SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ACCESS POINT FUNCTIONALITY AND CONFIGURATION

• US 20120317224A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Christopher E., Linkola, Janne P., Hassan, Omar, Jensen, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 9,301,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices
• 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 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A system for managing access point functionally and configuration includes a server that is coupled to a computer network and configured to communicate with an access point via the computer network. The access point is configured to couple a mobile device to the computer network by providing a wireless link between the mobile device and the access point. The access point is further configured to produce a status point regarding the access point and the server is configured to receive the status report from the access point following a trigger event at the access point. In other examples, the server is further configured to transmit a response message and/or a configuration file to the access point in response to the status report that is received at the server. Other features and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for managing functionality and/or configuration of an access point in communication with a carrier network that manages, at least in part, communication associated with one or more mobile devices, the communication being exchanged over a communication path that includes at least a portion of a computer network, the system comprising:

a server computer coupled to the computer network; and

wherein the server is configured to communicate with the access point via the computer network, wherein the access point is further configured to produce a status report regarding the access point following a trigger event at the access point, and wherein the server is configured to receive the status report from the access point.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to transmit a response message and/or a configuration file to the access point, the response message and/or configuration file being responsive to the status report that is received at the server.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more customer-care computers coupled to the server via the computer network either directly or through other servers (middleware), the server being configured to transmit the status report to the customer-care computers.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the server, the database including the status report communicated to the server and multiple status reports corresponding to other access points coupled to the computer network, wherein the server is configured to automatically review the status reports and improve a service provided to one or more of the access points based on the review.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is an operator-initiated event including at least one of rebooting the access point, providing an input at the access point, or providing an input at a computer coupled to the access point.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is initiated by a detection event including at least one of a conflict on a radio communication channel of the access point, a level of communication congestion at the access point, an elapsed time period associated with a previously uploaded status report, an alarm condition at the access point, and a predetermined condition chosen by a provider of the access point.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the access point is configured for coupling the mobile devices to the computer network by providing a non-cellular wireless link between the mobile devices and the access point.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the access point is configured for coupling the mobile devices to the computer network by providing a cellular wireless link between the mobile devices and the access point, wherein the access point is not a cell tower.

9. A computer-implemented method for operating consumer premises equipment (CPE), the method comprising:

producing a status report regarding the CPE, the status report being initially stored at the CPE;

responsive to a trigger event, automatically transmitting the status report to a server, the server being coupled to the CPE via a computer network;

receiving a configuration file from the server; and

automatically changing the functionality and/or configuration of the CPE based, at least in part, on the configuration file.

10. A method of claim 9 wherein the method provides a communication link between a wireless mobile device and a carrier network associated with the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the status report includes information regarding the status of firmware installed at the CPE, and wherein changing the functionality and/or configuration of the CPE includes receiving and installing updated firmware at the CPE.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the trigger event includes at least one of a boot-up, a power-up, or an operated-initiated signal.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein changing the functionality and/or configuration of the CPE includes at least temporarily suspending future automatic transmission of status reports from the CPE.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein changing the functionality and/or configuration of the CPE includes changing user-configurable settings remotely via the computer network.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein transmitting the status report to the server includes requesting and setting up a secure socket layer connection with the server.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein transmitting the status report to the server includes certificate based authentication to authenticate both the server and CPE before communicating the status report.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein transmitting the status report to the server includes:

retrieving a URL stored at the CPE; and

transmitting the status report to an IP address associated with the URL and corresponding to the server.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the CPE includes an access point for establishing a cellular or non-cellular wireless link between the access point and the computer network, wherein the access point is not a cell tower.

19. An access point, comprising:

a wireless communication component;

a data port;

at least one processor; and

a memory, including;

first operating instructions executable by the processor to set up a communication link between at least one wireless mobile device in communication with the WiFi component and a wireless service provider in communication with the data port, the carrier network being associated with the mobile devices;

second operating instructions executable by the processor to automatically generate a status report regarding the access point; and

third operating instructions executable by the processor to automatically communicate the status report to a server that is coupled to the access point through a computer network, wherein the status report is communicated to the server in response to at least one of an automatic initiation at the access point, a user initiation at the access point, or a remote initiation via the computer network.

20. The access point of claim 19 wherein the memory further includes information corresponding to a uniform resource locator (URL) or uniform resource identifier (URI) for the server.

21. The access point of claim 19 wherein the status report includes information corresponding to firmware installed at the access point, and wherein the memory further includes fourth operating instructions executable by the processor to download and/or install updated firmware based on one or more configuration files that are returned to the access point and based on the status report.

22. The access point of claim 19 wherein the status report includes information regarding the multiple mobile devices, including a number of successful/unsuccessful connection attempts, connection and/or lease times of the mobile devices, and IP and/or MAC addresses of the mobile devices.

23. The access point of claim 19 wherein the status report includes information regarding neighboring access points.

24. A system for changing and/or monitoring the configuration of an access point, the system comprising:

means for receiving a status report regarding the access point at a server, the access point being coupled to the server through a computer network, and

means for using the status report to;

(a) transmit a response message and/or a configuration file to the access point, the response message and/or configuration file being based on the status report, the response message acknowledging receipt of the of the status report, and the configuration file corresponding to an updated configuration of the access point;

(b) transmit the status report to one or more computers coupled to the computer network, the computers being associated with a customer support service;

or

(c) both (a) and (b).

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for remotely and automatically configuring the access point based on the status report.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for determining whether the access point requires a firmware change based on the status report; and

means for automatically providing the firmware change at the access point.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising means for initiating a triggering event at the access point, the triggering event causing the access point to transmit the status report to the server and including at least one of a request from the server to send the status report, a reboot of the access point, and placing the access point in a remote help mode.

28. A computer-readable storage medium whose contents cause an access point to perform a method for uploading a status report to a server, the access point being in communication with a carrier network that manages, at least in part, communication associated with one or more mobile devices wirelessly coupled to the access point, the method comprising:

automatically generating the status report regarding the access point; and

automatically uploading the status report to a server responsive to a triggering event at the access point.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein the method further includes providing an IP-based telecommunication service to the one or more mobile devices.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein the method further includes providing an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) service to the one or more mobile devices.