Ad Hoc peer-to-peer mobile radio access system interfaced to the PSTN and cellular networks

• US 6,961,575 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016, LLC (Strong Force Intellectual Capital, LLC)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanforth, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/952,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/11.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/554.1, 370/338, 370/449
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/08 based on transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio access system for cellular communications systems using time division duplex as a way of maximizing the bits/hz/km2 for cellular systems. The network architecture of the ad-hoc system allows the radio access to be integrated with the fixed components of a conventional cellular system, PSTN or ISP. The objective is to make the system of the invention transparent to the features and services provided by the external network. The advantages of such a system to a cellular operator are that significantly less infrastructure is required, and that the RF spectrum is more efficiently utilized resulting in much lower building and operating costs. The system architecture is comprised of remote terminals, routers, gateways, and at least one gateway controller that interfaces the ad-hoc system to a cellular network system. The ad-hoc system of the invention allows for both voice and data transmissions and receptions.

Claims

1. In an ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote radio terminals, each said radio terminal comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor, at least one gateway in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio terminals, and a gateway controller in operative communication with said at least one gateway to connect said at least one gateway to an external network comprising a switched cellular network, a PSTN and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a method of connecting an outgoing call from a radio terminal of the ad-hoc radio system, comprising:

(a) routing the outgoing call from the radio terminal to a gateway;

(b) delivering the call from the gateway to the gateway controller;

(c) connecting the call via the gateway controller to a terminal in said external network.

2. The method of making an outgoing call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 1, further comprising before said step (a):

(d) registering the radio terminal with a gateway;

(e) said step (d) comprising determining a routing table for the path of connection to the gateway, and sending authentication information to the gateway.

3. The method of making an outgoing call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 2, wherein said step (d) comprises:

(f) transmitting registration identification information from the gateway to the radio terminal, whereby the radio terminal is uniquely identified.

4. In an ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote radio terminals each comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor, at least one gateway in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio terminals, and a gateway controller in operative communication with said at least one gateway to connect said at least one gateway to an external network comprising a switched cellular network, a PSTN and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a method of receiving an incoming call from a terminal in said external network to said ad-hoc radio system to a radio terminal of the ad-hoc radio system, comprising:

(a) transmitting the incoming call from the terminal in the external network to the gateway controller;

(b) relaying the incoming call from the gateway controller to a gateway;

(c) routing the call from the gateway to the radio terminal.

5. The method of receiving an incoming call to a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 4, further comprising before said step (c):

(d) registering the radio terminal with a gateway;

(e) said step (d) comprising determining a routing table for the path of connection to the gateway, and sending authentication information to the gateway.

6. The method of receiving an incoming call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 5, wherein said step (d) comprises:

(f) transmitting registration identification information from the gateway to the radio terminal, whereby the radio terminal is uniquely identified.

7. The method of receiving an incoming call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 5, wherein before said step (d):

(f) said radio terminal listening to RTS/CTS communication signals transmitted by other said radio terminals in its neighborhood over the reservation channel.

8. The method of receiving an incoming call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 7, wherein after said step (f) and before said step (d):

(g) said radio terminal sending out a request-to-register communication-signaling to other said radio terminals in its neighborhood for determining the optimal gateway with which to register.

9. The method of receiving an incoming call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 8, wherein said step (g) comprises:

(h) allowing enough time via a poll timer for said request-to-register communication-signaling in order to receive back signaling from a plurality of other said radio terminals in its neighborhood in order to allow exchange of routing information, and in order to provide the capability of registering with a plurality of gateways, whereby said optimal gateway may be selected.

10. The method of receiving an incoming call from a radio terminal of an ad-hoc radio system according to claim 9, wherein said step (h) comprises:

(i) resetting said toll timer continually until routing exchange information with at least one other said radio terminal allows establishment of communication with at least one gateway for allowing said step (d) to be performed.

