Tiered wireless, multi-modal access system and method
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless, multi-modal access device and system adapted to integrate a number of communications networks operating in differing communication modes to facilitate transfer of communication links during a communication session to promote efficient use of the communication networks. The system includes a plurality of Universal Multi-Modal Access Devices UMMAD that are capable of operating at different frequencies and different protocols (TDMA, AMPS, CDMA, GSM, PCS etc) to communicate with any one of a number of Wide Bandwidth Gateways (WBG), which are each capable of communication using one or more of the protocols. The communication links may be switched from one WBG to another or from one protocol to another during a communication session to continue the session under the control of a Universal System Traffic Controller. Numerous other applications of the UMMADs for unique identification and e-commerce are disclosed.
142 Citations
24 Claims
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1-6. -6. (canceled)
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7. A system, comprising:
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an internet protocol (IP) packet switched network;
a low-power transceiver coupled to the IP network, the low-power transceiver being able to provide a telecommunications service only in a first geographic area to a plurality of communication devices;
a circuit switched network;
a high-power transceiver coupled to the circuit switched network, the high-power transceiver being able to provide a telecommunications service only in a second geographic area to a plurality of communication devices, the second geographic area being significantly larger than the first geographic area and encompassing the entire first geographic area; and
a multi-modal portable access device capable of establishing wireless communication links with both the low-power and high-power transceivers, wherein at a first time (a) the access device establishes a first wireless communication link with the low-power transceiver using a first protocol and a first frequency, (b) the access device transmits over the first communication link to the low-power transceiver a signal containing real-time voice data, (c) the low-power transceiver receives the real-time voice data and creates a data packet containing the real-time voice data, and (d) the low-power transceiver transmits the packet to a receiving device using the IP network; and
at a subsequent second time (a) the access device establishes a second wireless communication link with the high-power transceiver using a second protocol and a second frequency, (b) the access device transmits over the second communication link to the high-power transceiver a signal containing real-time voice data, and (c) the high-power transceiver receives the real-time voice data and transmits the voice data to a receiving device using the circuit switched network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a communications system having a multi-modal portable access device capable of establishing wireless communication links with both a low-power transceiver and a high-power transceiver, wherein the low-power transceiver is coupled to a packet switched network and is configured to provide a communications service to a plurality of communication devices only in a first geographic area and the high-power transceiver is coupled to a circuit switched network and is configured to provide a communications service to a plurality of communication devices only in a second geographic area, wherein the second geographic is significantly larger than the first geographic area and encompasses the entire first geographic area, a multi-modal access method, comprising:
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using the multi-modal portable access device to establish a first voice call with a first called party and to communicate in real-time with the first called party, wherein the step of using the multi-modal portable access device to establish the first voice call and communicate in real-time with the first called party, comprises;
establishing a wireless communication link between the access device and the low-power transceiver using a first protocol and a first frequency;
transmitting, from the access device, over the communication link to the low-power transceiver a signal containing real-time voice data;
receiving, at the low-power transceiver, the real-time voice data and creating a data packet containing the real-time voice data; and
transmitting, from the low-power transceiver, the packet to a receiving device using the packet switched network; and
using the multi-modal portable access device to establish a second voice call with a second called party and to communicate in real-time with the second called party, wherein the step of using the multi-modal portable access device to establish the second voice call and communicate in real-time with the second called party, comprises;
establishing a wireless communication link between the access device and the high-power transceiver using a second protocol and a second frequency;
transmitting, from the access device, over the communication link to the high-power transceiver a signal containing real-time voice data;
receiving, at the high-power transceiver, the real-time voice data; and
transmitting, from the high-power transceiver, voice data to a receiving device using the circuit switched network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification