Abstract:
There is provided a method of enabling a mobile broadband hotspot by an auxiliary radio. By utilizing a commonly available auxiliary radio, such as a Bluetooth radio, hotspot connectivity using a primary radio, such as Wi-Fi, can be readily enabled. Accordingly, device connections, guest access, and device disconnections can be easily requested on demand from a mobile broadband hotspot. Additionally, the mobile broadband hotspot may be configured to enable or disable connections using a predetermined schedule. The pre-determined schedule may provide Internet access only when necessary, such as during scheduled device updates.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Internet connectivity enables access to social networking, personal finances, entertainment, news, shopping, and other essential goods, services, and information. With the proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and other devices, there is a corresponding need to provide Internet connectivity to these mobile devices. 
         [0002]    Currently, there is a diverse ecosystem of wireless broadband devices to provide Internet connectivity, including integrated and external mobile broadband cards, mobile hotspot devices, wireless routers, broadband modems, and others. Generally, such wireless broadband devices may provide WWAN (wireless wide area network) Internet access to other devices through a WLAN (wireless local area network) hotspot. For example, a device such as a smartphone can be configured to function as a mobile broadband hotspot by enabling an access point mode, often referred to as Wi-Fi tethering. 
         [0003]    However, activating the access point mode of a mobile broadband hotspot often requires multiple steps. For example, to set a smartphone to access point mode, a user must typically obtain physical possession of the smartphone, navigate through a hierarchy of menu options, and set various security options and hotspot parameters prior to enabling the access point mode. Thus, it may be difficult to provide Internet access to other devices due to the numerous steps required for enabling an access point mode. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is directed to enabling a mobile broadband hotspot by an auxiliary radio, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  presents an exemplary diagram of a system for setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode through an auxiliary radio transceiver; 
           [0006]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  each present a set of exemplary screenshots from the display of a terminal device setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2   c  presents exemplary screenshots from the display of a terminal device during a scheduled setting of a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  presents an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode through an auxiliary radio transceiver, 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The following description contains specific information pertaining to implementations in the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed herein. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary implementations. Unless noted otherwise, like or corresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like or corresponding reference numerals. Moreover, the drawings and illustrations in the present application are generally not to scale, and are not intended to correspond to actual relative dimensions. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  presents an exemplary diagram of a system for setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode through an auxiliary radio transceiver. System  100  of  FIG. 1  includes mobile broadband hotspot  101 , terminal devices  111  and  121 , displays  102 ,  112 , and  122 , base station tower  150 , packet network  190 , server  195 , network storage  196 , and links  130 ,  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136 . Mobile broadband hotspot  101  includes processor  103 , storage medium  104 , Bluetooth transceiver  105 , Wi-Fi transceiver  106 , and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) Transceiver  107 . Storage medium  104  includes module  108  and application programming interface (“API”)  109   a . Terminal device  111  includes processor  113 , storage medium  114 , Bluetooth transceiver  115 , and Wi-Fi transceiver  116 . Storage medium  114  includes module  118  and API  109   b.  Terminal device  121  includes processor  123 , storage medium  124 , and Wi-Fi transceiver  126 . Storage medium  124  includes module  128  and API  109   c.    
         [0011]    Mobile broadband hotspot  101  can be any type of mobile device with the ability to function as a hotspot. For example, mobile broadband hotspot  101  can be a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), or a tablet personal computer (“PC”). In the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , mobile broadband hotspot  101  can be a smartphone with a physically integrated display  102 . Each of displays  102 ,  112 , and  122  can be a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) monitor with a touch sensitive surface. Thus, displays  102 ,  112 , and  122  may serve as input devices, as well. In other instances, other input devices may be operatively connected to mobile broadband hotspot  101  and client devices  111  and  121 . In alternative implementations, mobile broadband hotspot  101  can be a dedicated hotspot device, for example, which may or may not contain a display  102 . Each of terminal devices  111  and  121  can be a mobile or fixed device including a smartphone, a tablet, an in-dash device for vehicles, or an electrical or household appliance such as a television or a refrigerator, for example. Displays  112  and  122  may be optionally physically integrated with terminal devices  111  and  121 , respectively. 