11. In an ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote radio terminals each comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor for said transceiver, said control processor comprising memory means, each said radio terminal comprising software means for determining a routing path of a call made from said radio terminal or to be received by said radio terminal, said software means comprising means for establishing said radio terminal as one node in the routing path of another said radio terminal, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of gateways, each said gateway being in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio terminals;

a gateway controller in operative communication with said plurality of gateways;

said gateway controller comprising a wide area network (WAN), call control and routing means for directing calls to a destination, and interconnecting means for connecting said WAN to an external network comprising a switched cellular network, a PSTN and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), whereby originating calls from a said radio terminal may be directed to a destination serviced by the external network, and calls originating from the external network may be directed to a said radio terminal;

said call control and routing means comprising routing information means for directing an originating call from a said radio terminal to its destination via the intermediary of at least one said gateway and the external network, and for directing a call from a terminal in said external network to a said radio terminal via at least one said gateway.

12. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 11, wherein said interconnecting means further comprises interfacing means for translating identifying information received from an external network and for translating identifying information received from a said gateway.

13. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 11, wherein said interconnecting means further comprises interfacing means for translating identifying information received from said at least one of the switched cellular network, PSTN, and Internet Service Provider (ISP), and for translating identifying information received from said at least one gateway for transmission to said at least one of the switched cellular network, PSTN, and Internet Service Provider (ISP).

14. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 11, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first connection means for connecting said WAN to the cellular switched network, and second connection means for connecting said WAN to the PSTN.

15. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 11, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first connection means for connecting said WAN to the cellular switched network, and second connection means for connecting said WAN to an Internet Service Provider.

16. In a switched cellular network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the improvement comprising:

an ad-hoc radio system operatively connected to said MSC;

said ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote ad-hoc radio devices, at least one gateway with which at least some of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller;

said gateway controller comprising means for coupling said remote ad-hoc radio devices to said MSC of said switched cellular network, to a PSTN and to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), whereby an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network via said gateway controller and said MSC, or to said PSTN or said ISP via said gateway controller, and whereby an incoming call from a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said MSC and said gateway controller, and an incoming call from a terminal of said PSTN or said ISP may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said gateway controller.

17. The improvement according to claim 16, wherein said ad-hoc radio system comprises a reservations channel and a plurality of data channels, said reservations channel providing communications between ad-hoc radio devices for establishing routing paths among ad-hoc radio devices and radio communications set up;

each said ad-hoc radio device comprising a processor, memory means, and software stored in said memory means;

said software means comprising first application means for determining a routing table for the path of connection to the gateway, and sending authentication information to the gateway; and

second application means for registering the respective said ad-hoc radio device with the said gateway.

18. The improvement claim 17, wherein said at least one gateway comprises third application means for transmitting registration identification information to the respective said ad-hoc radio device, whereby the ad-hoc radio device is uniquely identified.

19. The improvement according to claim 18, wherein software means comprises fourth application means for listening to RTS/CTS communication signals transmitted by other said ad-hoc radio device in its neighborhood over said reservation channel for use by said first application means.

20. The improvement according to claim 19, wherein said software means further comprises fifth application means for sending out request-to-register communication-signaling to other said radio terminals in its neighborhood for determining the optimal gateway with which to register.

21. In a switched cellular, or cellular-like, network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the improvement comprising:

an ad-hoc radio system operatively connected to said MSC;

said ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote ad-hoc radio devices, a plurality of gateways with which at least some of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller;

said gateway controller comprising means for coupling said remote ad-hoc radio devices to said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, and to a PSTN and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), whereby an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network via a said gateway, said gateway controller and said MSC, an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a terminal of said PSTN or said ISP via a said gateway and said gateway controller, and whereby an incoming call from a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said MSC, said gateway controller and a said gateway and an incoming call from a terminal of said PSTN or said ISP may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said gateway controller and a said gateway.

22. The improvement according to claim 21, wherein said ad-hoc radio system comprises a reservations channel and a plurality of data channels, said reservations channel providing communications between ad-hoc radio devices for establishing routing paths among ad-hoc radio devices and radio communications set up;

each said ad-hoc radio device comprising a processor, memory means, and software stored in said memory means;

said software means comprising first application means for determining a routing table for the path of connection to a said gateway, and sending authentication information to a said gateway; and

second application means for registering the respective said ad-hoc radio device with a said gateway.

