Facilitating communication between wireless access components

• US 8,953,521 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Shipley, Trevor D., Sumler, John D., Perez, Cesar
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, CHRISTINE Y
• Application Number:
  US12/968,601
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods for facilitating communication between multiple wireless access components. Initially, a second wireless access component is detected to be within range of a first wireless access component. It is determined that a wireless connection is to be established between the wireless access components. Access information is exchanged between the wireless access components indicating capacity and current usage of each other'"'"'s outbound link to the Internet. A wireless connection is then established between the two wireless access components, thus allowing for routing of Internet traffic between the wireless access components.

Claims

1. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method for facilitating communication between wireless access components, the method comprising:

at a first wireless access component;

automatically and without human intervention, detecting that a second wireless access component is within a range of the first wireless access component;

determining that a wireless connection is to be established between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component;

establishing the wireless connection directly between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component;

exchanging, using the wireless connection, access information between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component, the access information comprising current usage and capacity information associated with each of the wireless access component'"'"'s outbound link to the Internet;

receiving a request from the second wireless access component to route Internet traffic from a device connected to the second wireless access component through the first wireless access component;

communicating an acceptance response to the second wireless access component authorizing the routing of the Internet traffic through the first wireless access component;

routing the Internet traffic from the device connected to the second wireless access component utilizing a data communications link associated with the first wireless access component;

while routing the Internet traffic from the device connected to the second wireless access component, receiving an Internet access request from a device connected to the first wireless access component;

based on a set of priority rules, determining not to continue routing the Internet traffic from the device connected to the second wireless access component; and

communicating the Internet traffic routed by the first wireless access component back to the second wireless access component where it is subsequently sent to the device connected to the second wireless access component.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, further comprising periodically updating the second wireless access component with the access information associated with the first wireless access component.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the access information exchanged between the wireless access components further comprises a number of registered users, and a number of active users.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the set of priority rules specify when Internet traffic from another wireless access component is allowed to be routed through the first wireless access component.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the set of rules is determined by a wireless network associated with the first wireless access component.

6. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method for facilitating communication between wireless access components, the method comprising:

at a first wireless access component;

automatically and without human intervention, detecting a presence of a second wireless access component that is within a range of the first wireless access component;

establishing a wireless connection directly between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component;

exchanging access information directly between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component using the wireless connection, the access information comprising a number of registered users and a number of active users associated with each of the wireless access component'"'"'s outbound link to the Internet;

receiving a request for Internet access from a device that is connected to the first wireless access component, the request comprising a first Internet access request and a second Internet access request;

based on one or more factors, determining that the first wireless access component is unable to process the second Internet access request;

communicating a request to the second wireless access component to accept the second Internet access request;

receiving from the second wireless access component an acceptance response; and

routing the second Internet access request from the device to the second wireless access component while maintaining the connection between the device and the first wireless access component such that the first wireless access component processes the first Internet access request while the second wireless access component processes the second Internet access request.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the device is within a coverage area of the first wireless access component.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the wireless connection between the first and the second wireless access components uses one or more of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless USB, or ultra-wideband.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6, wherein the access information further comprises a quality of service, or security.

10. Non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, facilitate a method for facilitating communication between wireless access components, the method comprising:

at a first wireless access component;

automatically and without human intervention, detecting that a second wireless access component is within a range of the first wireless access component;

establishing a direct wireless connection between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component;

exchanging, using the wireless connection, access information between the first wireless access component and the second wireless access component, the access information comprising current outbound traffic and capacity resources associated with each wireless access component'"'"'s outbound link to the Internet;

receiving a request, using the wireless connection, from the second wireless access component to route a first portion of Internet traffic from a device connected to the second wireless access component through the first wireless access component;

communicating an acceptance response to the second wireless access component authorizing the routing of the first portion of the Internet traffic through the first wireless access component;

routing the first portion of the Internet traffic from the device utilizing a data communications link associated with the first wireless access component while the second wireless access component simultaneously routes a second portion of Internet traffic from the device; and

communicating the first portion of the Internet traffic routed by the first wireless access component back to the second wireless access component where it is subsequently sent to the device along with the second portion of the Internet traffic routed by the second wireless access component.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein authorizing the routing of the first portion of the Internet traffic through the first wireless component is based partly on the current outbound traffic of the first wireless component.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, further comprising receiving an Internet access request from a device connected to the first wireless access component while the first portion of the Internet traffic from the device connected to the second wireless access component is being routed through the first wireless access component.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 12, further comprising determining whether to discontinue the routing of the first portion of the Internet traffic from the device connected to the second wireless access component.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein the determination is based on one or more priority rules determined by a network associated with the first wireless access component.