Patent Application
20250063526
User devices including compute-enabled phones (smartphones), compute-enabled wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches, fitness trackers), home security devices, tablet computers, laptop computers, mobile hotspots, and other user equipment (UE) use subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to provide reliable cellular network connectivity when there is no Wi-Fi connectivity available. These SIM cards are tightly coupled to internal modems of these user devices, requiring the user devices to include internal modems in order to have cellular network connectivity. However, such internal modems consume large amounts of power as they are constantly paging the cellular network. Such large consumptions of power diminish the battery life of the user devices.
The present disclosure is better understood, and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
Shared modems discrete from user devices or other UE are configured to facilitate the reception and transmission of network messages between user devices a cellular network. The shared modems are connected to consistent power sources and are configured to communicatively couple to user devices using one or more communication protocols and communicatively couple to one or more cells of a cellular network using one or more cellular network protocols. Once coupled to the user devices and the cellular network, the shared modems allow network messages to be transmitted and received between the user devices and the cellular network. In this way, one or more network messages between the user devices and the cellular network are offloaded to the shared modem, for example, network messages related to the authentication of the user devices. By offloading the network messages to the shared modem, user devices not including internal modems gain cellular network connectivity. Additionally, offloading the network messages to the shared modem lessens the power consumption of any internal modem a user device includes, extending the battery life of the user device.
User devices 102 configured to transmit and receive network messages from cellular network 108 include, for example, compute-enabled phones (“smartphones”), tablet computers, personal computers, laptop computers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, routers, mobile hotspot devices, or any combination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, to transmit and receive network messages from cellular network 108, a user device 102 is configured to communicatively couple to one or more cells 110 of the cellular network 108. In response to being communicatively coupled to one or more cells 110, the user device 102 is configured to transfer and receive network messages to and from cellular network 108, other user devices 102 communicatively coupled to one or more cells of cellular network 108, or both. That is to say, in response to being communicatively coupled to one or more cells 110, a user device 102 is communicatively coupled to one or more other user devices 102 via cellular network 108. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of
According to embodiments, in response to a user device 102 being communicatively coupled to one or more cells 110, cellular network 108 is configured to authenticate and register the user device 102 before it is communicatively coupled to other user devices 102 via cellular network 108. That is to say, cellular network 108 authenticates a user device 102 before transmitting one or more network messages from user device 102 to one or more other user devices 102 communicatively coupled to cellular network 108, transmitting one or more network messages from other user devices 102 communicatively coupled to cellular network 108 to the user device 102, or both. For example, cellular network 108 authenticates a user device 102 before transmitting a telephone call to the user device 102 from another user device 102 communicatively coupled to cellular network 108. To authenticate one or more user devices 102, cellular network 108 includes one or more management servers 112 each including one or more physical servers, virtual servers, or both configured to authenticate one or more user devices 102 communicatively coupled to one or more cells 110 of cellular network 108.
In embodiments, a management server 112 authenticates a user device 102 by, for example, comparing identification data (e.g., user identification data, device identification data) associated with the user device 102 to data stored in a subscriber server 114 that includes one or more physical servers, virtual servers, or both configured to store authentication information (e.g., a list of authenticated devices, a list authenticated users, identification data of authenticated devices, authentication information of authenticated users), user profiles (user identification data, user location information, user service information), or both associated with cellular network 108. For example, to authenticate a user device 102 communicatively coupled to a cell 110 of cellular network 108, management server 112 receives device identification data and user identification data associated with a user device 102 and compares the received device identification data and user identification data to device identification data and user identification data stored in subscriber server 114. In response to the comparison indicating that the user device 102 is authenticated (e.g., the received device identification data, user identification data, or both match at least a portion of the device identification data, user identification data, or both stored in subscriber server 114), the management server 112 authenticates the user device 102 such that the user device is configured to transmit and receive one or more network messages to one or more other user devices 102 communicatively coupled to cellular network 108. In embodiments, to authenticate a user device 102, a management server 112 is further configured to, for example, store device identification data, user identification data, or both associated with the user device 102 in a subscriber server 114, generate registration data for the authenticated user device 102, determine services for the authenticated user device 102, or any combination. For example, in response to a comparison indicating that a user device 102 is authenticated, a management server 112 is configured to determine one or more services for the authenticated user device 102 based on user location information and user service information stored in subscriber server 114.
