IN-VEHICLE PICO-CELL SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREFOR

Abstract

An apparatus (100) generates a preferred roaming list (108) for a wireless mobile station (404) that includes area identification data (such as GEO GROUP_ID) (200) corresponding to an area serviced by at least one wireless wide area network, such as a ground based CDMA system and an area services by at least one in-vehicle wireless pico-cell (402), such as a wireless CDMA pico-cell located on an aircraft or any other suitable vehicle. The area identification data (200) is associated with a wireless in-vehicle pico-cell system identification data (205) and in the case of a CDMA pico cell system, a system identification data SID) and network identification (NID) data pair (206) associated with the in-vehicle wireless pico-cell (402).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood in view of the following description when accompanied by the below figures and wherein like reference numerals represent like elements:

FIG. 1 is one example of a block diagram of an apparatus that generates a preferred roaming list in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating one example of a preferred roaming list in accordance with the one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is one example of a method for providing a preferred roaming list in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one example of a system employing an in-vehicle CDMA pico-cell in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating one example of the wireless mobile station in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a method for providing in-vehicle CDMA pico-cell communication in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a method for providing in-vehicle CDMA pico-cell communication in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one example of a method carried out for example by a mobile station in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating one example of an operation carried out by a wireless mobile station in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a portion of a method for providing communication with an in-vehicle CDMA pico-cell in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A wireless mobile station comprising: a wireless wide area network transceiver and antenna;a wireless in-vehicle pico cell transceiver and antenna;control logic operative to control the wireless wide area network transceiver and the wireless in-vehicle pico cell transceiver; andmemory that stores a preferred roaming list that comprises at least first area identification data corresponding to an area serviced by at least one wireless wide area network and an area serviced by at least one in-vehicle wireless pico cell and wherein the first area identification data is associated with an in-vehicle wireless pico cell system identification data associated with the in-vehicle wireless pico cell.

2. The wireless mobile station of claim 1 wherein the control logic is operative to locate an in-vehicle wireless pico cell based on the stored preferred roaming list that comprises at least the first area identification data corresponding to an area serviced by at least one wireless wide area network and an area serviced by at least one in-vehicle wireless pico cell and wherein the identification data is associated with the in-vehicle wireless pico cell system identification data associated with the in-vehicle wireless pico cell; determine a suitable pico channel based on a received pico cell neighbor list and channel list that identifies only the in-vehicle pico cell;receive a service interruption notification that includes information as to when the pico service will be unavailable and produce a user notification;receive a pico cell protect message that instructs the wireless mobile station not to transmit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control logic is operative to periodically generate a user notification to restart the wireless mobile station in response to the pico cell protect message until the wireless mobile station is restarted.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control logic is operative to disable wireless network scanning in response to the pico cell protect message.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control logic is operative to: scan for a wireless network in response to the pico cell protect message;if a wireless network is found, camp on the wireless network without registering; andperiodically generate a user notification to restart the wireless mobile station in response to the pico cell protect message until the wireless mobile station is restarted.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control logic is operative to disable at least one of the mobile device and disable a wireless in-vehicle pico cell transmitter of the transceiver and after a specified period of re-enable the at least in-vehicle CDMA pico cell transmitter and search for a CDMA pico cell channel from a non-in-vehicle CDMA pico cell; and if no non-in-vehicle CDMA pico cell channel is found, restart the wireless mobile station and begin searching for wireless wide area network channels.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control logic determines that a pico cell is in a beacon mode where the system identification information includes at least a first network identification data and shuts down a CDMA pico transmitter in response to a received CDMA pico cell protect message that instructs the wireless mobile station not to transmit; and wherein the control logic determines that the CDMA pico cell is in an in-use mode based on different and second received network identification data from the CDMA pico cell and turns on the CDMA pico cell transmitter in response thereto.

8. A method comprising: locating an in-vehicle wireless CDMA pico cell based on a stored preferred roaming list that comprises at least first area identification data corresponding to an area serviced by at least one wireless wide area network and an area serviced by at least one in-vehicle wireless CDMA pico cell and wherein the first area identification data is associated with in-vehicle wireless CDMA pico cell system identification data and network identification data pair associated with the in-vehicle wireless CDMA pico cell;determining a suitable pico channel based on a received pico cell neighbor list and channel list that identifies only the in-vehicle CDMA pico cell;receive a service interruption notification that includes information as to when the CDMA pico service will be unavailable; andreceive a CDMA pico cell protect message that instructs not to transmit.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising periodically generating a user notification to restart the wireless mobile station in response to the CDMA pico cell protect message until the wireless mobile station is restarted.

10. The method of claim 8 comprising disabling wireless network scanning in response to the CDMA pico cell device protect message.

11. The method of claim 8 comprising: scanning for a wireless network in response to the CDMA pico cell protect message;if a wireless network is found, camping on the wireless network without registering; andperiodically generating a user notification to restart the wireless mobile station in response to the CDMA pico cell protect message until the wireless mobile station is restarted.

12. The method of claim 8 comprising shutting down at least one transmitter of the mobile station and disabling a wireless in-vehicle CDMA pico cell transmitter of the associated transceiver and after a specified period of time re-enabling the at least in-vehicle CDMA pico cell transmitter and searching for a CDMA pico cell channel from a non-in-vehicle CDMA pico cell; and if no non-in-vehicle CDMA pico cell channel is found, restarting the wireless mobile station and begin searching for wireless wide area network channels.

13. The method of claim 8 comprising determining that a CDMA pico cell is in a beacon mode based on first network identification data and shutting down a CDMA pico transmitter in response to a received CDMA pico cell device protect message that instructs the wireless mobile station not to transmit; and determining that the CDMA pico cell is in an in-use mode based on second and different received network identification data from the CDMA pico cell and turning on the CDMA pico cell transmitter in response thereto.