Apparatus and method for providing seamless service between a cellular network and wireless local area network for a mobile user

摘要

A wireless communication system including a cellular network and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) providing cellular network services via the WLAN is provided. The system includes a Radio Access Network (RAN) providing the cellular network, a WLAN Access Point (AP) providing the WLAN, a Mobile Switching Center/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (MSC/GSN) providing a connection to a core network, a gateway connecting the WLAN AP to the MSC/GSN, and a User Equipment (UE) accessing both the cellular network provided by the RAN and the WLAN provided by the WLAN AP, the UE including a cellular communications unit including a cellular network protocol interface, a Frame Relay Switch (FRS), and a cellular modem, and a WLAN communications unit including a WLAN modem and a Radio Control Agent (RCA), wherein the RCA provides a communications tunnel between the cellular communications unit and a gateway of the WLAN.