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

• US 8,208,431 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Hicks, John Alson III
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q
• Application Number:
  US12/816,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20100272024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 455/561, 455/450, 455/11.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/560, 370/328, 370/318, 370/338, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/328
• 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. A system, comprising:

a radio frequency interface that receives information via a first electromagnetic signal emitted by a wireless device and emits a second electromagnetic signal to the wireless device;

a processor; and

a memory that includes computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution by the processor, implement a group of components comprising;

a remote administrator module that collects data relating to operation of the system;

a proximate channel list module that stores a list of channel identifiers of radio frequency channels and radio frequency strength levels of the radio frequency channels, and updates the list in response to reception of an update to the list from the remote administrator module, and

a network interface that receives remote commands that restrict utilization of the system to wireless devices associated with accounts of specific carriers.

2. The system of claim 1, the group of components further comprising:

a network interface that receives at least one remote command, wherein the at least one remote command dictates a channel set employed to communicate via the radio frequency interface.

3. The system of claim 1, the group of components further comprising a pairing module that confirms the wireless device has security clearance to communicate wirelessly via the system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote administrator module compares the list of channel identifiers to a list of channel identifiers of markets for a cellular carrier to determine a local market of the system.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a network administrator module that conveys remote commands to the network interface and allows a cellular carrier to administer licensed channels available to the cellular carrier for wireless communication in a location of the radio frequency interface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the network administrator module conveys a remote command that restricts utilization of the system to wireless devices associated with accounts of specific carriers.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the network administrator module allows software updates to be downloaded to the memory.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving information through first electromagnetic signals emitted by a wireless device;

emitting second electromagnetic signals to the wireless device;

collecting data on environment of a system associated with the receiving and emitting; and

storing a list of channel identifiers of radio frequency channels and radio frequency strength levels of the radio frequency channels, and updating the list in response to receiving an update to the list;

wherein the receiving includes receiving remote commands that restrict utilization of the wireless device to an account of a specific carrier.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving at least one remote command, wherein the at least one remote command dictates a channel set employed to communicate via the radio frequency interface.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

confirming the wireless device has security clearance for processing at least a portion of the information.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

allowing a cellular carrier to administer licensed channels available to the cellular carrier for wireless communication in a location in which the receiving occurs.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

conveying a remote command that restricts utilization of the wireless device to the account of the specific carriers.

13. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a first group of electromagnetic signals emitted by a wireless device;

emitting a second group of electromagnetic signals to the wireless device;

collecting data on location of the system;

storing a list of channel identifiers of radio frequency channels and radio frequency strength levels of the radio frequency channels;

updating the list in response to reception of an update to the list; and

receiving remote commands that restrict utilization of the system to wireless devices associated with accounts of specific carriers.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

receiving at least one remote command, wherein the at least one remote command dictates a channel set employed to communicate via the radio frequency interface.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

confirming the wireless device has security clearance to communicate wirelessly via the system.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

comparing the list of channel identifiers to a list of channel identifiers of all markets for a cellular carrier to determine a local market of the system.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

allowing a cellular carrier to administer licensed channels available to the cellular carrier for wireless communication in a location of the system.