Public wireless/cordless Internet gateway

• US 20030169727A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Farris, Robert D., Curry, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,088,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers. The localized wireless gateway system also includes a telephone switch, such as a digital PBX, selectively providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit(s) and the packet service gateway. An access manager controls registration and validation of roaming wireless telephones to utilize the wireless gateway system.

Claims

1. A localized wireless gateway system, comprising:

a plurality of base station transceivers for providing two-way wireless voice frequency communication signals to and from wireless telephone terminals within a local area; and

a packet service gateway, coupled to the base station transceivers and for coupling to a public packet data network, for compressing and decompressing the voice frequency communication signals and sending and receiving compressed signals in packet form via the network and for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions through the network.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a radio port control unit coupled to one or more of the base station transceivers for controlling wireless calls through the one or more base station transceivers; and

a telephone switch providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit and the packet service gateway.

3. A system as in claim 2, further comprising an access manager coupled to at least the radio port control unit and the telephone switch for registering any wireless telephone terminals active in an area serviced by the localized wireless gateway system and controlling communications through the localized wireless gateway system to and from the registered wireless telephone terminals.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein the packet service gateway comprises:

a processing unit,

at least one line card providing multiple channel interfaces for the processing unit to the telephone switch; and

an interface card for providing communications through the public packet data network.

5. A system as in claim 2, wherein the telephone switch is a digital private branch exchange.

6. A wireless gateway system, comprising:

a plurality of base station transceivers for providing two-way wireless voice frequency communication signals to and from wireless telephone terminals;

a packet service gateway, coupled to the base station transceivers and for coupling to a public packet data network, for compressing and decompressing the voice frequency communication signals and sending and receiving compressed signals in packet form via the network and for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions through the network; and

an access manager for controlling registration and validation of roaming wireless telephone terminals to utilize the wireless gateway system and for transmitting location information for registered terminals to a home location register database.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the packet service gateway provides signaling communication via the public packet data for transport of the location information from the access manager to the home location register database.

8. A telecommunication system comprising:

a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol;

a plurality of terminal devices coupled for data communication via the system of interlinked networks, at least one of the terminal devices having two-way audio communication capabilities; and

a localized wireless gateway system, comprising;

(a) a base station transceiver for providing two-way wireless voice frequency communication signals to and from a plurality of wireless telephone terminals; and

(b) a packet service gateway, coupled to the base station transceiver and to one of the interlinked data networks, for compressing and decompressing the voice frequency communication signals and sending and receiving compressed signals in packet form via the system of interlinked data networks, and for signaling through the system of interlinked data networks to establish two-way voice communication sessions through the system of interlinked data networks.

9. A telecommunication system as in claim 8, further comprising a home location register database coupled for two-way signaling communication via the system of interlinked data networks.

10. A telecommunication system as in claim 9, wherein the localized wireless gateway system further comprises an access manager for registering any wireless telephone terminals active in an area serviced by the localized wireless gateway system, for controlling communications through the localized wireless gateway system to and from the registered wireless telephone terminals and for signaling communication with the home location register database.

11. A telecommunication system as in claim 8, further comprising a domain name server coupled for two-way signaling communication via the system of interlinked data networks.

12. A telecommunication system as in claim 8, further comprising a telephone network gateway, operationally connected between the system of interlinked data networks and a public telephone network, for providing voice telephone communications to and from telephones.

13. A telecommunication system as in claim 8, wherein the localized wireless gateway system further comprises:

a radio port control unit coupled to one or more of the base station transceivers for controlling wireless calls through the one or more base station transceivers; and

a telephone switch providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit and the packet service gateway.

14. A telecommunication system as in claim 13, wherein the packet service gateway comprises:

a processing unit,

at least one line card providing multiple channel interfaces for the processing unit to the telephone switch; and

an interface card for providing communications through the public packet data network.

15. A telecommunication system as in claim 13, wherein the telephone switch is a digital private branch exchange.

16. A telecommunication system as in claim 8, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.

17. A method comprising:

registering a wireless telephone terminal in a localized wireless gateway system;

transmitting registration data identifying the wireless telephone terminal and the localized wireless gateway system from the localized wireless gateway system to a home location register database through a public packet data communication network;

receiving a request from a calling computer coupled to the public packet data communication network for a call to the wireless telephone terminal;

in response to the request, accessing the home location register database and obtaining a packet data address for the localized wireless gateway system;

using the address to set up a voice communication through the public packet data communication network and the localized wireless gateway system between the calling computer and the wireless telephone terminal.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the calling computer comprises a data terminal having voice communication capabilities.

19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the calling computer comprises a packet service gateway, coupled between the public packet data communication network and a public switched telephone network, for providing two-way voice communications to and from telephones via the public packet data communication network.

20. A method as in claim 17, wherein the registering step comprises registering the wireless telephone terminal with an access manager which controls communications through the localized wireless gateway system.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the registration data from the access manager through the public packet data communication network to the home location register database.

22. A method as in claim 17, wherein the public packet data communication network is a packet switched network.

23. A method as in claim-22, wherein the packet switched network comprises a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.

25. A method comprising:

transmitting a registration message from a wireless telephone terminal through a wireless gateway system to an access manager controlling wireless communication through the wireless gateway system;

in response to the registration message, transmitting a verification request identifying the wireless telephone terminal and the wireless gateway system through a public packet data network to a home location register database;

if the wireless telephone is authorized service, transmitting a service verification response message through the public packet data network to the access manager; and

authorizing a service to the wireless telephone terminal through the wireless gateway system in response to the verification response message.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein the authorized service comprises making telephone calls at least in part via the public packet data network.

27. A method as in claim 25, wherein the authorized service comprises receiving telephone calls at least in part via the public packet data network.

28. A method as in claim 27, further comprising:

storing identification of the wireless gateway system in the home location register database; and

using said identification to route telephone calls through the public packet data network and the wireless gateway system to the wireless telephone terminal.

29. A method as in claim 25, wherein the public packet data communication network is a packet switched network.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein the packet switched network comprises a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.