EP0622924A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless LAN access procedure
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1994-04-13
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2014-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is provided which permits mobile computers equipped with modems for cellular telephone systems to obtain various classes of data communication services, as well as voice service, including taking part in local-area networks. The LAN's may be composed of real LANs in establishments or of other mobile computers. In this way, mobile computers can take part in mainstream client-server computing and also establish ad hoc wireless LANs using the cellular telephone system.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin George Harrison
- 👤 Dieter Jaepel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W28/00; H04W28/02; H04W28/06; H04W28/065; H04W4/00; H04W4/18; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/10; H04W84/12; H04W84/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/912; Y10S370/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of transmitting data via a cellular telephone communication system comprising the steps of: a. transmitting fragments of a LAN MAC frame over a wireless link from a source computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem to a Cell Controller (CC); b. transporting fragments of the LAN MAC frame from the CC to a switch function at a Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO); c. routing the fragments of the LAN MAC frame through the switch function to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC); and d. re-assembling the LAN MAC frame from successive fragments received at the MDSC.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of transmitting data via a cellular telephone communication system comprising the steps of: a. receiving a LAN MAC Frame at a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC); b. dividing the LAN MAC frame into fragments; c. routing the fragments of the LAN MAC frame through a switch function at a Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO); d. transporting the fragments of the LAN MAC frame from a switch at the MTSO to a Cell Controller (CC); and e. transmitting the fragments of the LAN MAC frame over a wireless link from the CC to a computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, including the steps of: a. recognizing from a destination MAC address in the MAC frame that a destination computer is another computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem in the same cell or another cell controlled by the same MTSO; and b. relaying the LAN MAC frame to the destination computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, including the steps of: a. recognizing from a destination MAC address that a destination computer is not another computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem in the same cell or another cell controlled by the same MTSO; and b. relaying the MAC frame to a wide-area network interface module.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, including the steps of: a. recognizing from a destination MAC address that a destination computer is not a computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem in the same cell or another cell controlled by the same MTSO; and b. relaying the MAC frame to a Shadow PC in the MDSC.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the Shadow PC provides support for a source computer which is equipped with a wireless modem and which is taking part in LAN communication via the cellular telephone system with at least one other computer which is attached to a remote LAN or with the Shadow PC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the wide-area network interface module is a gateway into a packet-switched data network including the step of: a. routing the LAN MAC frame through the wide-area network to the gateway network to a LAN containing the destination computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 or 7, including the step of: merging into a common stream through said wide-area network, said LAN MAC frame and another MAC frame having destination MAC addresses on a common remote LAN.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as set forth in claim 4, 7 or 8, wherein the wide-area network interface module is a half-bridge interfaced to a connection-oriented data network including the step of: a. using one of an address and an identifier previously provided by the source computer to establish a connection through the wide-area network to a similar half-bridge which is attached to a LAN containing the destination computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 or 7 to 9, including the steps of: a. routing the LAN MAC frame through the wide area network to the gateway to a LAN containing the destination computer; and b. merging into a common stream through said wide-area network, said LAN MAC frame and another MAC frame having destination MAC addresses on a common remote LAN.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 or 7 to 10, wherein the wide-area network interface module is a half-bridge interfaced to a connection-oriented data network, including the step of: a. using one of an address and an identifier previously provided by the source computer to establish a connection to a similar half-bridge which is attached to another MDSC which communicates with the destination computer via another cellular telephone MTSO and CC.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
64 words
