INTELLIGENT PICO-CELL FOR TRANSPORT OF WIRELESS DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS OVER WIRELINE NETWORKS

• US 20100046490A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III, O'Neil, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

In one embodiment a pico cell may be used to detect a presence of a wireless device and receive a wireless signal from the wireless device. The wireless signal may then be converted from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection. The converted signal may then be transmitted over the broadband connection.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing a processor to execute code instructions stored in a computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor perform the following acts;

monitoring existing radio frequency channels;

based on the monitoring act, detecting presence of a wireless device;

determining if the wireless device is allowed to connect to a pico-cell; and

when determining act indicates the wireless device is allowed to connect to the pico-cell;

issuing configuration commands for the wireless device to communicate with the pico-cell; and

initiating a communication session if the wireless device is properly configured.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the wireless device is allowed to connect to the pico-cell includes determining if the wireless device embodies credentials necessary to access the pico-cell.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring configuration settings employed by the wireless device to communicate with the pico-cell; and

updating the configuration commands to improve quality of communications between the wireless device and the pico-cell.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the updating act includes issuing commands directing the wireless device to switch to at least one of a stronger RF channel or a disparate power setting.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

remotely accessing the pico-cell; and

gathering policy information guiding allowance of access to the pico-cell.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the gathered policy information is unacceptable, issuing a command to effect a suitable policy, wherein the suitable policy can exclude certain cellular-carrier customers.

7. A system, comprising:

an RF interface that receives information through electromagnetic signals emitted by a wireless device and emits electromagnetic signals to the wireless device

one or more processors; and

a memory that includes code that when executed by the one or more processors implement the following components;

a remote administrator module that collects data on at least operation, environment, and location of the system; and

a proximate channel module that stores a list of channel identifiers of RF channels along with RF strength levels of the RF channels, and updates the list if it receives an updated thereof from the remote administrator module.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a network interface that receive remote commands that dictate a channel set employed to communicate with the RF interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the network interface receives commands that restrict utilization of the apparatus to wireless devices associated with accounts of specific carriers.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a pairing module that examines a wireless device and confirms the wireless device has security clearances to communicate wirelessly through the apparatus.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a network administrator that conveys commands to the network interface and allows a cellular carrier to administer licensed channels available to the cellular carrier for wireless communication in a location of the RF interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the network administrator allows software updates to be downloaded to the memory.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the remote administrator module compares the list of channel identifiers to a list of channel identifiers of all markets for a cellular carrier to determined the local market of the system.

20. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for comparing a first list of channel identifiers to a second list of channel identifiers of all markets for a cellular carrier to determine a local market.

14. An apparatus, comprising

means for monitoring existing radio frequency channels;

means for detecting presence of a wireless device based on monitored radio frequency channels;

means for determining if the wireless device is allowed to connect to a pico-cell; and

when means for determining indicates the wireless device is allowed to connect to the pico-cell;

means for issuing configuration commands for the wireless device to communicate with the pico-cell; and

means for initiating a communication session if the wireless device is properly configured.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for monitoring configuration settings employed by the wireless device to communicate with the pico-cell.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for updating the configuration commands to improve quality of communications between the wireless device and the pico-cell.

17. The apparatus of claim method of claim 14, further comprising:

means for accessing the pico-cell remotely; and

means for gathering policy information guiding allowance of access to the pico-cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

if the gathered policy information is unacceptable, means for issuing a command to effect a suitable policy, wherein the suitable policy can exclude certain cellular-carrier customers.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for accessing data regarding use of a pico-cell remotely.