System and method for extension of wireless footprint

• US 8,472,870 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bugenhagen, Michael K., Coppage, Carl Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): GESESSE, TILAHUN
• Application Number:
  US13/612,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/7, 455/9, 455/16, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• 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 a wireless communications at a first repeater;

detecting, with the first repeater, a first format of the wireless communication signal, the first format being compatible with a wireless cellular network;

communicating, with the first repeater and in a second format over a wired connection, format information indicating the first format, the second format being different from the first format and compatible with a wired internet protocol network;

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

converting, at the first repeater, the first data from the first format to the second format;

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

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

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

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

receiving, at a second repeater, the format information from the first repeater via a second wired connection;

selecting, with the second repeater, a third format from among a plurality of formats, the third format being compatible with a wireless cellular network;

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

converting, at the second repeater, the first data from the second format to the third format;

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

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

converting, at the second repeater, the second data from the third format to the second format; and

communicating, from the second repeater to the first repeater, the second data in the second format via the second wired connection.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving registration information at the first 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; and

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

3. 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.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

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

wirelessly transmitting the registration information in the first format; and

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

5. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the registration information is DMA registration information comprising cellular identification and a long PN code.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving cellular carrier information at the second repeater in the first format;

converting the cellular carrier information to the second format; and

communicating the cellular carrier information via the second wired connection, wherein the cellular carrier information includes sequences, channels and provider.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising using a static internet protocol address to communicate via the wired connection, wherein converting the first data from the first format to the second format includes formatting the data for use with a secure internet protocol tunnel.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving cellular carrier information in the second format via the wired connection, the cellular carrier information comprising sequences, channels and provider; and

wirelessly transmitting the cellular carrier information from the first repeater in the second format.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, 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.

10. A system for extending communications, comprising:

a first repeater having a first wireless radio and a first wired connection, the first repeater being configured to;

receive a wireless communications signal;

detect a first format of the wireless communication signal, the first format being compatible with a wireless cellular network;

communicate, in a second format over the first wired connection, format information indicating the first format, the second format being different from the first format and compatible with a wired internet protocol network;

wirelessly receive first data in the first format;

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

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

receive, via the first wired connection, second data in the second format;

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

wirelessly transmit the second data in the first format; and

a second repeater comprising a second wireless radio and a second wired connection, the second repeater being configured to;

receive the format information from the first repeater via the second wired connection;

select a third format from among a plurality of formats, the third format being compatible with a second wireless cellular network;

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

convert the first data from the second format to the third format;

wirelessly transmit the first data in the third format;

wirelessly receive the second data in the third format;

convert the second data from the third format to the second format; and

communicate the second data to the first repeater in the second format via the second wired connection.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first format and the third format are the same format.

12. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first repeater comprises a WiFi access point.

13. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first repeater comprises a personal computer.

14. The system as set forth in claim 10, further wherein the first repeater is further configured to:

receive registration information in the second format via the first wired connection;

wirelessly transmit the registration information in the first format; and

emulate a wireless phone corresponding to the registration information when wirelessly communicating in the first format.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the registration information is DMA registration information comprising cellular identification and a long PN code.

16. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first repeater is further configured to:

receive cellular carrier information in the first format;

convert the cellular carrier information to the second format; and

communicate the cellular carrier information via the first wired connection, wherein the cellular carrier information includes sequences, channels and provider.

17. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

converting the first data from the first format to the second format includes translating control signaling into wireless commands;

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; and

the first data and the second data include real-time voice data.