Patent US6487402B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6487402B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for providing access to a wireless communication service to a group of subscribers who share a set of modems
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-26
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Granted: 2002-11-26
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Expires: 2019-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for transparently providing access to a wireless communication service to a group of subscribers who share a set of modems, where each subscriber in the group is provided with a subscriber unit and each subscriber in the group is associated with static and dynamic authentication information. According to one embodiment, the system includes a transceiver system for transmitting radio wave frequency signals to and receiving radio wave frequency signals from a base station; a set of modems, wherein each modem in the set is coupled to the transceiver system; a set of subscriber units, wherein each subscriber unit is associated with authentication information; a switch coupled to each of the modems and coupled to each of the subscriber units; a control system in communication with the switch and each of the modems; and a database for storing the authentication information, wherein the database is accessible to the control system. The control system determines an available modem from the set of modems when one of the subscriber units is activated. Further, the control system directs the switch to connect the activated subscriber unit with the available modem, retrieves from the database authentication information associated with the activated subscriber unit, and provides the available modem with the retrieved authentication information. In this manner, the authentication information associated with the activated subscriber unit is provided to the modem that is handling the call. Consequently, the modem handling the call can transparently authenticate the subscriber unit in the same manner as in a conventional wireless communication service.
Inventors
- 👤 Juan Faus
- 👤 Janet Ackermann
- 👤 Philip T. Mueller, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W12/00; H04W12/06; H04W12/062; H04W12/069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a concentrated subscriber system, a method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is associated with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the activation of one of the subscriber units; (b) selecting a modem from the plurality of modems; (c) coupling said activated subscriber unit with said selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between said activated subscriber unit and the selected modem; and (d) providing dynamic authentication information to said selected modem, wherein said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is the dynamic authentication information associated with the subscriber to which said activated subscriber unit is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a concentrated subscriber system, a method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is associated with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the activation of one of the subscriber units; (b) selecting a modem from the plurality of modems; (c) coupling said activated subscriber unit with said selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between said activated subscriber unit and the selected modem; and (d) providing dynamic authentication information to said selected modem, wherein said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is the dynamic authentication information associated with the subscriber to which said activated subscriber unit is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing in a database the dynamic authentication information associated with each subscriber in the group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of retrieving dynamic authentication information from said database, wherein the dynamic authentication information retrieved from said database is the dynamic authentication information associated with the subscriber to which said activated subscriber unit is provided.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is said dynamic authentication information retrieved from said database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of storing in said selected modem said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of: modifying said dynamic authentication information stored in said selected modem in response to said selected modem receiving an update message from a base station; and storing said modified dynamic authentication information in said selected modem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of storing said modified dynamic authentication information in said database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing in each of the plurality of modems the static authentication information associated with each subscriber in the group.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining whether one of the plurality of modems is available to process a call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of transmitting a busy signal to said activated subscriber unit if none of the plurality of modems are available to process a call.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a concentrated subscriber system, a method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an incoming call addressed to one of the subscribers in the group; (b) determining a called subscriber, wherein said called subscriber is the subscriber in the group to which said incoming call is addressed; (c) selecting an available modem from the plurality of modems; (d) coupling the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber with siad selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber and the selected modem; and (e) providing dynamic authentication information to said selected modem, wherein said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is the dynamic authentication information associated with said called subscriber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a concentrated subscriber system, a method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting an incoming call addressed to one of the subscribers in the group; (b) determining a called subscriber, wherein said called subscriber is the subscriber in the group to which said incoming call is addressed; (c) selecting an available modem from the plurality of modems; (d) coupling the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber with siad selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber and the selected modem; and (e) providing dynamic authentication information to said selected modem, wherein said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is the dynamic authentication information associated with said called subscriber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing in a database the dynamic authentication information associated with each subscriber in the group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of retrieving dynamic authentication information from said database, wherein the dynamic authentication information retrieved from said database is the dynamic authentication information associated with said called subscriber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem is said dynamic authentication information retrieved from said database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of storing in said selected modem said dynamic authentication information provided to said selected modem.