Intelligent network access control

#The technical field is wireless communications.

#A key performance indicator of any wireless network is its coverage. In addition to providing an evolving set of features to customers, the most successful wireless networks are those that provide ubiquitous coverage and service to as broad a base of subscribers as possible. Because of the emphasis on coverage, these same networks seldom, if ever, provide methods of restricted or controlled access for targeted areas in the network. However, with heightened security concerns, and for other reasons, targeted wireless access restriction may be an important consideration, especially in a localized area, and/or for specific time periods.

#An intelligent network access controller (INAC) creates a local wireless network and dynamically controls access by wireless devices to a macro wireless network underlying the local wireless network. The INAC includes means for registering the wireless devices, wherein the devices are identified and classified, and wherein the devices comprise one of allowed, restricted, and unknown; means for dynamically determining characteristic values of the devices; means for granting access by the devices to the macro network based on the dynamically determined characteristics of the devices; and means for locking devices to the local wireless network based on the dynamically determined characteristics.

#The detailed description will refer to the following figures in which like numerals refer to like items, and in which:

#FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a wireless network incorporating an exemplary intelligent network access controller;

#FIG. 1B is a more detailed block diagram of the exemplary intelligent network access controller of FIG. 1A;

#A key performance indicator of any wireless network is its coverage. The most successful wireless networks are those that have ever-expanding coverage, independent of time, to provide ubiquitous service to any and all subscribers and roaming users. Because of the emphasis on coverage, these same networks seldom, if ever, operate so as to restrict access. However, with heightened security concerns, and for other reasons, wireless access restriction may be an important consideration, especially in a localized area, and/or for specific time periods.

#Current systems that impose some type of wireless access restriction function may employ jamming equipment to block wireless signals in a particular area. Other systems rely on shutdown of a cell or sector. These current wireless access restriction solutions do not discriminate among users. Instead, these solutions impose a total prohibition on wireless communications. Furthermore, these current solutions are complicated and expensive to invoke. Finally, with these current solutions, if a situation requires that certain personnel (e.g., emergency response personnel) be able to communicate using wireless communications, a secondary communications network must be established since jamming or cell shutdown prohibits all wireless communications for a given wireless technology.

#One challenge in trying to restrict wireless access is that in most cases jamming works across a spectrum of radio frequencies and jams the use of the entire frequency spectrum regardless of the wireless technology or technologies deployed in the spectrum. Thus, for jamming to be effective and efficient, a localized communications network must be established with its own technology, unique devices, and spectrum, further complicating the jamming setup and operations.