System for mobile broadband networking using dynamic quality of service provisioning

• US 20040048613A1
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tadaaki Chigusa
• Original Assignee: Kataname, Inc.
• Inventors: Sayers, Ian, Long, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A wireless networking system uses mobile and fixed transceivers to achieve a network with changing topology. A routing process includes quality-of-service considerations in the network to allow for features such as file or other data transfer, streaming audio and video, digital telephone communications, etc. The routing process adapts to transceiver units entering, leaving, or moving within, the network. Auxiliary networks such as the Internet, campus or corporate intranets, home networks, etc., can be accessed through the wireless network. Features, designs and user interfaces for the units are described. Security and access control of media content and other data is presented.

Claims

1. A wireless communication network comprising:

a first mobile radio unit (MRU);

a first fixed radio unit (FRU) having a first coverage area, wherein the first MRU is operable to conduct wireless communication with the first FRU when the first MRU is within the first coverage area; and

a second FRU having a second coverage area and configurable to act as an intermediary unit between the first MRU and the first FRU, wherein the first MRU is operable to conduct wireless communication with the second FRU when the first MRU is within the second coverage area;

wherein the second coverage area is different from but overlapping in part with the first coverage area; and

wherein when the first MRU is in the second coverage area, the first MRU is able to conduct wireless communication with the first FRU through the second FRU.

2. The wireless communication network of claim 1 further comprising:

a second MRU located in the second coverage area and operable to conduct wireless communication with the first MRU located in the first coverage area through the second FRU and the first FRU.

3. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency used by the first MRU to communicate with the first FRU is different from the radio frequency used by the first FRU to communicate with the second FRU.

4. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency used by the first MRU to communicate with the first FRU is the same as the radio frequency used by the first FRU to communicate with the second FRU.

5. The wireless communication network of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency used by the first MRU to communicate with the second MRU is the same as the radio frequency used by the first MRU to communicate with the first FRU.

6. The wireless communication network of claim 2 further comprising:

a process associated with the first MRU for transferring data according to a quality-of-service (QoS) criterion.

7. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes a data rate.

8. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes reliability of a communication channel between the first MRU and the second FRU.

9. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes radio link quality.

10. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes priority of the data to be transferred.

11. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes security of a communication channel between the first MRU and the second FRU.

12. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes minimizing the number of intermediary units needed to allow wireless communication to occur between the first MRU and the first FRU when the first MRU is in the second coverage area.

13. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the QoS criterion includes a determination of traffic load on one or more communication channels between the first MRU and the first FRU when the first MRU is in the second coverage area.

14. The wireless communication network of claim 6 wherein the first FRU includes closed domain information that is only accessible to the first MRU;

and

wherein the second FRU includes information that is not accessible to the first MRU.

15. The wireless communication network of claim 14 wherein a secure token having security information stored thereon is used to authenticate the first MRU to the first FRU in order to allow the first MRU to access the closed domain information.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 15 wherein the secure token includes one of a smartcard, a subscriber identity module card and an authentication device.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 15 wherein the authentication of the first MRU is location dependent.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein the first FRU includes one or more fixed connections each configured to allow the first MRU to communicate with an entity.

19. The wireless communication network of claim 18 wherein the entity includes one of a storage device, an application, a wireless network and a fixed network.

20. The wireless communication network of claim 19 wherein the storage device includes one of a hard drive and a DVD drive.

21. The wireless communication network of claim 19 wherein the application includes one of a gaming application and an utility application.

22. The wireless communication network of claim 19 wherein the fixed network includes one of a public switched telephone network, an integrated services digital network and the Internet.

23. The wireless communication network of claim of claim 19 wherein the wireless network includes one of a public land mobile network, a wireless local area network and a cellular network.

24. The wireless communication network of claim 1 further comprising:

a third FRU having a third coverage area and configurable to act as the intermediary unit between the first MRU and the first FRU;

wherein the third coverage area is different from but overlapping in part with the first coverage area;

wherein which one of the second FRU and the third FRU is selected to act as the intermediary unit between the first MRU and the first FRU to allow wireless communication therebetween depends on one or more conditions.

25. The wireless communication network of claim 24 wherein the one or more conditions include respective traffic loads of the second FRU and the third FRU.

