System and method for creating a wireless picocell

• US 8,165,592 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Soliman, Samir S., Antonio, Franklin Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/675,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 455/431, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/429, 455/443, 455/444, 455446-455, 455/464, 455/560, 455/561, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370318-322, 370/329, 370/341
• US Class Current: 455/447
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for creating a picocell service alternate to a wireless network service. The method comprises: detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless communications network, such as a terrestrial or satellite network; and, generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network. Typically, the method comprises receiving requests for picocell service from mobile stations, in response to generating the first picocell. In one aspect, the service requests made by the mobile stations are denied. In another aspect, the method further comprises: establishing a first picocell MSC; and, providing network services to mobile stations via the first picocell, in response to the requests for picocell service. For example, the first picocell MSC may provide the same network services that are provided by a conventional terrestrial network, for example. Alternately, the method establishes an alternative wireless network (a second picocell) to provide services.

Claims

1. A picocell system alternate to a multiple access wireless network service, the system comprising:

a first picocell including;

a sniffer having a receiver to accept control signals originating from a multiple access (MA) wireless network base station and an output to supply detected network classification signals; and

a spoofer including;

a controller having an input to accept the classification signals and an output to supply a spoofed signal responsive to the classification signals; and

a transmitter having an input to accept the spoofed signal and an output to transmit first picocell control signals in response to the spoofed signals, wherein the first picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell such that a mobile station in the first picocell responds to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spoofer further includes a receiver having an input to accept requests for picocell service from mobile stations, received in response to generating the first picocell control signals.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a first picocell mobile services switching center (MSC) having an interface connected to the spoofer; and

wherein the first picocell MSC provides network services to mobile stations, using the spoofer as a base station.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the spoofer transceives communications between a MA network and a mobile station, via the transmitter and receiver.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a predictor having an output to supply picocell management information to the spoofer in the classification signal, responsive to MA network information selected from the group including base station location, antenna height, antenna coverage, antenna type, morphology, control channel gains, traffic channel gains, frequency usage, and time slot usage; and

,

wherein the spoofer schedules high-burst communications between the MA network and the spoofer responsive to the management information.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a predictor having an output to supply picocell management information to the spoofer in the classification signal, responsive to MA network information selected from the group including base station location, antenna height, antenna coverage, antenna type, morphology, control channel gains, traffic channel gains, frequency usage, and time slot usage; and

,

wherein the spoofer selects the channels and communication medium used to communicate with mobile stations in the first picocell, in response to the management information.

7. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a second picocell including an access point for supplying wireless network control signals; and

wherein the spoofer transmitter generates control signals directing the mobile stations to the second picocell access point control signals.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second picocell includes an MSC connected to the access point, supplying network services.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the spoofer transmitter generates first picocell control signals equivalent to the MA wireless network base station control signals.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sniffer receiver detects a MA wireless network providing a service;

and

wherein the spoofer transmitter generates first picocell control signals identifying a picocell service equivalent to the network service.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the sniffer receiver accepts MA wireless network control signals received at a first power level;

and

wherein the spoofer transmitter generates first picocell control signals at a second received power level, greater than the first received power level.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the spoofer generates first picocell control signals that regulate the transmit power levels of mobile stations in the first picocell.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the sniffer receiver accepts control signals originating from a MA wireless network base station transmitting in a first medium;

wherein the spoofer transmitter generates first picocell control signals in the first medium, directing mobile stations to control signals being broadcast in an alternate medium; and

the system further comprising;

a second picocell having an access point to transmit second picocell control signals in the alternative medium.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the second picocell access point generates control signals in an alternate medium selected from the group including an alternate frequency, an alternate time slot, an alternate channel, an alternate spreading code, and alternate frequency band, an alternate wireless telephone protocol, and an alternate technology, respective to the first medium.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the sniffer receiver scans a frequency spectrum, identifies signals in a spectrum band, identifies the signal modulation, identifies a system associated with the modulation, and measures the detected signal power level.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the sniffer receiver identifies a terrestrial cellular wireless telephone system, and identifies a serving sector.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the spoofer controller denies all service requests made by mobile stations communicating in the first picocell.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the spoofer controller prevents mobile stations, which are communicating in the first picocell, from making requests for network service.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a sniffer configured to detect a multiple access (MA) wireless network, and to receive control signals originating from a base station associated with the MA wireless network; and

a spoofer configured to identify the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals, to generate first picocell control signals for a first picocell, and to prevent mobile stations communicating in the first picocell from making requests for network service, wherein the first picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell such that the mobile stations in the first picocell respond to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

20. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a sniffer configured to detect a multiple access (MA) wireless network, and to receive control signals originating from a base station associated with the MA wireless network; and

a spoofer configured to identify the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals, to generate first picocell control signals for a first picocell, and to deny all service requests made by mobile stations communicating in the first picocell, wherein the first picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell such that the mobile stations in the first picocell respond to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

21. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a sniffer configured to detect a multiple access (MA) wireless network, and to receive control signals originating from a base station associated with the MA wireless network, the received base station control signals having a first power level; and

a spoofer configured to identify the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals, and to generate first picocell control signals for a first picocell;

wherein the first picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell;

wherein the first picocell control signals have a second power level in the first picocell greater than the first power level of the base station control signals in the first picocell; and

wherein the first picocell control signals comprise a spoof of the base station control signals that prevent mobile stations in the first picocell from communicating with the MA wireless network base station.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the spoofer is further configured to control transmit power levels of the mobile stations in the first picocell to prevent the mobile stations from communicating with the MA wireless network.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the spoofer is further configured to reduce the transmit power levels.

24. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a sniffer configured to detect a multiple access (MA) wireless network, and to receive control signals originating from a base station associated with the MA wireless network; and

a spoofer configured to identify the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals, and to generate first picocell control signals for a first picocell, the first picocell control signals being in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell such that a mobile station in the first picocell responds to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spoofer is further configured to transceive communications between the MA wireless network and the mobile stations via the first picocell.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the MA wireless network comprises at least one of a terrestrial network or a satellite network.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the spoofer is further configured to schedule communications between the first picocell and the MA wireless network to minimally interfere with the MA wireless network.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the sniffer is further configured to identify the MA network information, and predict management information for managing resources of the first picocell based at least in part on the MA network information.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spoofer is further configured to generate the first picocell inside an airplane.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the spoofer is further configured to generate the first picocell inside the airplane while the airplane is in the air.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spoofer is further configured to control a first transmit power level of the mobile station in communication with the first picocell such that the first transmit power level is lower than a second transmit power level for the mobile station to communicate with the MA wireless network.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spoofer generates the first picocell control signals based on the received base station control signals corresponding to the strongest received MA wireless network control signals.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the spoofer generates the first picocell control signals based on the MA wireless network having a pilot signal lacking sufficient strength to support a minimum data rate.

34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the sniffer is further configured to detect a plurality of wireless communication networks each having a different technology and each having respective control signals, and to generate a plurality of picocells each corresponding to one of the plurality of wireless communication network and each having respective picocell control signals within the same frequency band as the respective wireless communication network control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the respective wireless communication network control signals such that mobile stations operating with a respective one of the different technologies in the respective one of the plurality of picocells respond to the respective picocell instead of the respective wireless communication network.

35. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving control signals originating from a multiple access (MA) wireless network base station;

means for detecting network classification signals in the control signals;

means for generating a spoofed signal based on the classification signals;

means for transmitting first picocell control signals for a first picocell based on the spoofed signal, wherein the first picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the base station control signals in the first picocell such that a mobile station in the first picocell responds to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for receiving requests for picocell service from mobile stations in response to the first picocell control signals.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

means for providing network services to the mobile stations in response to the requests for picocell service.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for receiving the control signals comprises means for receiving the control signals at a first power level, and wherein the means for transmitting the first picocell control signals comprises means for transmitting the first picocell control signals at a second power level, greater than the first power level.

39. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for controlling transmit power levels of the mobile stations in the first picocell to prevent the mobile stations from communicating with the MA wireless network base station.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for controlling the transmit power levels of the mobile stations comprises means for reducing the transmit power levels of the mobile stations.