         [0012]    Each of processors  103 ,  113 , and  123  can be any type of processing hardware such as a central processing unit. Each of storage mediums  104 ,  114 , and  124  may be any type of non-volatile data storage device, such as a flash drive with several gigabytes of storage capacity. Each of APIs  109   a,    109   b,  and  109   c  is the same API. Modules  108 ,  118 , and  128  are software applications that can be executed by processors  103 ,  113  and  123 , respectively, in order to control the functionalities of mobile broadband hotspot  101  and terminal devices  111  and  121 . Modules  108 ,  118 , and  128  are also implemented in conformance to the API, thereby allowing mobile broadband hotspot  101  and terminal devices  111  and  121  to communicate with each other through API calls. 
         [0013]    LTE transceiver  107  may be a radio transceiver comprising digital logic components and embedded software. LTE transceiver  107  may comprise a radio transceiver capable of wirelessly receiving and transmitting data through the LTE frequencies. Each of Bluetooth transceivers  105  and  115  may be an auxiliary radio transceiver containing digital logic components and embedded software. Bluetooth transceiver  105  may be used to transmit requests to activate or deactivate the access point of mobile broadband hotspot  101  to Bluetooth transceiver  115 . Each of Wi-Fi transceivers  106 ,  116 , and  126  may be another radio transceiver containing digital logic components and embedded software. Wi-Fi transceivers  106 ,  116 , and  126  may be used to receive and transmit data through Wi-Fi frequencies. 
         [0014]    Base station tower  150  may represent a cellular tower capable of wirelessly relaying data between packet network  190  and mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Packet network  190  may represent a public network such as the Internet. Base station tower  150  may exchange data with LTE transceiver  107  of mobile broadband hotspot  101  at LTE frequencies and at 4G speeds through link  133 . Link  134  may be a wireless or wired connection link. In other implementations, base station tower  150  may transmit data using Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (“WiMAX”) frequencies or 3G technologies such as UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA+, EVDO Rev0, EVDO RevA or other frequencies. Accordingly, mobile broadband hotspot  101  may contain a WiMAX or GSM or CDMA transceiver or other transceivers. 
         [0015]    Mobile broadband hotspot  101 , using Wi-Fi transceiver  106 , may transmit data obtained through LTE transceiver  107  to nearby mobile devices. However, mobile broadband hotspot  101  may only transmit data through a Wi-Fi transceiver when it is in access point mode. Terminal device  111  may therefore set mobile broadband hotspot  101  to access point mode by transmitting a request to mobile broadband hotspot  101  to activate the access point mode. The request to activate the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may be sent through link  130 , which can be a wireless Bluetooth link. The request may be transmitted at Bluetooth frequencies from Bluetooth transceiver  115 . Processor  103  of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may be configured to detect, using an auxiliary radio transceiver, the request to activate the access point mode from terminal device  111 . The auxiliary radio transceiver in this implementation is Bluetooth transceiver  115 . In response to receiving the request to activate the access point mode from terminal device  111 , processor  103  may be configured to enable the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Once mobile broadband hotspot  101  is set to access point mode, processor  103  may be configured to establish a connection with a connecting device using another radio transceiver, such as Wi-Fi transceiver  106 . 
         [0016]    For example, the connecting device may be terminal device  111 . Terminal device  111  may indicate through its Bluetooth activation request that terminal device  111  desires to connect to mobile broadband hotspot  101 . However, as described later, in other implementations, the activation request may direct mobile broadband hotspot  101  to connect with another mobile device, such as terminal device  121 . In other implementations, an API call may be made to mobile broadband hotspot  101  after the activation request is sent. The API call may request that mobile broadband hotspot  101  accept connections with other mobile devices. 
         [0017]    In order to ensure a secure connection, the establishing of the connection may include performing a successful authentication between the mobile broadband hotspot and the connecting device, such as terminal device  111 . The authentication may include a series of steps executed by both mobile broadband hotspot  101  and terminal device  111  to ensure that the devices are authorized to connect to each other, as known in the art. In one implementation, the client securely passes a Pre-Shared Key (“PSK”) to the hotspot for security purposes, which is used to both authenticate and secure the wireless channel, for example link  131  and link  132 . The authentication ensures that not just any device within the vicinity of mobile broadband hotspot  101  can connect to mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Of course, in other implementations, mobile broadband hotspot  101  may also be configured to skip authentication and security with connecting devices. Once a connection is established, mobile broadband hotspot  101  and terminal device  111  may exchange data between Wi-Fi transceiver  116  and  106  through link  131 , which is a wireless Wi-Fi link. 
         [0018]    Mobile broadband hotspot  101  may recognize the request to activate the access point mode from terminal device  111  due to a prior existing pairing. If unpaired, mobile broadband hotspot  101  may not recognize or trust a request to activate the access point mode from terminal device  111 . Thus, processor  103  may have been configured to perform a pairing process with terminal device  111  prior to detecting activation requests from terminal device  111 . Thus, mobile broadband hotspot  101  can be configured to enable access point mode only from mobile devices that have already been previously paired. 
