Method and system for controlling the operation of movable wireless networks

• US 9,554,362 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mountney, Scott A., Verstegen, Mike D., Niemi, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chuong M
• Application Number:
  US13/956,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• 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 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

A movable wireless network includes one or more wireless communication devices. The movable wireless network further includes a detector configured to detect a network event. The movable wireless network further includes a controller configured to change an operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least one of a mobile country code and a mobile network code of the movable wireless network to be different from that of another wireless network, responsive to detection of the network event by the detector. The changed operational state corresponds to changing from a state of coordinated operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network to a state of independent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network.

Claims

1. A movable wireless network comprising one or more wireless communication devices, the movable wireless network further comprising:

a detector configured to detect a network event; and

a controller configured to change an operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least one of a mobile country code, a mobile network code, power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, and frequency plan of the movable wireless network responsive to detection of the network event by the detector, the changed operational state corresponding to changing from a state of coordinated operation of the movable wireless network and another wireless network to a state of independent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network, the coordinated operation including concurrent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network in a merged network formation, the coordinated operation including the movable wireless network and the other wireless network having at least one of a mobile country code and a mobile network code of the movable wireless network to be the same as that of the other wireless network.

2. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, wherein the detector detects the network event by sensing at least two of a power, phase, frequency, interference, frequency plan, frequency portfolio, mobile network code and mobile country code of the other wireless network.

3. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least two of the power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, frequency plan, mobile network code, and mobile country code of the movable wireless network.

4. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a position sensor of at least one of a global positioning system (GPS), LORAN, compass, gyroscope, and altimeter, the position sensor for determining the position of the moveable wireless network for comparison by said controller with stored other wireless network position data.

5. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller changes the operational state of the movable wireless network when the network event occurs at least partially based on wireless network data stored in memory, said wireless network data stored in the memory comprising position data representing coverage area and physical location for each of a plurality of stationary wireless networks.

6. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 5, wherein said wireless network data stored in the memory further includes operational mode information of stationary wireless networks.

7. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 6, wherein the operational mode information of the stationary wireless networks includes at least one of an owner, operator, mobile network code and mobile country code of the stationary wireless network.

8. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, wherein a wireless communication device of said moveable wireless network receives uninterrupted service before and after said network event.

9. The movable wireless network, as recited in claim 1, wherein the network event includes detection of the movable wireless network leaving the coverage area of the other wireless network.

10. A method comprising:

detecting a network event; and

changing an operational state of a movable wireless network by changing at least one of a mobile country code, a mobile network code, power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, and frequency plan of the movable wireless network, responsive to detection of the network event by the detector, the changed operational state corresponding to changing from a state of coordinated operation of the movable wireless network and another wireless network to a state of independent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network, the coordinated operation including concurrent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network in a merged network formation, the coordinated operation including the movable wireless network and the other wireless network having at least one of a mobile country code and a mobile network code of the movable wireless network to be the same as that of the other wireless network.

11. The method, as recited in claim 10, further comprising storing, in a memory of the movable wireless network, position data including a coverage area and network data associated with each of a plurality of other wireless networks.

12. The method, as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

detecting the network event at least partially based on data sensed by a mobile network controller associated with the mobile wireless network.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

determining the operational state at least partially based on the sensed data.

14. The method, as recited in claim 10, wherein the changing withdraws the movable wireless network from the coordinated operation.

15. The method, as recited in claim 10, wherein the detecting includes sensing at least two of a power, phase, frequency, interference, frequency plan, frequency portfolio, mobile network code and mobile country code of the other wireless network.

16. The method, as recited in claim 10, wherein the changing includes changing at least two of the power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, frequency plan, mobile network code, and mobile country code of the movable wireless network.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a network event;

means for coordinating operation of a movable wireless network and another wireless network in concurrent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network in a merged network formation, the movable wireless network and the other wireless network having at least one of a mobile country code and a mobile network code of the movable wireless network to be the same as that of the other wireless network; and

means for changing an operational state of the movable wireless network by changing at least one of the mobile country code, the mobile network code, power, antenna selection, antenna direction, phase, frequency, and frequency plan of the movable wireless network, responsive to detection of the network event, the changed operational state corresponding to changing from a state of coordinated operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network to a state of independent operation of the movable wireless network and the other wireless network.