TIERED WIRELESS, MULTI-MODAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140378128A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Data Off-Loading Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MLR, LLC
• Inventors: LEEDOM, Charles M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,532,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0268 using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A wireless, multi-modal access device and system adapted to integrate a number of communications networks operating in differing communication modes to facilitate transfer of communication links during a communication session to promote efficient use of the communication networks. The system includes a plurality of Universal Multi-Modal Access Devices UMMAD that are capable of operating at different frequencies and different protocols (TDMA, AMPS, CDMA, GSM, PCS etc) to communicate with any one of a number of Wide Bandwidth Gateways (WBG), which are each capable of communication using one or more of the protocols. The communication links may be switched from one WBG to another or from one protocol to another during a communication session to continue the session under the control of a Universal System Traffic Controller. Numerous other applications of the UMMADs for unique identification and e-commerce are disclosed.

Claims

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A system for controlling communication network traffic in a multi-tiered communication network providing multiple communication services through wireless links to a plurality of portable multi-mode access devices, said portable multi-mode access devices being capable of operating at different levels of broadcast power using corresponding different communication protocols and corresponding different radio spectrum dependent on the tier of wireless communication network being accessed, said multi-tiered communication network including at least a first tier network formed from one or more first gateways for establishing wireless links with at least one of said portable multi-mode access devices using a corresponding first communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum, and a second tier network formed from one or more second gateways for establishing wireless links with at least one of said multi-mode access devices using a corresponding second communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum, the first broadcast power level being less than the second broadcast power level, said system for controlling communication network traffic comprising:

a controller comprising a memory and an processor, configured to provide a communication pathway between said first and second tier networks for supplying communication services to said plurality of portable multi-mode access devices, and to reduce the aggregate demand within a second tier network by;

a) directing a received request for communication services from one of said plurality portable multi-mode access devices to said first tier network and allowing a wireless link to be established with a gateway in the network using the corresponding communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum appropriate for the network, or

b) transitioning one or more existing communication links from one of said second tier networks by causing one or more portable multi-mode devices to transfer their wireless links from corresponding gateways in the second tier network to a gateway in one of the first tier networks using the corresponding communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum for the gateway in the first tier network.

43. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein said communication pathway comprises broadband services including the internet.

44. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein said controller is capable of forming direct communication links to said plurality of portable multi-mode access devices to determine the aggregate load within each tier network.

45. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein said controller is capable of shifting wireless links in order to increase total system capacity to meet aggregate demand on the entire system.

46. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein said controller is capable of establishing or rerouting wireless links away from gateways in the second tier network, in or to gateways in the first tier network to increase the total capacity of the communication system by forming wireless links operating over smaller geographic areas.

47. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein

said controller memory stores access device data defining different communication protocols appropriate for establishing communication links between portable multi-mode access devices and gateways in one of said first and second tier networks;

and

wherein the controller is capable of causing access device data to be retrieved from said controller memory and used by a selected portable multi-mode access device to establish or transition a wireless link with a gateway in one tier network to a gateway in another tier network.

48. A system as defined by claim 47, wherein said access device data is downloaded to the selected portable multi-mode access device.

49. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein memory storing access device data defining different communication protocols appropriate for establishing communication links between portable multi-mode access devices and gateways in one of said first and second tier networks, is located in the portable multi-mode access device whose wireless link is being transition or established;

and

wherein the controller is capable of causing access device data to be retrieved from said portable multi-mode access device memory and used by a selected portable multi-mode access device to establish or transition a wireless link with a gateway in one tier network to a gateway in another tier network.

50. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein:

said controller memory stores gateway data defining different communication protocols appropriate for establishing communication links between the gateway and portable multi-mode access devices in one of said first and second tier networks; and

wherein the controller is capable of causing gateway data to be retrieved from said controller memory and used by a gateway to establish a wireless link with an access device.

51. A system as defined by claim 50, wherein said gateway data set is downloaded to the gateway which is establishing a wireless link with an access device.

52. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein memory storing gateway data defining different communication protocols appropriate for establishing communication links between the gateway and portable multi-mode access devices in one of said first and second tier networks, is located in the gateway which is establishing a wireless link with an access device;

and

wherein the controller is capable of causing gateway data to be retrieved from said gateway memory and used by a gateway to establish a wireless link with an access device.

53. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein the first tier network gateways are microcells.

54. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein the first tier network gateways are capable of using unregulated radio spectrum at relative low broadcast power.

55. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein the first tier network gateways are capable of using Bluetooth communication protocol.

56. A system as defined by claim 54, wherein the second tier network gateways comprise base stations and the second tier network is a cellular network.

57. A system as defined by claim 42, wherein said controller controls transfer aggregate demand between the first and second tier networks by directing new requests for access to the one of said first and second tier network having the capacity for providing the wireless service being requested and allowing a wireless link to be established with a gateway in said one tier network using the appropriate corresponding communication protocol, broadcast power level and radio spectrum appropriate for the gateway.

58. A system as defined by claim 56, wherein the controller maintains in meaning a log of on-going wireless links so that upon premature loss or need for transfer, the wireless link may be transferred or re-established with a gateway in another tier seamlessly without requiring participation from the user of the portable multi-mode access device.