Control of maximum number of concurrent local device connections for a mobile hotspot

• US 8,830,971 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Shipley, Trevor D., Perez, Cesar, Teixeira, Joao C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US13/191,152
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/235, 370/310, 370/315, 370/338, 370/400, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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

Disclosed is a mobile hotspot that includes multiple cellular radios and that is arranged to limit the number of concurrent local connections that it will support, based at least in part on which of its cellular radios is currently active.

Claims

1. A mobile hotspot, comprising:

a plurality of wide area network (WAN) radios, wherein each WAN radio is configured for wireless communication using a respective WAN air interface protocol that is different from each other WAN radio;

a local radio, wherein the local radio is configured for concurrent wireless communication with up to a maximum number of local devices using a local air interface protocol;

a switch for selectively connecting the local radio to an active WAN radio in the plurality of WAN radios, such that wireless communications received by the local radio are repeated using the active WAN radio and wireless communications received by the active WAN radio are repeated using the local radio; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the maximum number based, at least in part, on which WAN radio is the active WAN radio, wherein the controller sets the maximum number to a first maximum number when a first one of the WAN radios is the active WAN radio and the controller sets the maximum number to a second, different maximum number when a second one of the WAN radios is the active WAN radio.

2. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the WAN radios are cellular radios, and the local radio is an 802.11 radio.

3. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated with the local radio.

4. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the switch is integrated with the WAN radios.

5. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to change the maximum number in response to a change from one of the WAN radios being the active WAN radio to another of the WAN radios being the active WAN radio.

6. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a processor programmed with instructions to control the maximum number based, at least in part, on which WAN radio is the active WAN radio.

7. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein the switch selects the active WAN radio responsive to receipt of a signal designating the active WAN radio, wherein the signal corresponds with input received via the user interface, the input defining a selection of the active WAN radio.

8. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface displays an indication of the maximum number.

9. The mobile hotspot of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the maximum number based on which WAN radio is the active WAN radio by setting the maximum number based on a WAN air interface protocol of the active WAN radio.

10. A method operable by a mobile hotspot, the mobile hotspot having (i) a plurality of wide area network (WAN) radios, wherein each WAN radio is configured for wireless communication using a respective WAN air interface protocol that is different from each other WAN radio and (ii) a local radio, wherein the local radio is configured for concurrent wireless communication with up to a maximum number of local devices using a local air interface protocol, the method comprising:

the hotspot selectively connecting the local radio to an active WAN radio in the plurality of WAN radios, such that wireless communications received by the local radio are repeated using the active WAN radio and wireless communications received by the active WAN radio are repeated using the local radio; and

the hotspot setting the maximum number based, at least in part, on which WAN radio is the active WAN radio, wherein the hotspot sets the maximum number to a first maximum number if a first one of the WAN radios is the active WAN radio, but the hotspot sets the maximum number to a second, different maximum number if a second one of the WAN radios is the active WAN radio.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the WAN radios are cellular radios, and the local radio is an 802.11 radio.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

the hotspot switching from the first one of the WAN radios being the active WAN radio to the second one of the WAN radios being the active WAN radio; and

responsive to the switching, the hotspot changing the maximum number.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein changing the maximum number responsive to the switching comprises one of increasing the maximum number and decreasing the maximum number.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein decreasing the maximum number comprises reducing the maximum number from a first number to a second number lower than the first number, and wherein decreasing further comprises:

if the local radio is already concurrently communicating with a number of local devices that is higher than the second number, then (i) waiting for the number of local devices with which the local radio is concurrently communicating to be at least as low as the second number and then (ii) applying the second number as a maximum limit of the number of local devices with which the local radio will concurrently communicate.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein switching from the first WAN radio being the active WAN radio to the second WAN radio being the active WAN radio comprises engaging in an idle handoff from use of the first WAN radio to use of the second WAN radio.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein switching from the first WAN radio being the active WAN radio to the second WAN radio being the active WAN radio comprises engaging in an active handoff from use of the first WAN radio to use of the second WAN radio.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile hotspot further comprises a user-interface, and wherein switching from the first WAN radio being the active WAN radio to the second WAN radio being the active WAN radio comprises receiving via the user interface input directing use of the second WAN radio, and performing the switching in response to the input.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile hotspot further comprises a user-interface, the method further comprising:

the user interface presenting an indication of the maximum number.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile hotspot further comprises a processor, and wherein setting the maximum number based, at least in part, on which WAN radio is the active WAN radio comprises the processor executing instructions to set the maximum number.

20. A mobile hotspot, comprising:

a plurality of cellular radios, wherein each cellular radio is configured for wireless communication using a respective cellular air interface protocol that is different from each other cellular radio;

an 802.11 radio, wherein the 802.11 radio is configured for concurrent wireless communication with up to a maximum number of local devices using an 802.11 air interface protocol;

a switch for selectively connecting the 802.11 radio to an active cellular radio in the plurality of cellular radios, such that wireless communications received by the 802.11 radio are repeated using the active cellular radio and wireless communications received by the active cellular radio are repeated using the 802.11 radio;

a controller configured to change the maximum number of local devices in response to the switch transitioning from using a first one of the cellular radios as the active cellular radio to using a second one of the cellular radios being the active cellular radio; and

a user interface for displaying an indication of the maximum number.