Wireless Services Gateway

• US 20140362807A1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: BHATNAGAR, Hemant, CHUU, Wayne, HEBBALAE, Chetan, HUANG, Wei-Lun, KALIAPERUMAL, Rajesh, KISH, William, LI, Yi-Nan, MOK, Ronald, NAGARAJA, Vijikumar, PALLI, Venkatarao, RANADE, Yogesh, SHEU, Ming-Jye, TZENG, Henry, YAN, You-Lin, YU, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,686,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2592 using tunnelling or encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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

Abstract

A system for integrating wireless service providers'"'"' core networks with Wi-Fi radios using a Wireless Services Gateway (WSG). The WSG can allow wireless device users to seamlessly connect to a network such as the internet using both cellular phone antennae as well as Wi-Fi radio antennae while still utilizing their preferred wireless service provider'"'"'s core network system of billing, authenticating and policy decision making. This system can allow for data transmission of wireless devices through Wi-Fi instead of through cellular antennae, thus increasing bandwidth and data transmission rates.

Claims

1. A system for integrating access point radios into a wireless service provider core network, comprising:

a wireless services gateway configured to,

communicate with at least one access point radio;

wherein the access point radio is configured to communicate with at least one wireless user equipment;

communicate with at least one wireless service provider core network;

communicate with at least one other wireless services gateway;

access a distributed storage device that the at least one other wireless services gateway also has access to; and

provide a communication connection between the at least one access point radio and a network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the network is the internet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway is further configured to allow the wireless user equipment to move among more than one access point radio and maintain the network connection.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway is further configured to allow the wireless user equipment to move among more than one access point radio and cellular antennae and maintain the network connection.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway is further configured to replace the at least one other wireless services gateway if the at least one other wireless services gateway fails.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a data log interface, configured to,

communicate with the at least one access point radio data log interface;

communicate with a local log; and

communicate with an event handler.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a communication service module, configured to,

communicate with an Access Point Configuration Manager in the at least one access point radio;

communicate with an Access Point Status Manager in the at least one access point radio;

communicate with an Association Manager in the at least one access point radio; and

communicate with a Distributed Memory Core and the distributed storage device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a Tunnel Termination Gateway (TTG), Packet Data Gateway (PDG), Authentication/Authorization/Accounting (AAA) Proxy and a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP),

wherein the TTG, PDG, AAA Proxy and SNMP are all configured to communicate with the distributed storage device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a Secure Gateway,

wherein the secure gateway is configured to communicate with the distributed storage device and at least one access point radio.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a femtocell gateway,

wherein the femtocell gateway is configured to communicate with a femtocell access point radio.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless user equipment is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the access point radio is at least one of a Wi-Fi access point and a femtocell access point.

13. A method for integrating access point radios into a wireless service provider core network, comprising:

via a wireless services gateway,

communicating with at least one access point radio;

wherein the access point radio is configured to communicate with at least one wireless user equipment;

communicating with at least one wireless service provider core network;

communicating with at least one other wireless services gateway;

accessing a distributed storage device that the at least one other wireless services gateway also has access to; and

providing a communication connection between the at least one access point radio and a network.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the network is the internet.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising, via the wireless services gateway,

allowing the wireless user equipment to move among more than one access point radio and maintain the network connection.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising,

replacing the at least one other wireless services gateway if the at least one other wireless services gateway fails.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising, via a data log interface, included in the wireless services gateway,

communicating with the at least one access point radio data log interface;

communicating with a local log; and

communicating with an event handler.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless services gateway includes a femtocell gateway,

wherein the femtocell gateway is configured to communicate with a femtocell access point radio.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the wireless user equipment is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer.