INTEGRATED CELLULAR SYSTEM WITH WI-FI-FALLBACK
First Claim
1. A method, performed in a Wi-Fi network node of a Wireless Network providing cellular and Wi-Fi services, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to enable Wi-Fi access to wireless terminals (WTs) located in a zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node;
receiving a request for a new data session from a WT;
adding the MAC address of said WT to a list of authorized users such that data sessions can be enabled for said WT located in said covered zone;
sending the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones such that said WT can have continuous data services as it moves within said covered zone and other zones adjacent thereof;
receiving at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and
sending a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing fallback data services over a Wi-Fi network is described. A request to enable access to new data sessions for wireless terminals in a zone covered by a Wi-Fi network node is received upon failure of 3GPP radio in that zone. When a request for a new data session from a WT is received, the MAC address of the WT is added to a list of authorized users. The MAC address of the WT is sent to Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones such that the WT can have continuous service as it moves between zones. When a Wi-Fi network node currently serving the WT receives an indication that the WT data session is terminated, a message is sent from the Wi-Fi network node currently serving the WT, to nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of the WT from the list of authorized users.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, performed in a Wi-Fi network node of a Wireless Network providing cellular and Wi-Fi services, the method comprising:
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receiving a request to enable Wi-Fi access to wireless terminals (WTs) located in a zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node; receiving a request for a new data session from a WT; adding the MAC address of said WT to a list of authorized users such that data sessions can be enabled for said WT located in said covered zone; sending the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones such that said WT can have continuous data services as it moves within said covered zone and other zones adjacent thereof; receiving at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and sending a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A Wi-Fi network node of a Wireless Network providing cellular and Wi-Fi services, the Wi-Fi network node comprising:
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a processor; and a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the Wi-Fi network node to; enable access to all new data sessions for wireless terminals (WTs) located in a Wi-Fi zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node; add the MAC address of said WTs to a list of users authorized to access said Wi-Fi network node; send the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes of said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof such that said WT can have continuous service as it moves between Wi-Fi nodes of one zone and from one zone to another zone; receive at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and send a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on Wi-Fi network node, causes the Wi-Fi network node to:
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enable access to all new data sessions for wireless terminals located in a Wi-Fi zone covered by said Wi-Fi network node; add the MAC address of said WTs to a list of users authorized to access said Wi-Fi network node; send the MAC address of said WT to other Wi-Fi network nodes of said covered zone and zones adjacent thereof such that said WT can have continuous service as it moves between Wi-Fi nodes of one zone and from one zone to another; receive at a Wi-Fi network node currently serving said WT an indication that the WT data session is terminated; and send a message from said serving Wi-Fi network node, to other Wi-Fi network nodes in said covered zone and Wi-Fi network nodes of adjacent zones to remove the MAC address of said WT from said list of authorized users. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, performed in a wireless terminal (WT) being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), the method comprising:
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detecting the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access; detecting the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT; detecting that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access; sending a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP; completing a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session; detecting the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.
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14. A wireless terminal being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point, the wireless terminal comprising:
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a processor; and a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the wireless terminal to; detect the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access; detect the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT; detect that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access; send a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP; complete a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session; detect the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.
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15. A computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on a wireless terminal being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network and a Wi-Fi access point, causes the wireless terminal to:
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detect the presence of a Wi-Fi AP which said WT is not currently authorized to access; detect the failure of a cellular RF radio currently serving said WT; detect that said Wi-Fi AP is now available for access; send a request for a new data session to said Wi-Fi AP; complete a hand shake with said Wi-Fi AP to activate said new data session; detect the presence of another Wi-Fi AP which is now available for access as said WT moves within a zone or from one zone served by said Wi-Fi AP to a zone served by said other Wi-Fi AP.
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16. A method, performed in a Wireless Access Controller (AC) being capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), both said radio and AP serving a wireless mobility zone, the method comprising:
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detecting a cellular service failure event; instructing said cellular network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone; instructing a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable Wi-Fi access to Wireless Terminals (WT) located in a zone covered by said Wi-Fi AP; receiving from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC or in a zone adjacent thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A Wireless Access Controller (AC) capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), both said radio and AP serving a wireless mobility service zone, the AC comprising:
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a processor; and a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the AC to; detect a cellular service failure event; instruct said cellular communication network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone; instruct a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable access to Wireless Terminals (WT) in said affected zone; receive from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC.
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19. A computer program comprising a computer program code which, when run on a Wi-Fi Access Controller (AC) capable of communicating both with a cellular communication network radio and a Wi-Fi access point (AP), wherein both said radio and AP serve a wireless mobility service zone, causes the Wi-Fi AC to:
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detect a cellular service failure event; instruct said cellular communication network radio to disable cellular RF ports associated with said failure event for an affected zone; instruct a Wi-Fi AP serving said affected zone to enable access to all new data sessions from Wireless Terminals (WT) in said affected zone; receive from said serving Wi-Fi AP, a list of MAC addresses associated with one or more WT requesting a new data session with said serving Wi-Fi AP or any other Wi-Fi AP in a zone managed by said AC.
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Specification