14110results about "Wireless network protocols" patented technology

A system and method are disclosed for providing ubiquitous public network access to wireless, mobile terminals using private networks having private network access points and connections with the public network. The wireless, mobile terminals are permitted to use wireless, radio frequency communication devices comprising private network access points. A network access server (NAS) is associated with each wireless, radio frequency communication device and provides an interface between the wireless, mobile terminals and the private network. The NAS controls registration of wireless, mobile terminals as subscribers, and provides public network access to the mobile terminals through the private network's access point and public network connection. The NAS also restricts access by the mobile terminals to the private network, meters network useage by the mobile terminals, and controls use of bandwidth by the mobile terminals. The NAS also interfaces with integration operator distributed services over the public network. The integration operator services include databases and servers for storing and providing subscriber and network provider information for subscriber registration, network access and useage control, and accounting purposes. The NAS may be provided as a standalone element embodied in a computer, or may be integrated with the wireless radio frequency device and/or a network adaptor device for the private network.

A mobile computer system capable of seamless roaming between wireless communication networks includes data processing resources for executing software, a plurality of wireless interfaces that supports simultaneous wireless connections with first and second wireless communication networks, and a network access arbitrator that routes data communicated between the software executed by the data processing resources and the first and second wireless communication networks. To permit seamless roaming, the network access arbitrator routes the data to the first wireless communication network via a first wireless interface and then seamlessly reroutes the data to a second wireless communication network via a second wireless interface. According to one embodiment, the network access arbitrator reroutes the data in response to the data bandwidths of the connections with the first and second wireless communication networks.

A network-based mobile workgroup system has considerably wider appeal and application than normal virtual private networks in that it provides seamless mobility across a number of access technologies at the same time as it offers a granular security separation down to workgroup level. The mobile workgroup system is an access management system for mobile users with VPN and firewall functionality inbuilt. The mobile user can access the mobile workgroup system over a set of access technologies and select server resources and correspondent nodes to access pending their workgroup membership approvals. All workgroup policy rules are defined in a mobile service manager and pushed down to one or more mobile service routers for policy enforcement. The mobile service router closest to the mobile client, and being part of the mobile virtual private network, performs regular authentication checks of the mobile client during service execution. At the same time it performs traffic filtering based on the mobile user's workgroup memberships. Together, these two components constitute an unprecedented security lock, effectively isolating a distributed workgroup into a mobile virtual private network.

A nomadic router or translator enables a laptop computer or other portable terminal which is configured to be connected to a home network to be connected to any location on the internet or other digital data communication system. The router automatically and transparently re-configures the terminal to its new location and processes outgoing and incoming data. The router includes a processor which appears as the home network to the terminal, and appears as the terminal to the communication system. The terminal has a permanent address, the router has a router or translator address, and the terminal transmits outgoing data to the system including the permanent address as a source address. The processor translates the outgoing data by replacing the permanent address with the router address as the source address. The terminal receives incoming data from the system including the router address as a destination address, and the processor translates the incoming data by replacing the router address with the permanent address as the destination address. Alternatively, the terminal can be directly connected to a point on a local network, and the router connected to another point on the network. The router can be employed to implement numerous applications including nomadic e-mail, network file synchronizer, database synchronizer, instant network, nomadic internet and trade show router and can also be utilized as a fixed nomadic router.

A wireless quality of service (QoS) agent for an all-Internet Protocol (IP) network. The QoS agent couples to an all-IP network. The coupling means includes communication means for transfer of information between the agent and a QoS manager of the all-IP network. The agent is also able to seamlessly extend QoS support for multimedia applications from wireline to wireless and control QoS of the multimedia applications sent over wireless connections on the all-IP network.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A wireless cellular network for transmitting subscriber datastream(s) to corresponding ones among a plurality of subscriber units located within the cellular network is disclosed. The wireless cellular network includes base stations and a logic. The base stations each include spatially separate transmitters for transmitting, in response to control signals, selected substreams of each subscriber datastream on an assigned channel of a multiple access protocol. The logic communicates with each of the base stations. The logic assigns an available channel on which to transmit each subscriber datastream. The logic routes at least a substream of each datastream to at least a selected one of the base stations. The logic also generates control signals to configure the at least a selected one of the base stations to transmit the selected substreams to a corresponding one among the plurality of subscriber units on the assigned channel. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is also disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream.

An integrated passive wireless chip diagnostic sensor system is described that can be interrogated remotely with a wireless device such as a modified cell phone incorporating multi-protocol RFID reader capabilities (such as the emerging Gen-2 standard) or Bluetooth, providing universal easy to use, low cost and immediate quantitative analyses, geolocation and sensor networking capabilities to users of the technology. The present invention can be integrated into various diagnostic platforms and is applicable for use with low power sensors such as thin films, MEMS, electrochemical, thermal, resistive, nano or microfluidic sensor technologies. Applications of the present invention include on-the-spot medical and self-diagnostics on smart skin patches, Point of Care (POC) analyses, food diagnostics, pathogen detection, disease-specific wireless biomarker detection, remote structural stresses detection and sensor networks for industrial or Homeland Security using low cost wireless devices such as modified cell phones.

