Apparatus and method for wireless network services in moving vehicles
Apparatus and methods for providing backhaul access connectivity to e.g., a vehicular hotspot. In one embodiment, a wireless network of access points comprises so-called “parent access points” (PAPs), “child access points” (CAPs), and “transit access points” (TAPs). Each PAP operates as a service gateway and provides a wireless coverage area, which is further augmented by the coverages of its subsidiary CAPs. Each TAP can connect to either a PAP or a CAP for backhaul access. During exemplary operation, a user's Wi-Fi client device connects to a TAP located in the vehicle (e.g., car, train, bus, etc.), and provides connectivity to a host managed content distribution network to which the user subscribes.
1. A computerized method performed via a given stationary access point for operating a wireless network, the method comprising:
when a mobile access point is disposed within a first location, establishing a data connection via a first wireless local area network (WLAN) connection to the mobile access point that services a computerized client device, the mobile access point servicing the computerized client device via a second WLAN connection;
communicating digitally rendered data between the mobile access point and a service provider via the first WLAN connection;
causing the mobile access point to communicate the digitally rendered data to the computerized client device via the second WLAN connection; and
when the mobile access point moves from the first location to a second location:
selecting another stationary access point from a plurality of stationary access points, the selecting of the other stationary access point being based on one or more network quality parameters; and
performing a handover, by the given stationary access point, to the selected other stationary access point, the performing of the handover comprising enabling the computerized client device to communicate with the given stationary access point via a third WLAN connection to the selected other stationary access point, the selected other stationary access point being in data communication with the service provider via the given stationary access point.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service provider comprises a managed network operator, the digitally rendered data comprises first digitally rendered data, and the method further comprises:
communicating second digitally rendered data between the downstream access point and a second service provider via the third WLAN connection concurrently with communicating the first digitally rendered data between the mobile access point and the managed network operator via the first WLAN connection.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mobile access point comprises a first mobile access point, the computerized client device comprises a first computerized client device, the downstream access point comprises a second mobile access point that services at least one of the first computerized client device or a second computerized client device, and the method further comprises:
causing the second mobile access point to communicate the second digitally rendered data to the second computerized client device via the third WLAN connection.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mobile access point and the second mobile access point have at least one common service set identifier (SSID).
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the downstream access point comprises another stationary access point.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the digitally rendered data between the mobile access point and the service provider via the first WLAN connection and a wired connection managed at least in part by the service provider.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a third WLAN connection to an upstream access point; and
communicating the digitally rendered data between the mobile access point and the service provider via the first WLAN connection and the third WLAN connection.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a reception threshold value based on at least (i) a velocity of the mobile access point relative to its surroundings, and (ii) the one or more network quality parameters;
wherein the selecting of the other stationary access point is further based on a quality of the first WLAN connection falling below the reception threshold that is based on the velocity of the mobile access point.
9. A computerized method of operating a wireless network having at least a mobile access point, the method comprising:
when the mobile access point is in a first position, establishing a first Wi-Fi connection to a first stationary access point;
establishing a second Wi-Fi connection to a computerized client device;
communicating digital data between the computerized client device and a service provider network via the first Wi-Fi connection and the second Wi-Fi connection;
receiving an indication that a quality of the first Wi-Fi connection to the first stationary access point is below a signal strength threshold; and
when the mobile access point is in a second position and the indication is received, establishing a third Wi-Fi connection to a second stationary access point while concurrently maintaining the second Wi-Fi connection established to the computerized client device, the second stationary access point being in data communication with the service provider network via the first stationary access point.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the mobile access point and the computerized client device are located on or within a land-mobile vehicle.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises communicating the digital data between the computerized client device and the service provider network via the first Wi-Fi connection, the second Wi-Fi connection, and the third Wi-Fi connection.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first stationary access point is connected to the service provider network via a wired connection, and the method further comprises communicating the digital data between the computerized client device and the service provider network via the first Wi-Fi connection, the second Wi-Fi connection, and the wired connection.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
terminating the first Wi-Fi connection to the first stationary access point; and
communicating the digital data between the computerized client device and the service provider via the second Wi-Fi connection and the third Wi-Fi connection.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
scanning for access points that are in range of the mobile access point and that are not in wireless connection with the mobile access point; and
establishing the third Wi-Fi connection to the second stationary access point based at least on the scanning.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first stationary access point is associated with a first service set identifier (SSID), and the second stationary access point is associated with a second, different SSID.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
managing throughput of the digital data communicated between the computerized client device and the service provider based on signal conditions of the first Wi-Fi connection to the first stationary access point.
17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
managing throughput of the digital data communicated between the computerized client device and the service provider based on transit speed of the mobile access point.
18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving configuration data from the first stationary access point;
performing configuration of the mobile access point according to at least the configuration data; and
maintaining the configuration of the mobile access point until a next power recycle of the mobile access point.
19. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
authenticating with a backhaul network via the first Wi-Fi connection to the first stationary access point for access to the backhaul network; and
communicating the digital data between the computerized client device and the service provider via the backhaul network.
20. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
receiving, from the computerized client device via the second Wi-Fi connection, payment data for connecting to a backhaul network associated with the first stationary access point; and
after receiving the payment data, communicating the digital data between the computerized client device and the service provider via the first Wi-Fi connection and the second Wi-Fi connection.
21. The method of claim 9 , wherein the digital data comprises digital user data originally configured for communication over a cellular network.
22. The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicating second digital data between a second computerized client device and a second service provider via the first Wi-Fi connection and a third Wi-Fi connection, the communicating of the second digital data comprising communicating the second digital data concurrently with the communicating of the first digital data between the first computerized client device and the first content provider via the first Wi-Fi connection and the second Wi-Fi connection.
23. A system for use within a wireless network, the system comprising:
a plurality of stationary access points, each of the plurality of stationary access points configured to effectuate a respective Wi-Fi connection to one or more respective mobile access points, and to communicate data between the one or more respective mobile access points and a respective service provider via the respective Wi-Fi connection;
wherein a first stationary access point of the plurality of stationary access points is configured to effectuate a wired connection to a network, and to communicate data between the respective mobile access point and the respective content provider via the respective Wi-Fi connection and the wired connection to the network; and
wherein a second stationary access point of the plurality of stationary access points is configured to effectuate a Wi-Fi connection between the second stationary access point and the first stationary access point configured to effectuate the wired connection to the network, the second stationary access point configured to communicate data between the respective mobile access point and the respective service provider via at least the respective Wi-Fi connection to the mobile access point, the Wi-Fi connection to the first stationary access point, and the wired connection to the network.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the first stationary access point is further configured to:
determine one or more bandwidth allocations corresponding respectively to one or more of the plurality of stationary access points in data communication with the first stationary access point;
select the second stationary access point based on the one or more determined bandwidth allocations; and
responsive to the selection of the second stationary access point, effectuate the Wi-Fi connection between the second stationary access point and the first stationary access point.