23. The improvement claim 22, wherein each said gateway comprises third application means for transmitting registration identification information to the respective said ad-hoc radio device, whereby the ad-hoc radio device is uniquely identified.

24. The improvement according to claim 23, wherein software means comprises fourth application means for listening to RTS/CTS communication signals transmitted by other said ad-hoc radio device in its neighborhood over said reservation channel for use by said first application means.

25. The improvement according to claim 24, wherein said software means further comprises fifth application means for sending out request-to-register communication-signaling to other said radio terminals in its neighborhood for determining an optimal said gateway with which to register.

26. In a switched cellular, or cellular-like, network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the method comprising:

(a) operatively connecting an ad-hoc radio system having a series of remove ad-hoc radio devices, at least one gateway with which at least sonic of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller to said MSC, to a PSTN and to an Internet Service Provider (ISP);

(b) connecting an originating outgoing call made by a remote ad-hoc device to said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network;

(c) connecting an incoming call from said MSC to a remote radio device of the ad-hoc radio system;

said steps (b) and (c) comprising transmitting the respective call via the intermediaries of said at least one gateway and said gateway controller of said ad-hoc radio system; and

wherein said ad-hoc radio system comprises a reservations channel and a plurality of data channels, said reservations channel providing communications between ad-hoc radio devices for establishing routing paths among ad-hoc radio devices and radio communications set up, and where each ad-hoc radio device comprises a processor means;

said method further comprising;

(d) determining a routing table for the path of connection of a respective call of said steps (b) and (c) to said at least one gateway;

(e) before said step (b), the ad-hoc radio device registering with said at least one gateway;

said step (e) comprising sending authentication information from said at least one gateway to the ad-hoc radio device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said step (a) comprises:

(d) establishing said gateway controller with respect to said MSC as a base station of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, whereby said gateway controller effectively is considered by said MSC as another base station of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said step (b) comprises translating at said gateway controller call-information received from said at least one gateway for transmittal to said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network;

said step (c) comprising translating at said gateway controller identifying call-information received from said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein said step (b) comprises translating at said gateway controller call-information received from said at least one gateway for transmittal to said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network;

said step (c) comprising translating at said gateway controller identifying call-information received from said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network.

30. In a switched cellular, or cellular-like, network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations;

the improvement comprising;

in combination with an ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote radio devices each comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor for said transceiver, said control processor comprising memory means, each said remote radio device comprising software means for determining a routing path of a call made from said remote radio device or to be received by said remote radio device, said software means comprising means for establishing said remote radio device as one node in the routing path of at least another said remote radio device;

a plurality of gateways, each said gateway being in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio devices;

a gateway controller in operative communication with said plurality of gateways;

said gateway controller comprising a wide area network (WAN), call control and routing means for directing calls to a destination, and interconnecting means for connecting said WAN to said MSC, said switched cellular network, a PSTN, and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), whereby originating calls from a said radio terminal may be directed to a destination serviced by said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP), and calls originating from said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be directed to a said remote radio device;

said call control and routing means comprising routing information means for directing an originating call from a said remote radio device to its destination via the intermediary of at least one said gateway and said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP), and for directing a call from said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP), to a said radio device via at least one said gateway.

31. The switched cellular, or cellular-like, network according to claim 30, wherein said interconnecting means comprises interfacing means for translating identifying information received from said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP), for use by said ad-hoc radio system, and for translating identifying information received from a said gateway for use by said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, said PSTN or said Internet Service Provider (ISP).

32. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 30, wherein said interconnecting means further comprises interfacing means for translating identifying information received from said switched cellular network, said PSTN or said ISP, and for translating identifying information received from said at least one gateway.

33. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 30, wherein said interconnecting means further comprises interfacing means for translating identifying information received from said switched cellular network, said PSTN or said ISP, and for translating identifying information received from said at least one gateway for transmission to said switched cellular network, said PSTN or said ISP.

34. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 30, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first connection means for connecting said WAN to the cellular switched network, and second connection means for connecting said WAN to the PSTN.

35. The ad-hoc radio system according to claim 30, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a first connection means for connecting said WAN to the cellular switched network, and second connection means for connecting said WAN to said Internet Service Provider.

36. In a switched cellular network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the improvement comprising:

an ad-hoc radio system operatively connected to said MSC;

said ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote ad-hoc radio devices, at least one gateway with which at least some of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller;

said gateway controller comprising means for coupling said remote ad-hoc radio devices to said MSC of said switched cellular network, whereby an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network via said gateway controller and said MSC, and whereby an incoming call from a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said MSC and said gateway controller;

wherein;

said ad-hoc radio system comprises a reservations channel and a plurality of data channels, said reservations channel providing communications between ad-hoc radio devices for establishing routing paths among ad-hoc radio devices and radio communications set up;

each said ad-hoc radio device comprising a processor, memory means, and software stored in said memory means;

said software means comprising first application means for determining a routing table for the path of connection to the gateway, and sending authentication information to the gateway; and

second application means for registering the respective said ad-hoc radio device with the said gateway;

said at least one gateway comprises third application means for transmitting registration identification information to the respective said ad-hoc radio device, whereby the ad-hoc radio device is uniquely identified;

said software means further comprises fourth application means for listening to RTS/CTS communication signals transmitted by other said ad-hoc radio device in its neighborhood over said reservation channel for use by said first application means, and fifth application means for sending out request-to-register communication-signaling to other said radio terminals in its neighborhood for determining the optimal gateway with which to register.

37. In a switched cellular, or cellular-like, network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the improvement comprising:

an ad-hoc radio system operatively connected to said MSC;

said ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote ad-hoc radio devices, a plurality of gateways with which at least some of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller;

said gateway controller comprising means for coupling said remote ad-hoc radio devices to said MSC of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network, whereby an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network via a said gateway, said gateway controller and said MSC, and whereby an incoming call from a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular, or cellular-like, network may be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said MSC, said gateway controller and a said gateway;

wherein;

said ad-hoc radio system comprises a reservations channel and a plurality of data channels, said reservations channel providing communications between ad-hoc radio devices for establishing routing paths among ad-hoc radio devices and radio communications set up;

each said ad-hoc radio device comprising a processor, memory means, and software stored in said memory means;

said software means comprises first application means for determining a routing table for the path of connection to a said gateway, and sending authentication information to a said gateway, and second application means for registering the respective said ad-hoc radio device with a said gateway;

each said gateway comprises third application means for transmitting registration identification information to the respective said ad-hoc radio device, whereby the ad-hoc radio device is uniquely identified;

said software means comprises fourth application means for listening to RTS/CTS communication signals transmitted by other said ad-hoc radio device in its neighborhood over said reservation channel for use by said first application means, and fifth application means for sending out request-to-register communication-signaling to other said radio terminals in its neighborhood for determining an optimal said gateway with which to register.

38. A wide area wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, comprising:

a plurality of mobile wireless terminals;

a plurality of wireless routers;

a plurality of gateways and

a gateway controller, adapted to control the gateways to provide connection between the mobile wireless terminals and wireless routers and a mobile switching center (MSC) of switched cellular network, a PSTN and an internet service provider (ISP);

each of the mobile wireless terminals being adapted to exchange data with other said mobile wireless terminals, wireless routers and gateways within its broadcast range, such that the wireless routers within the broadcast range of a mobile wireless terminal provide coverage for that mobile wireless terminal in the event that no other mobile wireless terminals are within the broadcast range of that mobile wireless terminal, and the gateways are capable of routing a larger capacity of data than any of the wireless routers and mobile wireless terminal providing scalability and capacity within the ad hoc portion of the network.

39. A network as claimed in claim 38, wherein:

said data includes multimedia data.