Apparatus and method for extending the coverage area of a licensed wireless communication system using an unlicensed wireless communication system

• US 7,640,008 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baranowski, Joseph G., Shi, Jianxiong, Gupta, Rajeev, Gallagher, Michael D., Markovic, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/013,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20050186948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/422.1, 455/421, 455/452.2, 455/450, 455/454, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system includes a network controller to communicate with a telecommunications network. The network controller is coupled to one or more unlicensed wireless base stations serving one or more unlicensed wireless access areas. Each unlicensed wireless access area is mapped to one or more licensed wireless access areas. The system includes a mobile station to communicate with the telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a licensed wireless access area, and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in an unlicensed wireless access area. The mobile station is associated with a licensed wireless network identifier and a licensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the licensed wireless access area and is associated with an unlicensed wireless network identifier and an unlicensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the unlicensed wireless access area.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network controller of an unlicensed wireless telecommunications network for communicatively coupling at least one wireless base station serving at least one unlicensed wireless network access area to a licensed wireless telecommunications network comprising at least one licensed wireless network access area, wherein each unlicensed wireless network access area is mapped to at least one licensed wireless network access area;

a mobile station (a) for communicating across the unlicensed wireless network using a first subscriber identifier for identifying a subscriber operating within the unlicensed wireless network and a first location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the unlicensed wireless network when the mobile station is in an unlicensed wireless network access area, and (b) for communicating across the licensed wireless network using a second subscriber identifier for identifying the subscriber operating within the licensed wireless network and a second location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the licensed wireless network when the mobile station is in a licensed wireless network access area.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the first subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the first location identifier for the unlicensed wireless network is for identifying a particular unlicensed wireless network access area from the one or more of the unlicensed wireless network access areas.

3. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the unlicensed wireless network access area comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN).

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the base station comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point, the first subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the first location identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) address of the access point, and the unlicensed wireless network access area is associated with an unlicensed wireless network location comprising a registered location of the base station.

5. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the unlicensed wireless network access area comprises a Bluetooth personal LAN (PLAN).

6. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the first subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GPRS temporary logical link identifier (TLLI).

7. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the network controller is operable to provide a location identifier to a public safety access point when the mobile station initiates an emergency services call over an unlicensed wireless communication channel.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the location identifier is a GSM cell location identifier obtained by the mobile station via a licensed wireless communication channel.

9. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the location identifier is a location programmed into the network controller.

10. The system defined in claim 7, wherein the location identifier is programmed in a DHCP server of the unlicensed wireless telecommunications network.

21. The system defined in claim 8, wherein the GSM cell location identifier is a GSM cell global identifier (CGI).

11. A method comprising:

communicating with a telecommunications network through an unlicensed wireless communication channel using a first subscriber identifier for identifying a subscriber operating within an unlicensed wireless network and a first location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the unlicensed wireless network, wherein the first location identifier is associated with one or more unlicensed wireless network access areas serviced by one or more corresponding unlicensed wireless base stations of the unlicensed wireless network;

mapping the one or more unlicensed wireless network access areas to one or more licensed wireless network access areas communicably coupled with the telecommunications network; and

communicating with the telecommunications network through a licensed wireless communication channel using a second subscriber identifier for identifying the subscriber operating within a licensed wireless network and a second location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the licensed wireless network, wherein the second location identifier is associated with one or more licensed wireless network service areas of the licensed wireless network.

17. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the first subscriber identifier for the licensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the first location identifier for the licensed wireless network is a GSM cell location identifier.

18. The method defined in claim 17, wherein the GSM cell location identifier is a GSM cell global identifier (CGI).

19. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the base station comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point, the first subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the first location identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) address, and the unlicensed wireless network access area is associated with an unlicensed wireless location comprising a registered location of the unlicensed wireless base station.

20. The method defined in claim 11, wherein the first subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GPRS temporary logical link identifier (ILLI).

