Cellular network system and method

• US 8,014,284 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barkan Wireless IP Holdings, L.P.
• Original Assignee: BzeekLand, Ltd.
• Inventors: Barkan, Elad
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US09/871,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,746 Days
• Field of Search: 455/524, 455/525, 455/560, 455/561, 455/456.2, 455/447, 455/410, 370/352, 370/329, 370/356, 370/338, 370/347, 370/235, 370/229, 726/1, 709/225
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0066 Details of access arrangements to the networks where the access arrangement is a PSTN/ISDN access H04M7/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

In a cellular network system, an add-on base station comprising: A. a first channel for connecting to a customer'"'"'s phone; B. a second channel for connecting to a network; C. circuits for connecting the customer'"'"'s phone to a destination on the network; and D. billing means for collecting a payment for services related to connecting the customer'"'"'s phone to the network. The customer'"'"'s phone may be connected through a wireless link. A method to establish a link between a caller and an addressee comprising the steps of: A. The caller sends a request to a cellular center requesting to connect to a specific addressee, using a message encrypted with the public key of the center; B. the center decrypts the message, identifies the caller and the addressee; C. the center composes a message for the addressee and encrypts it with the public key of the addressee. The message is then sent to base stations; D. the base station transmits the message “as is” or in a modified form; E. only the designated addressee will be capable to decrypt the message, and will be thus notified of the attempted connection.

Claims

1. A gateway to a packet-based data network comprising:

a transceiver adapted to establish a radio-frequency link with a mobile device;

a first interface adapted to facilitate data flow between the mobile device and the packet-based data network; and

a controller adapted to regulate data flow between the mobile device and the data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from a coordination center, which center is connected to the data network through a second interface.

4. The gateway according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to regulate data flow between the mobile device and the data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from a consideration-related policy database.

5. The gateway according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to report the gateway'"'"'s physical location to the coordination center.

6. The gateway according to claim 1, further comprising a unique identity achieved by a unique number or digital document.

7. The gateway according to claim 6, wherein said unique number or digital document contains an encryption key.

8. The gateway according to claim 7, wherein said controller is further adapted to conduct encrypted communications.

9. The gateway according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to report the gateway'"'"'s operational status to the coordination center.

10. The gateway according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to request from the center to connect the mobile device to an addressee within the data network.

2. A communication system comprising:

a coordination center connected to a packet based data network through a first Interface, two or more gateways functionally associated with a packet based data network, wherein each gateway comprises;

a transceiver adapted to establish a radio-frequency link with a mobile device;

a second interface adapted to facilitate data flow between the mobile device and the data network; and

a controller adapted to regulate data flow between the mobile device and the data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from said coordination center.

11. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a consideration-related policy database, connected to the data network through a third interface;

and wherein said controllers are further adapted to regulate data flow between the mobile device and the data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from said consideration-related policy database.

12. The system according to claim 2, wherein said controllers are further adapted to report the gateways'"'"' physical location to said coordination center.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said coordination center is further adapted to maintain a record of the gateways'"'"' physical location.

14. The system according to claim 2, wherein said gateways further comprise a unique identity achieved by a unique number or digital document.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said unique number or digital document contains an encryption key;

and

said controllers are further adapted to conduct encrypted communications with said center.

16. The system according to claim 2, wherein said controllers are further adapted to report the gateways'"'"' operational status to the coordination center.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said coordination center is further adapted to maintain a record of the gateways'"'"' operational status.

18. The system according to claim 2, wherein said controllers are further adapted to request from the center to connect one or more of the mobile devices to an addressee within the data network.

3. A method of providing data to a mobile device comprising:

establishing a data link between the mobile device and a radio-frequency transceiver, which transceiver is functionally associated with a packet based data network through a first interface;

regulating data flow between the mobile device and the packet based data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from a coordination center, which center is connected to the data network through a second interface.

19. The method according to claim 3, further comprising regulating data flow between the mobile device and the data network based, at least partially, on information received over the data network from a consideration-related policy database, which database is connected to the data network through a third interface.

20. The method according to claim 3, further comprising reporting to the coordination center the transceiver'"'"'s physical location.

21. The method according to claim 3, further comprising encrypting communications between said transceiver and said coordination center.