Hybrid public/private wireless network with seamless roaming

• US RE43,856 E1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tasom Mobile Transfer Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Berkowitz, Paul, Shey, Chauncey, Vancraeynest, Jan, Vasconcellos, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US12/291,334
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/445, 455/406, 455/551, 455/552.1, 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370331-334, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks

Abstract

A communications system connecting mobile subscriber devices to at least one of a PSTN and a plurality of PBX networks comprising a plurality of network interface units coupled to one of a PSTN and a PBX network, each of the plurality of network interface units having a predetermined coverage area; at least one mobile subscriber device, the mobile subscriber device assigned to one network interface unit considered a home network interface unit, and the mobile subscriber device receives a port assignment through the home network interface unit from one of the PSTN and the PBX network coupled to the home network interface unit, the PSTN port assignment determining the mobile subscriber device directory number, and the PBX network port assignment determining the mobile subscriber device extension number; a wireless access unit coupled to each of the plurality of network interface units and providing wireless connection between the network interface unit and a mobile subscriber device within the coverage area of the network interface unit; and a programmable cross-connect device connecting the plurality of network interface units and dynamically cross connecting calls between the home network interface unit of the mobile subscriber device and a visited network interface unit as part of call origination and termination process, the visited network interface unit covering a geographic region within which the mobile subscriber device is roaming.

Claims

1. A communications system connecting mobile subscriber devices to at least one of a PSTN and PBX network comprising:

a plurality of network interface units (NIU) respectively communicatively coupled to one of a PSTN and a PBX having a predetermined coverage area;

at least one mobile subscriber device assigned to one of said network interface units designated a home network interface unit, said one mobile subscriber device receiving a port assignment through the home NIU from the PSTN or the PBX coupled thereto;

a plurality of wireless access subsystems (WAS) coupled respectively to the corresponding NIU and providing wireless connection between the corresponding NIU and a mobile subscriber device operating within the coverage area of the corresponding NIU; and

a programmable cross-connect device (ATC) connecting the plurality of network interface units and dynamically cross connecting calls between the home network interface unit of a mobile subscriber device and another network interface unit the coverage area of which is visited by said mobile subscriber device, said dynamic cross-connection being accomplished as part of a call origination and termination process.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said PSTN port assignment determines a directory number of the mobile subscriber device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said PBX network port assignment determines an extension number the mobile subscriber device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each NIU coupled to a PSTN is designated as a public NIU.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each NIU coupled to one of the PBX networks is designated as a private NIU.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein each mobile subscriber may roam outside the coverage area of its home NIU and into the coverage area of a visited NIU.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said ATC includes a visited location table entry and a home location table entry for said mobile subscriber.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said ATC updates the visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said ATC connects a call path between the home NIU and the visited NIU, when said mobile subscriber device is roaming outside the coverage area of the home NIU and in the coverage area of the visited NIU.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the call path includes incoming calls to said mobile subscriber device.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the call path includes outgoing calls to said mobile subscriber device.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the visited NIU directly connects an outgoing call from said mobile subscriber by dialing any of a predetermined set of dialed numbers to a corresponding substituted physical directory number without the call path going through said ATC.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the home NIU is a private NIU.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a private home NIU determines a substituted physical device extension number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited network interface unit from the private home network interface unit.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the home NIU is a public NIU.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a public home NIU determines the substituted physical directory number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited NIU from the public home NIU.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ATCs.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising at least one central programmable cross-connect device (C-ATC) connecting the plurality of ATCs.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the C-ATC updates a corresponding visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of ATCs is the home ATC device for a predetermined range of mobile subscriber device identifications (PSID) corresponding to a plurality of mobile subscriber devices.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein all of the plurality of mobile subscribers assigned to a first home NIU under the coverage of a first home ATC have PSID assigned from a predetermined range.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the C-ATC connects the call path between the visited ATC of said mobile subscriber device and the home ATC of said mobile subscriber device.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of WASs emits a unique identification code (ID), said ID including certain coded attributes of the corresponding NIU.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said ID identifies each WAS as one of a public WAS or a private WAS.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said mobile subscribers determines preferential access to one of said plurality of NIUs based on the coded attributes of the ID.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said public WAS is providing connection to the corresponding NIU coupled to the PSTN.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said private WAS is providing connection to its corresponding NIU coupled to a PBX network.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein each NIU generates a call detail record recording call path information.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein a preferential billing rate is computed based on mobile subscriber identification number (PSID).

