Inter-Network Communication Session Handoff

Abstract

Systems and methods for hosting communication sessions are described. A communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device is hosted in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network in which a contact server functions as a bridge service between the first communication device and the second communication device. At least one of a communication link between the first communication device and the contact server and the second communication device and the contact server is initially a cellular communication link over a cellular network. The contact server analyzes at least two call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link and causes the communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff to an alternate communication link on an alternate network when at least one analyzed call quality characteristic of the cellular communication link crosses a threshold level.

1 . A method comprising:
 hosting a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network in which a contact server functions as a bridge service connecting a first communication link between the first communication device and the contact server with a second communication link between the second communication device an the contact server, wherein the first communication link is currently a cellular communication link over a cellular network;   analyzing multiple call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link including at least two of signal strength, packet loss, network latency, jitter, and delay; and   causing the first communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to an alternate communication link on an alternate network when at least one analyzed call quality characteristic of the current cellular communication link crosses a threshold level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the analyzed call quality characteristics further include: additional available networks; geographical factors, performance of access points and other network components; and past interactions between or among communication devices, access points and other network components. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 predictively determining whether a handoff is needed to avoid an interruption in or dropping of the communication session; and   causing the communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to the alternate communication link on the alternate network when it is predictively determined that a handoff is needed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein predictively determining whether a handoff is needed comprises:
 comparing the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link to intelligent communication session data stored in a data store to determine whether the call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link are approaching the threshold level.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link in the data store as additional intelligent communication session data.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to the alternate communication link on the alternate network comprises:
 transmitting a handoff instruction to the communication device having the cellular communication link.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the intelligent communication session data is received from the communication device having the cellular communication link. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a contact server in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network operative to:
 host a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device; 
 connect a first communication link between the first communication device and the contact server with a second communication link between the second communication device an the contact server, wherein the first communication link is currently a cellular communication link over a cellular network; 
 analyze multiple call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link including at least two of signal strength, packet loss, network latency, jitter, and delay; and 
 cause the first communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to an alternate communication link on an alternate network when at least one analyzed call quality characteristic of the current cellular communication link crosses a threshold level. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the analyzed call quality characteristics further include: additional available networks; geographical factors, performance of access points and other network components; and past interactions between or among communication devices, access points and other network components. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , the contact server further operative to:
 predictively determine whether a handoff is needed to avoid an interruption in or dropping of the communication session; and   cause the communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to the alternate communication link on the alternate network when it is predictively determined that a handoff is needed.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the contact server further operative to:
 compare the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link to intelligent communication session data stored in a data store to determine whether the call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link are approaching the threshold level.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , the contact server further operative to:
 store the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link in the data store as additional intelligent communication session data.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , the contact server further operative to:
 transmit a handoff instruction to the communication device having the cellular communication link.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , the contact server further operative to:
 receive at least some of the intelligent communication session data from the communication device having the cellular communication link.   
     
     
         15 . At least one non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 host a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device;   connect a first communication link between the first communication device and the contact server with a second communication link between the second communication device an the contact server, wherein the first communication link is currently a cellular communication link over a cellular network;   analyze multiple call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link including at least two of signal strength, packet loss, network latency, jitter, and delay; and   cause the first communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to an alternate communication link on an alternate network when at least one analyzed call quality characteristic of the current cellular communication link crosses a threshold level.   
     
     
         16 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the analyzed call quality characteristics further include: additional available networks; geographical factors, performance of access points and other network components; and past interactions between or among communication devices, access points and other network components. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 predictively determine whether a handoff is needed to avoid an interruption in or dropping of the communication session; and   cause the communication device having the cellular communication link to handoff the cellular communication link from the cellular network to the alternate communication link on the alternate network when it is predictively determined that a handoff is needed.   
     
     
         18 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 17 , comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 compare the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link to intelligent communication session data stored in a data store to determine whether the call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link are approaching the threshold level.   
     
     
         19 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 store the analyzed call quality characteristics of the cellular communication link in the data store as additional intelligent communication session data.   
     
     
         20 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 transmit a handoff instruction to the communication device having the cellular communication link.   
     
     
         21 . The at least one non-transitory machine readable medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device cause the computing device to:
 receive at least some of the intelligent communication session data from the communication device having the cellular communication link.