Local area cellular basestation

• US 20090017864A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ubiquisys Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Giustina, Andrea, Byrne, Richard, Franks, William, Keevill, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0471 applying encryption by an intermediary, e.g. receiving clear information at the intermediary and encrypting the received information at the intermediary before forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A base station for a cellular wireless communications network has a first interface, enabling connection with a remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network. The base station also has a second interface, enabling connection over a wide area network, and a third interface, enabling connection over a local area network. Software enables communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a core network of the cellular wireless communications network. Software can also enable the remote communications device to communicate with a device in the local area network, or with a server in the wide area network, without using the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

Claims

1. A base station for a cellular wireless communications network, comprising:

a first interface, enabling connection with a remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network;

a second interface, enabling connection over a wide area network; and

a third interface, enabling connection over a local area network,

and further comprising;

software for enabling communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a core network of the cellular wireless communications network; and

software for enabling communication over the local area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a device connected to the local area network, without passing traffic through the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

2. A base station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base station is able to perform ciphering of communications with the remote communications device through the first interface.

3. A base station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base station is able to perform interworking between a function available on the core network of the cellular wireless communications network and a remote communications device not enabled for that function, such that the remote communications device is able to access said function.

4. A base station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base station is adapted to decipher messages received over the first interface from the remote communications device in order to access data packets received therefrom, in order to be able to route said data packets as required.

5. A cellular wireless communications network, comprising a base station as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, and further including a management node, which is able to define the or each device, connected to the local area network, with which the remote communications device connected to the first interface is able to communicate without passing traffic through the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

6. A cellular wireless communications network as claimed in claim 5, wherein the management node is able to specify channels of said cellular wireless communications network allocated to the base station.

7. A base station for a cellular wireless communications network, comprising:

a first interface, enabling connection with a remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network; and

a second interface, enabling connection over a wide area network;

and further comprising;

software for enabling communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a core network of the cellular wireless communications network; and

software for enabling communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a further device connected to the wide area network, without passing traffic through the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

8. A base station as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base station is able to perform ciphering of communications with the remote communications device through the first interface.

9. A base station as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base station is able to perform interworking between a function available on the core network of the cellular wireless communications network and a remote communications device not enabled for that function, such that the remote communications device is able to access said function.

10. A base station as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base station is adapted to decipher messages received over the first interface from the remote communications device in order to access data packets received therefrom, in order to be able to route said data packets as required.

11. A base station as claimed in claim 7, wherein the further device comprises a network computer, allowing data to be downloaded from said network computer to the remote communications device.

12. A base station as claimed in claim 7, wherein the further device comprises a further base station as claimed in claim 7.

13. A base station as claimed in claim 12, wherein said software enables communication over the wide area network between a remote communications device, connected to the first interface, and a further remote communications device connected to said further base station, without passing traffic through the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

14. A cellular wireless communications network, comprising a base station as claimed in one of claims 7 to 13, and further including a management node, which is able to define the or each further device, connected to the wide area network, with which the remote communications device connected to the first interface is able to communicate without passing traffic through the core network of the cellular wireless communications network.

15. A cellular wireless communications network as claimed in claim 14, wherein the management node is able to specify channels of said cellular wireless communications network allocated to the base station.

16. A base station for a cellular wireless communications network, comprising:

a wireless interface, enabling connection with one or more remote communications device using a cellular wireless communications protocol in the cellular wireless communications network;

a cellular core network interface, enabling connection to a core network of the cellular wireless communications network;

a local area network interface, enabling connection of devices in a local area network; and

a SIM interface for a SIM card, such that the SIM card can authenticate the base station to the core network of the cellular wireless communications network;

and further comprising;

software, for allowing a device, connected to the local area network, to be associated with a SIM card connected to said SIM interface, and hence to communicate over the core network of the cellular wireless communications network, while appearing to said core network as a mobile device.

17. A base station as claimed in claim 16, wherein said software allows a VoIP or POTS phone connected to said base station to be associated with said SIM card, and hence to communicate over the core network of the cellular wireless communications network, while appearing to said core network as a mobile device.

18. A base station as claimed in claim 17, wherein the SIM interface has an IMSI and MSISDN number associated therewith, and wherein, when the base station receives an incoming call through the cellular core network interface, specifying said MSISDN number as recipient, said base station causes any remote communications device connected to said base station over said wireless interface to ring.

19. A base station as claimed in claim 17 or 18, wherein the SIM interface is a GSM SIM interface, a UMTS USIM interface, or an IMS ISIM interface.