Enabling permissionless cellular roaming connections between user equipment and radio access networks
AssigneeDISH Wireless L.L.C.
InventorJennings Orcutt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radio access network (“RAN”) includes a transceiver for receiving a request from user equipment (“UE”) to join the RAN. The RAN also includes a processor that is configured for: responding to the UE request by sending a message directly from the RAN to the UE to offer a set of first terms for the UE to use a cellular network of the RAN; receiving a response from the UE agreeing to the set of first terms; and in response to the UE agreeing to the set of first terms, connecting the UE to use a cellular network of the RAN.
Claims19
A radio access network (“RAN”) comprising:
- a transceiver configured for communicating with user equipment (“UE”);
- and
- a processor configured for:
- receiving a request from a UE to access the RAN;
- determining a current rate for the UE to use a cellular network of the RAN based on the request;
- automatically negotiating an agreement between the UE and the RAN, including:
- sending a message directly from the RAN to the UE with a set of first terms that includes the current rate for the UE to use the cellular network of the RAN;
- and
- receiving a response directly from the UE that accepts the set of first terms or that includes a second term that is different from at least one term in the set of first terms;
- and
- in response to the UE accepting to the set of first terms or the RAN accepting the second term, authorizing the UE to use the cellular network of the RAN.
A method of user equipment (“UE”) connecting to a radio access network (“RAN”), the method comprising:
- receiving, at the RAN, a request from user equipment (“UE”) to join the RAN, the request comprising information identifying the UE;
- determining a current rate for the UE to use a cellular network of the RAN based on the request;
- automatically negotiating an agreement between the UE and the RAN, including:
- responding, from the RAN, to the UE request by sending a message from the RAN directly to the UE with a set of first terms that includes the current rate for the UE to use a the cellular network of the RAN;
- and
- receiving, directly from the UE, a response from the UE that accepts the set of first terms;
- and
- in response to the UE accepting the set of first terms, authorizing the UE to use the cellular network of the RAN.
A system comprising:
- a radio access network (“RAN”) comprising a RAN transmitter and a RAN processor;
- and
- user equipment (“UE”) comprising a UE transceiver configured to identify in response to the RAN being within range of the UE,
- wherein the RAN processor is configured for:
- receiving a request from a UE to access the RAN;
- determining a current rate for the UE to use a cellular network of the RAN based on the request;
- automatically negotiating an agreement between the UE and the RAN, including:
- sending a message directly from the RAN to the UE with a set of first terms that includes the current rate for the UE to use the cellular network of the RAN;
- receiving a response directly from the UE that includes a second term that is different from at least one term in the set of first terms;
- and
- in response to the RAN accepting the second term, authorizing the UE to use the cellular network of the RAN.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.