as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication 0) Pub. No.: US 2007/0110017 Al
`
` Fulknieret al. (43) Pub. Date: May 17, 2007
`
`
`US 20070110017A1
`
`(54) MOBILE ROUTER DEVICE
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. Cl.
`(51)
`Inventors: John C. Fulknier, Allston, MA (US);
`(75)
`Brian J. Smith, Somerville, MA (US) H04Q>7/24 (2006.01)
`
`
`(52) US. Ce eeeesscsecseneenensenseseeensenee 370/338; 370/351
`
`Correspondence Address:
`EDWARD L. KELLEY
`DBA INVENTION MANAGEMENT
`ASSOCIATES
`241 LEXINGTON STREET
`BLDG.15 UNIT 1A
`WOBURN, MA 01801 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: WAAV INC., Cambridge, MA (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`ya.
`(22)
`Filed:
`
`11/650,634
`Jan. 6, 2007
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/497,892,
`filed on Aug. 2, 2006.
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/595,747, filed on Aug.
`2, 2005.
`
`328
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireless mobile router (300) includes a CPU (222) and
`one or more network interfaces for hosting locally reachable
`devices. The router (300) includes one or more cellular
`network interface devices (316) configured to make a net-
`work connection with a cellular network. The router (300)
`operates to translate data packets received from locally
`reachable devices andto direct the translated data packets to
`public IP address over the cellular network. In addition, a
`stack of mobile routers (400) includes two or more mobile
`routers (300)
`interfaced together to make two or more
`network connections with a cellular network for increasing
`bandwidth and for load balancing network traffic passing
`from the router (300) to the cellular network. The wireless
`mobile router (300) and the stack (400) are suitable for use
`in a moving vehicle.
`
`340
`
`
`
`
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`360
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
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`Patent Application Publication May 17,2007 Sheet 1 of 4
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`Patent Application Publication May 17,2007 Sheet 2 of 4
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`Patent Application Publication May 17,2007 Sheet 3 of 4
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`Patent Application Publication May 17,2007 Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 2007/0110017 Al
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`US 2007/0110017 Al
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`May 17, 2007
`
`MOBILE ROUTER DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of appli-
`cation Ser. No. 11/497,892 entitled MOBILE ROUTER
`DEVICE,filed Aug. 2, 2006 and claimspriority under 35
`USS.C. 119(e) to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/595,
`747, entitled INTERNET MOBILE ROUTER DEVICE,
`filed Aug. 2, 2005, both of which are incorporated herein in
`their entirety.
`
`provide WANor Internet access to mobile users wishing to
`perform routine computer tasks in places where network
`access is not available, e.g. when traveling in a vehicle,
`watercraft or aircraft or when traveling for work or pleasure.
`
`[0008] Generally, cellular networks provide broad or glo-
`bal coverage areas and provide WAN andInternet access and
`other services to cellular configured client devices. How-
`ever, there is no convenient way for a WLAN configured
`client device, e.g. a lap top computer or other portable
`electronic device to access a cellular network and take
`advantage of the services provided by the cellular network.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] The present invention relates to a mobile network
`router that provides a network interface between locally
`reachable devices and a cellular network. In particular, the
`present invention relates to a plurality of mobile network
`routers stacked together and configured to establish a plu-
`rality of network connections with a cellular network.
`
`[0004]
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0005] Mobile computer and other mobile electronic
`device users are increasingly relying on continuous access to
`Wide Area Networks, (WAN’s), such as the world wide web,
`(www), Internet, Intranets, etc. to access data and software
`tools and to remain in continuous communication with
`
`telephone, etc.
`instant message,
`others, e.g. by email,
`Recently, wireless communication systems utilizing desig-
`nated radio frequency bands have allowed mobile devices to
`interconnect with a WAN or the Internet whenever the
`
`mobile device is within the usable range of a compatible
`wireless network.
`
`networks,
`area
`local
`[0006] Conventional wireless
`(WLAN) are often deployed inside structures such as
`homes, offices and public and commercial buildings for
`networking with client mobile computers and other client
`mobile electronic devices. In addition, larger wireless net-
`work deployment over a campusor city are also known to
`network with a large numberof client mobile computers and
`other client mobile electronic devices. Generally a wireless
`network deployed over a usable range includes a wire
`network interface to a WANe.g. through an internet server
`and Internet Service Provider, (ISP). In these wireless net-
`workedareas a client device can usually access a WAN or
`the Internet through the wire network interface and may
`have continuous access to the WANorInternet as needed as
`
`long as the client device remains within the usable range of
`the wireless network.
