SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTI NETWORK CONNECTIVITY

• US 20120213205A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearwire Ip Holdings LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Clear Wireless LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: TAMMISETTI, Mohan
• Granted Patent: US 9,756,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In various embodiments, a system provides multi network connectivity between a broadband, packet-switched wireless Radio Access Network (RAN) and first and second different wireless networks using a broadband transceiver configured to receive and transmit packet-switched data over the RAN. First and second transceivers with respective data interfaces with the broadband transceiver are configured to establish a first and second wireless networks using different communications protocols. A processor and associated memory are operatively coupled together to at least control the broadband transceiver, the first transceiver, and the second transceiver. A communications range of the first and second wireless networks are extended beyond a respective intrinsic data communications capability thereof via the broadband transceiver. The system and method may be implemented to improve in-building wireless coverage, or to provide real-time content to mobile users, e.g., in an automobile, and/or to provide real-time vehicle diagnostic codes to a maintenance support node.

Claims

1. A system for providing connectivity between a broadband, packet-switched wireless Radio Access Network (RAN) and first and second different wireless networks, the system comprising:

a broadband transceiver configured to receive and transmit packet-switched data over the RAN;

a first transceiver having a first data interface with the broadband transceiver and configured to establish a first wireless network using a first communications protocol;

a second transceiver having a second data interface with the broadband transceiver and configured to establish a second wireless network using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and

a processor and associated memory operatively coupled together to at least control the broadband transceiver, the first transceiver, and the second transceiver,

wherein an effective communications range of both the first wireless network and the second wireless network are extended beyond a respective intrinsic data communications capability thereof via the broadband transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadband transceiver is a 4G transceiver.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the 4G transceiver is a WiMax transceiver.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the 4G transceiver is an LTE transceiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the broadband transceiver is a 3G transceiver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the 3G transceiver is an EvDO transceiver.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the 3G transceiver is an HSDPA transceiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second wireless networks is a WiFi network and the other one of the first and second wireless networks is a Bluetooth network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is arranged in a mobile vehicle, the system further comprising:

a wireless data interface over one of the first and second wireless networks with an onboard vehicle diagnostic system of the mobile vehicle,

wherein vehicle diagnostic information is transmitted via the wireless data interface over said one of the first and second wireless networks and the RAN to a data server.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) interface configured to provide vehicle location information to the data server via the RAN.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein localized service information is received by the broadband receiver from the data server based upon the vehicle location information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the localized service information comprises weather-related information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the localized service information comprises traffic-related information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the localized service information comprises vehicle maintenance-related information.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the localized service information comprises law enforcement-related information.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein a relative priority is assigned to the localized service information based upon a type of information being provided.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the relative priority determines, at least in part, a type of data connection provided to the broadband transceiver over the RAN.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the onboard vehicle diagnostic system is configured to provide vehicle error codes to the data server via the RAN.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the onboard vehicle diagnostic system is configured to automatically provide event-based vehicle error codes to the data server via the RAN.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the broadband transceiver receives vehicle maintenance information from the data server based at least upon the vehicle error codes provided to the data server.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the vehicle maintenance information comprises at least a nearest maintenance location for the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the onboard vehicle diagnostic system is configured to accept a polling request received from the data server via the wireless data interface and the RAN and, responsive to the polling request, the onboard vehicle diagnostic system is configured to provide vehicle error codes to the data server via the RAN.

23. The system of claim 9, further comprising a personal area network (PAN) transceiver connected to the onboard vehicle diagnostic system and configured to join in a compatible one of the first and second wireless networks.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the PAN comprises a Bluetooth network.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to the processor, said user interface being configured to at least select one of a plurality of operational modes of the system.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen interface.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of operational modes comprises the RAN being either a 4G or 3G network.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the processor to automatically initiate a handover of the RAN from a 4G network to a 3G network, or from a 3G network to a 4G network in response to one or more RAN quality indicators.

29. The system of claim 9, wherein the broadband transceiver, the first transceiver, the second transceiver, the processor, and the wireless data interface to the onboard vehicle diagnostic system are arranged in a single enclosure suitable for installation in an automobile.

30. The system of claim 9, further comprising a wideband fractal antenna arranged on a window of the vehicle and operatively connected at least to the broadband transceiver.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is arranged in a mobile vehicle, the system further comprising:

a wireless data interface over one of the first and second wireless networks, said wireless data interface establishing at least one wireless connection within the mobile vehicle with one or more users occupying the mobile vehicle,

wherein an Internet connection established by an external server accessible by the RAN is provided to said one or more users within the mobile vehicle via the at least one wireless connection.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the Internet connection is maintained for said one or more users within the mobile vehicle while said broadband transceiver executes one or more base station handoffs in connection with maintaining connectivity of the RAN.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the Internet connection comprises a streaming broadband data flow comprising either video, or audio, or both to the one or more users within the mobile vehicle.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the broadband data flow comprises real-time content.

35. The system of claim 31, further comprising a wireless data connection to an external server via the broadband transceiver and the RAN, wherein the Internet connection is made via the external server.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the mobile vehicle comprises an automobile.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

a wireless data connection to an external server via the broadband transceiver and the RAN;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) interface to the processor; and

a wireless interface to an onboard vehicle diagnostic system in the automobile, wherein automobile information received from the onboard vehicle diagnostic system is provided to the external server via one of the first and second wireless networks, the broadband transceiver, and the RAN.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the automobile information comprises vehicle event-driven diagnostic information resulting from one or more vehicle events selected from the group consisting of:

an ignition on/off state, an airbag deployment, a vehicle speed indication, an excessive vehicle RPM indication, and an engine problem indication.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the automobile information comprises vehicle owner-related information selected from the group consisting of:

a vehicle location request, a vehicle theft report, an engine kill request, a vehicle tracking request, a vehicle trip log request, and a time-based listing of past vehicle locations.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the wireless data connection to the external server provides real-time fleet vehicle location services and fleet vehicle management services to a vehicle fleet manager via an external Internet connection to the external server.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the wireless data connection to the external server provides remote management of on board automobile diagnostics, automobile location-based services, and real-time on-demand video and/or audio content via the RAN and one of the first and second wireless networks.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the RAN is a WiMax network, the first wireless network is a WiFi network, and the second wireless network is a Bluetooth network, wherein the WiFi and Bluetooth networks provide network coverage within the automobile for one or more users thereof, and the WiMax network provides a backhaul capability at least to the Internet.

43. A method of providing connectivity between a broadband, packet-switched wireless Radio Access Network (RAN) and first and second different wireless networks, the method comprising:

providing a broadband transceiver configured to receive and transmit packet-switched data over the RAN;

a first transceiver having a first data interface with the broadband transceiver and configured to establish a first wireless network using a first communications protocol;

a second transceiver having a second data interface with the broadband transceiver and configured to establish a second wireless network using a second communications protocol different from the first communications protocol; and

a processor and associated memory operatively coupled together to at least control the broadband transceiver, the first transceiver, and the second transceiver,

wherein an effective communications range of both the first wireless network and the second wireless network are extended beyond a respective intrinsic data communications capability thereof via the broadband transceiver.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising providing, via a server connected to the RAN, real-time data services and retransmitting said real-time data services via the first wireless network in a moving vehicle.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing vehicle diagnostic information via the second wireless network to a support node coupled to the RAN.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising providing a current GPS location along with the vehicle diagnostic information.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving, directions to a vehicle maintenance facility from the support node.