System and method for managing access point functionality and configuration

• US 9,843,480 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Caldwell, Christopher E., Linkola, Janne P., Hassan, Omar, Jensen, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Henry
• Application Number:
  US15/083,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20160285686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A system for managing access point functionally and configuration includes a server that is coupled to a computer network and configured to communicate with an access point via the computer network. The access point is configured to couple a mobile device to the computer network by providing a wireless link between the mobile device and the access point. The access point is further configured to produce a status point regarding the access point and the server is configured to receive the status report from the access point following a trigger event at the access point. In other examples, the server is further configured to transmit a response message and/or a configuration file to the access point in response to the status report that is received at the server. Other features and systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for managing an access point in communication with a carrier core network, the system comprising:

a network interface; and

a computer coupled to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based computer network through the network interface,

wherein the access point is used by a mobile device to permit the mobile device to exchange communications with the carrier core network,

wherein the computer is configured to communicate with the access point via the IP-based computer network,

wherein the communication includes receiving a status report from the access point upon negotiating a secure connection between the access point and the computer,

wherein the status report includes information corresponding to firmware installed at the access point and network conditions for computing devices, other than the mobile device, added to or omitted from the access point,

wherein the network conditions at least include connectivity information between the computing devices and the access point;

wherein the computer is configured to send updated configurations to the access point based on the status report, for the access point to install the updated configurations,

wherein the status report is generated following a trigger, and

wherein the carrier core network manages, at least in part, communications with the mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure connection between the access point and the computer is based on at least one of:

verification of a security certificate, associated with the computer, by the access point, or

verification of a security certificate, associated with the access point, by the computer.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more customer-care computers associated with the carrier core network coupled to the computer via the IP-based computer network either directly or through other computers, the computer being configured to transmit the status report to the one or more customer-care computers.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database coupled to the computer, the database including the status report communicated to the computer and multiple status reports corresponding to other access points coupled to the IP-based computer network, wherein the computer is configured to review the status reports and improve a service provided to the access point based on the review.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger event is an operator-initiated event including at least one of rebooting the access point, providing an input at the access point, or providing an input at a computer coupled to the access point.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger event is initiated by a detection event including at least one of a conflict on a radio communication channel of the access point, a level of communication congestion at the access point, an elapsed time period associated with a previously uploaded status report, an alarm condition at the access point, and a predetermined condition chosen by a provider of the access point.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the access point is configured for coupling the mobile device to the IP-based computer network by providing a non-cellular wireless link between the mobile device and the access point.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the status report further includes quality indicators regarding the mobile device connection to the carrier core network.

9. A method for managing an access point, the method comprising:

providing a communication link between a mobile device and a carrier core network associated with the mobile device via a server,

wherein the communication link includes at least a portion of an Internet Protocol (IP)-based computer network, and

wherein communicating with the IP-based computer network includes encapsulating information into IP packets at an access point (AP);

based on a trigger event, receiving, by the server, a status report including information corresponding to firmware installed at the AP upon negotiating a secure connection between the AP and the IP-based computer network; and

in response to receiving the status report, transmitting, by the server, updated settings to the AP based on the status report, for the AP to install the updated settings, and

for the AP to modify its status reporting behavior based on the status report.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the status reporting behavior includes frequency of transmitting status reports.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the trigger event includes at least one of a boot-up, a power-up, time triggered, or an operator-initiated signal.

12. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, additional instructions to at least temporarily suspend future transmission of status reports from the AP.

13. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising:

transmitting, by the server, a request to set up a secure socket layer connection.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the status report includes establishing certificate-based authentication before receiving the status report.

15. An access point, comprising:

a wireless communication component;

a data port;

at least one processor coupled to the wireless communication component and the data port; and

a memory, coupled to the at least one processor, and storing;

first operating instructions executable by the at least one processor to set up a wireless communication link between;

at least one mobile device in communication with the wireless communication component, and

a carrier core network in communication with the data port, wherein the carrier core network is associated with the at least one mobile device;

second operating instructions executable by the at least one processor to generate and transmit a status report regarding the wireless communication link and the access point,

wherein the status report includes information corresponding to firmware installed at the access point,

wherein the status report includes information regarding a type of application the at least one mobile device previously used or information regarding network conditions for computing devices, other than the mobile device, added to or omitted from the access point, and

third operating instructions executable by the at least one processor to download and install updated firmware based on the status report.

16. The access point of claim 15, wherein the memory further includes information corresponding to a uniform resource locator (URL) or uniform resource identifier (URI).

17. The access point of claim 15, wherein the status report includes information regarding the at least one mobile device, including a number of successful/unsuccessful connection attempts, connection and/or lease times of the at least one mobile device, and Internet Protocol (IP) and/or Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the at least one mobile device.

18. The access point of claim 15, wherein the status report includes information regarding neighboring access points, and

wherein the status report further includes information related to types of devices coupled to the neighboring access points.

19. The access point of claim 15, wherein the status report includes a call history for the at least one mobile device.