`
`[0007] A typical problem faced by the average WLAN
`configured client device user is that when the client device
`leaves a WLANzone,the client device can not communicate
`with a network to access network services. This problem has
`been addressed by cellular network providers and specifi-
`cally by commercial cellular telephone service providers by
`providing cell phones and PDA’s with access to a WAN or
`the Internet over a cellular network and by equipping cell
`phones and PDA’s with basic email and web content display
`and editing functionality. However cell phones and PDA’s
`are not equipped to perform even routine computer tasks and
`most portable computers are not equipped with cellular
`networkinterfacing gear. Accordingly,there is still a need to
`
`invention overcomes the problems
`[0009] The present
`cited in the prior art by providing a mobile network router
`(300) that includes a CPU (222) and memory module (224)
`configured to performing programs steps for operating a
`network router and storing one or more routing tables or
`databases in the memory module for tracking information
`about data packets received from locally reachable devices
`and sent to public IP destination address over a cellular
`network. In particular the cellular network may comprise
`any cellular network operating the frequency spectral range
`of 0.8-11 GHz and particularly commercial cellular tele-
`phone network operating at 1.9 GHz, public safety cellular
`networks operating at 4.9 GHz and WiMaxnetworks oper-
`ating at 2.1 and 5.8 GHz.
`
`[0010] The mobile router (300) includes a wireless net-
`workinterface device (318) in communication with the CPU
`(222) and configured as a WiFi access point (AP) or other
`WLANAPfor communicating with locally reachable wire-
`less devices. The mobile router (300) also includes a cellular
`network interface device (316) in communication with the
`CPU (222) and configured to communicate with a first
`cellular network. In one particularly useful embodiment, the
`cellular network interface device (316) uses a radio fre-
`quency band approximately center around 1.9 GHz and the
`High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) communi-
`cation standard.
`
`[0011] The present invention further solves the problems
`of the prior at by providing methods for operating a network
`router (300) supporting a plurality of locally reachable
`devices. Specifically, the router CPU (222) communicates
`with each locally reachable client device assigns it a local IP
`address and then builds a routing table for associating each
`local IP address with each locally reachable client device.
`The router (300) further operates to establish a network
`connection with a cellular network over a cellular network
`interface device (318) connected to the CPU (222) and the
`cellular network assign the cellular network interface device
`(318) with a public IP address. The router (300) then
`receives data packets from locally reachable client devices.
`Each data packet includes a locally reachable source IP
`address and a public destination IP address. The CPU (222)
`then translates each data packet to replace the locally reach-
`able non-routable source IP address with the public IP
`address assigned by the cellular network. In addition, the
`CPU assigns a return port to the data packet and inserts the
`return port ID into the data packet. Thereafter the CPU (222)
`stores information about each data packets in the routing
`table stored on the memory device (224). The stored infor-
`mation included the data packet locally reachable source IP
`
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`US 2007/0110017 Al
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`May 17, 2007
`
`address, the data packet destination IP address and the data
`packet assigned return port. The CPU (222) then transmits
`the data packet over the first connection with the cellular
`network.
`
`Ifa the data packet destination IP address device
`[0012]
`sends a reply data packet, the packet, the reply data packet
`is received by the CPU (222) which reads the reply data
`packet source IP address and the assigned return port and
`then compares the reply data packet source IP address and
`the assigned retuned port with the data packet information
`stored in the routing table to find a matching data packet.
`Thereafter the reply data packet is translated to replace the
`destination address with the locally reachable source IP
`address stored in the routing table and the reply data packet
`is routed to the locally reachable source IP address.
`
`[0013] The present invention further solves the problems
`of the prior art by providing a stack of wireless network
`routers (402, 404) interconnected by a network connection
`between a master router (402) and the slave router (404).