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the call detail record is searched for roaming PSIDs and a network usage bill may be presented to a public operator based on the call detail record.

31. A method of providing communication services for a plurality of mobile subscriber devices communicating via at least one of a PSTN and one of a plurality of PBX networks, comprising:

coupling a plurality of network interface units (NIU) to one of a PSTN and a PBX network, each of the plurality of network interface units having a corresponding predetermined coverage area;

assigning each of a plurality of mobile subscriber devices to only one of the plurality of network interface units designated as its home network interface unit, each of said mobile subscriber devices receiving a port assignment through its home NIU from the PSTN or the PBX coupled thereto;

coupling a wireless access unit (WAS) to each of the plurality of NIUs to provide wireless connection between each of said NIUs and a mobile subscriber device operating within the coverage area of said NIU; and

using a programmable cross-connect device (ATC) to connect the plurality of NIUs and dynamically cross connecting calls between the home NIU of the mobile subscriber device and another NIU the coverage area of which is visited by said mobile subscriber device, said dynamic cross-connection being accomplished as part of a call origination and termination process.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said PSTN port assignment determines a directory number for the mobile subscriber device.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said PBX network port assignment determines an extension number for the mobile subscriber device.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein each NIU coupled to a PSTN is designated as a public NIU.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein each NIU coupled to one of the PBX networks is designated as a private NIU.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein each mobile subscriber may roam outside the coverage area of its home NIU and into the coverage area of a visited NIU.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said ATC includes a visited location table entry and a home location table entry for said mobile subscriber.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said ATC updates the visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said ATC connects a call path between the home NIU and the visited NIU, when said mobile subscriber device is roaming outside the coverage area of the home NIU and in the coverage area of the visited NIU.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the call path includes incoming calls to said mobile subscriber device.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the call path includes outgoing calls to said mobile subscriber device.

42. The method of claim 36 wherein the visited NIU directly connects an outgoing call from said mobile subscriber by dialing any of a predetermined set of dialed numbers to a corresponding substituted physical directory number without the call path going through said ATC.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the home NIU is designated as a private NIU.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a private home NIU determines the substituted physical device extension number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited NIU from the private home NIU.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the home NIU is designated as a public NIU.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a public home NIU determines the substituted physical directory number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited NIU from the public home NIU.

47. The method of claim 31 further comprising a plurality of ATCs.

48. The method of claim 47 further comprising at least one central programmable cross-connect device (C-ATC) connecting the plurality of ATCs.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the C-ATC updates a corresponding visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein each of the plurality of ATCs is the home ATC for a predetermined range of mobile subscriber devices identifications (PSID) corresponding to a plurality of mobile subscriber devices.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein all of the plurality of mobile subscribers assigned to a first home NIU under the coverage of a first home ATC have PSIDs assigned from a predetermined range.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the C-ATC connects the call path between the visited ATC of said mobile subscriber device and the home ATC of said mobile subscriber device.

53. The method of claim 31 further comprising a plurality of WASs wherein each WAS emits a unique identification code (ID), said ID including certain coded attributes of a corresponding NIU.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said mobile subscribers determines preferential access to one of said plurality of NIUs based on coded attributes of the ID.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein said ID identifies each WAS as one of a public WAS and a private WAS.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein said public WAS is providing connection to its corresponding NIU coupled to a PSTN.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein said private WAS is providing connection to its corresponding NIU coupled to a PBX network.

58. The method of claim 31 wherein each NIU generates a call detail record recording call path information.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein a preferential billing rate is computed based on PSIDs.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the call detail record is searched for roaming PSIDs and a network usage bill may be presented to a public operator based on the call detail record.

