Mobile cellular networks

• US 9,451,646 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oceus Networks Inc.
• Inventors: Schemagin, Pamela, Graffagnino, Vincent, Rytilahti, Jouko, Gibbs, Ian, McGovern, James, Green, John, Collins, Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US14/876,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements

Abstract

Multiple mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems can be networked together to form a network of MCN communication systems (NOM). Each MCN communication system within the NOM can operate as an independent cellular network to provide communications between user equipment within a covered area. When a UE in one MCN of the NOM moves into a different MCN of the NOM, the corresponding MCN communication systems can handover the UE. The UE can also be handed over between MCN communication systems when the MCN communication systems move.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first mobile cellular network (MCN) communication system located within a first covered area, the first MCN communication system comprising;

a first radio access component configured to receive wireless communications from one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

a first control and data component in communication with the first radio access component and configured to provide first communication links between the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area, wherein the first MCN communication system independently provides the first communication links between the one or more first user equipment without communication to another MCN communication system, and

a first data store comprising;

authentication data of the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

identification data of a second MCN communication system, wherein the second MCN communication system independently provides second communication links between one or more second user equipment located within a second covered area associated with the second MCN communication system without communication to the first MCN communication system, and

identification data of the one or more second user equipment,

wherein the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system are each mobile during operation and communicate with each other to provide third communication links between the one or more first user equipment and the one or more second user equipment, and

wherein the first MCN communication system is configured to determine a location of the second MCN communication system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a group of secondary MCN communication systems including the second MCN communication system is associated with the first MCN communication system, and the first MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive identification data of a plurality of user equipment associated with the group of secondary MCN communication systems including the one or more second user equipment, wherein each of the plurality of user equipment is associated with at least one of the group of secondary MCN communication systems,

generate a network of MCN communication systems data (NOM data) based at least in part on the received identification data of the plurality of user equipment, and

communicate the NOM data to the group of secondary MCN communication systems.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the group of secondary MCN communication systems comprises a plurality of secondary MCN communication systems.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the group of secondary MCN communication systems are associated with the first MCN communication system based at least in part on at least one of location information of the group of MCN communication systems, a response to a broadcast query, or identification of users of the group of secondary MCN communication systems.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the NOM data comprises identification information of the plurality of user equipment associated with the group of secondary MCN communication systems, and location information of the group of MCN communication systems.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to determine whether handover operations are possible between the first MCN communication system and second MCN communication system based at least in part on the determined location of the second MCN communication system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive a request from a third user equipment located within the first covered area for a communication link with a fourth user equipment, and

based at least in part on a determination that the fourth user equipment is located within the first covered area, establish the communication link between the third user equipment and the fourth user equipment.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive a request from a third user equipment located within the first covered area for a communication link with a fourth user equipment, and

based at least in part on a determination that the fourth user equipment is located within the second covered area, communicate with the second MCN communication system in order to establish the communication link between the third user equipment and the fourth user equipment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the determination that the fourth user equipment is located within the second covered area is based at least in part on the identification data of the one or more second user equipment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive a request from a third user equipment located within the first covered area a communication link with a fourth user equipment, and

based at least in part on a determination that the fourth user equipment is not located within the first covered area or the second covered area;

query a third MCN communication system,

obtain communication link information from the third MCN communication system, and

communicate with the third MCN communication system in order to establish the communication link between the third user equipment and the fourth user equipment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to:

determine that a distance between the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system is increasing,

identify at least one user equipment associated with the second MCN communication system for handover to the first MCN communication system due to increasing distance between the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system, and

complete a handover operation with the second MCN communication system for the at least one user equipment.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first MCN communication system is further configured to determine that the second MCN communication system is moving away from the first MCN communication system.