`The master router (420) includes a first CPU (222) config-
`ured to exchange data packets with one or more locally
`reachable devices. The mater router also includes a first
`
`cellular network interface device (316) in communication
`with the first CPU (222) for establish a first network con-
`nection with a cellular network. The slave router (404)
`includes a second CPU (222) and a secondcellular network
`interface device (316) in communication with the second
`CPU (222) for establishing a second network connection
`with the cellular network. The master router and slave router
`
`communicate over a network connection to exchange net-
`worksignals between thefirst and second CPU. Each router
`includes program steps stored on the memory for sending
`data packets received from locally reachable devices over
`one of the first or second network connections with the
`cellular network.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0014] The features of the present invention will best be
`understood from a detailed description of the invention and
`a preferred embodimentthereof selected for the purposes of
`illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing in
`which:
`
`FIG.1 illustrates a schematic representation of one
`[0015]
`example of a network environment including a mobile router
`according to the present invention;
`
`FIG.2 illustrates a schematic representation of one
`[0016]
`example of a mobile router according to the present inven-
`tion;
`
`[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a
`preferred mobile router configuration according to one
`aspect of the present invention;
`
`[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a
`stack of mobile routers configured according to another
`aspect of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`[0019] Turning to FIG. 1, one example of a wireless
`network environment is shown schematically. The network
`environmentincludes a wide area network WAN 100, such
`
`as the Internet. The WAN generally comprises a plurality of
`network devices 102, e.g. servers, digital data storage
`devices, telephone switching gear and network traffic con-
`trollers, all interconnected by a wire and sometimes wire-
`less, e.g. microwave, infrastructure 104, such as the world
`wide web, (www), and other global telecommunications
`infrastructures. The WAN network 100 comprises a host to
`many network clients with each network client having a
`unique network ID such as an Internet Protocol Address, (IP
`Address), a Uniform Resource Locator, (URL), an email
`address, a telephone numberetc.
`
`[0020] Generally communication signals passed over the
`WAN network 100 include, digital and analog electrical
`signals generally transmitted through the network infrastruc-
`ture and generally being communicated from one specific
`client device to another or from one client device to many
`specific client devices. The digital and analog signals may
`include a telephone call between two users, an email sent
`from oneclient device to one or more other client devices or
`
`a client browser request to access to a particular server or
`network client device to exchange data files there between.
`
`[0021] Generally, network interface elements are included
`local to or incorporated within each client device. In addi-
`tion, the WAN 100 and infrastructure 104 includes various
`network interface elements such as switches, hubs, routers
`etc. Network interface elements are used to format network
`
`signals, to associate a network address to a client device
`network, and generally to allow network signals to be
`exchanged between client devices of many types and con-
`figurations. A commonwire network interface element is the
`Ethernet interface module installed in manyclient devices.
`An Ethernet interface module generally operates according
`to the IEEE standard 802.3 to divide data into frames or
`
`packets and format the frames according to a communica-
`tion protocol such as the Transmission Control Internet
`Protocol, (TCP/IP). Of course other wire network interface
`device types are also in use and usable with the present
`invention.
`
`In addition, the WAN 100 includes network control
`[0022]
`elements configured to interface with the infrastructure 104
`and with other host networks, to direct network traffic, to
`control access to the network, to measure network param-
`eters etc. Typical WAN network control elements comprise
`network servers configured to establish a host/client rela-
`tionship with many thousands of client devices and to
`manage signal exchanges there between.
`
`[0023] The network environment also includes a cellular
`network, generally 110. The cellular network 110 comprises
`a plurality of wireless network access points, 112, 114, 116
`configured as radio transceivers. In the example of FIG. 1,
`a first access point comprises a base station 112. Generally
`the base station 112 is in communication with a cellular
`network controller or router 118. The network controller 118
`may comprise a computer or server positioned local to the
`base station 112 and connected to the WAN 100 via a wire
`or microwavelink. Alternately, the base station 112 may be
`connected to the WAN via a wire or microwavelink and the
`network controller or router 118 may reside anywhere on the
`WAN100. In addition, each cellular access point 112, 114,
`116 exchanges wireless signals with other cellular access
`points to communicate with the base station 112 and net-
`work controller 118.
`
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`[0024] The cellular network controller 118 controls com-
`munication traffic on the cellular network. In particular, the
`cellular network is a host network having a plurality of client
`devices. The cellular network controller 118 controls the
`
`network traffic to each client device and may provide
`different network services to different client devices. In
`
`addition, the cellular network controller 118 may provide a
`cellular network client device with access to the WAN 100.