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: modifying said dynamic authentication information stored in said selected modem in response to said selected modem receiving an update message from a base station; and storing said modified dynamic authentication information in said selected modem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of storing said modified dynamic authentication information in said database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of storing in each of the plurality of modems the static authentication information associated with each subscriber in the group.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: determining if the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber is in use; and transmitting a busy signal to a base station if the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber is in use.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
186 words
A concentrated subscriber system, comprising: a transceiver system for transmitting radio wave frequency signals to and receiving radio wave frequency signals from a base station; a plurality of modems, each of said plurality of modems being coupled to said transceiver system; a plurality of subscriber units, each of said plurality of subscriber units having associated unique static and dynamic authentication information; a switch coupled to each of said plurality of modems and coupled to each of said plurality of subscriber units; a control system in communication with said switch and each of said plurality of modems; and a database for storing at least the dynamic authentication information, said database being accessible to said control system, wherein said control system determines an available modem from said plurality of modems when one of said plurality of subscriber units is activated, directs said switch to connect said one of said plurality of subscriber units with said available modem, retrieves from said database the stored dynamic authentication information associated with said one of said plurality of subscriber units, and provides said available modem with said retrieved stored dynamic authentication information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
186 words
A concentrated subscriber system, comprising: a transceiver system for transmitting radio wave frequency signals to and receiving radio wave frequency signals from a base station; a plurality of modems, each of said plurality of modems being coupled to said transceiver system; a plurality of subscriber units, each of said plurality of subscriber units having associated unique static and dynamic authentication information; a switch coupled to each of said plurality of modems and coupled to each of said plurality of subscriber units; a control system in communication with said switch and each of said plurality of modems; and a database for storing at least the dynamic authentication information, said database being accessible to said control system, wherein said control system determines an available modem from said plurality of modems when one of said plurality of subscriber units is activated, directs said switch to connect said one of said plurality of subscriber units with said available modem, retrieves from said database the stored dynamic authentication information associated with said one of said plurality of subscriber units, and provides said available modem with said retrieved stored dynamic authentication information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The concentrated subscriber system of claim 20 , wherein when the concentrated subscriber system is initialized, said control system provides each of said plurality of modems with the static authentication information corresponding to each of said plurality of subscriber units.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The concentrated subscriber system of claim 20 , wherein said available modem modifies the dynamic authentication information provided to it from said control system, in response to receiving a message from said base station, said available modem communicates said modified dynamic authentication information to said control system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The concentrated subscriber system of claim 22 , wherein said control system stores said modified dynamic authentication information in said database.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) providing each of the plurality of modems with each subscriber's static and dynamic authentication information; (b) detecting an incoming call addressed to one of the subscribers in the group; (c) determining a called subscriber, wherein said called subscriber is the subscriber in the group to which said incoming call is addressed; (d) selecting an available modem from the plurality of modems; (e) coupling the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber with said selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber and the selected modem; (f) receiving updated dynamic authentication information from said selected modem; and (g) providing said updated dynamic authentication information to each of the plurality of modems except said selected modem.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
181 words
A method for providing a group of subscribers with access to a wireless communication service, wherein each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with a subscriber unit, each subscriber in the group of subscribers is provided with static and dynamic authentication information, and the group of subscribers share a plurality of modems, comprising the steps of: (a) providing each of the plurality of modems with each subscriber's static and dynamic authentication information; (b) detecting an incoming call addressed to one of the subscribers in the group; (c) determining a called subscriber, wherein said called subscriber is the subscriber in the group to which said incoming call is addressed; (d) selecting an available modem from the plurality of modems; (e) coupling the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber with said selected modem, thereby enabling traffic to flow between the subscriber unit provided to said called subscriber and the selected modem; (f) receiving updated dynamic authentication information from said selected modem; and (g) providing said updated dynamic authentication information to each of the plurality of modems except said selected modem.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-25 | 2006-05-27 | 2006-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-05-27 | 2010-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-25 | 2014-05-27 | 2014-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |