] The system 100 may further comprise one or more secondary devices 114. A secondary device 114 may comprise any device configured to wirelessly network or otherwise interface with the terminal 102 through a wireless personal area networking technology, such as, for example, Bluetooth. It will be appreciated, however, that Bluetooth is merely provided as an example of one wireless personal area networking technology through which the terminal 102 and secondary device 114 may be configured to network or otherwise interface with each other. Accordingly, where Bluetooth is referenced herein, other wireless personal area networking technologies, such as, for example, various IEEE 802.15 standards, ZigBee, Ultra- Wideband, and/or the like, may be substituted for Bluetooth within the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, the wireless personal area networking technology through which the terminal 102 and secondary device 114 are configured to network with each other and the wireless local area networking technology of the WLAN 112 may operate over a common radio frequency spectrum, such as, for example, the 2.4 GHz spectrum. [0025] The terminal 102 may be embodied as a desktop computer, laptop computer, mobile terminal, mobile computer, mobile phone, mobile communication device, game device, digital camera/camcorder, audio/video player, television device, radio receiver, digital video recorder, positioning device, any combination thereof, and/or the like. In an example embodiment, the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal, such as that illustrated in FIG. 2. [0026] In this regard, FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile terminal 10 representative of one embodiment of a terminal 102. It should be understood, however, that the mobile terminal 10 illustrated and hereinafter described is merely illustrative of one type of terminal 102 that may implement and/or benefit from embodiments of the present invention and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the disclosure. While several embodiments of the electronic device are illustrated and will be hereinafter described for purposes of example, other types of electronic devices, such as mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, televisions, and other types of electronic systems, may employ embodiments of the present invention. [0027] As shown, the mobile terminal 10 may include an antenna 12 (or multiple antennas 12) in communication with a transmitter 14 and a receiver 16. The mobile terminal may also include a controller 20 or other processor(s) that provides signals to and receives signals from the transmitter and receiver, respectively. These signals may include signaling information in accordance with an air interface standard of an applicable cellular system, and/or any number of different wireline or wireless networking techniques, comprising but not limited to Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), wireless local access network (WLAN) techniques such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, 802.16, and/or the like. In addition, these signals may include speech data, user generated data, user requested data, and/or the like. In this regard, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating with one or more air interface standards, communication protocols, modulation types, access types, and/or the like. More particularly, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with various first generation (IG), second generation (2G), 2.5G, third-generation (3G) communication protocols, fourth- generation (4G) communication protocols, Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) communication protocols (e.g., session initiation protocol (SIP)), and/or the like. For example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2G wireless communication protocols IS- 136 (Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), IS-95 (Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)), and/or the like. Also, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 2.5G wireless communication protocols General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), and/or the like. Further, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with 3 G wireless communication protocols such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Time Division- Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), and/or the like. The mobile terminal may be additionally capable of operating in accordance with 3.9G wireless communication protocols such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E- UTRAN) and/or the like. Additionally, for example, the mobile terminal may be capable of operating in accordance with fourth-generation (4G) wireless communication protocols and/or the like as well as similar wireless communication protocols that may be developed in the future. [0028] Some Narrow-band Advanced Mobile Phone System (NAMPS), as well as Total Access Communication System (TACS), mobile terminals may also benefit from embodiments of this invention, as should dual or higher mode phones (e.g., digital/analog or TDMA/CDMA/analog phones). Additionally, the mobile terminal 10 may be capable of operating according to Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) protocols.

[0029] It is understood that the controller 20 may comprise circuitry for implementing audio/video and logic functions of the mobile terminal 10. For example, the controller 20 may comprise a digital signal processor device, a microprocessor device, an analog-to- digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, and/or the like. Control and signal processing functions of the mobile terminal may be allocated between these devices according to their respective capabilities. The controller may additionally comprise an internal voice coder (VC) 20a, an internal data modem (DM) 20b, and/or the like. Further, the controller may comprise functionality to operate one or more software programs, which may be stored in memory. For example, the controller 20 may be capable of operating a connectivity program, such as a web browser. The connectivity program may allow the mobile terminal 10 to transmit and receive web content, such as location-based content, according to a protocol, such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), and/or the like. The mobile terminal 10 may be capable of using a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to transmit and receive web content across the internet or other networks.

