System and method for controlling wireless network access

• US 6,389,284 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bundy, Scott C., Cook, Charles I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/320,859
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 455/434, 455/432, 455/456, 455/515, 455/524, 455/525, 455/411, 455/419, 455/410, 455/418, 455/551, 455/527, 455/528, 455/3.05, 455/462, 455/463, 455/464, 455/517, 455/518, 455/519, 455/574, 455/343, 380/247, 380/270
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling

Abstract

A system and method for controlling network access for a wireless user subscriber unit having a device identity that utilizes listen-before-talk techniques. A base station is configured to transmit a set of device identities corresponding to a set of valid subscriber units. A user subscriber unit is configured to listen for a device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit. Further, the user subscriber unit is configured to transmit a request for network access upon receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit when network access is desired.

Claims

1. A method for controlling wireless network access for a wireless user subscriber unit having a device identity, the method comprising:

listening with the user subscriber unit;

transmitting a set of device identities corresponding to a set of valid subscriber units from a base station;

granting a specified amount of time for response to the set of valid subscriber units upon transmitting the set of device identities;

upon receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit, transmitting a request for network access with the user subscriber unit within the specified amount of time; and

granting network access to the user subscriber unit upon receiving the request for network access at the base station.

2. A system for controlling wireless network access, the system comprising:

a user subscriber unit configured to listen for a device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit, and configured to transmit a request for network access upon receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit when network access is desired; and

a base station configured to transmit a set of device identities corresponding to a set of valid subscriber units, and configured to grant a specified amount of time for response to the set of valid subscriber units upon transmitting the set of device identities, and further configured to grant network access to the user subscriber unit upon receiving the request for network access at the base station within the specified time for response.

3. A user wireless device for use in a wireless network in which the user wireless device is permitted to access the network when the user wireless device is within a preselected fixed region with at least one base station in the region that is operative to permit network access for a predetermined plurality of wireless devices including the user wireless device, the user wireless device comprising:

a user subscriber unit configured to listen for a device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit, the device identity being transmitted along with a plurality of other device identities corresponding to other wireless devices by the at least one base station, and the user subscriber unit being further configured to transmit a request for network access after receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit when network access is desired.

4. The user wireless device of claim 3 wherein the user subscriber unit is further configured to listen for a temporary device identity that represents a plurality of device identities including the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit.

5. A system for controlling wireless network access, the system comprising:

a user subscriber unit configured to listen for a device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit, and configured to transmit a request for network access upon receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit when network access is desired; and

a base station configured to transmit a set of device identities corresponding to a set of valid subscriber units.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the base station is further configured to transmit a first set of device identities corresponding to a first set of valid subscriber units from the base station on a generally periodic basis with a first period, and is further configured to transmit a second set of device identities corresponding to a second set of valid subscriber units from the base station on a generally periodic basis with a second period that is different than the first period.

7. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a plurality of base stations configured to transmit a corresponding plurality of sets of device identities, wherein the set of device identities transmitted from a particular base station is based on a location of the particular base station.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the base station is further configured to grant a specified amount of time for response to the set of valid subscriber units upon transmitting the set of device identities.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the base station is further configured to grant network access to the user subscriber unit upon receiving the request for network access at the base station.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the base station is further configured to send a terminate request from the base station to the user subscriber unit, and wherein the user subscriber unit is further configured to discontinue transmissions upon receiving the terminate request at the user subscriber unit.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the user subscriber unit is further configured to send a terminate request from the user subscriber unit to the base station, and wherein the base station is further configured to discontinue transmissions upon receiving the terminate request at the base station.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the base station is further configured to control a transmit power of the user subscriber unit from the base station.

13. The system of claim 5 wherein each device identity is an electronic serial number.

14. A method for controlling wireless network access for a wireless user subscriber unit having a device identity, the method comprising:

listening with the user subscriber unit;

transmitting a set of device identities corresponding to a set of valid subscriber units from a base station; and

upon receiving the device identity corresponding to the user subscriber unit, transmitting a request for network access with the user subscriber unit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein transmitting the set of device identities further comprises:

transmitting a first set of device identities corresponding to a first set of valid subscriber units from the base station on a generally periodic basis with a first period; and

transmitting at least one additional set of device identities corresponding to at least one additional set of valid subscriber units from the base station on a generally periodic basis with a corresponding period that is different than the first period.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein transmitting the set of device identities further comprises:

transmitting a plurality of sets of device identities from a corresponding plurality of base stations, wherein the set of device identities transmitted from a particular base station is based on a location of the particular base station.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the set of device identities transmitted from a particular base station is further based on network intelligence relating to subscriber device usage.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

granting a specified amount of time for response to the set of valid subscriber units upon transmitting the set of device identities, wherein the request for network access is transmitted by the user subscriber unit within the specified amount of time.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

granting network access to the user subscriber unit upon receiving the request for network access at the base station.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

sending a terminate request from the base station to the user subscriber unit; and

discontinuing transmissions between the user subscriber unit and the base station upon receiving the terminate request at the user subscriber unit.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

sending a terminate request from the user subscriber unit to the base station; and

discontinuing transmissions between the user subscriber unit and the base station upon receiving the terminate request at the base station.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

controlling a transmit power of the user subscriber unit from the base station.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein each device identity is an electronic serial number.