12. A mobile station comprising sets of instructions for implementing protocol layers that facilitate communications with a telecommunications network through a licensed wireless communication channel of a licensed wireless network and communications with the telecommunications network through an unlicensed wireless communication channel of an unlicensed wireless network, the protocol layers comprising:

a first set of layers for communicating with the telecommunications network through the licensed wireless communication channel using a first subscriber identifier for identifying a subscriber operating within the licensed wireless network and a first location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the licensed wireless network when the mobile station is in a licensed wireless network access area of the licensed wireless network; and

a second set of layers for communicating with the telecommunications network through the unlicensed wireless communication channel using a second subscriber identifier for identifying the subscriber operating within the unlicensed wireless network and a second location identifier for identifying a location of the subscriber operating within the unlicensed wireless network when the mobile station is in an unlicensed wireless network access area of the unlicensed wireless network.

13. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the second subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the second location identifier for the unlicensed wireless network is a GSM cell location identifier.

14. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the GSM cell location identifier is a GSM cell global identifier (CGI).

15. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the second subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), the second location identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises an IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) address, and the unlicensed wireless network access area is associated with an unlicensed wireless location comprising a registered location of an unlicensed wireless base station.

16. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the second subscriber identifier for the unlicensed wireless network comprises a GPRS temporary logical link identifier (TLLI).

22. A method comprising:

a) receiving a licensed wireless identifier from a telecommunication device identifying a service region of a licensed wireless communication network;

b) mapping the licensed wireless identifier to an unlicensed wireless identifier associated with a particular service region of an unlicensed wireless communication network;

c) identifying a network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network servicing the particular service region associated with the unlicensed wireless identifier; and

d) connecting the telecommunication device to the licensed wireless communication network through the network controller.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the identifiers comprises a location area identifier for identifying a set of service regions and a cell identifier for identifying a service region within the set of service regions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said mapping of the licensed wireless identifier to the unlicensed wireless identifier comprises changing the cell identifier of the licensed wireless identifier to a cell identifier associated with the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network, wherein mapping the licensed wireless identifier to the unlicensed wireless identifier does not comprise changing the location area identifier of the licensed wireless identifier.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said mapping of the licensed wireless identifier to the unlicensed wireless identifier comprises:

(a) changing the cell identifier of the licensed wireless identifier to a cell identifier associated with the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network; and

(b) changing the location area identifier of the licensed wireless identifier to a location area identifier associated with the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the licensed wireless identifier identifies a previous service region of the licensed wireless communication network in which the telecommunication device was located.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the licensed wireless identifier identifies a particular core component of the licensed wireless communication network for providing circuit switching and data switching services, wherein said connecting of the telecommunication device to the licensed wireless communication network comprises using the network controller to communicatively couple the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network to the particular core component.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiving of the licensed wireless identifier occurs at a first network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network, and wherein said mapping of the licensed wireless identifier to the unlicensed wireless identifier comprises identifying a second network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network for servicing the particular service region mapped to the service region of the licensed wireless communication network associated with the licensed wireless identifier.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said mapping of the licensed wireless identifier to the unlicensed wireless identifier further comprises redirecting the telecommunication device from the first network controller to the second network controller.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the network controller is for communicatively coupling a set of service regions of the unlicensed wireless communication network to the licensed wireless communication network, wherein the set of service regions communicatively coupled by the network controller to the licensed wireless communication network comprises the service region associated with the unlicensed wireless identifier.

31. A method comprising:

a) receiving a licensed wireless identifier for identifying a service region of a licensed wireless communication network at a first network controller of an unlicensed wireless communication network;

b) identifying an unlicensed wireless identifier for identifying a service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network comprising an overlapping region with the service region of the licensed wireless communication network identified by the licensed wireless identifier; and

c) selecting a second network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network to service the unlicensed wireless network service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first network controller is for communicatively coupling a first set of service regions of the unlicensed wireless communication network to the licensed wireless communication network, wherein the first set of service regions does not comprise the service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second network controller is for communicatively coupling a second set of service regions of the unlicensed wireless communication network to the licensed wireless communication network, wherein the second set of service regions comprises the service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the unlicensed wireless identifier is associated with a particular access point for communicatively coupling the unlicensed wireless network service region to the first network controller.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the unlicensed wireless identifier is associated with a plurality of access points, each access point for communicatively coupling a service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network to the second network controller.

36. A method of locating a caller using a telecommunication device, said method comprising:

a) receiving an unlicensed wireless identifier for identifying a service region of an unlicensed wireless communication network at a network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network that communicatively couples said service region to a licensed wireless communication network;

b) based on the unlicensed wireless identifier, determining if location information is available for the service region;

c) when the location information is available for the service region, retrieving at the network controller said location information; and

d) forwarding the location information from the network controller to the licensed wireless communication network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the location information is for facilitating an emergency service request originating from the service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the location information about the service region comprises information about an access point used to host the communication session.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the location information comprises at least one of a street address, a geographic longitude, and a geographic latitude.

