Pico-cell extension for cellular network

• US 8,897,752 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Sharer, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US13/671,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/445, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A pico-cell is located within a facility. The pico-cell has a wireless protocol for carrying calls placed to and from mobile devices in the facility. A call distributor is in communication with the pico-cell and handles calls carried by the pico-cell. The call distributor includes an embedded wireless switch for routing calls to and from mobile devices in the facility using the wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, by a system comprising a processor, device data indicative of a set of user devices authorized to access a wireless picocell extension network that comprises a set of picocell devices;

in response to receiving, from a communication device, request data indicative of a request to access the wireless picocell extension network and based on the device data, determining, by the system, that the communication device is authorized to access the wireless picocell extension network; and

in response to the determining, facilitating, by the system, a routing of a call associated with the communication device via an embedded switch device of the wireless picocell extension network, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating a conversion of first data associated with the call that is transmitted between the communication device and a picocell device of the set of picocell devices via a first communication protocol, to second data that is transmitted between the picocell device and the embedded switch device via a second communication protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the routing of the call via a network device of a public switched telephone network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating the routing of the call via a network device of an internet protocol network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the device data from a customer data store associated with an internet protocol private branch exchange device of the wireless picocell extension network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the request data via a picocell device of the set of picocell devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the picocell device is a first picocell device and the method further comprises:

in response to determining that the communication device has moved from a first coverage area associated with the first picocell device to a second coverage area associated with a second picocell device of the set of picocell devices, facilitating, by the system, a transfer of the call to the second picocell device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to the determining and in response to determining that the communication device is within a coverage area associated with the set of picocell devices, storing, by the system, information associated with the communication device within a visitor location data store of the wireless picocell extension network.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

facilitating, by the system, a transmission of data indicative of the communication device being within the coverage area to a home location data store that resides outside the wireless picocell extension network.

9. A system comprising:

a memory to store executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the executable instructions to perform operations, comprising;

receiving, from a communication device, request data indicative of a request to access a wireless picocell extension network that comprises a set of picocell devices;

based on device data indicative of a set of user devices authorized to access the wireless picocell extension network stored within a network data store, verifying that the communication device is authorized to access the wireless picocell extension network; and

in response to the verifying, facilitating establishment of a call associated with the communication device via an embedded switch device within the wireless picocell extension network, wherein the facilitating comprises facilitating a conversion of first data associated with the call that is transferred between the communication device and a picocell device of the set of picocell devices via a first communication protocol, to second data that is transferred between the picocell device and the embedded switch device via a second communication protocol.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

prior to the verifying, facilitating a registration of the communication device comprising storing identifier data associated with the communication device within a visitor location data store coupled to the set of picocell devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the facilitating the registration comprises facilitating the registration of the communication device in response to a determination that the communication device is located within a coverage area associated with the set of picocell devices.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving input data that is utilized to facilitate management of the device data indicative of the set of user devices.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a determination that the communication device has moved from a first coverage area associated with a first picocell device of the set of picocell devices to a second coverage area associated with a second picocell device of the set of picocell devices, facilitating a transfer of the call from the first picocell to the second picocell device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of picocell devices is coupled to a set of network devices of a cellular telecommunication network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to a determination that the communication device has moved outside a first coverage area associated with the set of picocell devices, facilitating a transfer of the call to an access point associated with the cellular telecommunication network, wherein the communication device is within a second coverage area associated with the access point.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of picocell devices are deployed within a specified area associated with an enterprise.

17. A computer readable storage device comprising executable executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

storing device data indicative of a set of user devices authorized to access a wireless picocell device;

based on the device data, determining that a communication device within a coverage area of the wireless picocell device is authorized to access the wireless picocell device; and

in response to the determining, facilitating an establishment of a communication session associated with the communication device via an embedded switch device coupled to the wireless picocell device; and

converting first data associated with the communication session that is received by the wireless picocell device via a first communication protocol associated with the communication device, to second data that is transmitted from the wireless picocell device to the embedded switch device via a second communication protocol.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the facilitating comprises directing data associated with the communication session to a public switched telephone network device via a protocol gateway device.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the facilitating comprises directing data associated with the communication session to a cellular network device via a router device.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

directing, to a home location data store of a cellular network coupled to a wireless picocell extension network device, information that is indicative of the communication device being within a coverage area of the wireless picocell device.