Abstract:
A base station detects that an end-user has turned on an on/off switch on the base station, and in response, the base station transfers a registration request to a service node over an IP network. The service node processes the registration request to register the base station. The base station exchanges wireless telephony signals with a plurality of end-user communication devices, wherein the wireless telephony signals transport end-user communications. The base station and the service node exchange IP packets over the IP network, wherein the IP packets transport the end-user communications. The service node processes the end-user communications to provide a telephony service to the end-user communication devices, but the service node does not provide the telephony service to end-user communication devices through the base station until the base station registration is complete.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/131,884 that was filed on May 18, 2005 and is entitled “INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS BASE STATIONS AND SERVICE NODES” and that is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention is related to the field of communications, and in particular, to the use of the Internet for communications between wireless base stations and service nodes, such as mobile switching centers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    For wireless communications, end-users operate wireless communication devices that exchange user communications in a wireless communication format with a base station. The base station then exchanges the user communications in a non-wireless format with a service node, such as a mobile switching center. The service node processes the user communications to provide a communication service, such as telephony or Internet access. 
         [0006]    Unfortunately, Time Division Multiplex (TDM) links, such as DS1 or DS3 links, are typically used to exchange the user communications between the base station and the service node. DS1 and DS3 links are relatively expensive. Not only are these TDM links expensive, but they can take too much time to establish. In a given area, there may not be a robust set of competing service providers that provide DS3 or DS1 links, which usually results in poor service. In addition, these TDM links may not even be available in some areas. 
         [0007]    The demand for wireless communications is growing with respect to coverage and capacity. Newer data applications, such as web browsing and music downloads, have become popular features for wireless communications devices. The newer data applications typically have an asymmetrical traffic pattern where more bandwidth is used from the service node to the base station than from the base station to the service node. For example, an end-user request to download a song typically uses far less bandwidth than the bandwidth used to actually download the song to the end-user. 
         [0008]    Internet access has become relatively low-cost and ubiquitous. Many service providers compete to provide low-cost Internet access to numerous and wide-ranging service areas. Examples of internet access technologies include asymmetrical digital subscriber line, DOCSIS, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, and broadband over power line. 
         [0009]    Unfortunately, this low-cost and ubiquitous Internet access has not been effectively implemented to exchange user communications between base stations and service nodes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A base station detects that an end-user has turned on an on/off switch on the base station, and in response, the base station transfers a registration request to a service node over an IP network. The service node processes the registration request to register the base station. The base station exchanges wireless telephony signals with a plurality of end-user communication devices, wherein the wireless telephony signals transport end-user communications. The base station and the service node exchange IP packets over the IP network, wherein the IP packets transport the end-user communications. The service node processes the end-user communications to provide a telephony service to the end-user communication devices, but the service node does not provide the telephony service to end-user communication devices through the base station until the base station registration is complete. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates communication system  100  in an example of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates communication system  200  in an example of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates communication system  300  in an example of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates communication system  300  in an example of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    The following description and associated figures depict specific examples to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents. 
       Example #1 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates communication system  100  in an example of the invention. Communication system  100  includes base stations  101 - 103 , Internet interfaces  104 - 106 , and service node  107 . Base station  101  establishes Internet connectivity over communication link  114  to Internet interface  104 . In some variations, Internet interface  104  represents an Internet Service Provider (ISP), and base station  101  establishes the Internet connectivity by logging-on to the ISP over communication link  114 . Internet interface  104  and service node  107  are configured to communicate over the Internet. Thus, base station  101  and service node  107  can communicate with one another over communication link  114  and the Internet. 
         [0018]    In some variations, communication link  114  is asymmetrical to provide more bandwidth from service node  107  to base station  101  than from base station  101  to service node  107 . An asymmetric communication link is especially suitable for data applications, such as Internet browsing or music downloads, where there is more traffic from service node  107  to base station  101  than from base station  101  to service node  107 . Communication link  114  could be an Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) link, DOCSIS link, 802.11 link (Wi-Fi), 802.16 link (Wi-Max), Broadband over Power Line (BPL) link, or some other form of Internet access link. 