61. A computer program embodied in a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium for providing communication services for a plurality of mobile subscriber devices communicating via at least one of a PSTN and one of a plurality of PBX networks, having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

code segmentinstructions for coupling a plurality of network interface units (NIU) to one of a PSTN and a PBX network, each of the plurality of network interface units having a corresponding predetermined coverage area;

code segmentinstructions for assigning each of a plurality of mobile subscriber devices to only one of the plurality of network interface units designated as its home network interface unit, each of said mobile subscriber devices receiving a port assignment through its home NIU from the PSTN or the PBX coupled thereto;

instructions for coupling a wireless access unit (WAS) to each of the plurality of NIUs to provide wireless connection between each of said NIUs and a mobile subscriber device operating within the coverage area of said NIU; and

code segmentinstructions for using a programmable cross-connect device (ATC) to connect the plurality of NIUs and dynamically cross connecting calls between the home NIU of the mobile subscriber device and another NIU the coverage area of which is visited by said mobile subscriber device, said dynamic cross-connection being accomplished as part of a call origination and termination process.

62. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein said PSTN port assignment determines a directory number for the mobile subscriber device.

63. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein said PBX network port assignment determines an extension number for the mobile subscriber device.

64. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein each NIU coupled to a PSTN is designated as a public NIU.

65. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein each NIU coupled to one of the PBX networks is designated as a private NIU.

66. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein each mobile subscriber may roam outside the coverage area of its home NIU and into the coverage area of a visited NIU.

67. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 66 wherein said ATC includes a visited location table entry and a home location table entry for said mobile subscriber.

68. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 67 wherein said ATC updates the visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

69. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 68 wherein said ATC connects a call path between the home NIU and the visited NIU, when said mobile subscriber device is roaming outside the coverage area of the home NIU and in the coverage area of the visited NIU.

70. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 69 wherein the call path includes incoming calls to said mobile subscriber device.

71. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 69 wherein the call path includes outgoing calls to said mobile subscriber device.

72. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 66 wherein the visited NIU directly connects an outgoing call from said mobile subscriber by dialing any of a predetermined set of dialed numbers to a corresponding substituted physical directory number without the call path going through said ATC.

73. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 72 wherein the home NIU is designated as a private NIU.

74. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 73 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a private home NIU determines the substituted physical device extension number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited NIU from the private home NIU.

75. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 72 wherein the home NIU is designated as a public NIU.

76. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 75 wherein said mobile subscriber device dialing plan corresponding to a public home NIU determines the substituted physical directory number for said mobile subscriber device, wherein said dialing plan is communicated to the visited NIU from the public home NIU.

77. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 further comprising a plurality of ATCs.

78. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 77 further comprising at least one central programmable cross-connect device (C-ATC) connecting the plurality of ATCs.

79. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 78 wherein the C-ATC updates a corresponding visited location table entry in response to a registration message from said mobile subscriber device.

80. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 79 wherein each of the plurality of ATCs is the home ATC for a predetermined range of mobile subscriber devices identifications (PSID) corresponding to a plurality of mobile subscriber devices.

81. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 79 wherein all of the plurality of mobile subscribers assigned to a first home NIU under the coverage of a first home ATC have PSIDs assigned from a predetermined range.

82. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 78 wherein the C-ATC connects the call path between the visited ATC of said mobile subscriber device and the home ATC of said mobile subscriber device.

83. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 further comprising a plurality of WASs wherein each WAS emits a unique identification code (ID), said ID including certain coded attributes of a corresponding NIU.

84. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 83 wherein said mobile subscribers determines preferential access to one of said plurality of NIUs based on coded attributes of the ID.

85. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 83 wherein said ID identifies each WAS as one of a public WAS and a private WAS.

86. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein said public WAS is providing connection to its corresponding NIU coupled to a PSTN.

87. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein said private WAS is providing connection to its corresponding NIU coupled to a PBX network.

88. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 61 wherein each NIU generates a call detail record recording call path information.

89. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 88 wherein a preferential billing rate is computed based on PSIDs.

90. The computer program product tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 89 wherein the call detail record is searched for roaming PSIDs and a network usage bill may be presented to a public operator based on the call detail record.

91. A communications system connecting wireless subscriber devices to at least one of a PSTN network and a plurality of PBX networks comprising:

a plurality of network interface units coupled to one of a PSTN network and a PBX network, each of a plurality of network interface units having a predetermined coverage area;

a plurality of mobile subscriber devices, each of said mobile subscriber devices assigned to one of the plurality of network interface units corresponding to a home network interface unit of said mobile subscriber device;

a plurality of wireless access units, each of said plurality of wireless access units providing wireless connection between one of said plurality of network interface units and a plurality of subscriber devices within the coverage area of said one of said plurality network interface units; and

a programmable cross connect device providing full connectivity between all constituent network interface units and dynamically cross connecting calls between the home network interface unit and the visited network interface unit as part of call origination and termination process.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein said mobile subscriber device receiving a port assignment from the corresponding PSTN network or PBX network coupled to said home network interface unit.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein said PSTN port assignment determining the mobile subscriber device directory number, and said PBX port assignment determining the mobile subscriber device extension number.

