Wired Telephone Switch Virtual Roaming for Rural Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face limitations in integrating wireless and wired networks, leading to poor quality of service and inadequate coverage in rural areas due to the lack of seamless integration between wireless and wired telephony switches.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows wireless devices to register with a wired telephone switch, enabling call routing to a standard telephone through a mobile switching center and virtual location register, using a temporary locator number for routing incoming calls, thereby integrating wireless and wired networks for improved service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wireless networks are expanded to cover rural areas, then coverage area is improved, but service cost increases due to large geographic areas and limited population

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidservice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wired telephone network as an intermediary infrastructure to extend wireless service coverage to rural areas. Instead of deploying wireless infrastructure everywhere, the system uses existing wired telephone lines to provide backhaul connectivity, allowing wireless devices to connect to the core network through nearby wired telephone switches. This mediator approach leverages the already-deployed wired infrastructure to avoid the high cost of building new wireless infrastructure in remote areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If wireless-to-wireless calls are made, then convenience is improved, but quality of service deteriorates due to poor call quality and dropped calls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidquality of service
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wired telephone network as an intermediary infrastructure to extend wireless service coverage to rural areas. Instead of deploying wireless infrastructure everywhere, the system uses existing wired telephone lines to provide backhaul connectivity, allowing wireless devices to connect to the core network through nearby wired telephone switches. This mediator approach leverages the already-deployed wired infrastructure to avoid the high cost of building new wireless infrastructure in remote areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication path into wireless access segments and wired backhaul segments. Wireless devices connect to local base stations for access, while the wired telephone network handles the backhaul transport to the core network. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized independently - wireless for mobility and wired for reliability - thereby maintaining convenience while improving overall service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If wireless and wired networks are integrated, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration challenges between switches and devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidswitch integration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the wired telephone switch multi-functional by enabling it to perform both traditional wired telephony functions and wireless access gateway functions. The wired switch is enhanced to handle wireless device registrations, manage temporary locator numbers, and route calls between wired and wireless networks. This universality allows a single infrastructure element to serve multiple purposes, reducing the need for separate dedicated wireless infrastructure and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7890111B2System and method for virtual wireless roaming
Publication Date: 2011.02.15 CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
  • US7890111B2 patent drawing
  • US7890111B2 patent drawing
  • US7890111B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method is provided for call routing from a wired telephone switch. A wireless device is registered with a database of the wired telephone switch. Incoming wireless calls destined for the wireless device are routed to a standard telephone. The wireless device is unregistered to disable the call routing to the standard telephone.