Systems/methods of preferential communications
A wireless network may comprise a plurality of base stations and a plurality of access points, such as femtocells, which may be installed in homes and/or offices, as deemed necessary to provide improved signal quality and increased data throughput while off-loading capacity from one or more near-by base stations. A user device may be configured to detect proximity to an access point and establish communications preferentially with the access point while refraining from communicating with a base station even though the user device is within a service region of the base station and can communicate with that base station.
1. A system comprising a mobile device that is configured to perform operations comprising:
communicating with a base station of a cellular network;
communicating with an access point that is installed in a residence/office;
preferentially communicating with the access point when proximate thereto and refraining from communicating with the base station of the cellular network when proximate to the access point even though the mobile device is able to communicate with the base station of the cellular network when proximate to the access point; and
preferentially communicating with a first access point that is installed in a residence/office responsive to an identity of the mobile device; and refraining from communicating with a second access point that is installed in a residence/office responsive to the identity of the mobile device even though the mobile device is able to communicate with the second access point that is installed in a residence/office.
2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising the access point; wherein the access point is configured to perform operations comprising:
providing communications service to a first device responsive to an identity of the first device; and
denying communications service to a second device responsive to an identity of the second device.
3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor that is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving an identity from a device;
authenticating the device responsive to the received identity;
receiving a key from the device following said receiving an identity and following said authenticating; and
establishing communications with the device responsive to said receiving a key from the device;
wherein the processor is configured to provide the key responsive to having received the identity from the device and having authenticated the device.
4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor that is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving an identity from a device;
authenticating the device responsive to the received identity;
transmitting a notification; and
establishing communications with the device responsive to said receiving an identity from the device, authenticating the device and transmitting a notification.
5. A method of communicating between a mobile device and a base station of a cellular network and between the mobile device and an access point that is installed in a residence/office; the method comprising:
preferentially communicating with the access point when proximate thereto and refraining from communicating with the base station of the cellular network when proximate to the access point even though communications with the base station of the cellular network are possible when proximate to the access point;
preferentially communicating with a first access point that is installed in a residence/office responsive to an identity of the mobile device; and
refraining from communicating with a second access point that is installed in a residence/office responsive to the identity of the mobile device even though the mobile device is able to communicate with the second access point that is installed in a residence/office.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
providing communications between a first device and the access point responsive to an identity of the first device; and
denying communications between a second device and the access point responsive to an identity of the second device.
7. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving an identity from a device;
authenticating the device responsive to the received identity;
receiving a key from the device following said receiving an identity and following said authenticating; and
establishing communications with the device responsive to said receiving a key from the device;
wherein prior to said receiving a key from the device, the method further comprises:
providing the key to the device responsive to said receiving an identity and responsive to said authenticating.
8. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
receiving an identity from a device;
authenticating the device responsive to the received identity;
transmitting a notification; and
establishing communications with the device responsive to said receiving an identity, authenticating the device and transmitting a notification.
9. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
providing an identity of the mobile device to the access point by accessing a web site and providing to the web site the identity of the mobile device; and
relaying the identity to the access point by the web site.