[0030] The mobile terminal 10 may also comprise a user interface including, for example, an earphone or speaker 24, a ringer 22, a microphone 26, a display 28, a user input interface, and/or the like, which may be operationally coupled to the controller 20. In this regard, the controller 20 may comprise user interface circuitry configured to control at least some functions of one or more elements of the user interface, such as, for example, the speaker 24, the ringer 22, the microphone 26, the display 28, and/or the like. The controller 20 and/or user interface circuitry comprising the controller 20 may be configured to control one or more functions of one or more elements of the user interface through computer program instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware) stored on a memory accessible to the controller 20 (e.g., volatile memory 40, non-volatile memory 42, and/or the like). Although not shown, the mobile terminal may comprise a battery for powering various circuits related to the mobile terminal, for example, a circuit to provide mechanical vibration as a detectable output. The user input interface may comprise devices allowing the mobile terminal to receive data, such as a keypad 30, a touch display (not shown), a joystick (not shown), and/or other input device. In embodiments including a keypad, the keypad may comprise numeric (0-9) and related keys (#, *), and/or other keys for operating the mobile terminal. [0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 10 may also include one or more means for sharing and/or obtaining data. For example, the mobile terminal may comprise a short-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver and/or interrogator 64 so data may be shared with and/or obtained from electronic devices in accordance with RF techniques. The mobile terminal may comprise other short-range transceivers, such as, for example, an infrared (IR) transceiver 66, a Bluetooth™ (BT) transceiver 68 operating using

Bluetooth™ brand wireless technology developed by the Bluetooth™ Special Interest Group, a wireless universal serial bus (USB) transceiver 70 and/or the like. The Bluetooth™ transceiver 68 may be capable of operating according to ultra- low power Bluetooth technology (e.g., Wibree ) radio standards. In this regard, the mobile terminal 10 and, in particular, the short-range transceiver may be capable of transmitting data to and/or receiving data from electronic devices within a proximity of the mobile terminal, such as within 10 meters, for example. Although not shown, the mobile terminal may be capable of transmitting and/or receiving data from electronic devices according to various wireless networking techniques, including Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), WLAN techniques such as IEEE 802.11 techniques, IEEE 802.15 techniques, IEEE 802.16 techniques, and/or the like.

[0032] The mobile terminal 10 may comprise memory, such as a subscriber identity module (SIM) 38, a removable user identity module (R-UIM), and/or the like, which may store information elements related to a mobile subscriber. In addition to the SIM, the mobile terminal may comprise other removable and/or fixed memory. The mobile terminal 10 may include volatile memory 40 and/or non- volatile memory 42. For example, volatile memory 40 may include Random Access Memory (RAM) including dynamic and/or static RAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory, and/or the like. Non-volatile memory 42, which may be embedded and/or removable, may include, for example, read- only memory, flash memory, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, etc.), optical disc drives and/or media, non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), and/or the like. Like volatile memory 40 non- volatile memory 42 may include a cache area for temporary storage of data. The memories may store one or more software programs, instructions, pieces of information, data, and/or the like which may be used by the mobile terminal for performing functions of the mobile terminal. For example, the memories may comprise an identifier, such as an international mobile equipment identification (IMEI) code, capable of uniquely identifying the mobile terminal 10. [0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a terminal 102 according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the terminal 102 includes various means, such as one or more of a processor 120, memory 122, user interface 124, short range communication circuitry 126, WLAN circuitry 128, cellular circuitry 130, and communication management entity 132 for performing the various functions herein described. These means of terminal 102 as described herein may be embodied as, for example, hardware elements (e.g., a suitably programmed processor, combinational logic circuit, and/or the like), a computer program product comprising computer-readable program instructions (e.g., software or firmware) stored on a computer- readable medium (e.g. memory 122) that is executable by a suitably configured processing device (e.g., the processor 120), or some combination thereof. [0034] The processor 120 may, for example, be embodied as various means including one or more microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other processing elements including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field programmable gate array), or some combination thereof. Accordingly, although illustrated in FIG. 1 as a single processor, in some embodiments the processor 120 comprises a plurality of processors. The plurality of processors may be in operative communication with each other and may be collectively configured to perform one or more functionalities of the terminal 102 as described herein. In embodiments wherein the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal 10, the processor 120 may be embodied as or comprise the controller 20. In an example embodiment, the processor 120 is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 122 or otherwise accessible to the processor 120. These instructions, when executed by the processor 120, may cause the terminal 102 to perform one or more of the functionalities of the terminal 102 as described herein. As such, whether configured by hardware or software methods, or by a combination thereof, the processor 120 may comprise an entity capable of performing operations according to embodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor 120 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor 120 may comprise specifically configured hardware for conducting one or more operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor 120 is embodied as an executor of instructions, such as may be stored in the memory 122, the instructions may specifically configure the processor 120 to perform one or more algorithms and operations described herein.

[0035] The memory 122 may include, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory. Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as a single memory, the memory 122 may comprise a plurality of memories. The memory 122 may comprise volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, or some combination thereof. In this regard, the memory 122 may comprise, for example, a hard disk, random access memory, cache memory, flash memory, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), an optical disc, circuitry configured to store information, or some combination thereof. In embodiments wherein the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal 10, the memory 122 may comprise the volatile memory 40 and/or the non- volatile memory 42. The memory 122 may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, or the like for enabling the terminal 102 to carry out various functions in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. For example, in at least some embodiments, the memory 122 is configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor 120. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments, the memory 122 is configured to store program instructions for execution by the processor 120. The memory 122 may store information in the form of static and/or dynamic information. This stored information may be stored and/or used by the short range communication circuitry 126, WLAN circuitry 128, cellular circuitry 130, and/or communication management entity 132 during the course of performing their functionalities.

[0036] The user interface 124 may be in communication with the processor 120 to receive an indication of a user input and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical, or other output to a user. As such, the user interface 124 may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a display, a touch screen display, a microphone, a speaker, and/or other input/output mechanisms. In some embodiments, the user interface 124 is configured to facilitate user interaction with the terminal 102 for purposes of initiating short range communication events, such as to interface with and/or to otherwise interact with a secondary device 112. The user interface 126 may be in communication with the memory 122, short range communication circuitry 126, WLAN circuitry 128, cellular circuitry 130, and/or communication management entity 132, such as via a bus. [0037] The short range communication circuitry 126 may be embodied as any device or means embodied in hardware, a computer program product comprising computer readable program instructions stored on a computer readable medium (e.g., the memory 122) and executed by a processing device (e.g., the processor 120), or a combination thereof that is configured to establish a connection with a secondary device 114 and receive and/or transmit data from/to a secondary device 114 over the connection in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology, such as, for example, Bluetooth. In at least one embodiment, the short range communication circuitry 126 is at least partially embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor 120. In this regard, the short range communication circuitry 126 may be in communication with the processor 120, such as via a bus. In an example embodiment, the short range communication circuitry 126 comprises and/or is in communication with an antenna(s) (e.g., an antenna 12 in embodiments wherein the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal 10), a transmitter(s), a receiver(s), a transceiver(s) and/or supporting hardware or software for enabling establishment of a connection (e.g., a personal area network connection) and/or communications with a secondary device 114 in accordance with a personal area networking technology. The short range communication circuitry 126 may additionally be in communication with the memory 122, user interface 124, WLAN circuitry 128, cellular circuitry 130, and/or communication management entity 132, such as via a bus. [0038] The WLAN circuitry 128 may be embodied as any device or means embodied in hardware, a computer program product comprising computer readable program instructions stored on a computer readable medium (e.g., the memory 122) and executed by a processing device (e.g., the processor 120), or a combination thereof that is configured to establish a radio connection with the WLAN access point 110 and connect to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112. The WLAN circuitry 128 may be configured to establish a connection with the WLAN access point 110 and communicate over the WLAN 112 in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology implemented by the WLAN 112, such as, for example, IEEE 802.11. In this regard, the WLAN circuitry 128 may be configured to engage in communication over the mobile network 104 when connected to the WLAN access point 110 via the WLAN 112 in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology implemented by the WLAN 112. In at least one example embodiment, the WLAN circuitry 128 is at least partially embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor 120. In this regard, the WLAN circuitry 128 may be in communication with the processor 120, such as via a bus. In an example embodiment, the WLAN circuitry 128 comprises and/or is in communication with an antenna(s) (e.g., an antenna 12 in embodiments wherein the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal 10), a transmitter(s), a receiver(s), a transceiver(s) and/or supporting hardware or software for enabling communication over the WLAN 112. The WLAN circuitry 128 may comprise a UMA protocol stack or other means for managing mobile network communications when the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 102 through the WLAN 112. The WLAN circuitry 128 may additionally be in communication with the memory 122, user interface 124, short range communication circuitry 126, cellular circuitry 130, and/or communication management entity 132, such as via a bus. [0039] The cellular circuitry 130 may be embodied as any device or means embodied in hardware, a computer program product comprising computer readable program instructions stored on a computer readable medium (e.g., the memory 122) and executed by a processing device (e.g., the processor 120), or a combination thereof that is configured to establish a radio connection with the base station 106 and connect to the mobile network 104 through the cellular network 108. The cellular circuitry 130 may be configured to establish a connection with the base station 106 and communicate over the cellular network 108 in accordance with any cellular networking technology implemented by the cellular network 108. In this regard, the cellular circuitry 130 may be configured to engage in communication over the mobile network 104 when connected to the base station 106 via the cellular network 108 in accordance with the cellular networking technology implemented by the cellular network 108. In at least one example embodiment, the cellular circuitry 130 is at least partially embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor 120. In this regard, the cellular circuitry 130 may be in communication with the processor 120, such as via a bus. In an example embodiment, the cellular circuitry 130 comprises and/or is in communication with an antenna(s) (e.g., an antenna 12 in embodiments wherein the terminal 102 is embodied as a mobile terminal 10), a transmitter(s), a receiver(s), a transceiver(s) and/or supporting hardware or software for enabling communication over the cellular network 108. The cellular circuitry 130 may additionally be in communication with the memory 122, user interface 124, short range communication circuitry 126, WLAN circuitry 128, and/or communication management entity 132, such as via a bus. [0040] The communication management entity 132 may be embodied as various means, such as hardware, a computer program product comprising computer readable program instructions stored on a computer readable medium (e.g., the memory 122) and executed by a processing device (e.g., the processor 120), or some combination thereof and, in one embodiment, is embodied as or otherwise controlled by the processor 120. In embodiments wherein the communication management entity 132 is embodied separately from the processor 120, the communication management entity 132 may be in communication with the processor 120. The communication management entity 132 may further be in communication with one or more of the memory 122, user interface 124, short range communication circuitry 126, WLAN circuitry 128, or cellular circuitry 130, such as via a bus.

[0041] The terminal 102 may be connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112. The terminal 102 may additionally be engaged in a mobile network communication, such as, for example, a voice call, over the mobile network 104. Thus a data flow may be transmitted between the WLAN circuitry 128 and mobile network 104 over the WLAN 112 to support the mobile network communication. [0042] When the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 and engaged in an active mobile network communication (e.g., a voice call), the communication management entity 132 may be configured to determine an initiation at the terminal 102 of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology. The short range communication event may comprise a short range communication event between the terminal 102 and secondary device 114. In embodiments wherein the terminal 102 and secondary device 114 are configured to network in accordance with Bluetooth standards, the short range communication event may comprise a Bluetooth inquiry for establishing a Bluetooth personal area network connection between the terminal 102 and secondary device 114. The initiation of the short range communication event may be triggered manually, such as through a user command received by the user interface 124 and transmitted to and/or detected by the communication management entity 132. Additionally or alternatively, the initiation of the short range communication event may be triggered automatically, such as in response to the secondary device 114 and terminal 102 being within a predefined proximity of each other, in response to a communication sent to the terminal 102 by the secondary device 114, in response to some predefined condition, in response to a predefined schedule, and/or the like. [0043] The short range communication event, when executed by the short range communication circuitry 128, may interfere with the ongoing mobile network communication over the WLAN 112. For example, interference may occur due to the short range communication event being executed in accordance with a personal area networking technology sharing a common radio spectrum with that used by the local area networking technology implemented by the WLAN 112. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the short range communication circuitry 126 and WLAN circuitry 128 may be configured to engage in communications over a common antenna and thus execution of the short range communication event by the short range communication circuitry 126 may interrupt the data flow over the WLAN 112 that supports the ongoing mobile network communication. In an example embodiment wherein the short range communication event comprises a Bluetooth inquiry, the terminal 102 may be configured to execute a Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than a WLAN data flow and thus execution of the Bluetooth inquiry over a shared antenna may preempt the WLAN data flow for the period of the inquiry and cause a reduction in quality of service for or dropping of the ongoing mobile network communication if communicated over the WLAN 112. [0044] In response to determining the initiation of the short range communication event, the communication management entity 132 is configured in some example embodiments to cause a handover of the connection between the terminal 102 and the mobile network 104 and the ongoing mobile network communication from the WLAN 112 to the cellular network 108 prior to execution of the short range communication event. In this regard, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to block execution of the short range communication event until the handover is complete and/or the short range communication circuitry 126 may be configured to await instruction from the communication management entity 132 before executing the short range communication event. The communication management entity 132 may be configured to cause the handover by sending an instruction to the WLAN circuitry 128 and/or cellular circuitry 130 to handover the mobile network connection to the cellular network 108. [0045] The communication management entity 132 may be further configured to determine when handover of the terminal 102 to the cellular network 108 is complete. In response to the determination that handover is complete, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to allow execution of the short range communication event. In this regard, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to cease blocking execution of the short range communication event and/or to instruct the short range communication circuitry 126 that it may execute the short range communication event. In response to the communication management entity 132 allowing execution of the short range communication event, the short range communication circuitry 126 may be configured to execute the short range communication event. In some embodiments, such as when the terminal 102 is configured to operate in UMA-preferred mode, the communication management entity 132, WLAN circuitry 128, and/or cellular circuitry 130 may be configured to cause handover of the terminal 102 from the cellular network 108 back to the WLAN 112 in response to completion of execution of the short range communication event. [0046] In some embodiments, when the communication management entity 132 determines an initiation of a short range communication event has occurred, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to further determine whether there is an available cellular network 108 to which the terminal 102 may be handed over to (e.g., whether the terminal 102 is within range of a base station 106). If the communication management entity 132 determines that there is not an available cellular network 108, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to block execution of the short range communication event until either a cellular network 108 is available and the terminal 102 is handed over to the cellular network 108 or until the ongoing mobile network communication has terminated such that execution of the short range communication event would not interfere with the mobile network communication. [0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400 for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In this regard, the system 400 is substantially similar to the system 100, however, the system 400 includes a second WLAN access point 406 providing access to a second WLAN 408 in addition to or in lieu of the base station 106 and cellular network 108. The second WLAN 408 may comprise a network operating in accordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 a standards. However, it will be appreciated that IEEE 802.11 a is just one example of a networking technology according to which the second WLAN 408 may operate and in other embodiments, the second WLAN 408 may operate in accordance with another networking technologies, such as, for example, other 802.11 standards, Wireless LAN Interoperability Forum standards, High Performance Radio LAN (HiperLAN) standards, and/or the like. In this regard, the second WLAN 408 may operate using a different networking technology than the WLAN 112. For example, the second WLAN