         [0019]    As previously stated, the connecting device may not necessarily be the device that sends the Bluetooth request to activate the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot. As shown in  FIG. 1 , terminal device  121  cannot set mobile broadband hotspot  101  to access point mode because terminal device  121  does not include an auxiliary 
         [0020]    Bluetooth transceiver. However, terminal device  111 , after enabling an access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101 , may further send an API call to mobile broadband hotspot  101  using API  109   b,  requesting that mobile broadband hotspot  101  connect with terminal device  121 . Upon recognizing the API call, processor  103  may be configured to accept a connection with terminal device  121 . Once a connection with terminal device  121  is established, mobile broadband hotspot  101  and terminal device  121  may exchange data between Wi-Fi transceivers  106  and  126  through link  132 , which is a wireless Wi-Fi link. Prior to connecting with terminal device  121 , mobile broadband hotspot  101  may perform an authentication with terminal device  121 . In other implementations, terminal device  111  may connect to mobile broadband hotspot  101  and allow other devices to connect to mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Thus, a terminal device that is already paired and configured to communicate with mobile broadband hotspot  101  may also easily direct mobile broadband hotspot  101  to provide Internet access to other guest devices. 
         [0021]    Terminal device  111  can also easily and quickly deactivate the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Using Bluetooth transceiver  115 , terminal device  111  may send a request to deactivate the access point mode. Processor  103  of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may be configured to detect, using Bluetooth transceiver  105 , the request to deactivate the access point mode from terminal device  111 . Processor  103  may then be configured to disable the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101  in response to receiving the request to deactivate. Processor  103  may then be further configured to terminate, using Wi-Fi transceiver  106 , the connection established between the connected device, which may be terminal device  111 . When terminal device  111  deactivates the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101 , all other devices connected to mobile broadband hotspot  101  may also be disconnected. In anotherimplementation, the request to deactivate the access point mode may be made over the Wi-FI connection  131 , which is sent from module  118  through transceiver  116 , and is thus received by transceiver  106  and processed by processor  103 . 
         [0022]    Besides establishing hotspot connectivity, module  118  of terminal device  111  or module  128  of terminal device  121  may also be utilized to enable or provide information and services sourced from the owner of mobile broadband hotspot  101 , a network service provider, or a third party. For example, module  118  may provide detailed information on display  112  regarding a session connection with mobile broadband hotspot  101 , including bandwidth, data usage, signal strength, remaining battery, and other details. 
         [0023]    The owner of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may also provide permissions to access services or data stores accessible from mobile broadband hotspot  101  or packet network  190 . Thus, for example, terminal device  111  may be enabled to stream music or movies stored on network storage  196 , or view a collection of photos hosted on server  195 , which may be a third party photo sharing website. Accordingly, by simply connecting to mobile broadband hotspot  101 , terminal device  111  may access various local and remote data stores and services as permitted by the owner of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . 
         [0024]    Other parties may also provide information and services through module  118  or  128 . For example, a mobile data service provider may provide a means for viewing and paying individual, shared, one-time, or split data plans, or to purchase applications or other services. The owner of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may also set parameters in regards to individual device billing, for example granting free access to terminal device  111  but requiring terminal device  121  to pay for a portion of a data plan. The mobile data service provider might also provide messages, offers, and services from associated business partners. In other implementations, third party advertisers might present offers, promotions, trials, or advertisements to partially or wholly subsidize the data plan. 
         [0025]    In some implementations, module  118  and  128  may be installed and executed as a resident application on terminal device  111  and  121 , respectively. For example, module  118  and  128  may be downloaded and installed from mobile broadband hotspot  101  or server  195 , which may be a server belonging to the mobile data service provider or another third party. As a result, terminal devices  111  and  121  may continuously access the data sources and services provided in the above exemplary sessions with mobile broadband hotspot  101 , even if terminal devices  111  and  121  are outside the range of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Thus, the owner of mobile broadband hotspot  101  may extend data access permissions to media on network storage  196  and photos on server  195  even if terminal devices  111  and  121  are not within range of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2   a  presents a set of exemplary screenshots from the display of a terminal device setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode. Diagram  200   a  of  FIG. 2   a  includes screenshots  201   a,    201   b,    201   c,  and  201   d.  Each of screenshots  201   a,    201   b ,  201   c,  and  201   d  is a screenshot from the same display  112  of  FIG. 1 . Screenshot  201   a  includes applet window  203 , applet message  205 , and cancel pairing button  204 . Screenshot  201   b  includes digital icon  206   a.  Screenshot  201  c includes applet window  207   a,  activation buttons  208   a,    209   a,  and  210   a.  Screenshot  201   d  includes applet window  207   b  and applet message  211 . Screenshots  201   a,    201   b,    201   c,  and  201   d  further include cursors  202   a,    202   b ,  202   c , and  202   d , respectively. 
