Portable computing device for wireless communications and method of operation

• US 20050286476A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Castell, Robin, Walrath, Craig, Wagner, Matthew J., Crosswy, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/021 adapted for Wireless Local Loop operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a portable computing device for wireless communications comprises a first network interface for communicating with a public wireless wide area network (WWAN), a second network interface for communicating with a private wireless local area network (WLAN), and a processor executing under control of software instructions, the software instructions defining a gateway protocol, the gateway protocol establishing the portable computing device as an access point within the private WLAN after the wireless presence on the public WWAN is established.

Claims

1. A portable computing device for wireless communications, comprising:

a first network interface for communicating with a public wireless wide area network (WWAN);

a second network interface for communicating with a private wireless local area network (WLAN); and

a processor executing under control of software instructions, said software instructions defining a gateway protocol, said gateway protocol establishing said portable computing device as an access point within said private WLAN after said wireless presence on said public WWAN is established.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said gateway protocol autonomously establishes a wireless presence on said public WWAN when said portable computing device is located within said public WWAN

3. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said gateway protocol routes communication packets received from devices in said private WLAN through said public WWAN and routes packets received from said public WWAN to devices in said private WLAN.

4. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said first network interface comprises a general packet radio service (GPRS) interface.

5. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said second network interface comprises a network interface implementing the 802.11b communication standard.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1 wherein said gateway protocol is operable to receive requests from wireless devices to associate with said private WLAN.

7. The portable computing device of claim 5 wherein said gateway protocol is operable to authenticate said requesting wireless devices.

8. The portable computing device of 5 wherein authentication of said requesting wireless devices comprises comparing an identifier of a requesting wireless device with identifiers stored in non-volatile memory of said portable computing device.

9. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

detecting entry into a service area of a public wireless wide area network (WWAN) by a portable computing device; and

establishing a private wireless local area network (WLAN) by said portable computing device, wherein said portable computing device performs at least one access point service for said private WLAN.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

establishing a presence within said WWAN by said portable computing device in response to said detecting entry.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

routing packet traffic, by said portable computing device, between said public WWAN and said private WLAN.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

leasing Internet protocol (IP) addresses to said wireless devices by said portable computing device to facilitate said routing packet traffic.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) requests from wireless devices in said private WLAN by said portable computing device.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

authenticating, by said portable computing device, an identity of a wireless device requesting to associate with said private WLAN.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

comparing said authenticated identity of said requesting wireless device to identifiers stored in memory of said portable computing device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said establishing a private WLAN comprises:

broadcasting a beacon frame to enable association of wireless devices with said private WLAN.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said establishing a private WLAN comprises:

responding to probe requests to identify said portable computing device as an access point.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein said detecting entry comprises:

detecting a digital control channel associated with said service area.

19. A system for wireless communications, comprising:

means for registering with a public wireless wide area network (WWAN) to transmit and receive communication packets after detection of entry into a service area of said public WWAN; and

means for establishing access point services for a private wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein said means for establishing operates in response to said means for registering.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for routing communications packets between said private WLAN and said public WWAN.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for detecting entry into a service area of said WWAN.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for establishing comprises:

means for authenticating an identity of a wireless device that is requesting association with said WLAN.

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for storing a plurality of identifiers of wireless devices permitted to communicate within said private WLAN.

24. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

means for assigning Internet protocol (IP) addresses to wireless devices within said private WLAN.

25. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for establishing comprises:

means for broadcasting a beacon frame to facilitate association of wireless devices with said private WLAN.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein said means for registering, said means for establishing, and said means for routing are disposed in a mobile computing device.