Intelligent network access controller and method

• US 8,509,740 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Inventors: Salkini, Jay, Joseph, Thomas V. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/507,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/558, 455/568, 710/16
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/02 by periodical registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A method, implemented on a programmed processor, for controlling wireless communications to and from a wireless network includes provoking an access request from a wireless device to register the device with an intelligent network access controller; locking the wireless device to the controller; determining a category of the wireless device; if the determined category is a first category, preventing access to wireless communications using the wireless network; and if the determined category is a second category, directing the wireless device to re-attempt access with the wireless network.

Claims

1. An intelligent network access controller tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the controller to perform a process, comprising:

creating an overlay to a portion of one or more wireless networks and that dynamically controls access by wireless devices to an overlaid wireless network;

attracting a wireless device to the controller and locking the wireless device to the controller to prevent access to the overlaid wireless network;

receiving an identity of and determining an access level for the wireless device; and

when the access level for the wireless device is allowed, redirecting the wireless device to access the overlaid wireless network.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller broadcasts a local Intelligent Network Access Controller (INAC) signal to attract the wireless device.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a same frequency range and access technology as the overlaid wireless network.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology as the overlaid wireless network.

5. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a different frequency range and a same access technology as the overlaid wireless network.

6. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a same frequency range and a different access technology as the overlaid wireless network.

7. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology as the overlaid wireless network.

8. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal is in a different frequency range and a different access technology as the overlaid wireless network.

9. The controller of claim 2, wherein the local INAC signal causes a change in access technology of the wireless device.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein an access level of the wireless device is one of restricted and unknown, and wherein the wireless device is maintained locked to the controller.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the access level of the wireless device is unknown and the wireless device initiates an emergency call access request, the process further comprising:

redirecting the wireless device to the overlaid wireless network for a duration of an emergency call; and

redirecting the wireless device to the controller and locking the wireless device to the controller upon completion of the emergency call.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller broadcasts a redirection signal to redirect the wireless device to the overlaid wireless network.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a same frequency range and access technology in the overlaid wireless network.

14. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the controller to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology in the overlaid wireless network.

15. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a different frequency range and a same access technology in the overlaid wireless network.

16. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a same frequency range and a different access technology in the overlaid wireless network.

17. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the controller to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology in overlaid the wireless network.

18. The controller of claim 12, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a different frequency range and a different access technology in the overlaid wireless network.

19. The controller of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the overlaid wireless network for a single transaction.

20. The controller of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the overlaid wireless network for multiple transactions.

21. The controller of claim 12, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the overlaid wireless network for all transactions.

22. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller operates in conjunction with outdoor base stations, antennas, repeaters, and amplifiers to distribute INAC broadcast signals that establish an area subject to access restrictions imposed by the controller.

23. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller operates in conjunction with indoor base stations, antennas, repeaters, and amplifiers to distribute INAC broadcast signals that establish an area subject to access restrictions imposed by the controller.

24. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller operates in conjunction with any combination of outdoor base stations, antennas, repeaters, and amplifiers and indoor base stations, antennas, repeaters, and amplifiers to distribute INAC broadcast signals that establish an area subject to access restrictions imposed by the controller.

25. A method, implemented on a programmed processor, for controlling wireless communications to and from a wireless network, comprising:

creating, using an intelligent network access controller, an overlay over one or more wireless networks;

provoking an access request from a wireless device to register the wireless device with the controller, comprising broadcasting a signal from the controller;

in response to the access request, locking the wireless device to the controller;

determining a category of the wireless device;

when the determined category is a first category, preventing access to wireless communications using the wireless network; and

when the determined category is a second category, directing the wireless device to re-attempt access with the wireless network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein preventing access comprises maintaining the wireless device locked to the controller.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising broadcasting a redirection signal to redirect a wireless device of the second category to the wireless network.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a same frequency range and access technology as the wireless network.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology as the wireless network.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a different frequency range and a same access technology as the wireless network.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a same frequency range and a different access technology as the wireless network.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology as the wireless network.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal is in a different frequency range and a different access technology as the wireless network.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the signal causes a change in access technology of the wireless device.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a same frequency range and access technology in the wireless network.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the controller to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology in the wireless network.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a different frequency range and a same access technology in the wireless network.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a same frequency range and a different access technology in the wireless network.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the controller to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology in the wireless network.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the controller to a different frequency range and a different access technology in the wireless network.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the wireless network for a single transaction.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the wireless network for multiple transactions.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the wireless network for all transactions.

44. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a program of instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

provoke an access request from a wireless device to register the device with an intelligent network access controller (INAC);

prevent access of the wireless device to a wireless network by locking the wireless device to the INAC;

determine a category of the wireless device;

when the determined category is a first category, continue to prevent access of wireless communications to the wireless network; and

when the determined category is a second category, direct the wireless device to attempt access with the wireless network.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein to provoke an access request, the processor operates to broadcast a local INAC signal to the wireless device.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the local INAC signal mimics a corresponding signal of the wireless network in frequency range and access technology.

47. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 45, wherein the local INAC signal mimics a corresponding signal of the wireless network in frequency range and differs from the corresponding signal of the wireless network in access technology.

48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the processor broadcasts a redirection signal to redirect a first category wireless device to the wireless network.

49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to a frequency range and access technology of the wireless network.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to the wireless network in a frequency range and access technology that differs from the wireless device when locked to the controller.