System and method for creating a wireless picocell

• US 8,494,531 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Soliman, Samir S., Antonio, Franklin Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US11/090,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,042 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/446, 455/444, 455/448, 455/443
• US Class Current: 455/444
• 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 a 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 method for creating a communication service through a picocell alternate to a multiple access wireless network service, the method comprising:

detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network;

generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network;

receiving control signals originating from a MA wireless network base station;

identifying the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals; and

generating first picocell control signals 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 method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving requests from mobile stations for communication service through the picocell, in response to generating the first picocell control signals.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing a first picocell mobile services switching center (MSC); and

providing network services to mobile stations via the first picocell MCS, in response to receiving requests for communication service through the picocell.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing a second picocell;

generating second picocell control signals; and

the method further comprising;

in response to receiving requests for communication service through the picocell, using the first picocell control signals to direct the mobile stations to the picocell control signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the MA wireless network includes detecting a MA wireless network providing a service;

and

wherein generating first picocell control signals includes generating picocell control signals identifying a communication service through the picocell equivalent to the MA wireless network service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving control signals originating from the MA wireless network base station includes receiving the base station control signals at a first power level in the picocell;

and

wherein generating first picocell control signals includes generating picocell control signals having a second received power level in the picocell, greater than the first received power level.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein generating the first picocell control signals includes controlling the transmit power levels of mobile stations in the picocell.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving control signals originating from the MA wireless network base station includes the base station control signals being received in a first medium;

wherein generating first picocell control signals includes;

generating first picocell control signals in the first medium;

sending messages in the first picocell control signals directing mobile stations to control signals broadcast in an alternate medium; and

the method further comprising;

establishing a second picocell network;

generating second picocell control signals in the alternative medium.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein generating second picocell control signals in the alternate medium includes generating control signals in a 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.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the MA wireless network includes:

scanning as frequency spectrum;

identifying signals in a spectrum band;

identifying a signal modulation;

identifying a system associated with the modulation; and

measuring the detected signal power level.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying the system associated with the modulation includes identifying a cellular wireless telephone system;

and

wherein detecting the MA wireless network service further includes identifying a serving sector in the cellular telephone system.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

denying all service requests made by mobile stations communicating in the picocell.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preventing mobile stations, which are communicating in the first picocell, from making requests for network service.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the MA network includes generating picocell management information, 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,

the method further comprising;

transceiving communications between the MA network and a mobile station, via the first picocell, using, the management information.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting the MA network includes generating picocell management information, 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 providing network services to mobile stations via the first picocell MCS includes selecting channels and communication media that minimally interfere with the MA network, in response to the management information.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising transceiving communications between the MA wireless network and a mobile station via the first picocell.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the MA wireless network comprises at least one of a terrestrial network or a satellite network.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising scheduling communications between the first picocell and the MA wireless network to minimally interfere with the MA wireless network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the detecting further comprises identifying MA network information, the method further comprising predicting management information for managing resources of the first picocell based at least in part on the MA network information, wherein the scheduling is based on the predicting.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the transmit power levels further comprises reducing the transmit power levels.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein generating further comprises generating the first picocell inside an airplane.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transceiving communications between the MA wireless network and a mobile station via the first picocell, wherein the MA wireless network comprises at least one of a terrestrial network or a satellite network.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first picocell inside the airplane comprises generating while the airplane is in the air.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling 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.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first picocell is based on the received base station control signals corresponding to the strongest received MA wireless network control signals.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first picocell is based on the MA wireless network having a pilot signal lacking sufficient strength to support a minimum data rate.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting further comprises detecting a plurality of wireless communication networks each having a different technology and each having respective control signals, wherein the generating of the first picocell further comprises generating a plurality of picocells each corresponding to one of the plurality of wireless communication network and each having respective picocell control signals in 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 a mobile station operating with a respective one of the different technologies in the respective one of the plurality of picocells responds to the respective picocell instead of the respective wireless communication network.

28. A method for creating a picocell service alternate to a multiple access wireless network service, the method comprising;

detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network;

generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network; and

preventing mobile stations, which are communicating in the first picocell, from making requests for network service;

wherein the detecting further comprises detecting MA base station control signals; and

spoofing the base station control signals with first picocell control signals 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, and cause a mobile station in the first picocell to respond to the first picocell control signals instead of the base station control signals.

29. A method for creating a picocell service alternate to a multiple access wireless network service, the method comprising:

detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network;

generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network;

receiving requests from mobile stations for picocell service;

denying all service requests made by mobile stations communicating in the picocell;

wherein the detecting further comprises detecting MA wireless network base station control signals; and

generating first picocell control signals in the same frequency band as the MA wireless network base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the MA wireless network base station control signals in the first picocell, and wherein the first picocell control signals spoof a mobile station in the first picocell to respond to the first picocell control signals instead of the MA wireless network base station control signals.

30. A method for creating a picocell service alternate to a multiple access wireless network service, the method comprising:

detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network;

generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network;

wherein the detecting further comprises receiving MA base station control signals at a first received power level; and

generating picocell control signals based on the detected base station control signals, wherein the picocell control signals are in the same frequency band as the detected base station control signals so as to deliberately interfere with and override the detected base station control signals in the first picocell, wherein the picocell control signals have a second received power level in the first picocell greater than the first received power level in the first picocell, and wherein the picocell control signals comprise a spoof of the base station control signals that prevent a mobile station in the first picocell from communicating with the MA wireless network base station.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein generating a first picocell includes controlling the transmit power levels of mobile stations in the picocell to prevent the mobile stations from communicating with the MA wireless network.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network;

means for generating a first picocell in response to detecting the MA wireless network;

means for receiving control signals originating from a MA wireless network base station;

means for identifying the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals; and

means for generating first picocell control signals 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.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:

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

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising:

means for establishing a first picocell mobile services switching center (MSC); and

means for providing network services to mobile stations via the first picocell MCS, in response to receiving requests for communication service through the picocell.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising:

means for establishing a second picocell;

means for generating second picocell control signals; and

in response to receiving requests for communication service through the picocell, means for using the first picocell control signals to direct the mobile stations to the second picocell control signals.

36. An apparatus comprising:

a sniffer device to detect a multiple access (MA) wireless telephone communications network, to receive control signals originating from a MA wireless network base station, and to identify the MA wireless network in response to the base station control signals; and

a spoofer device to generate first picocell control signals 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.