Pico-cell extension for cellular network

• US 10,149,126 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Sharer, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Danh C
• Application Number:
  US15/599,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20170265048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 455436, 4555501, 4555521, 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• 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 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A pico-cell is located within a facility. The pico-cell has a wireless protocol for carrying calls placed to and from mobile devices in the facility. A call distributor is in communication with the pico-cell and handles calls carried by the pico-cell. The call distributor includes an embedded wireless switch for routing calls to and from mobile devices in the facility using the wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, by a system comprising a processor, aggregated call data based on combining first call data with second call data, wherein the first call data is determined to have been received from a first picocell device of a wireless picocell extension network via an Internet protocol security tunnel associated with a mobile access protocol that allows a user equipment, coupled to the first picocell device, to transition a communication session between a wireless wide area network device and a wireless local area network device, and wherein the second call data is determined to have been received from a second picocell device of the wireless picocell extension network; and

directing, by the system, the aggregated call data to a network device of a cellular network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating, by the system, a transfer of a first connection between the user equipment and the first picocell device to a second connection between the user equipment and an access point device of the cellular network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on carrier frequency data indicative of a carrier frequency assigned to the first picocell device, facilitating, by the system, control of an operation of the first picocell device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the carrier frequency is a first carrier frequency and the method further comprises:

based on information indicative of a second carrier frequency utilized by a cell site that is determined to be located within a defined distance from the first picocell device, determining, by the system, the first carrier frequency.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

based on availability information accessed from a server device of the cellular network, determining, by the system, the carrier frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the user equipment has entered a coverage area of the first picocell device and based on information associated with the user equipment, updating, by the system, a visitor location data store of the wireless picocell extension network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the user equipment has entered a coverage area of the first picocell device and based on information associated with the user equipment, updating, by the system, a home location data store of the cellular network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the updating comprises updating the home location data store with authorization data associated with an authorization to access the first picocell device.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

determining combined data based on combining first call data with second call data, wherein the first call data has been received from a first picocell device of a wireless picocell extension network by employing an internet protocol security tunnel associated with a mobile access protocol that allows a communication device, coupled to the first picocell device, to transition communication session between a first network device of a wireless wide area network and a second network device of a wireless local area network, and wherein the second call data has been received from a second picocell device of the wireless picocell extension network; and

facilitating a transfer of the combined data to a switch device of a cellular network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to determining that the communication device is located within a coverage area of the first picocell device, directing, to a visitor location data store of the wireless picocell extension network, information associated with the communication device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:

verifying that the communication device is authorized to access the first picocell device based on information received from a home location data store.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a portion of the home location data store is populated based on data from a customer enterprise database that is administered via an enterprise device associated with the wireless picocell extension network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the switch device is coupled to the first picocell device via an extension bus.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first picocell device is coupled to the extension bus via an Ethernet port.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first picocell device is coupled to the extension bus via a broadband modem.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the switch device is coupled to the first picocell device via a local area network device.

17. A machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

aggregating first call data with second call data to generate aggregated call data, wherein the first call data has been received from a first picocell device of a wireless picocell extension network by employing an internet protocol security tunnel associated with a mobile access protocol that allows a communication device, coupled to the first picocell device, to transfer communication session via a first network device of a wireless wide area network and a second network device of a wireless local area network, and wherein the second call data has been received from a second picocell device of the wireless picocell extension network; and

directing the aggregated call data to a switch device of a cellular network.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the switch device is coupled to the first picocell device via an extension bus.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the first picocell device is coupled to the extension bus via an Ethernet port.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the first picocell device is coupled to the extension bus via a broadband modem.