Method and system for processing calls within a local micro network

• US 7,209,739 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Narayanabhatla, Shiva
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajibade-Akonai; Olumide
• Application Number:
  US11/024,179
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/414.1, 455/561, 455/554.2, 455/432.1, 455/560, 455/445, 398/115, 398/116, 398/117, 398/58, 398/74, 398/77, 398/78, 370/350, 370/346
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers

Abstract

A method and system for processing calls in a telecommunications system using fiber extender loops providing a local micro network. Calls originating from subscribers within the local micro network to subscribers that are also provided service within the local micro network are processed and connected by a location base station within the local micro network.

Claims

1. A method for processing wireless calls originating and terminating within a local fiber loop, comprising:

identifying a calling party as a wireless subscriber currently provided service by a local fiber optic network, wherein the local fiber optic network includes groups of base stations interconnected via multiplexers, and wherein identifying the calling party includes determining which group includes a base station by which the calling party is provided service;

identifying a called party as a subscriber currently provided service by the local fiber optic network of the calling party by determining which group includes a base station by which the called party is provided service; and

connecting the calling party to the called party through a local base station within the local fiber optic network by routing the call between the multiplexers interconnecting the base stations providing service to the calling party and the called party if the calling party and called party are both subscribers currently within the local fiber loop.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling party comprises a mobile cellular subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the calling party is a fixed wireless subscriber.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fixed wireless subscriber communicates using a 802.11 protocol connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the called party further comprises:

matching subscriber identification of the called party to a database of subscribers currently registered on the local fiber network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the database of subscribers currently registered on the local fiber optic network is maintained on a relational database.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the calling party to called party connection through a base station controller outside the local fiber optic network if the called party is outside the local fiber loop.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

handing off the calling party to called party connection between base transceiver stations on the local fiber loop.

9. A location base station comprising:

an interface in communication with a micro network and a macro network;

memory including a list of mobile nodes being provided wireless service by the micro network through which the location base station routes call traffic, wherein the micro network includes groups of base stations interconnected via multiplexers, and wherein the list of mobile nodes indicates for each mobile node which multiplexer connects to a base station that provides service to the mobile node; and

a processor operable to update the list of mobile nodes as mobile nodes enter or leave coverage areas of the micro network, and to route call data traffic between a calling party who is a wireless subscriber currently provided service by the micro network and a called party who is also a wireless subscriber currently provided service by the micro network solely through the micro network by routing the call data traffic between the multiplexers interconnecting the base stations providing service to the calling party and the called party.

10. The location base station of claim 9, wherein the list of mobile nodes includes information regarding mobile nodes selected from the group consisting of serial numbers, mobile identification numbers, and identification numbers of the mobile nodes.

11. The location base station of claim 9, wherein the processor routes wireless channel assignment traffic for mobile nodes through the macro network.

12. The location base station of claim 9, wherein the processor accesses the list of mobile nodes being provided wireless service by the micro network within the memory to determine whether the calling party and called party are wireless subscribers currently provided service by the micro network.

13. The location base station of claim 9, wherein the processor routes call traffic between a calling party who is a wireless subscriber currently provided service by the micro network and a called party who is also a subscriber currently provided service by the macro network through the micro network and the macro network.

14. A system for connection of wireless calls provided by a local fiber optic loop originating and terminating within the local fiber optic loop, comprising:

multiplexers to provide interfaces between the local fiber optic loop and an air interface;

base stations interconnected via the multiplexers;

a wireless subscriber provided telephony service through the air interface by one of the base stations, wherein the wireless subscriber originates a call to another subscriber being provided service on the local fiber optic loop by one of the base stations; and

a local base station on the local fiber optic loop, wherein the local base station identifies wireless subscriber calls originating on the local fiber optic loop that terminate to subscribers on the local fiber optic loop by identifying which base stations are providing service to the subscribers and noting which multiplexer connects to the identified base stations, and wherein the local base station provides a call connection between the wireless subscriber calls originating on the local fiber optic loop terminating to subscribers on the local fiber optic loop by routing the calls between the multiplexers interconnecting the base stations providing service to the subscribers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless subscriber is selected from the group consisting of a mobile cellular subscriber and a fixed wireless subscriber.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the location base station comprises a database of subscribers currently provided service on the local fiber optic loop.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the database matches subscriber identification of the called party to subscriber identification of subscribers on the local fiber optic loop.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the local fiber optic loop is coupled to a wide area network through the location base station.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the local base station provides a call connection between the wireless subscriber calls originating on the local fiber optic loop terminating to subscribers outside the local fiber optic loop.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the location base station maintains a list of wireless subscribers that are currently provided service by the local fiber optic loop.