In a radio access network (24) a femto radio base station (28_f) comprises a resident receiver (54) which acquires system information broadcast in a radio access network (24). At least part of the system information is used for building, at the femto radio base station (28_f), a neighbor data structure (59) comprising information for neighboring cells. The neighbor data structure (59) is then used for building a neighbor list. The neighbor list is subsequently transmitted from the femto radio base station (28_f) to a user equipment unit (30) served by the femto radio base station (28_f). In some example embodiments and modes, the femto radio base station (28_f) reports the neighbor data structure to a network node (26, 100) other than the femto radio base station. The other node (26, 100) uses the neighbor data structure for building the neighbor list at the other node. In some example embodiments and modes, acquisition of the system information comprises scanning a surrounding macro coverage area of the femto radio base station for obtaining cell identity information for detected cells. In other example embodiments and modes, the acquisition of the system information can additionally comprise camping on a macro cell and using/consulting at least one system information block in the camped-on macro cell is consulted/used for obtaining information about at least one neighboring cell.

A method of communicating information associated with provisioning of a service in a communication system and arrangement for the same is disclosed. In the method information about possible associations between an identifier of a mobile user equipment (10) and user plane addresses is stored in storage means (34). A service provisioning entity may receive a request for the service from a client (24) connected to the communication system. Said request includes an identifier of the mobile user equipment. It is verified if a user plane address can be found from the storage means based on the identifier. If such a user plane address is found from the storage means, data associated with provisioning of the requested service is communicated to the mobile user equipment over a user plane connection associated with said address found from the storage means. If no user plane address can be found from the storage means based on the identifier, a new user plane connection is established, and data associated with provisioning of the requested service is communicated to the mobile user equipment over said established user plane connection.

A seamless solution transparently addresses the characteristics of nomadic systems, and enables existing network applications to run reliably in mobile environments. A Mobility Management Server coupled to the mobile network maintains the state of each of any number of Mobile End Systems and handles the complex session management required to maintain persistent connections to the network and to other peer processes. If a Mobile End System becomes unreachable, suspends, or changes network address (e.g., due to roaming from one network interconnect to another), the Mobility Management Server maintains the connection to the associated peer task—allowing the Mobile End System to maintain a continuous connection even though it may temporarily lose contact with its network medium. An interface-based listener uses network point of attachment information supplied by a network interface to determine roaming conditions and to efficiently reestablish connection upon roaming. The Mobility Management Server can distribute lists to Mobile End Systems specifying how to contact it over disjoint networks.

A system and method for providing network access are disclosed. After connecting to a network at an access point, a user of a computing device registers for network access with a network provider. In response to the registration, the network provider sends a completion page to the computing device. The completion page includes a link to an embedded file such as a small, transparent GIF image. When the computing device retrieves the embedded file, the embedded file is associated with a header than includes an instruction to generate a network system identifier (e.g., a cookie). The network system identifier may be stored by the computing device and later used to identify the computing device as a registrant for network access with the network provider. The embedded file may also be sent at other times, such as after authentication of the user for network access.

A system and method has been disclosed for controlling the transmission flow rate of data bits in a data bit transfer session from a serving entity to a client, the session involving bit transfer over a wireless communications link, the method comprising: setting up the session, included establishing the addressing, by providing a radio control node to establish flow rate parameters relating to the wireless link, monitoring the wireless communication link; based on monitoring, sending new flow rate parameters so that the serving entity can update the transmission rate of the session in accordance with the new rate control parameters.

Techniques are provided IP address assignment and management in a wireless network. Such a wireless network can comprise a plurality of wireless clients, a registration server, a plurality of wireless switches each being configured to support a particular subnet. Each wireless client can generate a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request for an Internet Protocol (IP) address when the client either powers up in of moves to a new subnet, 802.11 authenticates and associates and 802.1x authenticates. The wireless switches can communicate with the registration server over an IP tunnel. For example, each wireless switch can receive the DHCP requests from wireless clients associated with the subnet of the wireless switch, and forward the DHCP requests to the registration server. The registration server can receive the forwarded DHCP requests, and assign IP addresses to the wireless clients based on the forwarded DHCP requests.

A method and system to provide push-to-talk from one user to another in a wireless packet data telecommunications network is described. The system may include: a wireless communication network including push-to-talk (PTT) functionality, with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy Server; a SIP Registrar and Location Server operable to store contact addresses of active mobile devices; a Realtime Transport Protocol (RTP) Media Gateway (PTT Server) operable to function as a call endpoint for each of a plurality of mobile devices wherein the plurality of mobile devices are segmented into membership groups, the PTT Server further operable to multicast a communication from one member of the group to the other members of the group; and an Internet Protocol (IP) network interconnecting the SIP Proxy server, the SIP Registrar and Location Server, and the PTT Server.

