SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CELLULAR PHONE GATEWAY

• US 20080153472A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Karstens, Christopher K.
• Application Number:
  US11/614,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods for a cellular phone gateway. Exemplary embodiments include cellular gateway systems and methods, including a cellular phone, a cellular tower and a cellular gateway device disposed between the cellular phone and the cellular tower, the gateway device establishing a connection between the cellular phone and the cellular device in response to a failed connection between the cellular phone and the cellular tower.

Claims

1. A cellular gateway method, comprising:

assigning an identifier to a cellular phone;

programming the identifier into cellular phone remotely over a network, wherein the identifier is managed such that the identifier can exist on one cellular phone at a time;

transferring the identifier to an alternate cellular device in response to disrupted service on the cellular phone; and

establishing a cellular gateway between the cellular phone and the alternate cellular device and between the alternate cellular device and the network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein establishing a cellular gateway further comprises providing the identification to the cellular gateway.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 further comprising initiating a call on the cellular phone.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising forwarding the call to the alternate cellular device via the cellular gateway.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further comprising dialing the call on the network via the alternate cellular device.

6. A cellular gateway method, comprising:

establishing a connection between a network and a cellular router;

configuring the cellular router to communicate with a tower-range cellular tower;

pairing the cellular router with the tower-range cellular tower;

initiating a cellular call on a cellular phone;

broadcasting cellular packets from the cellular phone to the cellular router;

exchanging packets between the network and the tower-range cellular router;

exchanging packets between the cellular phone and the cellular tower; and

exchanging acknowledgements between the cellular tower and the cellular phone via the cellular router.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein packets that are received by the cellular router are encapsulated for transmission over the network.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising de-encapsulating the packets for transmission to at least one of the cellular tower and the cellular phone.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein outbound packets are encapsulated by the cellular router to travel over the network via the cellular router.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outbound packets are de-encapsulated are broadcast via at least one of the cellular phone and the cellular tower.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the cellular router copies routing information from inbound packets and encapsulates the inbound packets and transmits the packets to the cellular phone.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein inbound packets from the cellular tower are filtered by the cellular router.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the cellular router is a computer connected to the network.

14. A cellular gateway system, comprising:

a cellular phone;

a cellular tower; and

a cellular gateway device disposed between the cellular phone and the cellular tower, the gateway device establishing a connection between the cellular phone and the cellular device in response to a failed connection between the cellular phone and the cellular tower.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cellular gateway device is a second cellular phone in which a relationship has been established between the cellular phone and the second cellular phone by assigning an identifier to the cellular phone, programming the identifier into the cellular phone remotely over a network, wherein the identifier is managed such that the identifier can exist on the cellular phone, transferring the identifier to the second cellular phone and establishing a cellular gateway between the cellular phone and the alternate cellular device and between the second cellular phone and the network.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein establishing a cellular gateway further comprises providing the identification to the cellular gateway.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein a call initiated by the cellular phone is forwarded to the second cellular phone via the cellular gateway and dialed on the network via the second cellular phone.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the cellular gateway is a general purpose computer in which a connection is established between the network and the general purpose computer and between the general purpose computer and a cellular tower.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein a call initiated by the cellular phone causes cellular packets from the cellular phone to be broadcast to the general purpose computer and exchanged between the network and the general purpose computer.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein packets that are received by the cellular router are encapsulated for transmission over the network and de-encapsulated for transmission to at least one of the cellular tower and the cellular phone, wherein outbound packets are encapsulated by the cellular router to travel over the network via the general purpose computer and de-encapsulated and broadcast via at least one of the cellular phone and the cellular tower, and wherein the general purpose computer copies routing information from inbound packets and encapsulates the inbound packets and transmits the packets to the cellular phone.