Method and system for controlling the operation of movable wireless networks

• US 20050208935A1
• Filed: 09/13/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Verstegen, Michael D., Mountney, Scott A., Niemi, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

The invention can provide a movable wireless network that is capable of operating in a multiple network environment. The movable wireless network has a coverage area and includes a detector that detects a network event when the coverage area of the movable wireless network overlaps with a coverage area of another wireless network. The invention can further include a controller that changes an operational state of the movable wireless network when the detector detects the network event so that the movable wireless network is able to operate within the coverage area of the other wireless network.

Claims

1. A movable wireless network, comprising:

a detector that senses a network event caused by a proximity of the movable wireless network to another wireless network; and

a controller that changes an operational state of the movable wireless network based on the network event so that the movable wireless network is able to operate with the other wireless network.

2. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the detector detects the network event by sensing at least one of a power, phase, frequency, interference, frequency plan, frequency portfolio, mobile network codes and mobile country codes of the other wireless network.

3. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least one of a power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, frequency plan, mobile network codes, and mobile country codes of the movable wireless network.

4. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the detector includes a position sensor that determines a location of the movable wireless network.

5. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 4, wherein the position sensor is at least one of a global positioning system (GPS), LORAN, compass, gyroscope, and altimeter.

6. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network when the network event occurs based on network data stored in a memory.

7. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 6, wherein the network data stored in the memory includes operational mode information of other networks currently being operated, and the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network so that the movable wireless network operates in conjunction with another network that has triggered the network event.

8. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 7, wherein the operational mode information of other networks currently being operated includes at least one of an owner, operator, mobile network codes and mobile country codes of the other network.

9. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network when a network event occurs based on operational mode information of other network received from the other wireless network.

10. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the movable wireless network is located on a ship, car, truck, bus, aircraft, or other movable object.

11. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, further comprising one or more wireless communication devices.

12. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 11, wherein the wireless communication devices include wireless personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, wireless computers, and wireless video phones.

13. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the other wireless network is a stationary wireless network.

14. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 1, wherein the other wireless network is a movable wireless network.

15. A movable wireless network having a coverage area, comprising:

a detector that detects a network event when the coverage area of the movable wireless network overlaps with a coverage area of another wireless network; and

a controller that changes an operational state of the movable wireless network when the detector detects the network event so that the movable wireless network is able to operate within the coverage area the other wireless network.

16. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the detector detects the network event by sensing at least one of a power, phase, frequency, interference, frequency plan, frequency portfolio, mobile network codes and mobile country codes of the other wireless network.

17. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least one of a power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, frequency plan, mobile network codes, and mobile country codes of the movable wireless network.

18. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the detector includes a position sensor that determines a location of the movable wireless network.

19. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 18, wherein the position sensor is at least one of a global positioning system (GPS), a LORAN, compass, gyroscope, and altimeter.

20. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network when the network event occurs based on network data stored in a memory.

21. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 20, wherein the network data stored in the memory includes operational mode information of other wireless networks currently being operated, and the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network so that the movable wireless network operates in conjunction with the other network that has triggered the network event.

22. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 21, wherein the operational mode information of other networks currently being operated includes at least one of an owner, operator, mobile network codes, and mobile country codes of the other network.

23. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network when a network event occurs based on operational mode information of other network received from the other wireless network.

24. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the movable wireless network is located on a ship, car, truck, bus, aircraft, or other movable object.

25. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, further comprising one or more wireless communication devices.

26. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the wireless communication devices include wireless personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, wireless computers, and wireless video phones.

27. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the other wireless network is a stationary wireless network.

28. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, wherein the other wireless network is a movable wireless network.

29. The movable wireless network as recited in claim 15, further comprises a network interface coupled to the controller.

30. A method of operating of a movable wireless network, comprising:

sensing a network event caused by a proximity of the movable wireless network to another wireless network; and

changing an operational state of the movable wireless network based on the network event so that the movable wireless network is able to operate with the other wireless network.

31. A method for withdrawing a movable wireless network from a stationary wireless network, comprising:

detecting a network event; and

withdrawing the movable wireless network from the stationary wireless network upon detection of the network event.

32. A method for merging a movable wireless network and a second wireless network and for withdrawing the movable wireless network from the second wireless network, comprising:

detecting a first network event;

merging the movable wireless network with the second wireless network upon detection of the first network event;

detecting a second network event; and

withdrawing the movable wireless network from the second wireless network upon detection of the second network event.

33. A method for merging a movable wireless network with a plurality of wireless networks and for withdrawing the movable wireless network from the plurality of wireless networks, comprising:

detecting a first network event;

merging the movable wireless network with the plurality of wireless networks upon detection of the first network event;

detecting a second network event; and

withdrawing the movable wireless network from the plurality of wireless networks upon detection of the second network event.