Method for providing internet access to network devices via a mobile phone

• US 9,596,025 B1
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Rainnie, Hedley, Vu, Chuong, Janofsky, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shao, Hong
• Application Number:
  US13/942,172
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2603 Arrangements for wireless physical layer control H04B7/2612 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable access point includes a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and a routing module. The first transceiver is configured to access an Internet via a mobile phone. The first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone. The first transceiver receives signals transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point. The signals contain content received from the Internet. The routing module is configured to route the content from the first transceiver to the second transceiver. The second transceiver is configured to (i) respectively establish wireless links between the portable access point and network devices, (ii) select a first network device of the network devices, and (ii) forward the content from the portable access point to the first network device on the wireless link respectively established between the portable access point and the first network device.

Claims

1. A portable access point comprising:

an expansion port configured to receive data, associated with a user, from a physiological sensor or a physiological recorder;

a first transceiver configured to access an Internet via a mobile phone, wherein the first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone, wherein the first transceiver receives signals transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point, and wherein the signals contain content received from the Internet;

a second transceiver;

a routing module configured to (i) route the content from the first transceiver to the second transceiver, and (ii) route the data to (a) the mobile phone via the first transceiver or (b) a first network device of a plurality of network devices via the second transceiver, wherein the portable access point, via the routing module, facilitates communication between (i) the first network device and (ii) a wireless service provider or a second network device of the plurality of network devices,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to (i) respectively establish a plurality of wireless links between the portable access point and the plurality of network devices, (ii) select the first network device from the plurality of network devices, and (ii) forward the content from the portable access point to one of the plurality of network devices on one of the plurality of wireless links respectively established between the portable access point and the one of the plurality of network devices;

a portable power source configured to provide power for the portable access point; and

a processor configured to

determine whether packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than a predetermined period,

transition to a sleep mode in response to determining that packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than the predetermined period,

determine a state of charge of the portable power source, and

adjust the sleep mode based on the state of charge,

wherein the first transceiver is configured to, while in the sleep mode, suspend communication with the mobile phone.

2. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is configured to establish a data service with an Internet service provider via the mobile phone to access the content from the Internet.

4. The portable access point of claim 1, further comprising a firewall configured to translate network addresses for the plurality of network devices.

5. The portable access point of claim 1, further comprising a dynamic host configuration protocol server configured to lease an Internet protocol address to one of the plurality of network devices.

6. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the portable power source is configured to provide power to a battery-powered device external to the portable access point.

7. The portable access point of claim 1, further comprising a mounting device for attaching the portable access point to the user.

8. The portable access point of claim 1, further comprising a radio tuner, wherein the processor is configured to (i) receive media information from the radio tuner, and (ii) record or stream the media information.

15. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the expansion port is connected to and configured to receive the data, associated with the user, from the physiological sensor.

16. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the routing module is configured to route the data to the mobile phone via the first transceiver.

17. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the routing module is configured to route the data to the one of the plurality of network devices via the second transceiver.

18. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the portable access point, via the routing module, facilitates communication between the first network device and the second network device over a local area network including transferring Ethernet packets between the first network device and the second network device via the local area network.

19. The portable access point of claim 1, wherein the portable access point, via the routing module, facilitates communication between the first network device and the wireless service provider over a local area network and a wide area network including transferring Ethernet packets between the first network device and the wireless service provider via the local area network and the wide area network.

20. The portable access point of claim 19, wherein the portable access point uses the mobile phone as a data service conduit to the wireless service provider.

3. A portable access point comprising:

a first transceiver configured to (i) access an Internet via a mobile phone, wherein the first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone, wherein the first transceiver receives signals transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point, and establish a data service with an Internet service provider via the mobile phone to access content from the Internet, and wherein the signals contain the content received from the Internet;

a second transceiver;

a routing module configured to route the content from the first transceiver to the second transceiver,

wherein the second transceiver is configured to (i) respectively establish a plurality of wireless links between the portable access point and a plurality of network devices, (ii) select a first network device of the plurality of network devices, and (ii) forward the content from the portable access point to the first network device on the wireless link respectively established between the portable access point and the first network device;

a portable power source configured to provide power for the portable access point; and

a processor configured to

determine whether packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than a predetermined period,

transition to a sleep mode in response to determining that packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than the predetermined period,

determine a state of charge of the portable power source, and

adjust the sleep mode based on the state of charge,

wherein the first transceiver is configured to, while in the sleep mode, suspend communication with at least one of the mobile phone or the Internet service provider.

9. A method comprising:

receiving at an expansion port of a portable access point data, associated with a user, from a physiological sensor or a physiological recorder;

accessing an Internet at a first transceiver and via a mobile phone including receiving signals at the first transceiver transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point, wherein the first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone, and wherein the signals contain content received from the Internet;

routing the content from the first transceiver to a second transceiver;

routing the data to (i) the mobile phone via the first transceiver, or (ii) a first network device of a plurality of network devices via the second transceiver, wherein the portable access point facilitates communication between (i) the first network device and (ii) a wireless service provider or a second network device of the plurality of network devices;

at the second transceiver,

respectively establishing a plurality of wireless links between the portable access point and the plurality of network devices,

selecting the first network device from the plurality of network devices, and

forwarding the content from the portable access point to the first network device on the wireless link respectively established between the portable access point and the first network device;

establishing, at the first transceiver, a data service with an Internet service provider via the mobile phone to access the content from the Internet;

providing power for the portable access point via a portable power source, wherein the portable power source is implemented in the portable access point;

determining whether packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than a predetermined period;

transitioning to a sleep mode in response to determining that packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than the predetermined period;

while in the sleep mode, suspending communication between the first transceiver and at least one of the mobile phone or the Internet service provider;

determining a state of charge of the portable power source; and

adjusting the sleep mode based on the state of charge.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing power from the portable power source to a battery-powered device external to the portable access point.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, at the portable access point, translating network addresses for the plurality of network devices via a firewall.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising, at the portable access point, leasing an Internet protocol address to one of the plurality of network devices via a dynamic host configuration protocol server.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving media information at the portable access point via a radio tuner;

receiving the media information from the radio tuner; and

recording or streaming the media information.

10. A method comprising:

receiving data at an expansion port of a portable access point, wherein the data is associated with a user and is from a physiological sensor or a physiological recorder;

accessing an Internet at a first transceiver and via a mobile phone including receiving signals at the first transceiver transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point, wherein the first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone, and wherein the signals contain content received from the Internet;

routing the content from the first transceiver to a second transceiver;

routing the data to (i) the mobile phone via the first transceiver, or (ii) one of a plurality of network devices via the second transceiver; and

at the second transceiver,

respectively establishing a plurality of wireless links between the portable access point and the plurality of network devices,

selecting a first network device of the plurality of network devices, wherein the first network device is the one of the plurality of network devices or another one of the plurality of network devices, and

forwarding the content from the portable access point to the first network device on the wireless link respectively established between the portable access point and the first network device;

providing power for the portable access point via a portable power source, wherein the portable power source is implemented in the portable access point;

determining whether packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than a predetermined period;

transitioning to a sleep mode in response to determining that packets have not been received from the mobile phone for more than the predetermined period;

while in the sleep mode, suspending communication between (i) the first transceiver and (ii) the mobile phone or an Internet service provider;

determining a state of charge of the portable power source; and

adjusting the sleep mode based on the state of charge.