An architecture for integrating UMTS and 802.11 WLAN networks

Cellular networks, e.g. UMTS provide voice and data services to mobile users. In hot spots where users need high speed data services operators can deploy low-cost high-speed WLANs, e.g. 802.11, to cover hot-spots. This paper proposes a possible architecture of integrating UMTS and 802.11 WLAN. The architecture allows a mobile node to maintain data (PS) connection through WLAN and voice (CS) connection through UMTS in parallel. This is especially attractive because WLAN is currently used primarily for high-speed best-effort data service only.