The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, wherein another computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem informs the MDSC at the time of registration of the association between LAN MAC addresses it expects to employ and an identifier which is an address or identifying number of half-bridges between connection-oriented data networks and the LANs containing these LAN MAC addresses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the identifier identifies one or more LAN addresses as belonging to computers equipped with cellular wireless modems.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 or 13, wherein the identifier is a network address or a telephone number.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as set forth in claim 3, 4 or 12, wherein a second computer equipped with a wireless modem establishes and takes part in LAN communication via the cellular telephone system with another computer equipped with a wireless modem in the same cell or another cell controlled by the same MTSO or by another MTSO.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as set forth in claim 4 or 7 to 9, wherein a second computer equipped with a wireless modem establishes and takes part in LAN communication via the cellular telephone system with another computer which is attached to a remote LAN.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method where a source computer attached to a Local Area Network (LAN) which is further attached to a gateway to a wide-area packet-switched data network establishes and takes part in LAN communication with a second computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem, comprising the steps of: a. using a mobile name-service to find an identifier of a gateway which is interfaced to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC) which communicates with a destination computer via a cellular telephone MTSO and CC; and b. establishing and taking part in LAN communication with said destination computer.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
107 words
A method where a source computer attached to a LAN which is further attached to a gateway to a wide-area connection-oriented data network establishes and takes part in LAN communication with a computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem, comprising the steps of: a. using a cellular telephone system's Home Location Register and Visitor Location Register services to find an identifier of a half-bridge which is interfaced to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC) which communicates with a destination computer via a cellular telephone Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO) and a Cell Control (CC); and b. establishing and taking part in LAN communication with said destination computer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of Local Area Network (LAN) communications between a first computer and at least one other computer comprising the steps of: a. establishing and taking part in LAN communication via either a wired connection to the LAN or a local wireless connection to the LAN; b. using a cellular wireless modem attached to the first computer to establish LAN communication to said at least one other computer; c. dropping the initial LAN communication via the wired or local wireless connection; and d. maintaining the LAN communication.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first computer is equipped with a wireless modem and which establishes and takes part in LAN communication via a cellular telephone system with said at least one other computer which is equipped with a wireless modem in the same cell or another cell controlled by the same Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO) or by a different MTSO.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first computer is equipped with a wireless modem and which establishes and takes part in LAN communication via a cellular telephone system with said at least one other computer which is attached to a remote LAN.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for transmitting data via a cellular telephone communication system, comprising: a. means for transmitting fragments of a LAN MAC frame over a wireless link from a source computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem to a Cell Controller (CC); b. means for transporting fragments of the LAN MAC frame from the CC to a switch function at a Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO); c. means for routing the fragments of the LAN MAC frame through the switch function to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC); and d. means for re-assembling the LAN MAC frame from successive fragments received at the MDSC.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for transmitting data via a cellular telephone communication system, comprising: a. means for receiving a LAN MAC Frame at a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC); b. means for dividing the LAN MAC frame into fragments; c. means for routing the fragments of the LAN MAC frame through a switch function at a Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO); d. means for transporting the fragments of the LAN MAC frame from a switch at the MTSO to a Cell Controller (CC); and e. means for transmitting the fragments of the LAN MAC frame over a wireless link from the CC to a computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
96 words
A system where a source computer attached to a Local Area Network (LAN) which is further attached to a gateway to a wide-area packet-switched data network establishes and takes part in LAN communication with a second computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem, comprising: a. means for using a mobile name-service to find an identifier of a gateway which is interfaced to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC) which communicates with a destination computer via a cellular telephone MTSO and CC; and b. means for establishing and taking part in LAN communication with said destination computer.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
108 words
A system where a source computer attached to a LAN which is further attached to a gateway to a wide-area connection-oriented data network establishes and takes part in LAN communication with a computer equipped with a cellular wireless modem, comprising: a. means for using a cellular telephone system's Home Location Register and Visitor Location Register services to find an identifier of a half-bridge which is interfaced to a Mobile Data Service Controller (MDSC) which communicates with a destination computer via a cellular telephone Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO) and a Cell Control (CC); and b. means for establishing and taking part in LAN communication with said destination computer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
93 words
A system of Local Area Network (LAN) communications between a first computer and at least one other computer, comprising: a. means for initially establishing and taking part in LAN communication via either a wired connection to the LAN or a local wireless connection to the LAN; b. means for using a cellular wireless modem attached to the first computer to establish LAN communication to said at least one other computer; c. means for dropping the initial LAN communication via the wired or local wireless connection; and d. means for maintaining the LAN communication.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.