408 may operate in a different frequency band than the WLAN 112. As an example, in embodiments wherein the second WLAN 408 comprises an 802.11a network, the second WLAN 408 operates in the 5 GHz frequency band and the WLAN 112 may, for example, operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some example embodiments, the terminal 102 may comprise a dual or multiple band terminal configured to connect to WLANs operating in multiple frequency bands and the WLAN circuitry 128 may be further configured to establish a connection with the second WLAN access point 406 and communicate over the second WLAN 408 in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology implemented by the second WLAN 408, such as, for example, IEEE 802.11a. In this regard, the WLAN circuitry 128 may be configured to engage in communication over the mobile network 104 when connected to the second WLAN access point 406 via the second WLAN 408 in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology implemented by the second WLAN 408.

[0048] Thus, when the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 and the communication management entity 132 determines an initiation of a short range communication event that, if executed, while connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to cause the WLAN circuitry 128 to establish a radio connection with the second WLAN access point 406 and handover the connection to the mobile network 104 and the ongoing mobile network communication from the WLAN 112 to the second WLAN 408 prior to execution of the short range communication event provided that execution of the short range communication event would not interfere with a mobile network communication transmitted via the second WLAN 408. [0049] For example, in a situation wherein the short range communication event comprises a Bluetooth communication, such as a Bluetooth Inquiry, that is transmitted over the 2.4 GHz band, the WLAN 112 operates in the 2.4 GHz band, and the second WLAN 408 operates in the 5 GHz band, execution of the Bluetooth communication while the terminal 102 is connected to the WLAN 112 may interfere with an ongoing mobile communication. However, execution of the Bluetooth communication while the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 104 through the second WLAN 408 may not interfere with the ongoing mobile communication due to the band separation between the

Bluetooth communication and the second WLAN 408 operating frequency band.

