Pico-cell extension for cellular network

• US 8,326,296 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Sharer, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US11/457,129
• Time in Patent Office: 2,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/444, 455/445, 370/338, 378/338
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A pico-cell is located within a facility. The pico-cell has a wireless protocol for carrying calls placed to and from mobile devices in the facility. A call distributor is in communication with the pico-cell and handles calls carried by the pico-cell. The call distributor includes an embedded wireless switch for routing calls to and from mobile devices in the facility using the wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a pico-cell located within a building for carrying one or more calls placed to and from at least one mobile device in the building, the pico-cell having a wireless protocol for carrying at least the one or more calls placed to and from the at least one mobile device in the building using the wireless protocol; and

a call distributor in communication with the pico-cell for handling the calls carried by the pico-cell, the call distributor comprising;

an embedded wireless switch for routing the calls placed to and from the mobile devices in the building using the wireless protocol; and

a registered home user database in communication with the pico-cell for storing a list of user devices authorized to access the pico-cell and place the calls carried by the pico-cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is in communication with at least one of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet for transmission and reception of at least one call to and from locations outside the building.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the registered home user database is disposed in the building or is disposed outside the building and is administered by a wireless carrier, the registered home user database comprises a home location register (HLR).

4. The system of claim 1, the call distributor further comprising a registered visitor database for storing information associated with at least one mobile device in the coverage area of the call distributor, wherein the registered visitor database comprises a visitor location register (VLR).

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional pico-cell at another location within the building, the call distributor being in communication with each pico-cell in the building for handling calls carried by the pico-cells.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the call distributor comprises an Internet protocol private branch exchange (IP-PBX), and the embedded wireless switch comprises a cellular softswitch.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a media gateway for converting session initiated protocol (SIP) signals from the IP-PBX to circuit time-division multiplexed (TDM) signals for communication with the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base station controller (BSC) for controlling handovers between the pico-cell and another pico-cell or cell site.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a customer database in communication with the pico-cell for storing at least one of a list of users authorized to use the pico-cell or a list of mobile devices authorized to be used with the pico-cell.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pico-cell comprises a network interface for interfacing the pico-cell with the call distributor, and for converting protocols associated with the mobile devices into protocols suitable for transmission to the call distributor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the pico-cell comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals on cellular channels and using cellular protocols, and a protocol converter for converting between cellular protocol and Internet protocol.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the pico-cell comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals on cellular channels and using cellular protocols, an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) protocol Internet protocol tunnel, and an intelligent channel selector.