Virtual Cells for Wireless Networks

• US 20070015514A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wavestar Communications Systems LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mediacell Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

In a network having multiple wireless transmitters, a mobile device operating with the network may be assigned one or more wireless transmitters as a virtual cell. Transmissions to the mobile device may be broadcast from several cells simultaneously, so that the mobile device will receive the transmissions in any of the areas covered by the cells. When the network determines that the mobile device is moving out of one cell area and into another, the virtual cell may move as well. The virtual cell may consist of one or many areas covered by a wireless network, and may have a shape that is determined by geography, trajectory, wireless coverage, or other factors.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing communications with a first mobile device with a network comprising a plurality of radio transceivers;

determining that said first mobile device is communicating with a first of said plurality of radio transceivers; and

establishing a virtual cell of a first set of said plurality of radio transceivers wherein said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers are adapted to transmit a first communication to said first mobile device substantially simultaneously, and wherein any of said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers are adapted to receive a second communication from said first mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers based on the geographical positions of said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a movement vector for said first mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

selecting said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers using said movement vector.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving said second communication by a subset of said plurality of radio transceivers; and

selecting said second communication from one of said subset of plurality of radio transceivers to relay.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said second communication comprises a packet transmission, said packet transmission being received by at least two of said plurality of radio transceivers.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the type of data to be transmitted in said first communication and said second communication.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said type of data is voice data.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

establishing communications with a second mobile device with a network comprising a plurality of radio transceivers;

determining that said second mobile device is communicating with a second of said plurality of radio transceivers; and

sending and receiving communications between said second mobile device and said second of said plurality of radio transceivers.

establishing a virtual cell of a first set of said plurality of radio transceivers wherein said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers are adapted to transmit a first communication to said first mobile device substantially simultaneously, and wherein any of said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers are adapted to receive a second communication from said first mobile device.

10. A network comprising:

a network backbone capable of two-way communications;

a plurality of radio transceivers attached to said network backbone and adapted to;

establish communications with a first mobile device;

determine that said first mobile device is communicating with a first of said plurality of radio transceivers;

simultaneously transmit a first communication to said mobile device from a first set of said plurality of radio transceivers, said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers comprising at least two of said plurality of radio transceivers; and

receive a second communication from said mobile device by one or more of said first set of radio transceivers.

11. The network of claim 10 wherein said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers are selected based on the geographical positions of said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers.

12. The network of claim 10 further comprising:

a network controller in communication with said plurality of radio transceivers wherein said network controller is adapted to establish a virtual cell of said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers.

13. The network of claim 12 wherein said network controller is further adapted to determine a movement vector for said first mobile device.

14. The network of claim 13 wherein said network controller is further adapted to select said first set of said plurality of radio transceivers using said movement vector.

15. The network of claim 12 wherein said network controller comprises one of said plurality of radio transmitters.

16. The network of claim 12 wherein said network controller comprises an internet access port for said network.

17. The network of claim 12 wherein said network controller is further adapted to:

detect that two or more of said radio transceivers have received said second communication; and

selecting said second communication from one of said subset of plurality of radio transceivers.

18. The network of claim 17 wherein said second communication comprises a packet transmission, said packet transmission being received by at least two of said plurality of radio transceivers.