Automated configuration of a wireless communication device

• US 6,675,009 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cook, Fred S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/784,758
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/423, 455/424, 455/425, 455/67.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/404, 455/517, 455/403, 455/422.1, 455/414.2, 455/9
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A communication system is disclosed that automatically configures a communication device for wireless communication. In the communication system, a first communication device receives identification signals from second communication devices. The first communication device processes the identification signals to generate a composite signal. A control system determines a location of the first communication device in relation to the second communication devices based on the composite signal. The control system generates a virtual topology map of the communication system based on the location of the first communication device and the composite signal. The control system generates wireless communication information based on the virtual topology. The first communication device processes the wireless communication information to configure itself for wireless communication. The communication system advantageously configures communication devices faster and cheaper than prior systems.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

in a first communication device, receiving identification signals from a plurality of second communication devices, processing the identification signals to generate a composite signal, and transferring the composite signal;

in a control system, receiving the composite signal and determining a location of the first communication device in relation to the plurality of second communication devices based on the composite signal;

in the control system, generating a virtual topology map of the communication system based on the composite signal and the location of the first communication device;

in the control system, generating wireless communication information based on the virtual topology map and the composite signal and transferring the wireless communication information; and

in the first communication device, receiving the wireless communication information and processing the wireless communication information to configure the first communication device for wireless communication.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting a request signal from the first communication device to the plurality of second communication devices wherein the request signal requests the plurality of second communication devices to transmit the identification signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the control system comprises a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating voice signals based on the wireless communication information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating video signals based on the wireless communication information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating Internet packets based on the wireless communication information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification signals include frequencies and signal levels for the plurality of second communication devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of the first communication device further comprises determining an estimated location of the first communication device by triangulation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication information comprises frequencies over which the first communication device can communicate.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless communication information comprises signal levels for the frequencies.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication information comprises Multi-Point Multi-Channel Distribution Service (MMDS) channels.

12. A communication system, comprising:

a first communication device configured to receive identification signals from a plurality of second communication devices, process the identification signals to generate a composite signal, transfer the composite signal, receive wireless communication information, and process the wireless communication information to configure the first communication device for wireless communication; and

a control system configured to receive the composite signal, determine a location of the first communication device in relation to the plurality of second communication devices based on the composite signal, generate a virtual topology map of the communication system based on the composite signal and the location of the first communication device, generate the wireless communication information based on the virtual topology map and the composite signal, and transfer the wireless communication information.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the first communication device is further configured to transmit a request signal to the plurality of second communication devices wherein the request signal requests the plurality of second communication devices to transmit the identification signals.

14. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the control system comprises a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO).

15. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating voice signals based on the wireless communication information.

16. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating video signals based on the wireless communication information.

17. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication comprises communicating Internet packets based on the wireless communication information.

18. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the identification signals include frequencies and signal levels for the plurality of second communication devices.

19. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the control system is further configured to determine an estimated location of the first communication device by triangulation.

20. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication information comprises frequencies over which the first communication device can communicate.

21. The communication system of claim 20 wherein the wireless communication information comprises signal levels for the frequencies.

22. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the wireless communication information comprises Multi-Point Multi-Channel Distribution Service (MMDS) channels.

23. A method of operating a control system within a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a composite signal from a first communication device wherein the composite signal identifies a plurality of second communication devices that are in communication with the first communication device;

determining a location of the first communication device in relation to the plurality of second communication devices based on the composite signal;

generating a virtual topology map of the communication system based on the composite signal and the location of the first communication device;

generating wireless communication information based on the virtual topology map and the composite signal; and

transferring the wireless communication information to the first communication device for wireless communication.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the control system comprises a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO).

25. The method of claim 23 wherein determining the location of the first communication device further comprises determining an estimated location of the first communication device by triangulation.

26. A control system within a communication system, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a composite signal from a first communication device wherein the composite signal identifies a plurality of second communication devices that are in communication with the first communication device and transfer wireless communication information to the first communication device for wireless communication; and

a processor configured to receive the composite signal from the interface, determine a location of the first communication device in relation to the plurality of second communication devices based on the composite signal, generate a virtual topology map of the communication system based on the composite signal and the location of the first communication device, generate the wireless communication information based on the virtual topology map and the composite signal, and transfer the wireless communication information to the interface.

27. The control system of claim 26 wherein the interface and processor comprise a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO).

28. The control system of claim 26 wherein the processor is further configured to determine an estimated location of the first communication device by triangulation.