[0050] In some example embodiments, the communication management entity 132 is configured to determine what alternative network access point(s) are available for connecting to the mobile network 104 that would not be subject to interference due to execution of the short range communication event. The communication management entity 132 may be configured to make this determination in response to determining an initiation of a short range communication event that, if executed, while connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The communication management entity 132 may further determine which network access point to connect to in accordance with a connection preference policy defined for the terminal 102 that the communication management entity 132 is configured to implement. In this regard, for example, if both a second WLAN access point 406 and base station 106 are within range and execution of the short range communication event would not interfere with a mobile communication over the second WLAN 408, the communication management entity 132 may be configured to determine to connect to the second WLAN access point 406 in keeping with a policy to connect to the cellular network 104 through a WLAN rather than a cellular network when a WLAN connection is available (e.g., when the terminal 102 is configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode).

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the invention. In this regard, FIG. 5 illustrates operations that may, for example, be performed by the communication management entity 132. The method may include determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology while the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 and engaged in a mobile network communication, at operation 500. Execution of the short range communication event while the terminal 102 is connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112 may interfere with the active mobile network communication. Operation 510 may comprise causing, in response to the determination, handover of the connection between the terminal 102 and mobile network 104 from the WLAN 112 to the cellular network 108 prior to execution of the short range communication event such that execution of the short range communication event will not interfere with the active mobile network communication. Operation 520 may comprise determining that handover of the terminal 102 and the active mobile network communication to the cellular network 108 is complete. Operation 530 may comprise allowing execution of the short range communication event. [0052] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart according to an example method for facilitating proactive handover according to an example embodiment of the invention. In this regard, FIG. 6 illustrates operations that may be performed by the terminal 102. Operation 600 may comprise the terminal 102 connecting to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112. The terminal may then engage in a mobile network communication while connected to the mobile network 104 through the WLAN 112, at operation 610. Operation 620 may comprise the terminal 102 initiating a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology. The terminal 102 may then initiate, in response to initiation of the short range communication event, a handover of the connection to the mobile network 104 and the ongoing mobile network communication from the WLAN 112 to the cellular network 108, at operation 630. Operation 640 may comprise the terminal 102 executing the short range communication event in response to completion of the handover. [0053] FIGs. 5-6 are flowcharts of a system, method, and computer program product according to example embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by various means, such as hardware and/or a computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable mediums having computer readable program instructions stored thereon. For example, one or more of the procedures described herein may be embodied by computer program instructions of a computer program product. In this regard, the computer program product(s) which embody the procedures described herein may be stored by one or more memory devices of a mobile terminal, server, or other computing device and executed by a processor in the computing device. In some embodiments, the computer program instructions comprising the computer program product(s) which embody the procedures described above may be stored by memory devices of a plurality of computing devices. As will be appreciated, any such computer program product may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a machine, such that the computer program product including the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus creates means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block(s). Further, the computer program product may comprise one or more computer-readable memories on which the computer program instructions may be stored such that the one or more computer-readable memories can direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the computer program product comprises an article of manufacture which implements the function specified in the flowchart block(s). The computer program instructions of one or more computer program products may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus implements the functions specified in the flowchart block(s).

[0054] Accordingly, blocks of the flowcharts support combinations of means for performing the specified functions and combinations of operations for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that one or more blocks of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer program product(s).

[0055] The above described functions may be carried out in many ways. For example, any suitable means for carrying out each of the functions described above may be employed to carry out various example embodiments. In one example embodiment, a suitably configured processor may provide all or a portion of the elements. In another embodiment, all or a portion of the elements may be configured by and operate under control of a computer program product. The computer program product for performing the methods of various example embodiments includes a computer-readable storage medium, such as the non-volatile storage medium, and computer-readable program code portions, such as a series of computer instructions, embodied in the computer-readable storage medium.

