PORTABLE CELLULAR NETWORK SYSTEM

• US 20150072669A1
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Star Solutions International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Start Solutions International Incorporated
• Inventors: Mar, Jack K., Jin, Yichuang
• Granted Patent: US 9,532,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/36 with a discrete range or set of values, e.g. step size, ramping or offsets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system for setting up a cellular network is provided. The system includes a base station module and a core network module. The base station module has a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor configured to provide base station functions to handle transmission and reception of radio signals to and from cellular devices within the cellular network via the transmitter and receiver. The core network module has a processor configured to provide core network functions to handle cellular communication services for the cellular devices. The system has a switch connected to supply power to the base station module and the core network module from a power source. Activating the switch causes the base station functions and core network functions to be automatically and systematically started up to enable full functionality of the cellular network system. The system is sufficiently compact so that it can be carried by hand.

Claims

1. A standalone cellular network system for setting up a cellular network, the system comprising:

a base station module comprising;

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

a base station processor configured to provide a plurality of base station functions to handle transmission and reception of radio signals to and from one or more cellular devices within the cellular network via the transmitter and the receiver;

a core network module comprising a core network processor configured to provide a plurality of core network functions to handle cellular communication services for the one or more cellular devices by processing the radio signals and sending instructions to the base station module, wherein the cellular communication services comprise voice calling services; and

a switch connected to supply power to the base station module and the core network module from a power source;

wherein activating the switch enables full functionality of the cellular network system including enabling the plurality of radio base station functions and enabling the plurality of core network functions; and

wherein the system is sufficiently compact so that it can be carried by hand.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein activating the switch causes the plurality of base station functions and the plurality of core network functions to be automatically and systematically started up.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising at least one memory storage device, wherein activating the switch causes the core network processor to load a plurality of predetermined core network configuration settings from the at least one memory storage device, and the base station processor to load a plurality of predetermined base station configuration settings from the at least one memory storage device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein activating the switch causes the core network processor to load subscriber data from the at least one memory storage device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cellular communication services comprise SMS text messaging services.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cellular communication services comprise mobile data services.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the system is passively cooled and is housed in a watertight enclosure.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the core network processor is configured to provide a control panel user interface, the core network processor configured to cause a voice call to be initiated to a selection of one or more cellular devices when an operator inputs a command using the control panel user interface.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the core network processor is configured to provide a control panel user interface, the core network processor configured to cause a text message to be transmitted to a selection of one or more cellular devices when an operator inputs the text message using the control panel user interface.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the core network processor is configured to provide a control panel user interface, the core network processor configured to cause a voice call between two cellular devices to be interrupted when an operator inputs a command using the control panel user interface.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the system is connectable to a satellite network by means of WiFi, Ethernet cable, USB, or analogue wired connection to a local satellite terminal.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the system is connectable to an external broadband wireless network by means of WiFi, Ethernet cable, USB, or analogue wired connection.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the core network processor is configured to transcode radio signals received in a first digital format, to radio signals in a second digital format.

14. The system of claim 6 comprising a WiFi transmitter and receiver, wherein the core network processor is configured to establish a WiFi access point for the system.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber data defines a priority setting for each subscriber in the cellular network, and wherein the core network processor is configured to manage the cellular communication services in accordance with the priority settings of the subscribers.

16. A method for setting up a cellular network system to provide a cellular network, the system comprising a base station module and a core network module, the method comprising:

in response to an activation signal, automatically powering on the base station module and the core network module, wherein the base station module comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a base station processor configured to provide a plurality of base station applications to handle transmission and reception of radio signals to and from one or more cellular devices within the cellular network via the transmitter and the receiver, and wherein the core network module comprises a core network processor configured to provide a plurality of core network applications to handle cellular communication services for the one or more cellular devices by processing the radio signals and sending instructions to the base station module;

the base station processor starting execution of the plurality of base station applications; and

the core network processor starting execution of the plurality of core network applications.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the cellular network system comprises at least one memory storage device, and in response to the activation signal, the core network processor loads a plurality of predetermined core network configuration settings from the at least one memory storage device, and the base station processor loads a plurality of predetermined base station configuration settings from the at least one memory storage device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein in response to the activation signal, the core network processor loads subscriber data from the at least one memory storage device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the core network processor causes a signal to be sent to the base station processor to indicate availability of the core network services, and wherein in response to receiving the signal the base station processor establishes a connection of the base station module to the core network module.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising stepping up power of the transmitter of the base station module until the transmitter is operating at full power.