US 2002/0058504 A1 · Ad hoc peer-to-peer mobile radio access system interfaced to the PSTN and cellular networks

Abstract

An ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio access system for cellular communications systems using time division duplex as a way of maximizing the bits/hz/k2 for cellular systems. The network architecture of the ad-hoc system allows the radio access to be integrated with the fixed components of a conventional cellular system, PSTN or ISP. The objective is to make the system of the invention transparent to the features and services provided by the external network. The advantages of such a system to a cellular operator are that significantly less infrastructure is required, and that the RF spectrum is more efficiently utilized resulting in much lower building and operating costs. The system architecture is comprised of remote terminals, routers, gateways, and at least one gateway controller that interfaces the ad-hoc system to a cellular network system. The ad-hoc system of the invention allows for both voice and data transmissions and receptions.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An ad-hoc radio system comprising:

a series of remote radio terminals each comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor, said control processor comprising software means for determining a routing path of a call;
at least one gateway in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio terminals;
a gateway controller in operative communication with said at least one gateway;
said gateway controller comprising a wide area network (WAN), call control and routing means for directing calls to a destination, and interconnecting means for connecting said WAN to an external network, whereby originating calls from a said radio terminal may be directed to a destination serviced by the external network and calls originating from the external network may be directed to a said radio terminal;
said call control and routing means comprising routing information means for directing an originating call from a said radio terminal to its destination via the intermediary of said at least one gateway and the external network, and for directing a call from an external network to a said radio terminal via said at least one gateway.

2 more elements

In an ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote radio terminals each comprising a radio transceiver and a control processor for said transceiver, said control processor comprising memory means, each said radio terminal comprising software means for determining a routing path of a call made from said radio terminal or to be received by said radio terminal, said software means comprising means for establishing said radio terminal as one node in the routing path of another said radio terminal, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of gateways, each said gateway being in operative communication with at least some of said series of remote radio terminals;
a gateway controller in operative communication with said plurality of gateways;
said gateway controller comprising a wide area network (WAN), call control and routing means for directing calls to a destination, and interconnecting means for connecting said WAN to an external network, whereby originating calls from a said radio terminal may be directed to a destination serviced by the external network, and calls originating from the external network may be directed to a said radio terminal;
said call control and routing means comprising routing information means for directing an originating call from a said radio terminal to its destination via the intermediary of at least one said gateway and the external network, and for directing a call from an external network to a said radio terminal via at least one said gateway.

1 more element

In a switched cellular network comprising a series of base stations, a mobile switching center (MSC), and remote radio terminals serviced by said base stations, the improvement comprising:

an ad-hoc radio system operatively connected to said MSC;
said ad-hoc radio system comprising a series of remote ad-hoc radio devices, at least one gateway with which at least some of said remote ad-hoc radio devices are registered and in communication, and a gateway controller;
said gateway controller comprising means for coupling said remote ad-hoc radio devices to said MSC of said switched cellular network, whereby an originating outgoing call made by a said remote ad-hoc radio device may be connected to a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network via said gateway controller and said MSC, and whereby an incoming call from a said remote radio terminal of said switched cellular network make be connected to a said remote ad-hoc radio device via said MSC and said gateway controller.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ad hoc peer-to-peer mobile radio access system interfaced to the PSTN and cellular networks

Life of this patent

Ad hoc peer-to-peer mobile radio access system interfaced to the PSTN and cellular networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31