         [0027]    In screenshot  201  a, terminal device  111  of  FIG. 1  may be attempting to pair with mobile broadband hotspot  101  of  FIG. 1 . Applet window  203  may be any type of applet window, including from a web browser. Applet window  203  may present applet message  205 , a text message showing mobile broadband hotspot  101 , named “My_Hotspot”, pairing with terminal device  111 , “My_Device”. Pairing may be performed according to any method known in the art. 
         [0028]    Next, screenshot  201   b  presents digital icon  206   a , which is associated with a program stored in storage medium  114 . A user may select digital icon  206   a  with cursor  202   b  to execute the program, thus activating an access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Digital icon  206   a  may be created by module  118  of  FIG. 1  after terminal device  111  successfully pairs with mobile broadband hotspot  101 . While the examples shown in  FIG. 2A  focus on a graphical user interface where a user may select icons using a cursor, for example by a mouse or touch screen, any suitable input method or activation rule may be supported. For example, terminal device  111  may include motion sensors allowing the user to shake the device or perform gestures to initiate various functions such as activating the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  110 . In another example, an in-dash device might automatically activate the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  110  if a GPS of the in-dash device detects proximity to the driver&#39;s garage, thereby automatically turning on the hotspot when the user returns home. 
         [0029]    As shown in screenshot  201   c , applet window  207   a  is presented after the user selects digital icon  206   a . Activation button  208   a  may then be selected with cursor  202   c  to direct terminal device  111  to send an access point mode activation request to mobile broadband hotpot  101 . Additionally, to provide guest access, activation button  210   a  may be selected to direct mobile broadband hotspot  101  to accept connections from terminal device  121 , or “Terminal B”. Alternatively, activation button  209   a  may be selected to direct terminal device  111  to connect to a different hotspot that is not mobile broadband hotspot  101 . In another implementation, when the user selects digital icon  206   a  with cursor  202   b , the steps performed by  208   a  could be done automatically thus resulting in a one click operation for the user to gain internet access from terminal device  111 . In yet another implementation, an application such a web browser running on device  111  may trigger the activation of the mobile hotspot if it detects that the device does not have Internet connectivity when the user tries to connect to an Internet web-site. 
         [0030]    As shown in screenshot  201   d , applet window  207   a  may transition to applet window  207   b  after the user selects activation button  208   a  with cursor  202   d . Applet message  211  indicates that mobile broadband hotspot  101  is set to access point mode. Applet message  211  may contain additional information including a service set identifier (“SSID”), a signal strength level indicator which shows WWAN signal strength of base station  150  and link  133 , and a battery power level of mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Processor  103  of  FIG. 1  may also be configured to display applet message  211  on display  102 . In other implementations, applet window  207   a  may also contain additional indicators about the WWAN connection such as 2G/3G/4G coverage indication, a roaming network indicator, and other information about transceiver  107 , base station  150  and packet network  190 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2   b  presents another set of exemplary screenshots from the display of a terminal device setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode. Diagram  200   b  of  FIG. 2   b  includes screenshots  201   e ,  201   f , and  201   g . Each of screenshots  201   e ,  201   f , and  201   g  may be a screenshot of the same display  112  of  FIG. 1 . Screenshot  201   e  includes digital icon  206   b . Screenshot  201   f  includes applet window  212   a  and activation buttons  208   b ,  209   b , and  210   b , which correspond to  208   a ,  209   a , and  210   a , respectively. Screenshot  201   g  includes applet window  212   b  and applet message  213 . Screenshots  201   e ,  201   f , and  201   g  further include cursors  202   e ,  202   f , and  202   g , respectively. 
