System and method for mobile data expansion

• US 9,596,611 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• 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:
  US14/876,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/106, 455/436, 455/572, 455/573
• 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 36/14 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 4/025 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 surface marker comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive data;

a processing circuitry configured to;

couple to a backhaul network through a first communication link and to at least one mobile terminal through a second communication link, the second communication link comprising a wifi communication, and

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

a housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, and the wireless transceiver, wherein a highest portion of the housing is substantially flush with a pavement,

wherein the first communication link comprises a non-base station communication with the Internet.

2. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to couple to a second data expansion surface marker.

3. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to couple to at least one network node, the at least one network node disposed in or under a roadway.

4. The data expansion surface marker of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is coupled to the second data expansion surface marker via a logical daisy chain.

5. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to handover the communication with the at least one mobile terminal to a second data expansion surface marker.

6. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, further comprising a power source configured to provide electrical energy to at least one of the processing circuitry and the wireless transceiver, wherein the power source comprises a port configured to receive electricity from an external power source.

7. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, wherein the housing includes one of:

a clear material, PLEXIGLASS material, hard plastic, glass, or composite material.

8. The data expansion surface marker of claim 6, wherein the power source comprises a self-sustaining power source configured to configured to and provide power to operate the wireless transceiver and the processing circuitry.

9. The data expansion surface marker of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to couple to the at least one mobile terminal via an intermediate control unit.

10. The data expansion surface marker of claim 9, wherein the intermediate control unit comprises:

an interface configured to couple to the mobile terminal; and

a memory configured to at least one of;

buffer at least a portion of the information transferred between the backhaul network and the mobile terminal; and

store a file marker configured to identify a portion of data received from the backhaul network.

11. A system comprising

at least one network node coupled to a backhaul network, the backhaul network configured to enable two-way Internet communication between the at least one network node and a plurality of computers;

at least one data expansion surface marker configured to couple to the backhaul network via the at least one network node, the data expansion surface marker comprising;

a wifi transceiver configured to transmit and receive data;

a processing circuitry configured to;

couple to the at least one network node through a first communication link and to at least one mobile terminal through a second communication link, and

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

a housing configured to contain the processing circuitry, and the wifi transceiver, wherein a highest portion of the housing is substantially flush with a pavement,

wherein the first communication link comprises a non-base station communication.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a first data expansion surface marker in a first set of data expansion surface markers is configured to handover a connection with the at least one user mobile terminal to a second data expansion surface marker in a second set of data expansion surface markers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a set of data expansion surface markers comprises a plurality of surface markers coupled to each other, with one of the plurality of surface markers coupled to the backhaul network.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second set of data expansion surface markers is coupled to the first set of data expansion surface markers via a logical daisy chain.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one of power source or a port configured to receive electricity from an external power source.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises a regenerative power source.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the regenerative power source is configured to use solar energy to charge a solar-charging battery and provide power to operate the wifi transceiver and the processing circuitry.

18. A method comprising:

coupling a data expansion unit disposed beneath a surface of a pavement to a backhaul network through a first communication link, wherein a top of the data expansion unit is substantially flush with the pavement and wherein the backhaul network comprises a direct connection between the data expansion unit and an Internet;

forming a wifi hotspot zone over the surface of the pavement;

coupling at least one mobile terminal to the data expansion unit through a second communication link, the second communication link comprising a wifi communication in the wifi hotspot zone; and

communicating, by the data expansion unit, information between the at least one mobile terminal and the backhaul network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising handing over the communication with the at least one mobile terminal to a second data expansion unit.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing a geographic location of the data expansion surface unit.