System and method for extension of wireless footprint

• US 8,099,041 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K., Coppage, Carl Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US12/711,325
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/15, 455/16, 455/7
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

A system and method for communicating through a host repeater. Data is received from a remote repeater communicating with a wireless device. The host repeater registers as the wireless device on a wireless network. The data is reformatted for transmission between the wireless devices and the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of communicating through a repeater, comprising:

receiving format information at the repeater via a wired connection and selecting a first format from among a plurality of formats according to the format information, wherein the first format is compatible with a wireless cellular network;

converting first data received at the repeater via the wired connection in a second format compatible with a wired internet protocol network to the first format, wherein the second format is different than the first format;

wirelessly transmitting the first data from the repeater in the first format;

wirelessly receiving second data at the repeater in the first format;

converting the second data from the first format to the second format, including formatting the data for use with a secure internet protocol tunnel; and

communicating the second data in the second format from the repeater via the wired connection using a static internet protocol address.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of formats includes the global system for mobile communications and code division multiple access formats.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising receiving cellular carrier information at the repeater in the first format, converting the cellular carrier information to the second format, and communicating the cellular carrier information via the wired connection, wherein the cellular carrier information includes sequences, channels and provider.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein converting the first data from the second format to the first format includes translating control signaling into wireless commands, wherein converting the second data from the first format to the second format includes translating wireless commands by encoding the commands to control signaling for retransmission via the wired connection, and wherein the first data and the second data include real-time voice data.

5. A method of communicating through a repeater, comprising:

receiving a wireless communications signal, detecting a first format associated with the signal, and communicating format information via a wired connection in a second format, wherein the format information indicates the first format, wherein the first format is compatible with a wireless cellular network and the second format is compatible with a wired internet protocol network, and wherein the first format is different than the second format;

wirelessly receiving first data at the repeater in the first format;

converting the first data from the first format to the second format;

communicating the first data via the wired connection in the second format;

receiving second data in the second format at the repeater via the wired connection;

converting the second data from the second format to the first format;

wirelessly transmitting the second data from the repeater in the first format;

wirelessly receiving registration information at the repeater, wherein the registration information enables a wireless device to communicate with a wireless cellular network;

converting the registration information from the first format to the second format compatible with a wired internet protocol based network; and

communicating the registration information in the second format via the wired connection.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising receiving cellular carrier information in the second format via the wired connection, wherein the cellular carrier information includes sequences, channels and provider, and wirelessly transmitting the cellular carrier information from the repeater in the second format.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first data and the second data include real-time voice data, wherein converting the first data from the first format to the second format includes translating wireless commands by encoding the commands to control signaling for retransmission via the wired connection, wherein converting the second data from the second format to the first format includes translating control signaling into wireless commands.

8. A method of communicating through a repeater, comprising:

hosting a local area network by transmitting and receiving a local area network wireless signal from the repeater;

converting first data received at the repeater via a wired connection in a first format compatible with a wired internet protocol network to a second format compatible with a wireless cellular network;

wirelessly transmitting the first data from the repeater in the second format;

wirelessly receiving second data at the repeater in the second format;

converting the second data from the second format to the first format;

communicating the second data in the first format from the repeater via the wired connection;

converting third data received at the repeater via the wired connection in the first format to a third format compatible with the local area network;

wirelessly communicating the third data from the repeater in the third format;

wirelessly receiving fourth data at the repeater in the third format;

converting the fourth data from the third format to the first format;

communicating the fourth data in the first format via the wired connection; and

receiving registration information via the wired connection and registering the repeater as a mobile phone with the wireless cellular network using the registration information.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising using a static internet protocol address to communicate via the wired connection and converting the second data from the second format to the first format includes formatting the data for use with a secure internet protocol tunnel.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the local area network wireless signal is a Wi-Fi signal.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein converting the first data from the first format to the second format includes emulating a mobile phone compatible with the wireless communications network.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first data and the second data include real-time voice data.

13. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein converting the first data from the first format to the second format includes translating control signaling into wireless commands, and wherein converting the second data from the second format to the first format includes translating wireless commands by encoding the commands to control signaling for retransmission via the wired connection.

14. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising receiving format information via the wired connection and using the format information to select the second format from a plurality of formats.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, the plurality of formats including the global system for mobile communications and code division multiple access formats.

16. A method of communicating through a repeater, comprising:

receiving format information at the repeater via a wired connection and selecting a first format from among a plurality of formats according to the format information, wherein the first format is compatible with a wireless cellular network;

converting first data received at the repeater via the wired connection in a second format compatible with a wired internet protocol network to the first format, wherein the second format is different than the first format;

wirelessly transmitting the first data from the repeater in the first format;

wirelessly receiving second data at the repeater in the first format;

converting the second data from the first format to the second format; and

communicating the second data in the second format from the repeater via the wired connection;

receiving registration information in the first format via the wired connection;

wirelessly transmitting the registration information in the second format; and

emulating a wireless phone corresponding to the registration information when wirelessly communicating in the second format.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the registration information is DMA registration information include cellular identification and a long PN code.