13. A mobile cellular network (MCN) communication system, comprising:

a first radio access component configured to receive wireless communications from one or more first user equipment located within a first covered area;

a first control and data component in communication with the first radio access component and configured to provide first communication links between the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area; and

a first data store comprising;

authentication data of the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

identification data of another MCN communication system, wherein the another MCN communication system independently provides second communication links between one or more second user equipment located within a second covered area associated with the another MCN communication system without communication to the MCN communication system, and

identification data of the one or more second user equipment, wherein the MCN communication system is configured to;

independently provide the first communication links between the one or more first user equipment without communication to other MCN communication systems, and

determine a location of the another MCN communication system,

wherein the MCN communication system and the another MCN communication system are each mobile during operation and communicate with each other to provide third communication links between the one or more first user equipment and the one or more second user equipment.

14. The MCN communication system of claim 13, wherein a group of secondary MCN communication systems including the another MCN communication system is associated with the MCN communication system, and the MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive identification data of a plurality of user equipment associated with the group of secondary MCN communication systems including the one or more second user equipment, wherein each of the plurality of user equipment is associated with at least one of the group of secondary MCN communication systems,

generate a network of MCN communication systems data (NOM data) based at least in part on the received identification data of the plurality of user equipment, and

communicate the NOM data to the group of secondary MCN communication systems.

15. The MCN communication system of claim 14, wherein the group of secondary MCN communication systems comprises a plurality of secondary MCN communication systems.

16. The MCN communication system of claim 14, wherein the NOM data comprises identification information of the plurality of user equipment associated with the group of secondary MCN communication systems, and location information of the group of MCN communication systems.

17. The MCN communication system of claim 14, wherein the MCN communication system is further configured to:

receive identification data of a third MCN communication system, wherein the third MCN communication system independently provides third communication links between one or more third user equipment located within a third covered area associated with the third MCN communication system without communication to the MCN communication system,

receive identification data of the one or more third user equipment,

revise the NOM data based at least in part on the received identification data the one or more third user equipment and the received identification data of the third MCN communication system, and

communicate the revised NOM data to the group of secondary MCN communication systems and the third MCN communication system.

18. The MCN communication system of claim 13, wherein the MCN communication system is further configured to:

determine that a distance between the MCN communication system and the another MCN communication system is increasing,

identify at least one user equipment associated with the another MCN communication system for handover to the MCN communication system due to increasing distance between the MCN communication system and the another MCN communication system, and

complete a handover operation with the another MCN communication system for the at least one user equipment.

19. The MCN communication system of claim 18, wherein the MCN communication system is further configured to determine that the another MCN communication system is moving away from the MCN communication system.

20. A method for determining location of a second mobile cellular network communication system, comprising:

providing a first mobile cellular network (MCN) communication system located within a first covered area, the first MCN communication system comprising;

a first radio access component configured to receive wireless communications from one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

a first control and data component in communication with the first radio access component and configured to provide first communication links between the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area, wherein the first MCN communication system independently provides the first communication links between the one or more first user equipment without communication to another MCN communication system, and

a first data store comprising authentication data of the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

receiving identification data of a second MCN communication system, wherein the second MCN communication system independently provides second communication links between one or more second user equipment located within a second covered area associated with the second MCN communication system without communication to the first MCN communication system, and wherein the first MCN communication system and the second MCN communication system are each mobile during operation and communicate with each other to provide third communication links between the one or more first user equipment and the one or more second user equipment;

receiving identification data of the one or more second user equipment; and

determining a location of the second MCN communication system based at least in part on the received identification data of the second MCN communication system.

21. A mobile cellular network (MCN) communication system, comprising:

a first radio access component configured to receive wireless communications from one or more first user equipment located within a first covered area;

a first control and data component in communication with the first radio access component and configured to provide first communication links between the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area; and

a first data store comprising authentication data of the one or more first user equipment within the first covered area,

wherein the MCN communication system is configured to;

independently provide the first communication links between the one or more first user equipment without communication to other MCN communication systems,

receive identification data of another MCN communication system, wherein the another MCN communication system independently provides second communication links between one or more second user equipment located within a second covered area associated with the another MCN communication system without communication to the MCN communication system,

receive identification data of the one or more second user equipment, and

determine a location of the another MCN communication system,

wherein the MCN communication system and the another MCN communication system are each mobile during operation and communicate with each other to provide third communication links between the one or more first user equipment and the one or more second user equipment.