A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system includes: a wireless base station communicating via a packet-centric protocol to a first data network; one or more host workstations communicating via the packet-centric protocol to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations coupled with the wireless base station over a shared bandwidth via the packet-centric protocol over a wireless medium; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled via the packet-centric protocol to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network. The packet-centric protocol can be transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). The packet-centric protocol can be a user datagram protocol/internet protocol (UDP/IP). The system can include a resource allocation means for allocating shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations. The resource allocation is performed to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS). The wireless communication medium can include at least one of: a radio frequency (RF) communications medium; a cable communications medium; and a satellite communications medium. The wireless communication medium can further include a telecommunications access method including at least one of: a time division multiple access (TDMA) access method; a time division multiple access/time division duplex (TDMA/TDD) access method; a code division multiple access (CDMA) access method; and a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) access method.

The first data network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN). The second network includes at least one of: a wireline network; a wireless network; a local area network (LAN); and a wide area network (WAN).

Adaptive ambient services are provided. In some embodiments, an adaptive ambient service includes providing an ambient service profile. In some embodiments, an ambient service includes implementing an ambient service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of an ambient service on a wireless network, in which the ambient service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and in which the ambient service profile is associated with an ambient service plan that provides for initial access to the ambient service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan; monitoring use of the ambient service based on the ambient service profile; and adapting the ambient service profile based on the monitored use of the ambient service.

A method and system for queuing traffic in a wireless network includes receiving a stream of packets for transmission in the wireless network. Each packet includes a flow identifier and is assigned to one of the plurality of virtual groups based on the flow identifier. The virtual groups include discrete transmission resources. Each packet is queued in an assigned virtual group for transmission in the wireless network.

A system and method for providing connectivity to a foreign network for a device configured for communication over a home network without reconfiguring the device include intercepting packets transmitted by the device, selectively modifying intercepted packets which are incompatible with the foreign network to be compatible with network settings of the foreign network, and selectively providing network services for the device corresponding to network services available on the home network to reduce the delay associated with accessing the network services from the foreign network, or to provide network services otherwise inaccessible from the foreign network. Network services are provided by or through a configuration adapter connected to the device or to the foreign network. The configuration adapter accommodates incompatibilities resulting from proxy server requests, domain name server requests, and/or outgoing email service requests to provide transparent network access for mobile users without reconfiguration of the users computing device.

A mobile node includes a processor, a network interface, and a storage device having computer program code for execution by the processor. The computer program code includes a network layer for transmitting and receiving packets and an intermediate driver that transmits packets to the network layer and receives packets from the network layer using a virtual internet protocol (IP) address to identify the mobile node. The intermediate driver transmits packets to the network interface and receives packets from the network interface using a routable actual IP address to identify the mobile node. The intermediate driver permits the actual IP address to change when the mobile node moves from a first subnet to a second subnet without a corresponding change in the virtual IP address. A corresponding NAT associates the virtual IP address with a second actual IP address when the NAT is notified that the mobile node is in the second subnet.

A method and apparatus maintains, during non-session conditions and on a per user basis, concurrent multimodal session status information of user agent programs configured for different concurrent modality communication during the same session, and re-establish a concurrent multimodal session in response to accessing the concurrent multimodal session status information.

A networking protocol includes definitions of quality of service enhancements to provide reliable multimedia data stream connections in wireless computer networks. These enhancements may be implemented as extensions to packet headers, such as a multimedia control field made up of various sub fields.

A method is described of automatically locating and connecting a mobile wireless communications device to a packet-switched network such as the Internet. An Internet Protocol (IP) packet from a terminal on the network, destined for receipt by the mobile device, is received at a home agent acting as a gateway or router linking the packet switched network to a second network, such as LAN, coupled to a wireless communications network. The home agent transmits an access-request message to an authentication server. The access-request message includes a destination IP address associated with the mobile device found in the IP packet. The authentication server responsively issues an access-accept message to the home agent if the mobile device is authorized to receive the IP packet. The access-accept message comprises (a) information uniquely identifying said device, such as the IMSI/ESN number for the device, and (b) information identifying a network to use to locate said device. The home agent issues a message containing the information uniquely identifying the device to a mobile node location server. The mobile node location server maintains a table mapping IP addresses for a plurality of mobile communication devices to information uniquely identifying the devices. In the event that the mobile node location server does not find an IP address for the device in the table, the device is paged via the wireless communications network. In response to the page, the mobile device dials into the wireless communications network and second network and initiates a connection to the packet switched network whereby the IP packet is transmitted to the device.