         [0032]    In screenshot  201   e , digital icon  206   b  is again displayed on display  112  of  FIG. 1 . As described earlier, digital icon  206   b  may be used to send an activation request to mobile broadband hotspot  101  of  FIG. 1  to set it to an access point mode. The user may thus select digital icon  206   b  to send the activation request. In screenshot  201   f , applet window  212   a  appears after user selects digital icon  206   b  in screenshot  201   e . Once again, activation buttons  208   b ,  209   b , and  210   b  are shown in applet window  212   a , and may also provide similar functionality as activation buttons  208   a ,  209   a , and  210   a  from  FIG. 2   a . The user may select activation button  210   b  to set mobile broadband hotspot  101  to an access point mode for connecting a guest device. Activation button  210   b  may be configured so that the connecting device can be terminal device  121 , “Terminal B”. 
         [0033]    In screenshot  201   g , applet window  212   b  displays applet message  213 . Applet message  213  may appear shortly after the user selects activation button  210   b . Applet message  213  presents a message stating that terminal device  121  is now connected to mobile broadband hotspot  101 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2   c  presents exemplary screenshots from the display of a terminal device during a scheduled setting of a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode. Diagram  200   c  of  FIG. 2   c  includes screenshot  201   h . Screenshots  201   h  may be a screenshot of the same display  112  of  FIG. 1 . Screenshot  201   h  includes applet window  214 , applet message  215 , accept button  216 , and cancel button  217 . Screenshot  201   h  further includes cursor  202   h.    
         [0035]    In screenshot  201   h , mobile broadband hotspot  101  may induce terminal device  111  to send an activation request to activate mobile broadband hotspot  101 . Applet window  214  may be any type of applet window, including from a web browser. Applet window  214  may contain applet message  215 , presenting a message associated with a scheduled connection request sent from mobile broadband hotspot  101  to terminal device  111 . The scheduled connection request causes terminal device  111  to transmit an access point mode activation request back to mobile broadband hotspot, using the same process as already described above. 
         [0036]    The scheduled connection request can be sent at a predetermined time to one or more paired devices. In this instance, the activation notification is sent to terminal device  111  at 3:30 A.M. This functionality allows terminal device  111  to connect to mobile broadband hotspot  101  without any user presence, for example to provide Internet connectivity for scheduled software updates. Applet message  215  indicates that terminal device  111  will automatically send a request to set mobile broadband hotspot  101  to access point mode within  20  seconds. If the user is present, the user may select accept button  216  with cursor  202   h  to immediately send the activation request, or the user may select cancel button  217  to cancel the scheduled activation request. Similarly, scheduled disconnection requests may also be sent at a predetermined time. In this manner, power consumption and battery life of all the devices may be extended by enabling mobile broadband hotspot  101  only as needed. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  presents an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of setting a mobile broadband hotspot to access point mode through an auxiliary radio transceiver. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart  300  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. While the method indicated in flowchart  300  is sufficient to describe one implementation of the present application, other implementations may utilize a different method. 
         [0038]    Referring to flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and system  100  of  FIG. 1 , flowchart  300  begins when processor  103  detects, using an auxiliary radio receiver, such as Bluetooth transceiver  105 , a request to activate the access point mode from a connecting device, such as terminal device  111  ( 310 ). As previously described, a user my cause terminal device  111  to send the request to activate the access point mode. In other situations, terminal device  111  may receive a scheduled connection request to activate or deactivate mobile broadband hotspot  101 , as described in  FIG. 2   c . 
         [0039]    Next, referring to flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and system  100  of  FIG. 1 , flowchart  300  proceeds as processor  103  enables the access point mode of mobile broadband hotspot  101  in response to receiving the request to activate ( 320 ). Once the activation request is received by Bluetooth transceiver  105 , mobile broadband hotspot  101  will enable its access point mode. As previously described, mobile broadband hotspot  101  may recognize and accept the activation request from terminal device  111  due to prior pairing between the two devices. 
         [0040]    Finally, referring to flowchart  300  in  FIG. 3  and system  100  of  FIG. 1 , flowchart  300  proceeds as processor  103  establishes, using a primary radio transceiver such as Wi-Fi transceiver  106 , a connection between mobile broadband hotspot  101  and a connecting device ( 330 ). As previously discussed, a pre-shared key (PSK) may be utilized to secure the connection. Mobile broadband hotspot  101  may establish a connection with the device that is sending the activation request, in which case the connecting device is terminal device  111 . However, in other implementations, terminal device  111  may also direct mobile broadband hotspot  101  to allow connection from another terminal device, such as terminal device  121 , thereby providing guest access. From the above description it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts described in the present application without departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover, while the concepts have been described with specific reference to certain implementations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of those concepts. As such, the described implementations are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the present application is not limited to the particular implementation described herein, but many rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from the present disclosure.