Cellular Phone Wireless Access Point for Laptop Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless network access systems, such as cellular telephones and laptops, face challenges in maintaining connectivity when out of range of wireless network access points, leading to disruptions in Internet and Intranet access.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that equips a cellular telephone with a wireless packet network controller and a wireless network access point controller, allowing it to function as a wireless access point for laptops, using the cellular network to establish a connection when traditional WiFi or enterprise networks are unavailable, and managing this connection based on user presence status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laptop or cellular telephone uses a traditional wireless network access point (hot spot), then wireless network access is available when in range, but wireless network access cannot be accomplished when out of range of the hot spot
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular telephone is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a traditional cellular phone and as a wireless network access point (hot spot). The telephone includes a wireless network interface card and access point controller that enable it to function as an 802.11 access point, allowing laptops to connect to the packet network through the cellular network when traditional WiFi hot spots are unavailable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cellular telephone acts as an intermediary device between the packet network and the laptop computer. It receives packet network signals through its wireless interface, processes them, and retransmits them to the laptop via WiFi, thereby mediating the connection when direct laptop-to-hotspot communication is not possible.
2Reliability
If a cellular telephone functions as a wireless access point for packet network access, then continuous network access is ensured, but expensive cellular data plans are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different network modes based on availability and cost considerations. The cellular telephone can operate in packet network mode when connected to inexpensive data services, and fall back to voice network mode with circuit-switched data when packet network resources are unavailable or too expensive, optimizing resource utilization based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different network protocols and modes. It can use packet-switched data services when available for cost-effective continuous access, and transition to circuit-switched voice network data services when packet network access is unavailable, thereby adapting to varying network conditions and cost structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network interface cards are integrated into a single device, then versatile network access options are provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network interface functions into a single cellular telephone device. It integrates a cellular telephone interface, a packet network interface card, and an 802.11 wireless network access point controller all within one device, enabling versatile network access while consolidating hardware and software resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The cellular telephone is designed as a universal communication device that can perform multiple network access functions: traditional cellular voice and data, packet network access, and wireless access point for other devices. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices for each network type.
Data Source
AI summary
A telecommunications system includes a wireless packet network; a cellular telephone network; at least one computing device including a wireless network interface card for communicating over the wireless packet network; at least one cellular telephone device, the cellular telephone device having a cellular telephone mode for communicating over the cellular network and a packet network mode for communicating over the packet network; a presence server on said packet network; wherein the cellular telephone device is configured to function as a wireless access point for said at least one computing device by interfacing the wireless network interface card to the wireless packet network via the cellular network; wherein the presence server communicates with said at least one cellular telephone device to activate and deactivate said wireless access point based on a presence status.