US 9,872,339 B2Granted

Multi-service provider wireless access point

AssigneeCenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC

InventorsRobert J. Morrill, Charles I. Cook

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Novel tools and techniques that can provide wireless service for multiple service providers from a single, multi-service provider wireless access point. In an aspect, a multi-service provider wireless access point might communicate with a plurality of wireless devices, each associated with a different wireless carrier, and route communications from each device to the appropriate carrier (and/or, similarly, transmit communications from each carrier to the appropriate wireless device). In this way, for example, a single wireless access point could provide service to cellphones of subscribers of a number of different carriers. Such a wireless access point can provide enhanced efficiency and reduced cost, along with the ability to provide higher service for a number of wireless carriers.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method of providing wireless service for multiple service providers from a single access point, the method comprising:

providing a multi-service provider wireless access point having one or more radios to communicate with wireless devices and an uplink interface to provide an uplink connection to a plurality of wireless service providers;
providing a plurality of dedicated communication links, each of the plurality of dedicated communication links providing secure communication between the uplink interface and one of the wireless service providers;
receiving, at the multi-service provider wireless access point, communications from a plurality of wireless devices, the communications comprising a first communication from a first wireless device served by a first wireless service provider;
and
transmitting the first communication to the first wireless service provider over a first dedicated communication link associated with the first service provider;
compiling performance statistics based on the communications from the plurality of wireless devices;
and
categorizing the performance statistics by the first wireless service provider.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/808,973Filed 24 Jul 2015 · continuation
Priority: 5 Jul 2012
Published: US 2015/0334647 A119 Nov 2015
Granted: 16 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H04W 88/10
Access point devices: adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
H04L 12/4633
Interconnection of networks: interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
H04L 12/4641
Interconnection of networks: virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN]
H04M 15/51
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: for…

Family

Application13/541,839Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Jul 2012
Application13/827,163Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Mar 2013
US 2015/0334647 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Nov 2015
US 9,392,641 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,497,800 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application13/827,163Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0010149 A1Published application
US 2014/0010171 A1Published application
US 9,125,233 B2Related patent
US 9,872,339 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.