System and method for mobile data expansion

• US 9,219,991 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neutronic Perpetual Innovations Mobile LLC
• Original Assignee: Neutronic Perpetual Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Berry, Terrance
• Primary Examiner(s): AYOTUNDE, AYODEJI O
• Application Number:
  US13/840,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20140010545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/106, 455/572, 455/573, 455/556.1, 398/115
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/92 for velocity measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/10 providing dedicated supplementary positioning signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1443 between licensed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 : Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A data expansion system that provides continuum of discrete wireless small cell coverage areas for mobile terminals includes a set of roadway reflectors configured to provide wireless broadband data services to a mobile terminal. Each reflector includes processing circuitry configured to establish communications between the mobile terminal and a backhaul network. Each reflector includes a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive data. Each reflector includes a power source that converts solar energy into electricity. Each reflector includes a housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, the transceiver, and the power source. The housing has a raised reflective surface.

Claims

1. A data expansion reflector comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to transmit data to and receive data from at least one mobile terminal in a moving object;

at least one of;

a RADAR transceiver configured to transmit radio signals toward the moving object and receive return reflected signals from the moving object, or

a camera configured to capture an image of the moving object;

a processing circuitry configured to;

couple to a backhaul network through a communication link and to the at least one mobile terminal through a wireless communication link,

communicate information between the at least one mobile terminal and the backhaul network, and

determine at least one of a proximal distance to the moving object, a speed of movement of the moving object, and a direction of movement of the moving object;

a power source configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the processing circuitry and the wireless transceiver; and

a housing comprising a pavement marker including a raised reflective surface, the housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, the wireless transceiver, and the power source.

2. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

couple to at least a second data expansion reflector; and

initialize a virtual private network for communications between the data expansion reflector and the at least the second data expansion reflector.

3. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, comprising the RADAR transceiver and the camera;

and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

determine a velocity of the object; and

determine whether the speed of the object is at least a threshold speed.

4. The data expansion reflector of claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

couple to the backhaul network through a controller unit, the controller unit configured to send the object velocity, the determination of whether the speed of the object is at least the threshold speed, and the image to a network node.

5. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to encrypt the information communicated to the at least one mobile terminal and to the backhaul network.

6. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a wireless power receiver.

7. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to provide power to operate the wireless transceiver and the processing circuitry, and wherein the power source comprises a converter configured to convert at least one of:

geothermal energy, heat, and vibration energy into electricity.

8. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, further comprising a climate control unit configured to melt frozen precipitation off the raised reflective surface.

9. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to communicate information to the at least one mobile terminal and to the backhaul network via a photonic optical communication channel.

10. The data expansion reflector of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to communicate information to the at least one mobile terminal and to the backhaul network via a laser light optical communication channel.

11. A system comprising:

a first controller unit comprising a processing circuitry and an energy unit and configured to control and communicate information with a plurality of data expansion reflectors;

a first set of data expansion reflectors coupled to the controller unit, the first set of data expansion reflectors comprising;

a plurality of data expansion reflectors configured to couple to a backhaul network, each data expansion reflector comprising;

a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive data;

at least one of;

a RADAR transceiver configured to transmit radio signals toward an object and receive return reflected signals from the object;

a camera configured to capture an image of the object;

a processing circuitry configured to;

couple to the backhaul network through a wire line communication link and to at least one mobile terminal through a wireless communication link,

communicate information between the at least one mobile terminal and the backhaul network, and

determine at least one of a proximal distance to an object, a speed of movement of the object, and a direction of movement of the object;

a power source configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the processing circuitry and the wireless transceiver; and

a housing comprising a pavement marker including a raised reflective surface, the housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, the wireless transceiver, and the power source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of data expansion reflectors is configured to handover a connection with the at least one user mobile terminal to a second set of data expansion reflectors controlled by a second controller unit;

wherein at least one data expansion reflector is configured to initialize a virtual private network for communications between the at least one data expansion reflector and at least a second data expansion reflector; and

wherein the controller is configured to initialize a virtual private network for communications to the first set of set of data expansion reflectors.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one data expansion reflector in a set of data expansion reflectors comprises the RADAR transceiver and the camera;

and

wherein the processing circuitry of the at least one data expansion reflector is further configured to;

determine a velocity of the object; and

determine whether the speed of the object is at least a threshold speed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each set of data expansion reflectors is further configured to:

couple to the backhaul network through the controller unit, the controller unit configured to send the object velocity, the determination of whether the speed of the object is at least the threshold speed, and the image to a network node.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first controller unit is configured to encrypt the information communicated to the first set of data expansion reflectors.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of data expansion reflectors further comprise a climate control unit configured to melt frozen precipitation off the raised reflective surface;

and

wherein the processing circuitry of the first set of data expansion reflectors is further configured to communicate information to the at least one mobile terminal and to the first controller unit via at least of;

a photonic optical communication channel and a laser light optical communication channel.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises a wireless power receiver and a converter configured to convert at least one of:

geothermal energy, heat, and vibration energy into electricity, and

wherein the power source is configured to provide the electricity to operate the wireless transceiver and the processing circuitry; and

wherein the energy unit comprises a wireless power transmitter configured to couple with and transmit electricity wirelessly to the wireless power receiver.

18. A method comprising:

coupling a data expansion unit to a backhaul network through a wire line communication link;

at least one of;

transmitting and receiving, by a RADAR transceiver, radio signals, and

capturing an image;

coupling, by processing circuitry, at least one mobile terminal to the data expansion unit through a wireless communication link, using a wireless transceiver;

communicating, by the data expansion unit, information between the at least one mobile terminal and the backhaul network, wherein the data expansion unit comprises a housing comprising a raised pavement marker including a reflective surface, the housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, the wireless transceiver, and a power source; and

determining at least one of a proximal distance to an object, a speed of movement of the object, and a direction of movement of the object.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether the speed of the object is at least a threshold speed;

recognizing a string of characters in the image;

determining whether the recognized string of characters matches a targeted license plate number; and

sending the object velocity, the determination of whether the speed of the object is at least a threshold speed, the image, and the determination of whether the recognized string of characters matches a targeted license plate number to a network node.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a request from a mobile terminal to download a file from a network node;

retrieving the requested file including at least one file segment;

instructing a controller unit to cause a data expansion reflector controlled by the controller unit to transfer a specified file segment within the at least one file segment to a mobile station at a scheduled time, wherein the scheduled time is based on a projected location of the mobile station, the speed of movement of the object, and the direction of movement of the object.