Wireless communication system and associated method for routing messages to wireless networks

Abstract

A wireless communication system is provided that includes a base station and a routing map. The base station is in wireless communication with a plurality of wireless networks. The routing map stores information relating to a location of a mobile station in wireless communication with a first wireless network. The base station receives a signal for the mobile station and transmits the signal to only the first wireless network, according to information retrieved from the routing map related to the location of the mobile station. The wireless network may be a wireless local area network. A handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to a second wireless network may be made based upon a measured signal characteristic between the mobile station and the first and second wireless networks.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a base station in wireless communication with a first plurality of wireless networks; and   a routing map storing information relating to a location of a mobile station in wireless communication with a first wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks,   wherein the base station:
 receives a signal for communication to the mobile station, 
 retrieves from the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station, and 
 wirelessly transmits the signal to only the first wireless network according to the information retrieved from the router map, wherein transmission of the signal to the first wireless network causes the first wireless network to wirelessly transmit the signal to the mobile station. 
   
   
   
       26 . The wireless communication system of  claim 25 , wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network. 
   
   
       27 . The wireless communication system of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the base station receives a report from the mobile station, the report indicating a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks; and   wherein the routing map stores information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.   
   
   
       28 . The wireless communication system of  claim 27 , wherein, in response to the routing map storing information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network, the base station:
 determines that the signal has not been received by the mobile station;   wirelessly transmits the signal from the base station to only the second wireless network.   
   
   
       29 . The wireless communication system of  claim 27 , wherein the report received from the mobile station is based upon a comparison of a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first wireless network and a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second wireless network. 
   
   
       30 . The wireless communication system of  claim 25 , further comprising an access process, wherein the access process:
 communicates with a plurality of base stations, wherein the base station is a first base station of the plurality of base stations;   receives the signal for communication to the mobile station;   retrieves from the routing map the information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the first wireless network, and   wirelessly transmits the signal to only the first base station according to the information retrieved from the router map.   
   
   
       31 . The wireless communication system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 the access process receives a report from the mobile station, the report indicating a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of a second plurality of wireless networks in wireless communication with a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and   the routing map stores information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.   
   
   
       32 . The network of  claim 31 , wherein, in response to the routing map storing information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network, the access process:
 determines that the signal has not been received by the mobile station; and   wirelessly transmits the signal from the access process to only the second base station.   
   
   
       33 . A method of communicating with a mobile station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 storing in a routing map information related to a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a first wireless network of a first plurality of wireless networks;   receiving at a base station a signal for communication to the mobile station, wherein the base station is capable of wireless communication with the first plurality of wireless networks;   retrieving from the routing map the information related to the location of the mobile station;   wirelessly transmitting the signal from the base station to only the first wireless network according to the information retrieved from the router map.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 detecting a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks;   performing a handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; and   storing in the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining that the signal has not been received by the mobile station;   wirelessly transmitting the signal from the base station to only the second wireless network.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 measuring a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first wireless network;   measuring a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second wireless network; and   comparing the first and second signal characteristics,   wherein handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network is performed according to the comparison of the first and second signal characteristics.   
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second signal characteristics are measured at the mobile station and transmitted to one of the first and second wireless networks. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein receiving at a base station a signal for communication to the mobile station further comprises:
 receiving the signal at an access process, wherein the access process is capable of communication with a plurality of base stations and the base station receiving the signal is a first base station of the plurality of base stations; and   transmitting the signal from the access process to only the first base station according to the information retrieved from the routing map.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 detecting a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is one of a second plurality of wireless networks capable of wireless communication with a second base station of the plurality of base stations;   performing a handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; and   storing in the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 determining that the signal has not been received by the mobile station;   transmitting the signal from the access process to only the second base station.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 measuring a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first subscriber station; and   measuring a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second subscriber station,   wherein handover of the mobile station from the first subscriber station to the second subscriber station is performed according to the first and second signal characteristics.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first and second signal characteristics are measured at the mobile station and transmitted to one of the first and second subscriber stations.