Intelligent pico-cell for transport of wireless device communications over wireline networks

• US 7,623,857 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporatio
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III, O'Neil, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US11/276,269
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/328, 455/444, 455/522, 455/426
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

In one embodiment a pico cell may be used to detect a presence of a wireless device and receive a wireless signal from the wireless device. The wireless signal may then be converted from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection. The converted signal may then be transmitted over the broadband connection.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

an interface configured to detect wireless signals emitted from at least one of a macro cell in proximity or a wireless device in proximity, wherein detection includes monitoring radio frequency channels, the monitoring performed continuously or at intervals;

a converter configured to convert between wireless signals in a protocol associated with the wireless device and converted signals in a protocol suitable for transmission over a broadband connection;

a client configured to send and receive converted signals via the broadband connection; and

a remote administrator module configured to receive at least one of commands, instructions, or data from a remote administrator over the broadband connection, wherein the remote administrator accesses an existing policy that guides at least one of access to or operation of the apparatus and issues a command to change the existing policy if the existing policy is unacceptable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to receive wireless signals from the wireless device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface is further configured to transmit wireless signals to the wireless device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to increase a quality of communications with the wireless device by issuing commands to the wireless device instructing the wireless device to at least one of change to a new downlink channel or change a power level used by the wireless device to transmit wireless signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter is configured to convert wireless signals from a global system for mobile communications (GSM) protocol into converted signals which may be transmitted via an Internet security protocol (IPSEC) tunnel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote administrator module allows to deduce a location of the apparatus through examination of the monitored radio frequency channels.

7. A method comprising:

detecting a presence of a wireless device;

receiving a wireless signal from the wireless device;

converting the wireless signal from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection;

transmitting the converted signal over a broadband connection;

registering the wireless device to a pico-cell receiving a wireless signal from the wireless device; and

receiving a remote command for changing an existing policy that guides at least one of access to or operation of the pico-cell if the existing policy is unacceptable, wherein changing the existing policy includes removing one or more cellular carriers from a list to prevent a customer of the one or more cellular carriers to access the pico-cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein converting the wireless signal from a protocol used by the wireless device to a converted signal in a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection further comprises:

converting the wireless signal to a converted signal in an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining if the wireless device may be granted access to the pico-cell.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining if the wireless device may be granted access to the pico-cell comprises determining if the wireless device is subscribed to a suitable carrier.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

detecting electromagnetic signals from other devices including at least one of wireless devices, pico-cells, or proximate macro-cells;

selecting a power level and a channel to enable successful communication between a pico-cell and the wireless device while avoiding interference from the electromagnetic signals from the other devices; and

instructing the wireless device to change to the channel and the power level.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a converted signal intended for the wireless device;

converting the converted signal into a wireless signal; and

transmitting the wireless signal to the wireless device.

13. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

detecting a signal from a wireless device by monitoring radio frequency channels, wherein the monitoring is conducted continuously or at intervals;

converting the signal from a wireless protocol to a protocol suitable for use with a broadband connection; and

sending the signal over the broadband connection; and

remotely accessing an existing policy wherein the policy guides at least one of access to or operation of a pico-cell; and

remotely changing the existing policy if the existing policy is unacceptable.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, the acts further comprising:

obtaining registration information regarding the wireless device; and

determining if a signal may be received from or sent to, or a combination thereof, the wireless device based on the registration information.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, the acts further comprising:

downlinking signals from macro cells; and

determining a position of a pico-cell at which the downlinked signals are received based on the downlinked signals.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, the acts further comprising:

emitting data signals from a pico-cell, the signals identifying the pico-cell and a cellular carrier in control of the pico-cell.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, the acts further comprising:

remotely accessing data regarding use of a pico-cell.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 13, wherein remotely changing the existing policy if the existing policy is unacceptable includes removing one or more cellular carriers from a list to prevent a customer of the one or more cellular carriers to access the pico-cell.