Abstract:
A wireless communications station is provided that includes base portion and a tower portion. The tower portion includes a plurality of solar panels, a Wi-Fi antenna, and satellite. The base portion includes a stabilizing ballast, communication backhaul portal, and a plurality of wireless transmission carriers, including a Wi-Fi carrier and a spectrum carrier. The communication backhaul portal is in communication with the wireless transmission carriers and the satellite. The communications station is mobile and operates independent from conventional landlines grids and without the need for traditional installation procedures. The solar panels provide a self-sufficient source of power. The communications station provides a Wi-Fi signal that allows an internet-enabled device to send and receive information over an internet protocol (IP) network where cellular service is unavailable, including the placement of enhance 911 calls.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 61/754,249 filed Jan. 18, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to communications base stations, particularly wireless communications base stations. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Cellular communications systems and devices are widespread and serve as a primary means of communication. Cellular communications are supported within land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, known as a cell site or base station which provides coverage within a designated cell(s). When combined, these cell regions provide radio coverage over a large geographic area to enable a large number of portable devices to communicate with each other and with fixed transceivers within the network, via base stations. Major telecommunications providers have deployed voice and data cellular networks over most of the inhabited land area of the Earth, which allows mobile device such as phones computers to connected to the public switched telephone network and public Internet. However, there are often gaps in coverage between cells, and remote areas, including areas with problematic topology, where cellular coverage is unavailable or unreliable. Providing coverage in such areas is often cost-prohibitive because network usage is very minimal. Moreover, powering infrastructure is needed to connect the base stations to the grid, which requires additional hardware and labor expense. 
         [0004]    In these non-coverage areas, users of cellular devices will be unable to place calls or transmit data. This lack of functionality is often critical in emergency situations where injured, stranded or lost individuals are seeking medical or other assistance. Thus, there is a need in the field for a low cost, easily-deployed base station that can facilitate emergency communications in remote areas where cellular coverage is non-existence or unreliable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A wireless communications station is provided that includes base portion and a tower portion. The tower portion includes a plurality of solar panels, a Wi-Fi antenna, and satellite. The base portion includes a stabilizing ballast, communication backhaul portal, and a plurality of wireless transmission carriers, including a Wi-Fi carrier and a spectrum carrier. The communication backhaul portal is in communication with the wireless transmission carriers and the satellite. The communications station is mobile and operates independent from conventional landlines grids and without the need for traditional installation procedures. The solar panels provide a self-sufficient source of power. The communications station provides a Wi-Fi signal that allows an internet-enabled device to send and receive information over an internet protocol (IP) network where cellular service is unavailable, including the placement of enhance 911 calls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates the placement of an emergency call using VOIP facilitated by the remote wireless communication station. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a multi-tiered modular solar tower base station with a plurality of interconnected wireless communication methods distributed throughout the structure. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A-B  illustrate front and back perspective views of a single-tiered modular solar tower base station with a double ballast tank system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an extension-capable, modular solar tower base station with various alternative backup power elements housed within the ballast tank. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a multi-tiered modular solar tower base station with emergency call box and various communications/power options. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates bottom and side views of dual ballast tank assembly via an adjoining bracket. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7A-B  illustrate frontal views of a multi-tiered modular solar tower base station with three-tiered construction, in collapsed and extended positions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present invention provides a modular, self-supporting communications site which consolidates numerous collection and distribution methods of various wireless bandwidths. The system may serve wireless communications needs both locally (within close proximity of a specific structure) and communally, as per wireless transmission needs—i.e. propagation. Its cost-effective nature lies in the streamlined, modular method of its construction—much smaller in size than current commercial wireless transmission base towers. This construction eliminates the need for civil site construction. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a high level communication diagram showing how an emergency call is executed using the communication station  103  (also referred to as “solar tower base station”). A user in need of emergency services, for example, places a call to emergency services using their cell phone  102 . If cellular service is not available, the communication station  103  provides Wi-Fi access  104  that allows for the call to be transmitted over an Internet protocol (IP) network  105  to facilitate a call  106  to emergency services  107 . Alternatively, the IP network can be utilized for non-voice, data communications. The Wi-Fi access can be restricted as desired by the base station operator/carrier so that only authorized individuals, e.g. network subscribers, can utilize the Wi-Fi network to conduct internet communications. For example, if the cellular phone user (consumer) signs up for enhanced 911 (E911), then the consumer&#39;s cell phone will automatically make an E911 call if the cellular network is unavailable or congested. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates the wireless communications base station of the present invention. The base station facility comprises a multi-tiered extendible core with solar panels  250 - 252 , a base pole  230 , and a ballast tank  229  attached to the base pole. Atop the highest tier sits a Wi-Fi antenna which facilitates a Wi-Fi access point for interne communications. Using IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g technology, the antenna may provide a Wi-Fi access range of 100 m (300 ft) outdoors or up to 600 ft using IEEE 802.11n technology. A short distance down the highest tier, there is an attached satellite  211 . The satellite  211  provides backhaul of data to a core or backbone network. At the base of the communication station, the ballast tank serves as a counter weight for the extendible core, and further comprises a plurality of wireless transmission carriers, including a carrier A  223 , carrier B  224 , carrier C  225 , spectrum carrier  227 , and Wi-Fi carrier  226 . Carriers A, B, and C transmit data to the spectrum carrier as visualized by connective arrows  216 ,  217 , and  218  respectively. Connective arrow  220  represents the transmission of data from the WIFI carrier to the spectrum carrier. Attached on the exterior of the ballast tank  229 , on the side facing the base pole  230 , there lies a communications backhaul portal  222 . This portal communicates with carriers A, B, and C via lines  213 ,  2 . 14 , and  215  respectively. The backhaul portal communicates with the Wi-Fi carrier  226  via line  219 . The satellite  211  transmits a signal to the portal via line  212 , while the antenna  210  transmits a signal to the spectrum carrier  227  via line  221 . In the capacity of a communications backhaul, the satellite serves as the direct link to the global core network, linking the packets it receives to the carriers housed with the ballast tank. 
