Intelligent network access control

• US 8,825,011 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tecore Incorporated
• Inventors: Salkini, Jay, Joseph, Thomas, Dergham, Youssef
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/507,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/411, 455/449, 455/561, 370/313, 370/338, 709/225, 713/175
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/00 Code division multiplex systems for frequency hopping H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 : Access point controller devices

Abstract

A method for controlling wireless communications to and from a macro wireless network includes provoking an access request from a wireless device to register the device with an intelligent network access controller for a local wireless network. The method then includes locking the wireless device to the controller and determining a category of the wireless device. If the determined category of the wireless device is a first category, the method includes preventing access to wireless communications using the macro wireless network. If the determined category of the wireless device is a second category, the method includes directing the wireless device to re-attempt access with the macro wireless network.

Claims

1. An intelligent network access controller tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the controller to perform a process that creates a local wireless network as an overlay to a macro wireless network and that dynamically controls access to the macro wireless network by wireless devices, the process, comprising:

attracting wireless devices to the local wireless network and locking the wireless devices to the controller;

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

for a wireless device with a determined allowed access level, broadcasting a redirection signal redirecting the wireless device to access the macro wireless network.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller directs the broadcast of an attraction signal to attract the wireless device.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. The controller of claim 2, wherein the attraction signal causes a step down in access technology of the wireless device.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller directs broadcast of the redirection signal to redirect the wireless device to the macro wireless network.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a same frequency range and access technology in the macro wireless network.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the local wireless network to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology in the macro wireless network.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a different frequency range and a same access technology in the macro wireless network.

14. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a same frequency range and a different access technology in the macro wireless network.

15. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the local wireless network to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology in the macro wireless network.

16. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a different frequency range and a different access technology in the macro wireless network.

17. The controller of claim 10, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to a step up in access technology.

18. The controller of claim 10, 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.

19. The controller of claim 10, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for a single transaction.

20. The controller of claim 10, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for multiple transactions.

21. The controller of claim 10, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for all transactions.

22. 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 macro wireless network for a duration of an emergency call; and

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

23. 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:

directing the wireless device to an emergency call system to make an emergency call; and

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

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

provoking an access request from a wireless device to register the wireless device with an intelligent network access controller for a local wireless network;

locking the wireless device to the controller;

determining a category of the wireless device;

initially preventing access by a first category wireless device to wireless communications using the macro wireless network; and

directing a second category wireless device to re-attempt access with the macro wireless network by directing broadcast of a redirection signal to redirect the wireless device of the second category to the macro wireless network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein preventing access comprises maintaining the wireless device locked to the controller.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein provoking an access request comprises directing broadcast of an attraction signal from the controller to the wireless device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a same frequency range and access technology as the macro wireless network.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology as the macro wireless network.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a different frequency range and a same access technology as the macro wireless network.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a same frequency range and a different access technology as the macro wireless network.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology as the macro wireless network.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal is in a different frequency range and a different access technology as the macro wireless network.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the attraction signal causes a step down in access technology of the wireless device.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a same frequency range and access technology in the macro wireless network.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the local wireless network to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a same access technology in the macro wireless network.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a different frequency range and a same access technology in the macro wireless network.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a same frequency range and a different access technology in the macro wireless network.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a channel, frequency range, and access technology of the local wireless network to a same channel, in a same frequency range, and a different technology as the macro wireless network.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network to a different frequency range and a different access technology in the macro wireless network.

40. The method of claim 24, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to a step up in access technology of the wireless device.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for a single transaction.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for multiple transactions.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is redirected to the macro wireless network for all transactions.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is of the first category and the wireless device initiates an emergency call access request, the method further comprising:

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

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

45. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless device is of the first category and the wireless device initiates an emergency call access request, the method further comprising:

directing the wireless device to an emergency call system to make an emergency call; and

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

46. A 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 for a local wireless network;

lock the wireless device to the controller;

determine a category of the wireless device;

prevent access of first category wireless devices to wireless communications with a macro wireless network underlying the local wireless network; and

direct broadcast of a redirection signal to redirect wireless devices of a second category to attempt access with the macro wireless network.

47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein to provoke an access request, the processor operates to direct broadcast of an attraction signal to the wireless device.

48. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the attraction signal mimics a corresponding signal of the macro wireless network in frequency range and access technology.

49. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the attraction signal mimics a corresponding signal of the macro wireless network in frequency range and differs in access technology.

50. The computer readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the processor does not respond to the access request from the wireless device, whereby the wireless device steps down in access technology, and wherein the processor receives an access request of the stepped down technology from the wireless device.

51. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to a same frequency range and access technology in the macro wireless network as a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network.

52. The computer readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the redirection signal redirects the wireless device to the macro wireless network in a frequency range and access technology different from a frequency range and access technology of the local wireless network.