US firm wins wide area roaming patent

US wireless firm PCTEL claimed today that the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted it a "fundamental patent" covering roaming across different types of wireless network.

PCTEL's Roaming Client permits wireless subscribers to roam from cellular to Wi-Fi networks while maintaining data and voice calls.

According to the firm, the newly granted patent describes techniques for automatic and manual switching of data and voice calls from one network type to another.

PCTEL had previously announced that the Patent Office had communicated its intention to grant the patent. Official notification was provided on 7 November.

US patent 7,133,669 is entitled Systems and Methods for Seamless Roaming Between Wireless Networks, and is described as a technique for the seamless switching of a wireless device between wireless wide area and local area networks.

Marty Singer, chairman and chief executive at PCTEL, said: "While we are committed to protecting our technology and inventions, we also have a history of making our technology available to the industry."