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

• US 20050186948A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• 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: Shi, Jlanxiong, Baranowski, Joseph G., Gupta, Rajeev, Gallagher, Michael D., Markovle, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00 Hand-off or reselection 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 84/00 Network topologies
• 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 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system includes a network controller to communicate with a telecommunications network. The network controller is coupled to one or more unlicensed wireless base stations serving one or more unlicensed wireless access areas. Each unlicensed wireless access area is mapped to one or more licensed wireless access areas. The system includes a mobile station to communicate with the telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a licensed wireless access area, and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in an unlicensed wireless access area. The mobile station is associated with a licensed wireless network identifier and a licensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the licensed wireless access area and is associated with an unlicensed wireless network identifier and an unlicensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the unlicensed wireless access area.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a network controller operable to communicate with a telecommunications network and communicably coupled to one or more unlicensed wireless base stations comprising one or more unlicensed wireless access areas and wherein each unlicensed wireless access area is mapped to one or more licensed wireless access areas;

a mobile station operable to communicate with the telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a licensed wireless access area and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in an unlicensed wireless access area, wherein

the mobile station is associated with a licensed wireless network identifier and a licensed wireless location identifier for use when the mobile station is in the licensed wireless access area, wherein

the mobile station is configured with an unlicensed wireless network identifier and an unlicensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the unlicensed wireless access area.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the network controller provides the functions of a GSM base station controller, the unlicensed wireless access identifier comprises a GSM international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the unlicensed wireless location identifier is a GSM cell location identifier.

3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the unlicensed wireless access area comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN)

4. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the base station comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless access point, the unlicensed wireless access identifier comprises an IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) address and the unlicensed wireless location identifier is a register location of the wireless base station.

5. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the wireless access area comprises a Bluetooth personal LAN (PLAN).

6. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the network controller provides the functions of a serving GPRS (SGPRS) support node, the unlicensed wireless access identifier comprises a GPRS temporary logical link identifier (TLLI) and the unlicensed wireless location identifier is a GSM cell location identifier.

7. The system defined in claim 1 wherein the base station is operable to provide a location identifier to a public safety access point via the network controller when the mobile station initiates an emergency services call over the unlicensed wireless communication channel.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the location identifier is a GSM cell location obtained by the mobile station via the licensed wireless communication channel.

9. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the location identifier is a location programmed into the network controller.

10. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the location identifier is programmed by a DCHP server from the telecommunications network.

11. A method comprising:

communicating with a telecommunications network using an unlicensed wireless communication channel in one or more unlicensed wireless access areas serviced by one or more corresponding unlicensed wireless base stations;

mapping the one or more unlicensed wireless access areas to one or more licensed wireless access areas communicably coupled with the telecommunications network;

communicating with the telecommunications network using the licensed wireless communication channel in the one or more licensed wireless service areas, wherein

each of the one or more licensed wireless service areas is associated with a licensed wireless network identifier and a licensed wireless location identifier for use when a mobile station uses the licensed wireless communication channel,and wherein

each of the one or more unlicensed wireless service areas is associated with an ulicensed wireless network identifier and an ulicensed wireless location identifier for use when the mobile station uses the unlicensed wireless communication channel.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile station operable to communicate with a telecommunications network using a licensed wireless communication channel serviced by the telecommunications network in a licensed wireless access area and an unlicensed wireless communication channel in an unlicensed wireless access area, wherein

the mobile station is associated with a licensed wireless network identifier and a licensed wireless location identifier for use when the mobile station is in the licensed wireless access area, wherein

the mobile station is configured with an unlicensed wireless network identifier and an unlicensed wireless location identifier when the mobile station is in the unlicensed wireless access area.