[0056] In a first example embodiment, a method is provided, which comprises determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The method of this embodiment further comprises causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0057] The terminal of this embodiment may comprise a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network. The dual mode terminal may be configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode. The wireless personal area networking technology and wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may operate over a common radio frequency spectrum. The terminal of this embodiment may comprise an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are sent and/or received by the terminal. The wireless personal area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Bluetooth. The wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11. The ongoing mobile network communication of this embodiment may comprise a voice call. [0058] Determining the initiation of the short range communication event may comprise a communication management entity determining the initiation of the short range communication event. Causing handover of the terminal's connection may comprise the communication management entity causing handover of the terminal's connection. [0059] Determining the initiation of the short range communication event may comprise determining an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry. The terminal may be configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

[0060] The method of this embodiment may further comprise determining that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete. The method of this embodiment may additionally comprise allowing execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

[0061] In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus of this embodiment comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus of this embodiment to cause, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

[0062] The apparatus of this embodiment may comprise or may be embodied on the terminal. The terminal of this embodiment may comprise a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network. The dual mode terminal may be configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode. The wireless personal area networking technology and wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may operate over a common radio frequency spectrum. The terminal of this embodiment may comprise an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are sent and/or received by the terminal. The wireless personal area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Bluetooth. The wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11. The ongoing mobile network communication of this embodiment may comprise a voice call.

[0063] The at least one memory and stored computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus of this embodiment to determine the initiation of the short range communication event by determining an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry. The terminal may be configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

[0064] The at least one memory and stored computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus of this embodiment to determine that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete. The at least one memory and stored computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, additionally cause the apparatus of this embodiment to allow execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete. [0065] The apparatus of this embodiment may comprise the terminal, which may comprise a mobile phone further comprising user interface circuitry and user interface software stored on one or more of the at least one memory. The user interface circuitry and user interface software may be configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display. The user interface circuitry and user interface software may be further configured to cause at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone to be displayed on the display to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone. [0066] In another example embodiment, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein. The computer-readable program instructions may include a plurality of program instructions. Although in this summary, the program instructions are ordered, it will be appreciated that this summary is provided merely for purposes of example and the ordering is merely to facilitate summarizing the computer program product. The example ordering in no way limits the implementation of the associated computer program instructions. The first program instruction of this embodiment is configured for determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The second program instruction of this embodiment is configured for causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event. [0067] The terminal of this embodiment may comprise a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network. The dual mode terminal may be configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode. The wireless personal area networking technology and wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may operate over a common radio frequency spectrum. The terminal of this embodiment may comprise an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are sent and/or received by the terminal. The wireless personal area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Bluetooth. The wireless local area networking technology of this embodiment may comprise Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11. The ongoing mobile network communication of this embodiment may comprise a voice call.

[0068] The first program instruction of this embodiment may be configured for determining the initiation of the short range communication event by determining an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry. The terminal may be configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network. [0069] The computer program product of this embodiment may further comprise a third program instruction configured for determining that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete. The computer program product of this embodiment may additionally comprise a fourth program instruction configured for allowing execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

[0070] In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that comprises means for determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication. The apparatus of this embodiment further comprises means for causing, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

[0071] In another example embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a terminal, a wireless local area network, a cellular network, and a mobile network. The terminal of this embodiment comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network. When connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and engaged in an ongoing communication over the mobile network, the terminal of this embodiment is configured to determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at the terminal, wherein execution of the short range communication event while the terminal is connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with the ongoing mobile network communication. The terminal of this embodiment is further configured to cause, in response to the determination, handover of the terminal's connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

[0072] As such, then, some example embodiments provide several advantages to computing devices, computing device users, and network operators. Some example embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating proactive handover of a terminal connected to a mobile network through a WLAN access from the WLAN to a cellular network in response to detection of a short range communications event that may interfere with quality of service of an ongoing data transmission for a mobile network communication being transmitted over the WLAN access. In this regard, proactive handover in accordance with some example embodiments may prevent or reduce a loss of quality of service that may otherwise occur due to the event affecting use of the frequency spectrum used for the WLAN access. Some example embodiments facilitate proactive handover of a terminal to a cellular network in response to detection of initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry to prevent the Bluetooth inquiry from interrupting ongoing communication, such as a voice call, over the WLAN access.

[0073] Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method comprising: determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication; and causing, in response to the determination, handover of the connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network.

3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the dual mode terminal is configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode.

4. The method of any of Claims 1-3, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology and the wireless local area networking technology operate over a common radio frequency spectrum.

5. The method of any of Claims 1-4, wherein the terminal comprises an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are at least one of sent or received by the terminal.

6. The method of any of Claims 1-5, further comprising: determining that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete; and allowing execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

7. The method of any of Claims 1-6, wherein determining the initiation of the short range communication comprises determining an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry.

