Public wireless/cordless internet gateway

• US 6,359,880 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Curry, James E., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US09/363,750
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351-356, 370/400-402, 370/310, 370/328, 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 455/432-435
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway compresses and decompresses voice frequency communication signals, and it sends and receives the compressed signals in packet form via the network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers. The localized wireless gateway system also includes a telephone switch, such as a digital PBX, selectively providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit(s) and the packet service gateway. An access manager controls registration and validation of roaming wireless telephones to utilize the wireless gateway system. The access manager also transmits location information for registered wireless telephones to a home location register database via the network. The communications of the access manager to the home location register database permit telephone authentication as well as maintenance of accurate location information in the home location register identifying the current gateway through which a caller can reach the roaming user'"'"'s wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering a wireless telephone terminal in a localized wireless gateway system;

transmitting registration data identifying the gateway system from the localized wireless gateway system to a home location register database through a public packet data communication network;

receiving a request from a calling computer coupled to the public packet data communication network for a call to the wireless telephone terminal;

in response to the request, accessing the home location register database and obtaining a packet data address for the localized wireless gateway system;

using the address to set up a voice communication through the public packet data communication network and the localized wireless gateway system between the calling computer and the wireless telephone terminal.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the calling computer is a terminal computer having voice communication capabilities.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the calling computer is a packet service gateway computer, coupled between the public packet data communication network and a public switched telephone network, for providing two-way voice communications to and from at least one telephone via the public packet data communication network.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the registering step comprises registering the wireless telephone terminal with an access manager which controls communications through the localized wireless gateway system.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the registration data from the access manager through the public packet data communication network to the home location register database.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the public packet data communication network is a packet switched network.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the packet switched network comprises a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.

9. A method comprising:

transmitting a registration message from a wireless telephone terminal through a wireless gateway system to an access manager controlling wireless communication through the wireless gateway system;

in response to the registration message, transmitting a verification request identifying the wireless telephone terminal and the wireless gateway system through a public packet data network to a home location register database;

if the wireless telephone is authorized service, transmitting a service verification response message through the public packet data network to the access manager; and

authorizing a service to the wireless telephone terminal through the wireless gateway system in response to the verification response message, wherein the authorized service comprises making telephone calls at least in part via the public packet data network.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the public packet data communication network is a packet switched network.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the packet switched network comprises a system of interlinked data networks using TCP/IP protocol.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the system of interlinked data networks comprises the Internet.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting a registration message from a wireless telephone terminal through a wireless gateway system to an access manager controlling wireless communication through the wireless gateway system;

in response to the registration message, transmitting a verification request identifying the wireless telephone terminal and the wireless gateway system through a public packet data network to a home location register database;

if the wireless telephone is authorized service, transmitting a service verification response message through the public packet data network to the access manager; and

authorizing a service to the wireless telephone terminal through the wireless gateway system in response to the verification response message, wherein the authorized service comprises receiving telephone calls at least in part via the public packet data network.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising:

storing identification of the wireless gateway system in the home location register database; and

using said identification to route telephone calls through the public packet data network and the wireless gateway system to the wireless telephone terminal.