Integrating GSM and WiFi service in mobile communication devices

• US 20040235455A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Original Assignee: Mobileum, Incorporated fka Roamware
• Inventors: Jiang, Yue Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/093 using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors thin magnetic films H01F10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/087 the earth magnetic field being modified by the objects or geological structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system that integrates Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless local area network (WLAN) services is provided. The system couples among components of a communications service provider and a provider of WiFi services to provide integrated cellular communications and wireless fidelity network services to users of mobile devices. The system monitors communications between the service provider and the mobile devices and automatically gathers identification information of the mobile devices. Upon authentication of the mobile devices via an exchange of information among the service provider infrastructures and the mobile devices, the system controls access of the mobile communication devices to WiFi services via the service provider infrastructure using the identification information.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first system coupled to monitor a first communication channel among service providers and at least one mobile device and receive mobile device identification information;

a second system coupled among the first system and a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) application, wherein the second system activates the WiFi application in response to a request from the mobile device, generates WiFi application identification information, and transmits the WiFi application identification information to the requesting mobile device; and

a third system coupled among the first and second systems that receives an authentication request to the WiFi application from the mobile device, and controls access of the mobile device to the WiFi application in response to the authentication request.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a messaging system that transmits a first wireless message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the mobile device identification information, wherein the request from the mobile device is an electronic request for WiFi service access generated by the mobile device using information of the first wireless message.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second system transmits the WiFi application identification information to the mobile device via a second wireless message, wherein the WiFi application identification information includes a personal identification number (PIN).

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one database for storage of mobile device identification information that includes at least one of a device telephone number, at least one identification number associated with the mobile device and components of the mobile device, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and the WiFi application identification information.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of cellular telephones, personal computers, portable computing devices, portable telephones, portable communication devices, subscriber devices or units, and personal digital assistants.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication link includes a cellular communication channel.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the service providers include at least one Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) service provider and at least one Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless local area network (WLAN) service provider.

8. A system that couples among components of two or more communications service providers and roaming mobile communication devices, wherein the system automatically gathers identification information of a mobile device via monitoring communications between a first service provider and the mobile device, launches a service application under a second service provider and provides service application identification information to the mobile device, and controls access to the service application in response to a request from the mobile device that includes the service application identification information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first service provider is a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) service provider and the second service provider is a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) service provider.

10. A method for providing integrated communication services and wireless local area network (WLAN) services to mobile devices, comprising:

monitoring wireless channels between a first service provider and a mobile device;

receiving device identification information via the monitoring;

automatically transmitting a first wireless message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the device identification information;

receiving a request for WLAN access from the mobile device;

activating at least one WLAN application under a second service provider;

automatically transmitting application identification information to the mobile device;

receiving an authentication request to the WLAN application from the mobile device; and

controlling access of the mobile device to the WLAN application in response to the authentication request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the request for WLAN access is generated using information of the first wireless message.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first wireless message includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating application identification information associated with the WLAN application.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the application identification information is transmitted to the mobile device using a second wireless message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second wireless message includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first service provider includes a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) service provider and the second service provider includes a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) wireless local area network (WLAN) service provider.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the device identification information in at least one database, wherein the device identification information includes at least one of a device telephone number, at least one identification number associated with the mobile device and components of the mobile device, an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), a Mobile Station Identification Number (MSIN), a Mobile Station International Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) Number (MSISDN), a Number Assignment Module (NAM), information of a subscriber, and the WiFi application identification information.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device includes at least one of cellular telephones, personal computers, portable computing devices, portable telephones, portable communication devices, subscriber devices or units, and personal digital assistants.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device includes cellular telephones having a single Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)/User Identity Module (UIM) card.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a call detail record during at least one time period during which the mobile device is accessing the WLAN application.

21. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing billing information to at least one billing system via a coupling to the billing system, wherein the billing information comprises information of at least one session during which the mobile device is accessing the WLAN application.

22. A system that couples among components of two or more communications service providers and roaming mobile communication devices, comprising:

means for monitoring communications between a first service provider and a mobile device;

means for automatically gathering identification information of the mobile device;

means for launching a service application under a second service provider and providing service application identification information to the mobile device; and

means for controlling access to the service application in response to a request from the mobile device that includes the service application identification information.

23. A device that integrates access to communication services and wireless local area network (WLAN) services by mobile devices, comprising:

means for monitoring wireless channels between a first service provider and a mobile device;

means for receiving device identification information of the mobile device via the monitoring;

means for automatically transmitting a first wireless message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the device identification information;

means for receiving a request for WLAN access from the mobile device;

means for activating at least one WLAN application under a second service provider;

means for automatically transmitting application identification information to the mobile device;

means for receiving an authentication request to the WLAN application from the mobile device; and

means for controlling access of the mobile device to the WLAN application in response to the authentication request.

24. A computer readable medium including executable instructions which, when executed by a processing system, provides integrated communication services and wireless local area network (WLAN) services to mobile devices, by:

monitoring wireless channels between a first service provider and a mobile device;

receiving device identification information via the monitoring;

automatically transmitting a first wireless message to the mobile device in response to receipt of the device identification information;

receiving a request for WLAN access from the mobile device;

activating at least one WLAN application under a second service provider;

automatically transmitting application identification information to the mobile device;

receiving an authentication request to the WLAN application from the mobile device; and

controlling access of the mobile device to the WLAN application in response to the authentication request.