`
`and network controller, not shown, andat least one orbiting
`satellite access point configured with a transceiver for
`exchanging electromagnetic signals between the STN net-
`work controller and the satellite. In addition, the satellite
`may transmit broadcast signals to ground based client
`devices or may exchange two way communication signals
`with ground based STN configured client devices. In one
`example, an STN may comprise the global position system,
`(GPS) used to transmit wireless signals from satellites to
`ground-based STN configured signal receivers for allowing
`each ground-based STN signal receiver to calculate its
`position. Alternately, the STN may comprise one or more
`television or radio broadcast satellites configured to broad-
`cast digitized television and radio, or any other digitized
`video andor audio signals, over a wide area to ground based
`STN configured client device receivers. In addition, STN-
`configured client telephone and video phonedevicesare able
`to connect with other telephone/videophone exchanges
`through the ground-based STN network controller. In addi-
`tion, the ground-based STN network controller may be in
`communication with the wire infrastructure 104 and the
`
`[0025] Generally, cellular network access points 112, 114,
`116, (cell towers), comprise one or more radio transceivers,
`usually elevated above the ground, capable of providing
`cellular network coverage over a useful range. Each cellular
`access point may communicate with a plurality of cellular
`client devices such as any device configured accordingto the
`cellular network standards, such that each cellular client
`device located within the useful range of an access point is
`able to exchange signals with the cellular network and if
`needed a WAN.Moreover, the cellular network useful range
`may extend over a very wide area whenthe base station 112
`and other access points 114, 116 are configured to exchange
`radio signals with adjacent access points to thereby relay
`WAN100 such that a ground-based STN-configured client
`radio signals between the base station 112 and every other
`device may gain access to a WAN 100 viaasatellite
`cell sight 114, 116. Accordingly, the cellular network pro-
`transmission. As with other networks, the STN controller
`vides a wireless communication infrastructure for commu-
`may control access to the STN network.
`nicating with a plurality of wireless client devices disposed
`within the useful range of any cellular access point and for
`connecting each client wireless device to a WAN 100.
`
`[0026] Generally, a cellular network is configured to oper-
`ate using radio frequencies ranging from about 0.8-2.2 GHz
`or using microwavefrequencies ranging from about 2.2-11.0
`GHz. In addition, a cellular network is configured to operate
`using a cellular network message exchange or communica-
`tion protocol standard such as any one of the Global System
`for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio
`Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications
`System (UMTS), High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
`(HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA),
`Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data
`Optimized (EVDO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolu-
`tion (EDGE), 3GSM,Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecom-
`munications (DECT), Digital AMPS (S-136/TDMA), or
`Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (DEN),etc.
`
`In practice, different cellular network providers use
`[0027]
`different radio frequency bands and or different network
`exchange or communication protocol standards. However,it
`is typical that a single cell tower may include a plurality of
`cellular access points each using a different radio frequency
`bandandor a different network exchange or communication
`protocol standard such that the cellular network 110 may
`actually comprise a plurality of cellular networks operating
`in the same region. Conversely, a typical cellular client
`device, e.g. a cell phone or PDAincludes a network interface
`device configured to communicate with only one type of
`cellular network. In addition, each cellular client device is
`generally assigned a unique device ID, e.g. a phone number,
`IP address, or the like, to uniquely identify the device and to
`establish a one to one communication link between the
`cellular client device and another device via the access point
`and cellular network controller 118.
`
`[0028] The wireless network environment may also
`include a Satellite Telecommunication Network, (STN) gen-
`erally 130. The STN includes a ground-based base station
`
`[0029] The network environment may also include one or
`more substantially permanent wireless local area networks,
`(WLAN) 160. Generally a permanent WLAN 160 comprises
`a wireless network access point formedat a base station 164.
`The permanent WLAN 160 may also comprise additional
`wireless access points 166 and 168 disposed to extend the
`useable range of the WLAN 160 and configured to commu-
`nicate with the base station 164 using wireless and or wire
`connections to relay network signals to every access point
`164, 166, 168. Each access point 164, 166, 168 includes a
`wireless transceiver configured to exchange communication
`signals with WLANconfigured client devices and with other
`WLANaccess points.
`
`[0030] The base station 164 may include a network con-
`troller configured to host WLAN configured client devices.
`The network controller functions as a network router to
`
`assign each client device a network address and to control
`network traffic between the host base station 164 and client
`
`devices. The base station 164 usually connects with a server
`162, which may also form the network controller, and the
`server 162 connects with the local wire infrastructure 104 to
`
`provide each client device with access to the WAN 100.
`Generally a permanent WLAN 160 may beinstalled inside
`a structure to provide wireless network access over the entire
`structure or a portion thereof. In the example network
`environment, the WLAN 160 is based on the Wi-Fi or IEEE
`802.11 communication standard which defines how signals
`are to be formatted and communicated using radio wave
`frequencies in the range of 2.4-2.5 GHz and or 5.15-5.8
`GHz.
`
`In addition to the above listed networks, the net-
`[0031]
`work environment may further include a plurality of tradi-
`tional public radio andtelevision broadcast networks as well
`as a plurality of two-wayradio voice and pager networksall
`generally represented by the network access point 190. In
`particular,
`the network access point 190 may comprise
`broadcast signals able to be received by properly configured
`radio or television signal receivers located within the usable
`
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`network range, or the network access point 190 may com-
`prise one or more transceivers used for two-way radio
`communication by military, municipal, corporate, and pri-
`vate radio network providers to communicate with any
`properly configured signal transceiver located within the
`usable network range. Generally the network access point
`190 includes broadcast signals such as free radio, and
`television broadcast signals pay radio and television broad-
`cast signals, selected two-way radio communication bands
`and various special purpose radio networks.
`Mobile Router Interface Devices
`
`[0032] According to the present invention, a mobile router
`140 comprises a stand alone wireless network interface
`device configured to operate in the above described network
`environment. In particular, the mobile router 140 is config-
`ured to operate in a moving vehicle and to access one or
`more cellular network access points as the vehicle traverses
`over a network environment. More specifically, the mobile
`router 140 is configured to seek a cellular access point, to
`gain access to a cellular network and to becomea client of
`the cellular network. Once the mobile routeris a client of the
`cellular network,
`the mobile router
`is configured to
`exchange network signals with the cellular network. In
`particular,
`the mobile router 140 may be configured to
`becomea client of one or more cellular networks simulta-
`neously.
`
`[0033] The mobile router 140 is further configured as a
`wireless network access point configured to host one or
`more wireless network configured devices in a wireless local
`area network WLAN. The WLANmaybeestablished inside
`a vehicleor local to the mobile router 140. The mobile router
`
`140 comprises a WLANcontroller forming a WLAN base
`station or access point configured to communicate with one
`or more compatibly configured WLANclient devices. Thus
`according to the present invention, the mobile router 140
`comprises a client device on a cellular network or on a
`plurality of cellular networks and a host device communi-
`cating with one or more client devices on a WLAN. Gen-
`erally, the cellular network comprises a substantially per-
`manent wireless wide area network WWANcovering a large
`geographic region, while the WLAN is temporary and may
`be movable with the mobile router 140, e.g. in a moving
`vehicle.
`
`[0034] The mobile router 140 is configured to exchange
`first network signals with the cellular networkor plurality of
`cellular networks and to exchange second network signals
`with one or more second client devices on the WLAN.
`Moreover,
`the mobile router 140 comprises an interface
`between two or more wireless networks operating on dif-
`ferent network communication standards. More specifically,
`the mobile router 140 comprises an interface between a
`WWANand a WLAN.
`
`[0035] As shownin FIG.1, the mobile router 140 includes
`a controller 142, and one or more wireless network interface
`devices, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152 in communication with the
`controller 142. Generally the network interfaces devices
`shown in FIG. 1 are each configured to communicate with
`a different wireless network type and to deliver network
`signals originating in each different network type to the
`controller 142.
`
`[0036] Each network interface device 144, 146, 148, 150,
`152 comprises an antenna configured to receive analog
`
`electromagnetic wavesignals in a particular frequency range
`and a receiver configured to convert the analog electromag-
`netic wave signals received into digital signals formatted as
`required for delivery to the controller 142. The receiver may
`also include a signal amplifier incorporated in the antenna,
`incorporated in the mobile router 140 or installed between
`the antenna 232 and the router 140.
`
`Someorall of the network interface devices, 144,
`[0037]
`146, 148, 150, and 152 also include a signal transmitter
`configured to transmit analog electromagnetic wavesignals
`in a particular frequency range and with a desired signal
`power amplitude through the antenna. Each signal transmit-
`ter is configured to receive digital signals from the controller
`142 and to convert the digital signals into analog electro-
`magnetic wave signals in a particular frequency range and
`formatted as required for radio transmission to another
`signal receiver. The transmitter may also include a signal
`amplifier incorporated in the antenna, incorporated in the
`mobile router 140 or installed between the antenna and the
`router 140.
`
`In some instances, an entire network interface
`[0038]
`device 144, 146, 148, 150, 152 may be disposed external to
`the wireless router 140 and interfaced with the wireless
`
`router by a wire connection passing through an input output
`I/O interface device. Alternately, network interface device
`may communicate with the router 140 through another
`wireless interface device included in the mobile router 140.
`
`In particular some vehicles may be equipped with built-in
`antennas, GPS receivers,
`satellite radio and television
`receivers etc. and these elements may be used to interface
`with the mobile router 140 by wire or wireless connection to
`deliver network services to the router 140 for routing to
`client devices connected to the router 140.
