Apparatus and method for extending the coverage area of a licensed wireless communication system using an unlicensed wireless communication system

• US 20050101329A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kineto Wireless Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallagher, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,634,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• 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 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/06 between gateways and public network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

Extending the coverage area of a licensed wireless communication system using an unlicensed communication system is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a mobile station operable to communicate with a telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a first mode and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in a second mode, a base station communicably coupled to the mobile station via the unlicensed wireless communication channel, and a network controller communicably coupled to the base station and adapted to communicate with the telecommunications network, wherein the mobile station includes call control to control a communication session with the telecommunications network through the network controller using the unlicensed wireless communication channel by exchanging call control information with the network controller via one or more messages having the A1 protocol message format.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a mobile station operable to communicate with a telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a first mode and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in a second mode;

a base station communicably coupled to the mobile station via the unlicensed wireless communication channel; and

a network controller communicably coupled to the base station and adapted to communicate with the telecommunications network, wherein the mobile station includes call control to control a communication session with the telecommunications network through the network controller using the unlicensed wireless communication channel by exchanging call control information with the network controller via one or more messages having the A1 protocol message format.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein protocol for the licensed wireless channel comprises CDMA-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

3. The system defined in claim 2 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises Bluetooth-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

4. The system defined in claim 2 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises 802.11-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the network controller and base station operate to convert level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocol of the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller interface protocol recognized by the telecommunications network.

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the unlicensed wireless service is activated when the mobile station is within an unlicensed wireless service area.

7. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the mobile station, base station and network controller are operable to initiate a handover between use of the licensed wireless channel and the unlicensed wireless channel.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the mobile station, base station and network controller initiate the handover using the A1 messages.

9. The system defined in claim 8 wherein the handover comprises handover from use of the unlicensed wireless channel to use of a CDMA channel or vice versa.

10. The system defined in claim 1 wherein control of the communication session includes one or more selected from a group consisting of:

establishing a mobile call, terminating a mobile call, providing the mobile station with call progress indications, having the mobile station initiate release of an active call, having the network controller initiate release of an active call, having the network controller perform feature notification, enabling authentication of the mobile station, providing the mobile station with location updating, providing the mobile station with parameter updating, and providing the mobile station with short message service support.

11. A method comprising:

communicating with the telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel in a first mode; and

communicating with the telecommunications network via a network controller using the unlicensed wireless communication channel, including exchanging call control information with the network controller adapted to communicate with a telecommunications network, via a base station communicably coupled to the mobile station via the unlicensed wireless communication channel, using signaling one or more messages having the A1 protocol memory format to perform call control to control a communication session with the telecommunications network through the network controller using the unlicensed wireless communication channel.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein protocol for the licensed wireless channel comprises CDMA-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

13. The method defined in claim 12 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises Bluetooth-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

14. The method defined in claim 12 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises 802.11-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

15. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising converting level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocol of the unlicensed wireless service into a standard base station controller interface protocol recognized by the telecommunications network.

16. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising activating the unlicensed wireless service when a mobile station is within an unlicensed wireless service area in which the unlicensed wireless communication channel is used.

17. The method defined in claim 11 initiating a handover between use of the licensed wireless channel and the unlicensed wireless channel.

18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein initiating the handover is performed using the A1 messages.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein initiating the handover comprises initiating handover from use of the unlicensed wireless channel to use of a CDMA channel or vice versa.

20. The method defined in claim 11 further comprising controlling a communication session that uses the unlicensed wireless communication channel using the A1 messages.

21. The method defined in claim 19 wherein controlling a communication session includes one or more selected from a group consisting of:

establishing a mobile call, terminating a mobile call, providing the mobile station with call progress indications, having the mobile station initiate release of an active call, having the network controller initiate release of an active call, having the network controller perform feature notification, enabling authentication of the mobile station, providing the mobile station with location updating, providing the mobile station with parameter updating, and providing the mobile station with short message service support.

30. The mobile station defined in claim 20 wherein the call control controls a communication session by one or more selected from a group consisting of:

establishing a mobile call, terminating a mobile call, providing the mobile station with call progress indications, having the mobile station initiate release of an active call, having the network controller initiate release of an active call, having the network controller perform feature notification, enabling authentication of the mobile station, providing the mobile station with location updating, providing the mobile station with parameter updating, and providing the mobile station with short message service support.

22. A mobile station comprising:

a call control to process call control information sent and received in the form of one or more messages having the A1 protocol memory format when performing call control to control a communication session with a telecommunications network through a network controller using an unlicensed wireless communication channel;

a transceiver to send to and receive from the network controller the A1 messages, to communicate with the telecommunications network using the licensed wireless communication channel when in a first mode, and to communicate with the telecommunications network through a base station and the network controller using the unlicensed wireless communication channel in a second mode.

23. The mobile station defined in claim 22 wherein protocol for the licensed wireless channel comprises CDMA-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

24. The mobile station defined in claim 23 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises Bluetooth-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

25. The mobile station defined in claim 23 wherein protocol for the unlicensed wireless channel comprises 802.11-based level 1, level 2 and level 3 protocols.

26. The mobile station defined in claim 22 wherein the call control initiates a handover between use of the licensed wireless channel and the unlicensed wireless channel.

27. The mobile station defined in claim 26 wherein the call control initiates the handover using the A1 messages.

28. The mobile station defined in claim 27 wherein the call control initiates handover from use of the unlicensed wireless channel to use of a CDMA channel or vice versa.

29. The mobile station defined in claim 22 wherein the call control controls a communication session that uses the unlicensed wireless communication channel using the A1 messages.