8. The method of Claim 7, wherein the terminal is configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

9. The method of any of Claims 1-8, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology comprises Bluetooth.

10. The method of any of Claims 1-9, wherein the wireless local area networking technology comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 standard.

11. The method of any of Claims 1-10, wherein the ongoing mobile network communication comprises a voice call.

12. The method of any of Claims 1-11, wherein causing handover of the connection to the mobile network comprises a processor causing handover of the connection to the mobile network.

13. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least: determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication; and cause, in response to the determination, handover of the connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

14. The apparatus of Claim 13, wherein the terminal comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network.

15. The apparatus of Claim 14, wherein the dual mode terminal is configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode.

16. The apparatus of any o f Claims 13-15, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology and the wireless local area networking technology operate over a common radio frequency spectrum.

17. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-16, wherein the terminal comprises an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are at least one of sent or received by the terminal.

18. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-17, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to: determine that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete; and allow execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

19. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-18, wherein the initiation of the short range communication comprises an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry.

20. The apparatus of Claim 19, wherein the terminal is configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

21. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-20, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology comprises Bluetooth.

22. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-21, wherein the wireless local area networking technology comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 standard.

23. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-22, wherein the ongoing mobile network communication comprises a voice call.

24. The apparatus of any of Claims 13-22, wherein the apparatus comprises or is embodied on the terminal.

25. The apparatus of Claim 24, wherein the terminal comprises a mobile phone, the mobile phone comprising user interface circuitry and user interface software stored on one or more of the at least one memory; wherein the user interface circuitry and user interface software are configured to: facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display; and cause at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone to be displayed on the display to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.

26. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising: program instructions configured to determine an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication; and program instructions configured to cause, in response to the determination, handover of the connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

27. The computer program product of Claim 26, wherein the terminal comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network.

28. The computer program product of Claim 27, wherein the dual mode terminal is configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode.

29. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-28, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology and the wireless local area networking technology operate over a common radio frequency spectrum.

30. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-29, wherein the terminal comprises an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are at least one of sent or received by the terminal.

31. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-30, further comprising: program instructions configured to determine that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete; and program instructions configured to allow execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

32. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-31 , wherein the program instructions configured to determine the initiation of the short range communication comprise program instructions configured to determine an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry.

33. The computer program product of Claim 32, wherein the terminal is configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

34. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-33, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology comprises Bluetooth.

35. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-34, wherein the wireless local area networking technology comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 standard.

36. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-35, wherein the ongoing mobile network communication comprises a voice call.

37. The computer program product of any of Claims 26-36, wherein the computer program product is embodied on the terminal.

38. An apparatus comprising: means for determining an initiation of a short range communication event in accordance with a wireless personal area networking technology at a terminal connected to a mobile network through a wireless local area network in accordance with a wireless local area networking technology, wherein execution of the short range communication event while connected to the mobile network through the wireless local area network would interfere with an ongoing mobile network communication; and means for causing, in response to the determination, handover of the connection to the mobile network and the ongoing mobile network communication from the wireless local area network to a cellular network prior to execution of the short range communication event.

39. The apparatus of Claim 38, wherein the terminal comprises a dual mode terminal configured to connect to the mobile network through the wireless local area network and through the cellular network.

40. The apparatus of Claim 39, wherein the dual mode terminal is configured to operate in Unlicensed Mobile Access preferred mode.

41. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-40, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology and the wireless local area networking technology operate over a common radio frequency spectrum.

42. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-41, wherein the terminal comprises an antenna over which both communications in accordance with the personal area networking technology and communications in accordance with the wireless local area networking technology are at least one of sent or received by the terminal.

43. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-42, further comprising: means for determining that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete; and means for allowing execution of the short range communication event in response to the determination that handover of the terminal to the cellular network is complete.

44. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-43, wherein the means for determining the initiation of the short range communication comprises means for determining an initiation of a Bluetooth inquiry.

45. The apparatus of Claim 44, wherein the terminal is configured to execute the Bluetooth inquiry at a higher priority than data flow over the wireless local area network.

46. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-45, wherein the wireless personal area networking technology comprises Bluetooth.

47. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-46, wherein the wireless local area networking technology comprises an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 standard.

48. The apparatus of any of Claims 38-47, wherein the ongoing mobile network communication comprises a voice call.