Wireless communication system for an enterprise

• US 7,123,915 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• 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): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US10/778,822
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 455/436, 455/435.2, 455/414.2, 455/437, 455/456.3, 455/410, 455/411, 705/26, 705/67, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence

Abstract

An enterprise communication system comprises a wireless transceiver and a server. The wireless transceiver is located within the enterprise and receives a hand-off for a wireless communication device from a public network base station in response to the wireless communication device entering an enterprise cell. The enterprise cell is located in a public network cell of the public network base station. The wireless transceiver communicates over an air interface with the wireless communication device. The server determines the positioning of the wireless communication device within the enterprise and selects information for the enterprise based on the positioning. The server transfers the information for the enterprise to the wireless communication device through the wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. A method of operating an enterprise wireless communication system in an enterprise wherein the enterprise is at least partially within the public wireless communication network, the method comprising:

in the enterprise wireless communication system, in response to a wireless communication device entering the enterprise, interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system or if the wireless communication device should remain on the public wireless communication network;

in the enterprise communication system, in response to determining that the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system, receiving the hand-off of the wireless communication device from the public wireless communication network;

in the enterprise communication system, receiving a speech sample of a user from the wireless communication device, and in response, transferring the speech sample to a voice authentication system;

in the enterprise communication system, receiving a picture of the user from the voice authentication system to authenticate the user at the enterprise;

in the enterprise communication system, receiving an account code from the wireless communication device, and in response, transferring the account code to an account code validation system;

in the enterprise communication system, receiving validation information from the account code validation system into the enterprise communication system to authenticate the account code at the enterprise; and

in the enterprise communication system, performing a transaction with the user in response to authenticating the user and authenticating the account code.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises bang the determination on an identity of the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on an identity of the user of the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should handoff the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on a response from the user of the wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on capacity of the enterprise wireless communication system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on signal strength.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on services in use by the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein interacting with the public wireless communication network to determine if the public wireless communication network should hand-off the wireless communication device to the enterprise wireless communication system comprises basing the determination on error rates.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a first location of the wireless communication device within the enterprise;

selecting first information based on the first location of the wireless communication device within the enterprise; and

transferring the selected first information to the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining a second location of the wireless communication device within the enterprise;

selecting second information based on the second location of the wireless communication device within the enterprise; and

transferring the selected second information to the wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an identity of the wireless communication device;

selecting information based on the identity of the wireless communication device; and

transferring the selected information to the wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an identity of the user of the wireless communication device;

selecting information based on the identity of the user of the wireless communication device; and

transferring the selected information to the wireless communication device.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise intranet session to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing Internet access to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing public telephone network access to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise menu to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise map to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise product location to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an enterprise personnel location to the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving enterprise product order information from the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving enterprise product payment information from the wireless communication device over a wireless communication link.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the enterprise comprises a retail establishment.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the enterprise comprises an educational establishment.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the enterprise comprises a medical establishment.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the enterprise comprises an airport.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the enterprise comprises a government facility.