94. A method comprising:

assigning one of a plurality of network interface units (NIUs) to a wireless subscriber as a home NIU of the wireless subscriber, wherein the plurality of NIUs are interconnected through an air traffic controller (ATC) circuit;

registering at the ATC a current location of the wireless subscriber in response to the wireless subscriber communicating with a visiting NIU different the home NIU; and

dynamically cross connecting calls to and from the roaming wireless subscriber, wherein the calls are established and conducted through the assigned home NIU of the roaming wireless subscriber, the ATC, and the visiting NIU of the roaming wireless subscriber;

wherein the home NIU is coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network,

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PSTN, a PSTN port assignment determines a directory number of the wireless subscriber, and

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PBX, a PBX port assignment determines an extension number of the wireless subscriber.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein each of the home NIU and visiting NIU is coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network.

96. The method of claim 94, wherein dynamically cross connecting calls comprises coupling the ATC with a second ATC.

97. The method of claim 94, further comprising the ATC updating the visited location table entry in response to a registration message from the wireless subscriber.

98. The method of claim 94, further comprising a plurality of wireless access subsystems (WASs) coupled to respective corresponding NIUs, at least one of the WASs providing wireless connectivity between the corresponding NIU and the wireless subscriber within the coverage area of the corresponding NIU.

99. The method of claim 94, wherein the ATC is configured to operate as a cross-connect switch between the plurality of NIUs and to store locations and details of the plurality of NIUs.

100. The method of claim 94, further comprising the ATC querying one or more NIUs other than the visiting NIU to determine the assigned home NIU.

101. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of network interface units (NIUs), wherein one of the plurality of NIUs is assigned to a wireless subscriber as a home NIU of the wireless subscriber; and

an air traffic controller (ATC) configured to register a current location of the wireless subscriber in response to the wireless subscriber communicating with a visiting NIU different from the home NIU, and dynamically cross connect calls to and from the roaming wireless subscriber, wherein the calls are established and conducted through the assigned home NIU of the roaming wireless subscriber, the ATC, and the visiting NIU of the roaming wireless subscriber;

wherein the home NIU is coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network,

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PSTN, a PSTN port assignment determines a directory number of the wireless subscriber, and

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PBX, a PBX port assignment determines an extension number of the wireless subscriber.

102. The communication system of claim 101, wherein each of the home NIU and visiting NIU is coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network.

103. The communication system of claim 101, wherein the ATC is further configured to communicate with a second ATC.

104. The communication system of claim 101, wherein the ATC is further configured to update a visited location table entry in response to a registration message from the wireless subscriber.

105. The communication system of claim 101, further comprising a plurality of wireless access subsystems (WASs) coupled to respective corresponding NIUs, wherein each WAS is configured to provide wireless connectivity between the corresponding NIU and the wireless subscriber when the wireless subscriber is within the coverage area of the corresponding NIU.

106. The communication system of claim 101, wherein the ATC is further configured to query one or more NIUs other than the visiting NIU to determine the assigned home NIU.

107. A communication system comprising:

a set of network interfaces providing communications services to respective geographic regions and each coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network; and

an air traffic controller (ATC) coupled to each of the network interfaces and configured to provide a communications link between the network interfaces and establish and conduct communication with a roaming mobile subscriber through a home network interface (NIU) to which the roaming mobile subscriber is assigned and a visiting network interface within whose respective geographic region the roaming mobile subscriber resides, to store locations and details of the plurality of NIUs;

wherein the home NIU is coupled to one of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) network,

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PSTN, a PSTN port assignment determines a directory number of the wireless subscriber, and

wherein, if the home NIU is coupled to a PBX, a PBX port assignment determines an extension number of the wireless subscriber.

108. The communication system of claim 107, wherein the ATC is further configured to query one or more network interfaces other than the visiting network interface to determine the assigned home NIU.