Mobile WLAN gateway

• US 11,039,333 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2020
• Issued: 06/15/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maki, Lasse
• Primary Examiner(s): Elpenord, Candal
• Application Number:
  US16/740,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20200154303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0192 Sponsored, subsidised calls via advertising, e.g. calling cards with ads or connecting to special ads, free calling time by purchasing goods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/20 Technology dependant metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0215 based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• 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 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 : Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A technique for operating a mobile station as wireless local-area network [“WLAN”] gateway. The mobile station is provided with a gateway application to control the following operations: activating (3-0) the WLAN means as a WLAN base station capable of communicating with at least one WLAN terminal over a WLAN network; creating a network identifier (3-2, 3-4) for the WLAN base station; assigning (3-8, 3-10) an internet protocol address for the at least one WLAN terminal; resolving domain name service [“DNS”] queries (3-12 . . . 3-18) in cooperation with an external DNS service system; assigning at least one port number for each protocol supported by the gateway application; and tunneling internet traffic (3-30 . . . 3-36) between the at least one WLAN terminal and an internet host over the broadband connection.

Claims

1. A mobile station comprising:

wireless local-area network (WLAN) means having a first mode of usage acting as a WLAN client, and a second mode of usage acting as a WLAN base station capable of communicating with at least one WLAN terminal over a WLAN network, the WLAN means responsive to an activation or deactivation command;

a radio transceiver configured to establish and maintain a broadband connection with a mobile communication network;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor coupled to the WLAN means, to the radio transceiver, and to the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions to;

configure a sleep timer to wake up the WLAN means;

configure a watchdog timer to detect non-activity periods of predetermined length in the WLAN network and deactivate the second mode of the WLAN;

tunnel internet traffic between the at least one WLAN terminal and an internet host over the broadband connection when the second mode of the WLAN means is activated; and

deactivate the second mode of the WLAN means in response to a detected absence of WLAN terminal activity for a predetermined period of time.