Automatic wireless service activation in a private local wireless system

• US 7,103,347 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Robert Raymond II, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Ying, Wenchu, Erving, Richard Henry, Rice, Christopher W, Chow, Albert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/657,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20040053600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/410, 455/443, 455/552, 455/553, 455/63, 455/426, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Automatic activation of a wireless device with a first wireless communication system occurs within an area having an overlapping second wireless communication system. Operation of the first communication system access procedure is achieved by masking an access and authentication process for the second communication system from interference from the control signal levels of the second wireless communication system. During the first time access, the first communication system is supplied with the SID and MIN and ESN numbers for authentication and access.

Claims

1. A method of activating and authenticating a wireless device in a secondary wireless communication system co-located with a primary wireless communication system, the method comprising:

masking the control and activation signal strength associated with the primary wireless communication system, wherein masking only occurs during the authentication process; and

coupling control and activation signals of the secondary wireless communication system to the wireless device during the masking.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

masking the control and activation signal strength further comprises devising an activation and control signal of the secondary wireless communication system so that it exceeds in magnitude the activation and control average signal strength of the primary wireless communication system as masked within defined spatial limits; and

coupling control and activation signals further comprises operating the wireless device for activation purposes within the defined spatial limits.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the activation and control signal of the secondary wireless communication system operates at identical frequencies used by the control and activation average signal strength of the co-located wireless communication system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling control and activation signals further comprises generating control and activation responses mimicking control and activation scenarios of an interaction with the co-located wireless communication system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein masking further comprises blocking radiation of the higher activation and control average signal strength within a limited space at which the wireless device couples with activation and control signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

masking further comprises directionally controlling control and activation signal radiation of the secondary wireless communication system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

coupling further comprises providing both analog and digital control and activation signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary wireless communication system is a private local communication system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the primary wireless communication system is dominant wireless communication system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the primary wireless communication system operate at a higher control and activation average signal strength.

11. A secondary wireless communication system overlapped by a primary wireless communication system, and including radio access for activation and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary wireless communication system, the secondary wireless communication system comprising:

an automated private service activation (APSA) port for accepting access requests of a wireless device seeking activation in the secondary wireless communication system, the APSA port radiating access control channel signals within limited spatial constraints, wherein the access control channel signals are radiated only occurs during the authentication process; and

a localized space for operating the secondary wireless communication system for wireless devices activated by the APSA port.

12. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 11, wherein the APSA port provides the access control channel radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the secondary wireless communication system only within limited spatial constraints.

13. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 11, wherein the APSA port is part of a base station having both analog communication channels and digital communication channels.

14. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 11, wherein the APSA port comprises a surface covering an antenna for placing a wireless device in proximity to the surface to achieve access and authentication, wherein the access control channel radiated signal exceeds a control channel signal level of the primary wireless communication system.

15. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 11, wherein the APSA port further includes an antenna accessible to a wireless device seeking access and authentication that includes shielding that blocks a control signal level of the overlapping primary wireless communication system.

16. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 11, wherein the primary wireless communication system is a dominant wireless communication system over the secondary communication system.

17. A method of accessing and achieving authentication from a secondary wireless communication system in a region overlapped by a dominant wireless communication system, the method comprising:

creating an access signal space in which radiated access control signal levels of the secondary wireless communication system within the access signal space exceed access control signal levels of the dominant wireless communication system only during the authentication process;

receiving a wireless device seeking access to the secondary wireless communication system within the access signal space;

receiving a search from the wireless device for a strongest control channel;

selecting the control channel of the secondary wireless communication system by reason of the proximity of the wireless device within the access space; and

authorizing and authenticating the wireless device for operation within the secondary wireless communication system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

enabling the secondary wireless communication system to interwork with the dominant wireless communication system.

19. The method at claim 17, further comprising:

billing service while in the secondary wireless communication system through the dominant wireless communication system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless device receives a number associated with the wireless device and service provider information in advance of accessing the secondary wireless communication system rot allowing administration of services within the secondary wireless communication system.