40. A method comprising:

a) mapping a licensed wireless identifier for identifying a service region of a licensed wireless communication network to an unlicensed wireless identifier associated with a particular service region of an unlicensed wireless communication network overlapping with the service region of the licensed wireless communication network; and

b) sending the unlicensed wireless identifier to the licensed wireless communication network for retrieval of location information for the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein each of the identifiers comprises a location area identifier for identifying a set of service regions and a cell identifier for identifying a particular service region within the set of service regions.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said sending of the unlicensed wireless identifier to the licensed wireless communication network comprises:

(a) sending the unlicensed wireless identifier to a first component of the licensed wireless communication network, said first component for identifying a routing number associated with the unlicensed wireless identifier; and

(b) sending the routing number to a second component of the licensed wireless communication network, said second component for identifying location information of the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the routing number identified for the unlicensed wireless identifier is the same routing number used to retrieve location information for the service region of the licensed wireless communication network associated with the licensed wireless identifier.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein said retrieval of the location information for the service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network comprises retrieving the location information for the service region of the licensed wireless communication network and associating said location information to the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

45. A method comprising:

a) assigning an identifier to each of a plurality of service regions of an unlicensed wireless communication network, wherein an identifier assigned to a particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network is associated with a communication session established in the particular service region; and

b) assigning an identifier to a network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network, said network controller for communicatively coupling the plurality of service regions to a licensed wireless communication network, wherein said identifier for the network controller is associated with a communication session handed over from the licensed wireless communication network to a service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the identifiers each comprise a cell global identification (CGI) value, wherein the identifier assigned to each service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network is unique to the identifier assigned to the network controller of the unlicensed wireless communication network.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the CGI value of the identifiers comprise a location area identifier (LAI).

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the CGI value of the identifiers further comprise a cell identifier.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein at least one of the location area identifier and cell identifier of the identifier assigned to each service region is unique to the location area identifier and cell identifier of the identifier assigned to the network controller.

50. The method of claim 45 further comprising passing the identifier assigned to the particular service region to the licensed wireless communication network when a communication session established in the particular service region of the unlicensed wireless communication network is to be handed over to the licensed wireless communication network.

51. The method of claim 45 further comprising passing the identifier assigned to the network controller to the licensed wireless communication network before a communication session is handed over from the licensed wireless communication network to the unlicensed wireless communication network.

52. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a network controller of an unlicensed wireless network that communicatively couples a plurality of unlicensed wireless network service regions to a licensed wireless network, wherein the computer readable storage medium is a physical storage medium, the program comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a licensed wireless identifier that identifies a service region of the licensed wireless network;

identifying an unlicensed wireless identifier that identifies a service region of the unlicensed wireless network comprising an overlapping region with the service region of the licensed wireless network identified by the identifier identifying the service region of the licensed wireless network; and

selecting a different network controller of the unlicensed wireless network to service the unlicensed wireless network service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the plurality of unlicensed wireless network service regions serviced by the network controller does not comprise the service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 53, wherein the set of instructions for selecting the different network controller comprises a set of instructions for selecting a network controller that is for communicatively coupling a plurality of service regions of the unlicensed wireless network comprising the service region identified by the unlicensed wireless identifier.

55. A computer readable medium storing a computer program for execution by a network controller of an unlicensed wireless network that communicatively couples a plurality of unlicensed wireless network service regions to a licensed wireless network, wherein the computer readable storage medium is a physical storage medium, the program comprising sets of instructions for:

assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of service regions, wherein an identifier assigned to a particular service region of the unlicensed wireless network is associated with a communication session established in the particular service region; and

utilizing a different identifier to communicatively couple the plurality of service regions to the licensed wireless network.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the identifier used to communicatively couple the plurality of service regions to the licensed wireless network is associated with a communication session handed over from the licensed wireless network to a service region of the unlicensed wireless network.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the identifiers each comprise location area identifiers (LAI), wherein the identifier for each service region is unique to the identifier used to communicatively couple the plurality of service regions to the licensed wireless network.