InterDigital perfecting wireless network handover technology

A group of Canadian engineers in Montreal is developing technology that will allow users with multiple radio devices - those equipped with Wi-Fi, WiMAX and GSM or CDMA - to switch between the various networks seamlessly. US-based InterDigtial Corp., which has a research and development operation in Montreal, is one company leading the charge to commercialize the 802.21 standard - technology that will allow for the seamless handover among multiple wireless networks. Michel Desgagné, VP and head of InterDigital Canada ltée, tells Report on Wireless that the technology allows for devices to maintain a continuous signal when switching between a variety of networks, including the Ethernet, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and digital cellular networks. "You can hand over from your laptop connected to and then move into the 802.11 network, to the 802.16, back to 802.11 and then over to ," Desgagné explains. As well, moving from one network to another is completely seamless and there isn't any user intervention, he adds. InterDigital is currently working with SK Telecom to deploy the 802.21 technology so that the Korean operator can enable its customers to switch between its WiBro and CDMA networks. "We're productizing this technology as part our agreement with SK Telecom, so we're providing them with overall system design as well as the 802.21 client software that's going to reside on the terminal units," Desgagné says, adding commercial availability of the handover service should be available early next year. Mobile IP will also have a much better user experience with 802.21, says Desgagné. "The mobile IP handover can take up to 10 to 15 seconds when from one system to another," he says, adding that delay can be reduced to less than one second when using the 802.21 software. The standard has a flexible architecture as well that will allow the technology to be implemented in devices as well as in the network. Desgagné explains that operators would likely want to have handover control and putting the software in the network would give carriers that control. This technology will become increasingly important in the future especially as more multi-radio devices enter the market. The 802.21 middleware could represent a differentiator for one handset vendor over its rivals. While activity on the 802.21 front is currently only visible in Korea, InterDigital has been talking to other carriers about moving forward with 802.21 trials. "We're having discussions at this point...from different operators, and we're exploring different markets for this," Desgagné says, noting that there has been some positive feedback from European operators. "But our focus is on this first customer, optimizing our solution and getting feedback from that trial. Then we'll explore other opportunities."

InterDigital perfecting wireless network handover technology

News | 07/13/2007 3:05 pm EDT

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