         [0019]    Base station  101  registers with service node  107  over communication link  114  and the Internet. During registration, service node  107  validates base station  101 . Validation includes establishing that the entity attempting to register is who they say they are, and that that entity is entitled to register. In some variations, base station  101  and service node  107  are each be programmed with a secret user name and access code for base station  101 . Service node  107  validates base station  101  by obtaining the user name and secret access code from base station  101  during registration, and then checking the user name and secret access code in a validation database to ensure that the user name and secret access code are associated with base station  101 , and that base station  101  is entitled to register. Service node  107  will deny service to base station  101  if validation fails. 
         [0020]    Base station  101  and service node  107  establish a communication tunnel between one another over communication link  114  and the Internet. Typically, the tunnel would be a secure Internet Protocol (IP) tunnel. The security could be provided through encryption or some other means. Base station  101  and service node  107  could include conventional Internet utilities, such as Internet ports, firewalls, and Internet access software. 
         [0021]    Base station  101  includes an antenna and exchanges user communications in a wireless format with wireless communication devices over wireless links  111 . The wireless format could be Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (Wi-Max), free-space laser, E-Band, or some other wireless communication format. Base station  101  exchanges the user communications with service node  107  over the tunnel. Service node  107  processes the user communications to provide a communication service to the wireless communication devices. Examples of communication services include telephony, instant messaging, push-to-talk, Internet access, video downloads, and audio downloads, although there could be alternative communication services. In some variations, service node  107  comprises a mobile switching center. 
         [0022]    In some variations, base station  101  and service node  107  may not maintain permanent Internet connectivity, registration, and/or tunneling. Base station  101  and/or service node  107  could establish and de-establish the Internet connectivity based on a predetermined schedule. For example, base station  101  could establish the Internet connectivity on Monday morning at 7:00 and de-establish the Internet connectivity on Friday evening at 6:00. Numerous and more complex schedules could be used. Likewise, base station  101  and/or service node  107  could register and de-register base station  101  based on a predetermined schedule. Base station  101  and/or service node  107  could establish and de-establish the tunnel based on a predetermined schedule. These predetermined schedules for Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling could the same or different. In some variations, base station  101  and/or service node  107  could establish the Internet connectivity, register with the service node, and establish the tunnel based on a predetermined schedule, and then de-establish the Internet connectivity, de-register with the service node, and de-establish the tunnel based on the predetermined schedule. Thus, based on a predetermined schedule, base station  101  and service node  107  can transition between a disconnected state where they have no interaction with one another, and a connected state where they interact to deliver the communication service to the wireless communication devices. 
         [0023]    In some variations, base station  101  could establish and de-establish the Internet connectivity based on end-user activity. For example, base station could establish the Internet connectivity in response to a service request from one of the wireless communication devices and de-establish the Internet connectivity after a time period elapses with a lack of other service requests from the wireless communication devices. Numerous and more complex end-user activity-based control schemes could be used. Likewise, base station  101  could register and de-register with service node  107  based on end-user activity, or base station  101  could establish and de-establish the tunnel based on end-user activity. These end-user activity-based control schemes for Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling could the same or different. In some variations, base station  101  could establish the Internet connectivity, register with service node  107 , and establish the tunnel based on an end-user activity control scheme, and then de-establish the Internet connectivity, de-register with service node  107 , and de-establish the tunnel based on the same end-user activity control scheme. Thus, based on end-user activity, base station  101  and service node  107  can transition between a disconnected state where they have no interaction with one another, and a connected state where they interact to deliver the communication service to the wireless communication devices. Other techniques to detect end-user activity could be used, such as motion detectors, human proximity detectors, or even a simple on-off switch that the end-users may control manually. 
         [0024]    A remote control system could transfer control messages to base station  101  and service node  107  to direct these systems to establish and de-establish Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling. The remote control could be based on a predetermined schedule, expected end-user activity, or some other factor. 
         [0025]    In some variations, base station  101  is relatively small, which allows for a relatively small bandwidth load on communication link  114 . Base station  101  may be omni-directional meaning the base station has no sectors. Base station  101  may have a maximum capacity of 20 simultaneous wireless communication devices. Base station  101  may have a maximum of three Radio Frequency (RF) receive channels and three RF transmit channels. 
         [0026]    Base stations  102  and  103  could be configured and operate as described for base station  101 . Base station  102  could exchange user communications with wireless communication devices over wireless communication links  112  and exchange the user communications with service node  107  through a tunnel over communication link  115  and the Internet. Likewise, base station  103  could exchange user communications with wireless communication devices over wireless communication links  113  and exchange the user communications with service node  107  through a tunnel over communication link  116  and the Internet. 
         [0027]    Note that service node  107  is capable of interacting with multiple base stations as described above. Service node can register, validate, and establish tunnels to multiple base stations. Service node  107  may do so based on differing schedules, end-user activity, or remote control. Thus, service node  107  can support a dynamically changing mix of base stations. 
       Example #2 
       [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates communication system  200  in an example of the invention. Communication system  200  includes base station  201 , ADSL modem  202 , Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM)  203 , central office  204 , Internet routers  205 - 206 , and Mobile Switching Center (MSC)  207 . Base station  201  is coupled to ADSL modem  202  by communication link  212 . ADSL modem  202  is coupled to DSLAM  203  by ADSL link  213 . DSLAM  203  is coupled to Internet router  205  by IP link  214  and to central office  204  by Time Division Multiplex (TDM) link  217 . Internet router  205  is coupled to Internet router  206  over IP link  215 . Internet router  206  is coupled to MSC  207  by IP link  216 . Communication links  211 - 217  could be conventional. 
         [0029]    Base station  201  establishes Internet connectivity to MSC  207  over a communication link (comprised of links  212 - 213 , modem  202 , and DSLAM  216 ) and the Internet (comprised of Internet routers  205 - 206  and links  214 - 216 ). In some variations, Internet router  205  represents an ISP, and base station  201  establishes the Internet connectivity by logging-on to the ISP. MSC  207  and DSLAM  203  are configured to communicate over the Internet. Thus, base station  201  and MSC  207  can communicate with one another over the above described communication link and the Internet. 
         [0030]    Base station  201  registers with MSC  207  over the communication link and the Internet. During registration, MSC  207  validates base station  201  by establishing that base station  201  is actually the entity attempting to register, and that base station  201  is entitled to register. MSC  207  will deny service to base station  201  if validation fails. 
         [0031]    Base station  201  and MSC  207  establish a communication tunnel between one another over the communication link and the Internet. Typically, the tunnel would be a secure IP tunnel. The security could be provided through encryption or some other means. Base station  201  and MSC  207  could include conventional Internet utilities, such as Internet ports, firewalls, and Internet access software. 
         [0032]    Base station  201  exchanges user communications in a wireless format with the wireless phones over wireless links  211 . The wireless format could be CDMA, GSM, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, free-space laser, or some other wireless communication format. Base station  201  exchanges the user communications with MSC  207  over the tunnel. MSC  207  processes the user communications to provide a communication service to the wireless phones. Examples of communication services include telephony, instant messaging, push-to-talk, Internet access, video downloads, and audio downloads, although there could be alternative communication services. 
         [0033]    In some variations, base station  201  may not maintain permanent Internet connectivity, registration, and/or tunneling with MSC  207 . Base station  201  and/or MSC  207  could establish and de-establish the Internet connectivity based on a predetermined schedule Likewise, base station  201  and/or MSC  207  could register and de-register base station  201  based on a predetermined schedule. Base station  201  and/or MSC  207  could establish and de-establish the tunnel based on a predetermined schedule. These predetermined schedules for Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling could be the same or different. In some variations, base station  201  and/or MSC  207  could establish the Internet connectivity, register, and establish the tunnel based on a predetermined schedule, and then de-establish the Internet connectivity, de-register, and de-establish the tunnel based on the predetermined schedule. Thus, based on a predetermined schedule, base station  201  and MSC  207  can transition between a disconnected state where they have no interaction with one another, and a connected state where they interact to deliver the communication service to the wireless phones. 
         [0034]    In some variations, base station  201  could establish and de-establish the Internet connectivity based on end-user activity. Likewise, base station  201  could register and de-register with MSC  207  based on end-user activity, or base station  201  could establish and de-establish the tunnel based on end-user activity. These end-user activity-based control schemes for Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling could the same or different. In some variations, base station  101  could establish the Internet connectivity, register with MSC  207 , and establish the tunnel based on an end-user activity control scheme, and then de-establish the Internet connectivity, de-register with the service node, and de-establish the tunnel based on the same end-user activity control scheme. Based on end-user activity, base station  201  and MSC  207  can transition between a disconnected state where they have no interaction with one another, and a connected state where they interact to deliver the communication service to the wireless phones. Other techniques to detect end-user activity could be used, such as motion detectors, human proximity detectors, or even a simple on-off switch that the end-user may control manually. 
         [0035]    A remote control system could transfer control messages to base station  201  and MSC  207  to direct these systems to establish and de-establish Internet connectivity, registration, and tunneling. The remote control could be based on a predetermined schedule, expected end-user activity, or some other factor. 
         [0036]    MSC  207  is capable of interacting with multiple additional base stations (not shown) in a similar manner. Thus, MSC  207  can register, validate, and establish tunnels to multiple base stations. MSC  207  may do so based on differing schedules, end-user activity, or remote control. Thus, MSC  207  can support a dynamically changing mix of base stations. 
         [0037]    In some variations, base station  201  is relatively small, which allows for a relatively small bandwidth load on ADSL link  213 . Base station  201  may be omni-directional meaning the base station has no sectors. Base station  201  may have a maximum capacity of 20 simultaneous wireless communication devices. Base station  201  may have a maximum of three Radio Frequency (RF) receive channels and three RF transmit channels. 
       Example #3 
       [0038]      FIGS. 3-4  illustrate communication system  300  in an example of the invention. Communication system  300  includes base station  301 , Internet interfaces  302 - 303 , and service node  304 . Internet interfaces  302 - 303  and service node  304  communicates over the Internet. At location “A”, base station  301  establishes Internet connectivity with Internet interface  302  over communication link  312 . Base station  301  registers with service node  304  over communication link  312  and the Internet. During registration, service node  304  validates base station  301 . Base station  301  and service node  304  establish a communication tunnel between one another over communication link  312  and the Internet. Base station  301  exchanges user communications in a wireless format with wireless communication devices over wireless links  311 . Base station  301  and service node  304  exchange the user communications over the tunnel. Service node  304  processes the user communications to provide a communication service to the wireless communication devices. In some variations, service node  304  comprises an MSC. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , base station has been moved from location “A” to location “B” as indicated by the dashed lines. At location “B”, base station  301  establishes Internet connectivity with Internet interface  303  over communication link  314 . Base station  301  re-registers with service node  304  over communication link  314  and the Internet. During registration, service node  304  re-validates base station  301 . Base station  301  and service node  304  establish a new communication tunnel between one another over communication link  314  and the Internet. Base station  301  exchanges user communications in a wireless format with wireless communication devices over wireless links  313 . Base station  301  and service node  304  exchange the user communications over the new tunnel. Service node  304  processes the user communications to provide a communication service to the wireless communication devices. Note that the variations and features described above for Examples #1 and #2 may also apply to Example #3. 
         [0040]    Base station  301  could be moved multiple times as needed. At each new location, base station  301  would establish new Internet connectivity, re-register with service node  304 , and establish a new tunnel to service node  304 . Thus, base station  301  could be moved to an area where wireless communication services are temporarily required, and when that demand goes away, base station  301  could be moved to a new area with a new demand for wireless communication services. 
         [0041]    For example, base station  301  may be moved to an NFL football stadium on Sunday morning to provide added wireless communications capacity or coverage during the football game that day. On Monday, base station  301  could be moved to a convention center to provide added wireless communications capacity or coverage during a conference that week. 
         [0042]    To facilitate such movement, base station  301  may be relatively small, and should be configured in a portable package. In the context of the invention, portable means that a person may physically carry the base station from one location to another, and readily connect and disconnect the power, communication, and control links. 
       Advantages 
       [0043]    Communication systems  100 - 300  provide the following advantages (although all examples of the invention may not provide these advantages). The problematic cost and delay of using DS1 or DS3 connections to communicate between base stations and service nodes is avoided by using Internet access technologies and the Internet. Internet access and connectivity is lower in cost and more ubiquitous than DS1 or DS3 connections. 
         [0044]    The lower cost and ubiquity of Internet access allows base stations to be placed in more areas to serve increasing demand. In addition, portable base stations may be quickly deployed and moved about to serve areas that require additional capacity or coverage for a temporary amount of time.