METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMING A COMMON NETWORK USING SHARED PRIVATE WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20140254548A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hughes, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

An approach for forming a common network using shared private wireless networks is described. A shared access platform receives a request, from a user device, for connectivity to a wireless service provider network formed by a plurality of customer premise nodes. The shared access platform also authenticates, in response to the request, the user device for access to the wireless service provider network based on permission settings established for the plurality of nodes in association with the wireless service provider network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request, from a user device, for connectivity to a wireless service provider network formed by a plurality of customer premise nodes;

authenticating, in response to the request, the user device for access to the wireless service provider network based on permission settings established for the plurality of nodes in association with the wireless service provider network,

wherein each of the nodes is associated with a first identifier and a second identifier, the first identifier being associated with a private wireless network and the second identifier being used for access to the wireless service provider network.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subscription request to join the wireless service provider network; and

adding a new customer premise node to the wireless service provider network in response to the subscription request,

wherein the subscription request includes permission settings corresponding to the new customer premise node.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message, from one of the customer premise nodes or the user device, indicating bandwidth availability of the one customer premise node, signal strength relating to connectivity of the user device with the one customer premise node, or a combination thereof;

determining, based on the received message, the bandwidth availability, signal strength, or a combination thereof satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

initiating a handoff procedure to permit another one of the customer premise nodes to serve the user device based on the determination.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

buffering traffic associated with the user device as part of the handoff procedure.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

assigning the customer premise nodes to respective serving areas of the wireless service provider network; and

maintaining a log of usage of the customer premise nodes for the respective serving areas, usage of the wireless service provider network by the user device, or a combination thereof.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

modifying the assignment of the customer premise nodes to the serving areas based on the permission settings, the log, or a combination thereof,

wherein the permission settings include user preference information or bandwidth availability information for the respective customer premise nodes.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier provide service set identifiers are associated with the private wireless network and the wireless service provider network, respectively.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving traffic from the user device for transmission over the wireless service provider network,

wherein the traffic originates from one of the customer premise nodes, the one customer premise node being configured to segregate the traffic from other traffic associated with a corresponding private wireless network.

9. A method comprising:

initiating, at a user device, a request for connectivity to a wireless service provider network formed by a plurality of customer premise nodes; and

detecting, in response to the request, a first identifier and a second identifier associated with each of the nodes, the first identifier being associated with a private wireless network and the second identifier being used for access to the wireless service provider network,

wherein the user device is prohibited from access to the private wireless network.

10. A method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating, at the user device, a message for indicating signal strength relating to connectivity of the user device with one of the customer premise nodes;

initiating connectivity with another one of the customer premise nodes based on the signal strength,

wherein the request is associated with a handoff procedure.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive a request, from a user device, for connectivity to a wireless service provider network formed by a plurality of customer premise nodes;

authenticate, in response to the request, the user device for access to the wireless service provider network based on permission settings established for the plurality of nodes in association with the wireless service provider network,

wherein each of the nodes is associated with a first identifier and a second identifier, the first identifier being associated with a private wireless network and the second identifier being used for access to the wireless service provider network.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a subscription request to join the wireless service provider network; and

add a new customer premise node to the wireless service provider network in response to the subscription request,

wherein the subscription request includes permission settings corresponding to the new customer premise node.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a message, from one of the customer premise nodes or the user device, indicating bandwidth availability of the one customer premise node, signal strength relating to connectivity of the user device with the one customer premise node, or a combination thereof;

determine, based on the received message, the bandwidth availability, signal strength, or a combination thereof satisfies a predetermined threshold; and

initiate a handoff procedure to permit another one of the customer premise nodes to serve the user device based on the determination.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

buffer traffic associated with the user device as part of the handoff procedure.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

assign the customer premise nodes to respective serving areas of the wireless service provider network; and

maintain a log of usage of the customer premise nodes for the respective serving areas, usage of the wireless service provider network by the user device, or a combination thereof.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

modify the assignment of the customer premise nodes to the serving areas based on the permission settings, the log, or a combination thereof,

wherein the permission settings include user preference information or bandwidth availability information for the respective customer premise nodes.

17. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first identifier and the second identifier provide service set identifiers are associated with the private wireless network and the wireless service provider network, respectively.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive traffic from the user device for transmission over the wireless service provider network,

wherein the traffic originates from one of the customer premise nodes, the one customer premise node being configured to segregate the traffic from other traffic associated with a corresponding private wireless network.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate, at a user device, a request for connectivity to a wireless service provider network formed by a plurality of customer premise nodes; and

detect, in response to the request, a first identifier and a second identifier associated with each of the nodes, the first identifier being associated with a private wireless network and the second identifier being used for access to the wireless service provider network,

wherein the user device is prohibited from access to the private wireless network.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generate, at the user device, a message for indicating signal strength relating to connectivity of the user device with one of the customer premise nodes;

initiate connectivity with another one of the customer premise nodes based on the signal strength,

wherein the request is associated with a handoff procedure.