On-demand services by wireless base station virtualization

• US 20070130456A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Airespider Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Tian-Yuan, Jou, Tyan-Shu, Sheu, Ming-Jye, Kuo, Ted
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/543 based on requested quality, e.g. QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

Abstract

Initiating a virtual presence at a physical access point in response to a request for a service from a wireless access device is provided. A particular wireless service may be provided to a subscriber on an on-demand basis according to location and/or type of service requested. The service may be terminated when demand for the service comes to an end whereby a common wireless service infrastructure may be shared amongst service providers thus eliminating the need for radio channel coordination and otherwise enhancing service quality for those service providers.

Claims

1. A method for providing on-demand wireless services comprising:

receiving a service request from a wireless access device;

initiating a virtual wireless base station presence in response to the service request, the virtual wireless base station presence initiated at a wireless base station configured to provide the requested service;

broadcasting a plurality of beacon frames generated by the wireless base station, the plurality of beacon frames indicating availability of the requested service via the virtual wireless base station presence; and

providing the requested service to the wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating a service subscriber credential associated with the wireless access device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising terminating the virtual wireless base station presence if the service subscriber credential has not been authenticated within a set period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a service request from a second wireless access device; and

providing the requested service to the second wireless access device using the virtual wireless base station presence.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the virtual wireless base station presence if the wireless access device is no longer subscribing to the requested service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a second virtual wireless base station presence at a second wireless base station to allow for roaming of the wireless access device amongst service areas associated with each of the wireless base stations.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to initiate the virtual wireless base station presence based on whether another virtual wireless base station presence is initiated at the wireless base station and providing a requested service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the requested service is associated with a wireless service indicated on an available service list.

9. A system for providing on-demand wireless services comprising:

an 802.11 wireless network;

at least one wireless access device configured to broadcast a service request; and

a wireless base station configured to;

receive the service request;

initiate a virtual wireless base station presence in response to the service request;

broadcast a plurality of beacon frames indicating availability of the requested service via a virtual wireless base station presence; and

provide the requested service to the wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to authenticate a service subscriber credential associated with the wireless access device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to terminate the virtual wireless base station presence if the service subscriber credential has not been authenticated within a set period of time.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to receive a service request from another wireless access device and provide the requested service to the other wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to terminate the virtual wireless base station presence if the wireless access device is no longer subscribing to the requested service.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to initiate a second virtual wireless base station presence at a second wireless base station to allow for roaming of the wireless access device amongst service areas associated with each of the wireless base stations.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to determine whether to initiate the virtual wireless base station presence based on whether another virtual wireless base station presence is initiated at the wireless base station and providing the requested service.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless base station is further configured to determine whether the requested service is indicated on a service list.

17. A wireless base station comprising:

memory comprising a first set of instructions executable by a processor, wherein the execution of the first set of instructions by the processor initiates a virtual wireless base station presence in response to a service request;

an antenna configured to receive the service request from a wireless access device, the antenna further configured to broadcast a plurality of beacon frames indicating the availability of the requested service via the virtual wireless base station presence; and

a modem coupled to the antenna, the modem configured to provide the requested service via the virtual wireless base station presence

18. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to authenticate a service subscriber credential associated with the wireless access device.

19. The wireless base station of claim 18, wherein the memory further comprises a second set of instructions executable by the processor, wherein the execution of the second set of instructions terminates the virtual wireless base station presence if the service subscriber credential has not been authenticated within a set period of time.

20. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the antenna is further configured to receive a service request from another wireless access device and the modem is further configured to provide the requested service to the other wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

21. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises a second set of instructions executable by the processor, the execution of the second set of instructions terminates the virtual wireless base station presence if the wireless access device is no longer subscribing to the requested service.

22. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises a second set of instructions executable by the processor, wherein the execution of the second set of instructions initiates a second virtual wireless base station presence at a second wireless base station to allow for roaming of the wireless access device amongst service areas associated with each of the wireless base stations.

23. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises a second set of instructions executable by the processor, the execution of the second set of instructions determining whether to initiate the virtual wireless base station presence based on whether another virtual wireless base station presence is initiated at the wireless base station and providing the requested service.

24. The wireless base station of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises a second set of instructions executable by the processor, the execution of the second set of instructions determining whether the requested service is indicated on a service list.

25. A computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon instructions for providing on-demand wireless services when executed by a processor, the instructions comprising the steps of:

receiving a service request from a wireless access device;

initiating a virtual wireless base station presence in response to the service request, the virtual wireless base station presence initiated at a wireless base station configured to provide the requested service;

broadcasting a plurality of beacon frames generated by the wireless base station, the plurality of beacon frames indicating availability of the requested service via the virtual wireless base station presence; and

providing the requested service to the wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of authenticating a service subscriber credential associated with the wireless access device.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of terminating the virtual wireless base station presence if the service subscriber credential has not been authenticated within a set period of time.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the steps of:

receiving a service request from another wireless access device; and

providing the requested service to the other wireless access device via the virtual wireless base station presence.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of terminating the virtual wireless base station presence if the wireless access device is no longer subscribing to the requested service.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of initiating a second virtual wireless base station presence at a second wireless base station to allow for roaming of the wireless access device amongst service areas associated with each of the wireless base stations.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of determining whether to initiate the virtual wireless base station presence based on whether another virtual wireless base station presence is initiated at the wireless base station and providing the requested service.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of determining whether the requested service is indicated on a service list.