`
`[0039] Generally, the router controller 142 exchanges con-
`trol, communication and power signals with each network
`interface device 144, 146, 148, 150, 152. The controller 142
`mayalso receive a network data packet overa first network
`interface device, e.g. 148 reconfigure the network data
`packet and transmit the reconfigured network packet over a
`second network interface device, e.g. 144.
`
`In one example accordingto the present invention,
`[0040]
`a first network interface device 144 may comprise a cellular
`network interface device configured to communicate with a
`cellular network 110. In particular, the network interface
`device 144 exchanges signals with one or more cellular
`network access points 112, 114, 116, gains access to become
`a client of the cellular network 110, and if possible uses
`services of the cellular network 110 to gain access to the
`WAN100, to utilize various network services such viewing
`web pages, exchanging emails, exchanging vice data, etc.
`
`[0041] A second network interface device 148 may com-
`prise a WLANinterface device configured to establish a
`WLAN network 170. In particular, the network interface
`device 148 exchanges comprises a WLAN access point,
`(AP) used to establish a WLAN network 170 having net-
`work clients 172-178.
`
`[0042] A third network interface device 146 may comprise
`a personal area network, PAN,interface device configured to
`establish a PAN network 180 and to communicate with PAN
`network configured devices 182, 184. In particular, the third
`network device 146 is configured to host client devices
`
`9
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`US 2007/0110017 Al
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`May 17, 2007
`
`operating on one of the Bluetooth, Ultra-Wide-Band (UWB)
`or other PAN network communication standards.
`
`[0043] A fourth wireless network interface device 150
`comprises an STN interface device configured to commu-
`nicate with an STN network or network device 130. In
`particular, the network interface device 150 exchangessig-
`nals with the STN network access point, e.g. the satellite
`130, to gain access to and become a client of the STN
`network 130, and if possible to gain access to services of the
`STN 130, e.g. to gain access to the WAN 100, for telephone
`and video conferencing, to access audio and video content,
`to determine GPS coordinates, etc.
`
`[0044] A fifth wireless network interface device 152 may
`comprise one or more other wireless receivers or transceiv-
`ers configured to communicate with two-way radio or pager
`networks or configured to receive radio and television
`broadcast channels from the access point 190 in FIG. 1. For
`example the network interface device 152 may comprise a
`tunable receiver for manually or automatically scanning or
`otherwise adjusting to receive an analog electromagnetic
`signal of a desired frequency, e.g. a conventional AM radio
`signal in the frequency range of 525 kHz to 1715 kHz or
`conventional FM radio and television signals in the fre-
`quency range of 30 MHz to 400 MHz,or another broadcast
`signal. Alternately, the network interface device 152 may
`comprise a tunable transceiver for exchanging two-way
`radio communication signals over a desired radio band e.g.
`a military, marine, municipal, citizen band, corporate, and
`amateur or other two-way radio network at selected frequen-
`cies.
`
`In addition the mobile router 140 mayincludestill
`[0045]
`further network interface devices configured for any other
`specialized wireless network communication such as Radio
`Frequency Identification, (RFID), infrared telecommunica-
`tion bands, visible telecommunication bands such as laser
`emitters and receivers an any other wireless communication
`device. In addition, the mobile router 140 may also include
`one or more wire network interface devices such as an
`
`Ethernet interface device for interfacing with a wired net-
`work such as a local area network LAN when one is
`available.
`
`Mobile Router Client Device
`
`the
`invention,
`[0046] Further according to the present
`mobile router 140 comprises a host network device for
`hosting one or moreclient devices. In particular, the WLAN
`interface device 148 includes a transceiver configured to
`communicate with WLAN configured client devices 172,
`174 and to exchange WLAN configured network signals
`therewith. In addition, the controller 142 is configured as a
`WLANnetwork controller and router for accepting client
`devices onto the WLAN network designated 170, and con-
`trolling communication traffic to each client device therein,
`172, 174. In addition the controller 142 is configured to
`receive a communication signal from a WLANconfigured
`client device, e.g. a data packet and to reconfigure the data
`packet for transmission to a cellular network 110 over the
`cellular network interface device 144. Conversely, the con-
`troller 142 is configured to receive a reply communication
`signal, e.g. a return data packet, from the cellular network
`110 and to reconfigure the return data packet for transmis-
`sion to a originating WLAN configured client device. As
`shown in FIG. 1 the WLAN 170 includes a WLAN config-
`
`ured lap top