         [0016]    Thus, the wireless communication station is mobile and can be easily deployed in remote locations where cellular coverage is absent or unreliable, without the need for grid connections or external power. When a user&#39;s cell phone service determines that cellular coverage is unavailable, the antenna  210  provides a Wi-Fi signal that can be utilized by the cell phone to place a VOIP call, such as an E911 call. This communication over the IP network is facilitated by the backhaul provided by satellite  211 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3A-B  illustrate front and back perspective views of a single-tiered modular solar tower base station with a double ballast tank system. In  FIG. 3A , the base pole  330  houses an extendible pole  333  which is adjusted between collapsed and extended positions via adjustment mechanism  335 . In this embodiment, two ballast tanks  329  are utilized to provide counter-weighting for the structure. They meet, and are attached at two points vertically along the base pole  330 . Radio equipment  365  may be found on the extendible pole, as well as an antenna  310  at the very top of the tower head  340 . The solar panels have been rotated in such a way that their solar cells would receive more direct sunlight if the sun were directly above the base station. This example of user-specified or automated alignment is aided by orientation hardware  355  located on the corner edges of the solar panels  350 . As well, mechanically speaking, this orientation procedure is accomplished primarily by the tower head  340 , which comprises a number of specially designed parts (e.g. pins, pin holes, ball bearings, etc.) that work in concert to rotate the solar panels horizontally and vertically.  FIG. 3A  shows an additional alternative power option with batteries  360  placed within the ballast tank  329 .  FIG. 3B  shows a rear view of the same solar tower base station. Here, on the interiors of the ballast tanks  329 , ballasts  328  may be placed for additional counter-weighting. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of an extension-capable, modular solar tower base station with various alternative backup power elements housed within the ballast tank. The raising and lowering action of extendible pole  433  is denoted by arrow  470 . Again, radio equipment  465  is placed on the extendible pole. In this instance, the ballast tank  429  houses a number of standard alternative backup power elements, including batteries  460 , an optional generator with fuel  461 , and an optional connection device for generator plug-in  462 . On certain occasions, where weather or some other circumstance doesn&#39;t permit the proper capturing of sunlight, chemical energy may instead be derived from said alternatives in the ballast tank. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of a multi-tiered modular solar tower base station with emergency call box and various communications/power options. As with previous figures, radio equipment  565  can be found on one of the extendible tiers, with a satellite  511  and an antenna  510  near the top. In this instance however, radio equipment  565  is also shown within the ballast tank  529 . Additionally, power options such as batteries  560  and a power supply  563  are also housed within the tank. Also unique to this version of the ballast tank is the ballast  528  itself, which joins both the radio equipment and backup power supplies in the ballast tank. 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates bottom and side views of dual ballast tank assembly via an adjoining bracket. The ballast tanks  629  (or ballast bottom for purposes of explaining construction procedures within this figure) possess bolt openings  689 ; they are to be joined via the adjoining bracket  680 , which possesses its own bracket bolt openings  681 . Arrow  690  indicates the placing of adjoining bracket  680  between the ballast tanks, lining up the appropriate bolt openings for each piece. With two ballast tanks  629  in place, an appropriate distance apart, the base station can be stabilized. The case of construction for such a modular facility is clearly shown by this procedure. Arrow  691  indicates the transition to a complete joining of bracket and tanks, where “x&#39;s”  685  show the points at which the ballast tank bolt openings  682  and the adjoining bracket bolt openings  681  line up, in such a way that the tanks are flush, and allow the pass-through of bolts. The bottom image of the tanks (side view) shows a complete double ballast tank setup, with the exception of base pole  630  addition. The connective bolts  683  have been placed through the lined up “x&#39;s”  685 . All that remains is to attach the base pole  630  to the bolts in the center. 
         [0021]      FIG. 7A-B  illustrate frontal views of a multi-tiered modular solar tower base station with three-tiered construction, in collapsed and extended positions. In  FIG. 7A , the solar panels have been lowered via their collapsible poles; the hollow poles lie within the interior of the base pole  730 . In this scenario, the base station becomes a more compact structure that doesn&#39;t necessarily need to utilize as much sunlight, or has been temporarily adjusted into a chemical energy derivation mode—its panels temporarily out of operation. The plethora of configuration options for the base station ensure continued operation through any disasters or other complications, allowing it to operate off the grid in almost any emergency situation. 
         [0022]      FIG. 8B  shows the base station panels to be fully extended; its poles raised and locked into place to allow for full absorption of sunlight via the solar panels. As with previous figures, orientation hardware  855  can now be utilized to further rotate the solar panels  850 - 652  and achieve ideal absorption of sunlight. The orientation hardware works in conjunction with a database of year-round sun position data. With a multitude of physical orientation options available, the solar tower facility would be the ideal constituent of an array of base stations set to receive and disseminate wireless data around the world, especially in remote areas which are chronically devoid of larger commercial towers set up by established leaders in the telecommunications industry. 
         [0023]    While there have been described herein what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. For example, the relative dimensions of the device may be altered while keeping within the spirit and teachings of the invention. It is therefore desired to be secured, in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.