According to embodiments, one or more user devices 102 include or are otherwise coupled to one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) devices 104 configured to store device identification data, user identification data, or both associated with a respective user device 102. For example, in the example embodiment illustrated in
In embodiments, framework 100 includes shared modem 106 configured to offload one or more network messages, device identification data, user identification data, or any combination thereof from user devices 102, cellular network 108, or both. That is to say, shared modem 106 is configured to transmit network messages, device identification data, user identification data, or any combination thereof received from a user device 102 to cellular network 108 and transmit network messages, device identification data, user identification data, or any combination thereof received from cellular network 108 to one or more user devices 102. For example, shared modem 106 is configured to transmit one or more phone calls received from cellular network 108 to one or more authenticated user devices 102. Shared modem 106 includes, for example, one or more broadband processors, application processors, GSM modems, UMTS modems, LTE modems, a 5G NR modems, 5GTF modems, 5G-SIG modems, or any combination thereof configured to provide cellular connectivity to one or more user devices 102. To provide cellular connectivity, shared modem 106 is configured to communicatively couple to one or more user devices 102 using one or more communication protocols that include, for example, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Thunderbolt, Ethernet, Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy), Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio Frequency ID (RFID), Wi-Fi, ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, or any combination thereof. Further, to provide cellular connectivity to the user devices 102, shared modem 106 is configured to communicatively couple to one or more cells 110 of cellular network 108 using one or more cellular protocols, for example, GSM, UMTS, LTE, a 5G NR, 5GTF, 5G-SIG, or any combination thereof. In response to being coupled to a user device 102 and a cell 110 of cellular network 108, shared modem 106 is configured to communicatively couple the user device 102 to the cellular network 108 such that one or more network messages, device identification data, user identification data, or any combination thereof can be received and transmitted between the user device 102 and cellular network 108. In this way, a user device 102 does not require an internal modem, allowing the user device 102 to not include an internal modem or allowing the user device 102 to place an internal modem in a low-power setting. By not requiring an internal modem for the user device 102, the power consumption of the user device 102 is reduced as the user device 102 does not need to power an internal modem to connect to cellular network 108.
According to embodiments, shared modem 106 is a discrete device from one or more user devices 102. For example, shared modem 106 is a separate device from one or more user devices 102. In embodiments, shared modem 106 is powered by a consistent power source, for example, an alternating current (A/C) power outlet, an alternator, a car battery, a power grid, an inverter, or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to some embodiments, shared modem 106 is mechanically coupled, or fixed, to one or more structures, for example, structures in a residential building (e.g., walls, ceilings, floors, support beams, framings), commercial building (e.g., walls, ceilings, floors, support beams, framings), structures in a vehicle (e.g., frames, dashboards, consoles, interiors), or any combination thereof. For example, shared modem is fixed to a console of a car. In this way, the shared modem 106 is consistently powered allowing the shared modem 106 to connect to more user devices 102 to facilitate communications with cellular network 108.
Referring now to
To facilitate communications between the user device 202 and the shared modem 206, the user device 202 communicatively coupled to the shared modem 206 includes binding client engine 222 that includes hardware and software configured to communicatively couple to one or more shared modems 206. For example, binding client engine 222 is configured to determine one or more shared modems 206 that are available and proximate (e.g., within one or more communication protocols' ranges) to the user device 202. The user device 202 further includes a telephony framework 216 including hardware and software (e.g., touchscreens, speakers, microphones, processing circuitry, processing applications, buttons) to manage one or more network messages, message transmit requests, or both received or generated by the user device 202. For example, the telephony framework 216 is configured to output at least a portion of one or more received network messages, provide inputs to at least a portion of one or more transmit message requests, or both. As another example, the telephony framework 216 is configured to output the audio of one or more telephone calls. As yet another example, the telephony framework 216 is configured to receive a voice input for one or more phone calls. The user device 202 also includes a SIM device 204 configured to store identification data (e.g., device identification data, user identification data) related to the user device 202, identification data (e.g., device identification data, user identification data) related to a user associated with the user device 202, or both. The user device 202 also includes authentication engine 218 including hardware and software (e.g., application programming interfaces (APIs)) configured to assist in authenticating the user device 202 on the cellular network 208. For example, authentication engine 218 is configured to read data from the SIM device 204 and provide it to the telephony framework 216. The telephony framework 216 then, for example, uses the read data from the SIM device 204 as an input to a message transmit request. To facilitate the generation and reception of network messages, the user device 202 includes radio engine 220 that includes hardware and software configured to determine, generate, and handle one or more network messages. For example, radio engine 220 includes hardware and software configured to generate network messages for the placing, reception, and operation of telephone calls based on inputs received from the telephony framework. As another example, radio engine 220 includes hardware and software configured to handle the reception of network messages (e.g., generating parameters to be output by the telephony framework based on the received network messages). As yet another example, radio engine 220 is configured to generate one or more message transmit requests based on inputs received at the telephony framework. In some embodiments, the user device 202 includes internal modem 224 that is placed in a low-power state, for example, in response to the user device 202 being communicatively coupled to the shared modem.
