Automatic wireless service activation in a private local wireless service

• US 7,869,791 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (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): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/504,932
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4, 709/230
• 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

A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. An automated private service activation (APSA) port is used for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. The APSA port provides an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints. In addition the APSA port provides space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system, comprising:

an automated private service activation (APSA) port for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system;

the APSA port providing;

an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints; and

providing space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

2. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

the APSA port being part of a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under an IEEE 802.11 standard.

3. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for abutting against and communicating with a wireless device at a signal level sufficient to achieve access, association, and authentication, and device at a signal level sufficient to achieve access, association, and authentication, and exceeding at that abutting space the signal level of the overlapping Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

4. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for access and communication to a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication, and including shielding for blocking the signal level of the overlapping dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

5. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

the APSA port being part of a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under an IEEE 802.16 standard.

6. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 5, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for abutting against and communicating with a wireless device at a signal level sufficient to achieve access, association, and authentication, and exceeding at that abutting space the signal level of the overlapping Ethernet-like dominant wireless communication system.

7. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 5, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for access and communication to a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication and including shielding for locking the signal level of the overlapping dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

8. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

a system controller for providing digital switching and service features connected to the APSA port via an Ethernet interface.

9. The secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system of claim 8, further comprising:

the controller further including a Network Service Platform (NSP) for providing specific service and management functions.

10. A method of communication for achieving association, authentication and access, from a secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system in a region overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

creating access, association, and authentication in a signal space in which radiated access and communication signal levels of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system within the signal space exceed access and communication signal levels of the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system;

positioning a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication and communication within the access and communication signal space and powering up the wireless device;

searching by the wireless device for the strongest channel;

selecting the channel of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system by reason of positioning of the wireless device within the access and communication space; and

authorizing, authenticating, and associating the wireless device for operation within the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system to interwork with the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system; and

authorizing, associating, and authenticating in accordance with IEEE standard 802.11 or IEEE standard 802.16.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

authorizing, associating, and authenticating based on information retrieved from a database of the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system to enable billing of service through subscription to the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

authorizing, associating, and authenticating to use a wireless device identifier (WDI) code, wherein the WDI code is inserted into the wireless device at initial authorization and authentication, and wherein the WDI code is unique to the secondary Ethernet-like wireless system so that post initial authorization and authentication the wireless device preferentially locks on to the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

operating the wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless system in substitution for the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

15. A method of activating and authenticating a wireless device of a new user in a secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system in a region overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, comprising the steps of:

enabling the activating and authenticating within a limited sub-region of the region overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system and within that sub-region including the steps of;

providing access credentials from an Automatic Private Service Activation (APSA) unit of the secondary Ethernet-like system; and

interact with a database containing user credentials, user requested features, to provide a record and enable service to the new user.

16. The method of claim 15, further a comprising the step of:

installing in the wireless device, a private system identification number (PSI D).

17. A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system, comprising:

an internet/intranet-connected database including user lists and user features and characteristics and access and communications to individuals requesting service in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system and allowing the individuals to insert information concerning user credentials and access and communication information in advance of implementing access, association, and communication requests; and

an automated private service activation (APSA) port for accepting the access, association, and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 17, further comprising:

the APSA port providing an access and communication channel radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints; and

a providing space for receiving wireless devices for activation in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

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

masking the signal strength associated with the primary Ethernet-like wireless communication system; and

coupling signals of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system to the wireless device during the masking.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

masking the signal strength further comprises devising a signal of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system so that it exceeds in magnitude the signal strength of the primary Ethernet-like wireless communication system as masked within defined spatial limits; and

operating the wireless device for activation purposes within the defined spatial limits.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

using a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under the IEEE 802.11 standard or the IEEE 802.16 standard.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system is a private local communication system.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user is enabled to opt-out of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the signals further comprises facilitating activation scenarios of an interaction with the co-located Ethernet-like wireless communication systems.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein:

masking further comprises blocking radiation of a higher signal strength within a limited space at which the wireless device connects.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein:

masking further comprises directionally controlling signal radiation of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the signals of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system operate at identical frequencies used by the primary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

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

creating an access and communication signal space in which radiated access and communication signal levels of the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system within the access and communication signal space exceed access and communication signal levels of the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system;

receiving a wireless device seeking access and communication to the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system within the access and communication signal space;

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

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

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

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

enabling the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system to interwork with the dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

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

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the wireless device receives credentials associated with the wireless device and service provider information in advance of accessing the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system for allowing administration of services within the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.