Automatic wireless service activation in a private local wireless service

• US 8,606,236 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Albert T., Erving, Richard Henry, Miller, Robert Raymond II, Russell, Jesse Eugene, Ying, Wenchu, Rice, Christopher W
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/987,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/3.01, 455/410, 455/443, 455/515, 455/552, 455/553.1, 455/63, 455/426.1, 455/428, 709/230, 726/4, 726/6, 370/328, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. An automated private service activation (APSA) port is used for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. The APSA port provides an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints. In addition the APSA port provides space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

Claims

1. A secondary wireless communication system overlapped by a first wireless communication system, comprising:

an automated private service activation port for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary wireless communication system, the automated private service activation port providing;

an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of an access and communication channel; and

a space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary wireless communication system.

2. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

the automated private service activation port being part of a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under an institute of electrical and electronics engineers 802.11 standard.

3. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for abutting against and communicating with the wireless device at a signal level sufficient to achieve access, association, and authentication, and exceeding at the surface a signal level of the first wireless communication system that overlaps the secondary wireless system.

4. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for access and communication to a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication, and including shielding for blocking a signal level of the first wireless communication system that overlaps the secondary wireless system.

5. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

the automated private service activation port being part of a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under an institute of electrical and electronics engineers 802.16 standard.

6. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 5, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for abutting against and communicating with a wireless device at a signal level sufficient to achieve access, association, and authentication, and exceeding at the surface a signal level of the first wireless communication system that overlaps the secondary wireless system.

7. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 5, further comprising:

a surface covering an antenna for access and communication to a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication and including shielding for locking a signal level of the first wireless communication system that overlaps the secondary wireless system.

8. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

a system controller for providing digital switching and service features connected to the automated private service activation port via an ethernet interface.

9. The secondary wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the system controller comprises a network service platform for providing a service and management function.

10. A method of communication for achieving association, authentication and access, from a secondary wireless communication system in a region overlapped by a first wireless communication system, comprising:

creating access, association, and authentication in a signal space in which radiated access and communication signal levels of the secondary wireless communication system within the signal space exceed access and communication signal levels of the first wireless communication system;

positioning a wireless device seeking access, association, and authentication and communication within the signal space and powering up the wireless device;

searching by the wireless device for a strongest channel;

selecting the strongest channel of the secondary wireless communication system by reason of the positioning of the wireless device within the signal space; and

authorizing, authenticating, and associating the wireless device for operation within the secondary wireless communication system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling the secondary wireless communication system to interwork with the first wireless communication system; and

authorizing, associating, and authenticating in accordance with an institute of electrical and electronics engineers standard.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

authorizing, associating, and authenticating based on information retrieved from a database of the first wireless communication system to enable a billing of service through a subscription to the first wireless communication system.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

authorizing, associating, and authenticating to use a wireless device identifier code, wherein the wireless device identifier code is inserted into the wireless device at an initial authorization and authentication, and wherein the wireless device identifier code is unique to the secondary wireless system so that at a post initial authorization and authentication, the wireless device locks on to the secondary wireless communication system.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

operating the wireless device in the secondary wireless system in substitution for the first wireless communication system.

15. A method of activating and authenticating a wireless device of a new user in a secondary wireless communication system in a region overlapped by a first wireless communication system, comprising:

enabling, by a processor, the activating and authenticating within a limited sub-region of the region overlapped by the first wireless communication system and within the limited sub-region including;

providing access credentials from an automatic private service activation unit of the secondary wireless communication system; and

interacting with a database containing user credentials, and user requested features, to provide a record and to enable service to the new user.

16. The method of claim 15, further a comprising:

installing in the wireless device, a private system identification number.

17. A method of activating, associating, and authenticating a wireless device in a secondary wireless communication system co-located with a primary wireless communication system, comprising:

masking, by a processor, a signal strength associated with the primary wireless communication system; and

coupling, by the processor, signals of the secondary wireless communication system to the wireless device during the masking.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the masking of the signal strength comprises devising a signal of the secondary wireless communication system so that it exceeds in magnitude a signal strength of the primary wireless communication system as masked within defined spatial limits;

and

operating the wireless device for activation purposes within the defined spatial limits.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

using a cellular base station having digital communication channels which operate under an institute of electrical and electronics engineers standard.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the secondary wireless communication system is a private local communication system.