In embodiments, the shared modem 406 initiates the authentication of the user device 402 on the cellular network 408 by transmitting a user device registration request 420 to the cellular network 408. The user device registration request 420 includes, for example, data identifying the user device 402 (e.g., a device identification number), data requesting the registration of the user device 402, or both. Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
At step 725, the user device generates and transmits an authentication response, similar to or the same as authentication response 430, to the shared modem. For example, the user device generates a message transmit request for a network message including at least a portion of the identification data stored in the SIM device associated with the user device. In response to receiving the authentication response, the shared modem transmits the authentication response to the cellular network. At step 730, the cellular network generates a registration acceptance message, similar to or the same as registration acceptance message 435 and transmits the registration acceptance message to the shared modem. For example, the cellular network transmits data identifying one or more registration parameters (e.g., network status, access technology type, cellular network identification value, active time, periodic TAU, location area code) to the shared modem. In response to receiving the registration acceptance message, the shared modem is configured to determine one or more registration parameters. For example, the shared modem is configured to identify one or more registration parameters from the registration acceptance message. In response to determining one or more registration parameters, the shared modem is configured to transmit one or more determined registration parameters to the user device. According to embodiments, the shared modem is configured to transmit network messages to and from the user device using the one or more registration parameters (e.g., network status, access technology type, cellular network identification value, active time, periodic TAU, location area code). For example, the shared modem is configured to determine one or more outputs for the telephony framework of a user device based on one or more network messages and one or more registration parameters.
Referring now to
In embodiments, one or more user devices 802 receive identification broadcast 844 using one or more communication protocols associated with the identification broadcast 844 (e.g., the communication protocols used to transmit identification broadcast 844). For example, one or more user devices 802 are configured to scan for and receive an identification broadcast 844 from one or more external shared modems 806 using one or more communication protocols (e.g., USB, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC, RFID, Wi-Fi, UWB). Though the example embodiment illustrated in
According to embodiments, shared modem 806 includes one or more communication ports 840. Each communication port 840 includes hardware-based circuitry, software-based circuitry, or both configured to transmit and receive data using one or more communication protocols (e.g., USB, Thunderbolt, Ethernet, Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy), NFC, RFID, Wi-Fi, UWB). Though the example embodiment illustrated in
Referring now to
Referring again to step 910, in response to at least a portion of the identification information (e.g., a security certificate, a signature, a unique identifier, an address) matching one or more public keys, certificates, or both, the system moves to step 915. At step 915, the user device transmits a connection request to the shared modem identified in the identification broadcast. Such a connection request, for example, includes data requesting a connection (e.g., a secure connection, TLS connection), data identifying the user device (e.g., a signature, unique identifier, address), or both. In response to receiving the connection request, the shared modem authenticates the user device by, for example, comparing data identifying the user device (e.g., a signature, unique identifier, address) in the connection request to one or more tables, public keys, private keys, certificates, or any combination thereof. In response to at least a portion of data identifying the user device in the connection request matching one or more tables, public keys, private keys, certificates, or any combination thereof, the shared modem authenticates the user device and transmits an authentication message to the user device. Such an authentication message, for example, includes data indicating a connection (e.g., secure connection, TLC connection) has been formed between the user device and the shared modem. At step 920, the user device receives the authentication message from the shared modem.
In some embodiments, certain aspects of the techniques described above may be implemented by one or more processors of a processing system executing software. The software comprises one or more sets of executable instructions stored or otherwise tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The software can include the instructions and certain data that, when executed by the one or more processors, manipulate the one or more processors to perform one or more aspects of the techniques described above. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium can include, for example, a magnetic or optical disk storage device, solid state storage devices such as Flash memory, a cache, random access memory (RAM) or other non-volatile memory device or devices, and the like. The executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium may be in source code, assembly language code, object code, or other instruction format that is interpreted or otherwise executable by one or more processors.
A computer readable storage medium may include any storage medium, or combination of storage media, accessible by a computer system during use to provide instructions and/or data to the computer system. Such storage media can include, but is not limited to, optical media (e.g., compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-Ray disc), magnetic media (e.g., floppy disc, magnetic tape, or magnetic hard drive), volatile memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM) or cache), non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory (ROM) or Flash memory), or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based storage media. The computer readable storage medium may be embedded in the computing system (e.g., system RAM or ROM), fixedly attached to the computing system (e.g., a magnetic hard drive), removably attached to the computing system (e.g., an optical disc or Universal Serial Bus (USB)-based Flash memory), or coupled to the computer system via a wired or wireless network (e.g., network accessible storage (NAS)).
Note that not all of the activities or elements described above in the general description are required, that a portion of a specific activity or device may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed, or elements included, in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed. Also, the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims. Moreover, the particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the disclosed subject matter may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. No limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the disclosed subject matter. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2022/053009 | 12/15/2022 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63291510 | Dec 2021 | US |