26. The wireless communication network of claim 24 wherein the one or more conditions include respective transmission quality that is offered by the second FRU and the third FRU.

27. The wireless communication network of claim 24 wherein the one or more conditions include a level or quality of service to be used for communication between the first MRU and the first FRU.

28. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein traffic in the network is routed in a peer-to-peer decentralized fashion.

29. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein traffic in the network is routed in a secure end-to-end manner.

30. The wireless communication network of claim 1 wherein traffic routed along a first link of the network is encrypted and traffic routed along a second link of the network is not encrypted.

32. The wireless communication network of claim 22 further comprising:

an additional FRU that is to be interconnected to the plurality of FRUs, the additional FRU having an associated coverage area;

wherein in order to interconnect to the plurality of FRUs, the additional FRU collects routing information relating to other FRUs that are located in its associated coverage area, generates its own identification information and broadcasts the generated identification information to other FRUs that are located in its associated coverage area; and

wherein once interconnected, the additional FRU is available for use as one of the one or more intermediary units that are part of the communication route, if needed.

31. A wireless communication network comprising:

a plurality of mobile radio units (MRUs); and

a plurality of fixed radio units (FRUs) interconnected with one another by wireless communication, each FRU having an associated coverage area, wherein each FRU is capable of communicating with other FRUs located within its associated coverage area and each FRU is further capable of communicating with one or more MRUs located within its associated coverage area, and wherein each FRU is configured to collect routing information relating to other FRUs located within its associated coverage area;

wherein when a source MRU is directed to establish communication with a destination FRU and the source MRU is located outside of the coverage area associated with the destination FRU, a communication route is established using one or more intermediary units including one or more FRUs to allow the source MRU to communicate with the destination FRU through the one or more intermediary units.

33. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein during a communication session between the source MRU and the destination FRU, one or more of the intermediary units that are part of the communication route are replaced in order to keep the communication route optimized.

34. The wireless communication network of claim 33 wherein one or more of the intermediary units are replaced based on one or more conditions.

35. The wireless communication network of claim 34 wherein the one or more conditions include level of traffic load.

36. The wireless communication network of claim 34 wherein the one or more conditions include transmission quality.

37. The wireless communication network of claim 34 wherein the one or more conditions include level or quality of service.

38. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein the one or more intermediary units include one or more MRUs.

39. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein the destination FRU includes closed domain information that is only accessible to the source MRU;

and

wherein a secure token having security information stored thereon is used to authenticate the source MRU to the destination FRU in order to allow the source MRU to access the closed domain information.

40. The wireless communication network of claim 39 wherein the secure token includes one of a smartcard, a subscriber identity module card and an authentication device.

41. The wireless communication network of claim 39 wherein the authentication of the source MRU is location dependent.

42. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein the destination FRU includes one or more fixed connections each configured to allow the source MRU to communicate with an entity.

43. The wireless communication network of claim 42 wherein the entity includes one of a storage device, an application, a wireless network and a fixed network.

44. The wireless communication network of claim 43 wherein the storage device includes one of a hard drive and a DVD drive.

45. The wireless communication network of claim 43 wherein the application includes one of a gaming application and an utility application.

46. The wireless communication network of claim 43 wherein the fixed network includes one of a public switched telephone network, an integrated services digital network and the Internet.

47. The wireless communication network of claim 43 wherein the wireless network includes one of a wireless local area network, a public land mobile network and a cellular network.

48. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein the communication route is optimized to include the lowest number of intermediary units or one or more intermediary units that are equal to or fewer than a predetermined threshold.

49. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein one or more intermediary units use the routing information collected relating to other FRUs to determine how to forward traffic along the communication route.

50. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein the one or more intermediary units for the communication route are selected based on one or more conditions.

51. The wireless communication network of claim 50 wherein a first intermediary unit is included in the communication route based on a first condition;

wherein a second intermediary unit is included in the communication route based on a second condition; and

wherein the first condition is different from the second condition.

52. The wireless communication network of claim 50 wherein the one or more conditions include level of traffic load associated with one or more intermediary units.

53. The wireless communication network of claim 50 wherein the one or more conditions include transmission quality associated with one or more intermediary units.

54. The wireless communication network of claim 50 wherein the one or more conditions include level or quality of service to be used for communication between the source MRU and the destination FRU.

55. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein traffic in the network is routed in a peer-to-peer decentralized fashion.

56. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein traffic in the network is routed in a secure end-to-end manner.

57. The wireless communication network of claim 31 wherein traffic routed by a first intermediary unit is encrypted and traffic routed by a second intermediary unit is unencrypted.

58. A method for managing a wireless communication network having a plurality of mobile radio units (MRUs) and a plurality of fixed radio units (FRUs) interconnected with one another by wireless communication, each FRU having an associated coverage area, wherein each FRU is capable of communicating with other FRUs located within its associated coverage area and each FRU is further capable of communicating with one or more MRUs located within its associated coverage area, and wherein each FRU is configured to collect routing information relating to other FRUs located within its associated coverage area, the method comprising:

receiving an indication directing a source MRU to establish communication with a destination FRU, wherein the source MRU is located outside the coverage area associated with the destination FRU; and

establishing a communication route using one or more intermediary units including one or more FRUs to allow the source MRU to communicate with the destination FRU through the one or more intermediary units.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising:

adding an additional FRU to be interconnected to the plurality of FRUs, the additional FRU having an associated coverage area.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein adding the additional FRU further comprises:

directing the additional FRU to collect routing information relating to other FRUs that are located in its associated coverage area.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein adding the additional FRU further comprises:

directing the additional FRU to generate its own identification information; and

broadcasting the generated identification information to other FRUs that are located in its associated coverage area;

wherein once interconnected, the additional FRU is available for use as one of the one or more intermediary units that are part of the communication route, if needed.

62. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

during a communication session between the source MRU and the destination FRU, replacing one or more of the intermediary units that are part of the communication route in order to keep the communication route optimized.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein one or more of the intermediary units are replaced based on one or more conditions.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the one or more conditions include level of traffic load.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein the one or more conditions include transmission quality.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein the one or more conditions include level or quality of service.

67. The method of claim 58 wherein the one or more intermediary units include one or more MRUs.

68. The method of claim 58 wherein the destination FRU includes closed domain information that is only accessible to the source MRU;

and

wherein a secure token having security information stored thereon is used to authenticate the source MRU to the destination FRU in order to allow the source MRU to access the closed domain information.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the secure token includes one of a smartcard, a subscriber identity module card and an authentication device.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein the authentication of the source MRU is location dependent.

71. The method of claim 58 wherein the destination FRU includes one or more fixed connections each configured to allow the source MRU to communicate with an entity.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the entity includes one of a storage device, an application, a wireless network and a fixed network.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the storage device includes one of a hard drive and a DVD drive.

74. The method of claim 71 wherein the application includes one of a gaming application and an utility application.

75. The method of claim 71 wherein the fixed network includes one of a public switched telephone network, an integrated services digital network and the Internet.

76. The method of claim 71 wherein the wireless network includes one of a wireless local area network, a public land mobile network and a cellular network.

77. The method of claim 58 wherein the communication route is optimized to include the lowest number of intermediary units or one or more intermediate units that are equal to or fewer than a predetermined threshold.

78. The method of claim 58 wherein one or more intermediary units use the routing information collected relating to other FRUs to determine how to forward traffic along the communication route.

79. The method of claim 58 wherein one or more intermediary units use routing information collected relating to other MRUs to determine how to forward traffic along the communication route.

80. The method of claim 58 wherein one or more intermediary units use the routing information collected relating to other FRUs and MRUs to determine how to forward traffic along the communication route.

81. The method of claim 58 wherein the one or more intermediary units for the communication route are selected based on one or more conditions.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein a first intermediary unit is selected based on a first condition;

wherein a second intermediary unit is selected based on a second condition; and

wherein the first condition is different from the second condition.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein the one or more conditions include level of traffic load associated with one or more intermediary units.

84. The method of claim 81 wherein the one or more conditions include transmission quality associated with one or more intermediary units.

85. The method of claim 81 wherein the one or more conditions include level or quality of service to be used for communication between the source MRU and the destination FRU.

86. The method of claim 58 wherein traffic is routed along the communication route in a peer-to-peer decentralized fashion.

87. The method of claim 58 wherein traffic is routed along the communication route in a secure end-to-end manner.

88. The method of claim 58 wherein traffic routed by a first intermediary unit is encrypted and traffic routed by a second intermediary unit is unencrypted.