Methods of incorporating an ad hoc cellular network into a fixed cellular network
In this invention, we disclose methods of establishing a cellular network having backhaul flexibility, comprising, establishing, at a first cellular base station, a first connection with a core cellular network; establishing, at the first cellular base station, an inter-base station connection with a second cellular base station for relaying traffic from the first and the second cellular base stations to the core cellular network, the second cellular base station having a second connection with the core cellular network; determining, at the first cellular base station, if the quality of the first connection falls below a threshold parameter; and terminating, at the first cellular base station, the first connection in favor of the second connection if the quality of the first connection falls below the threshold parameter.
1. A method of establishing an ad hoc cellular network having an ad hoc cellular base station or integrating an ad hoc cellular base station into a fixed cellular network comprising the steps of:
a. establishing a wireless backhaul connection for an ad hoc cellular base station further comprising the steps of:
i. receiving a data packet from an ad hoc cellular base station;
ii. extracting a tunnel overhead packet from the data packet so as to create a modified data packet;
iii. storing the tunnel overhead packet in a memory;
iv. forwarding the modified data packet to a second ad hoc cellular base station using an IP routing protocol as part of an IP session;
v. receiving an acknowledgement from the second ad hoc cellular base station indicating that an establishment of a bearer is complete;
vi. anchoring the IP session to shield an external network from a backhaul IP change;
managing the ad hoc cellular network; and
providing a voice-over-IP application wherein the voice-over-IP application is chosen from the group consisting of: push-to-talk, peer-to-peer communication, an ad hoc user nationwide dialing plan; an ad hoc user international dialing plan, conference calling, or a speed dial list.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data packet is an initial attach request.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the modified data packet is forwarded to an evolved packet core.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the ad hoc cellular network providing situational awareness to a local user with a software application or a central database by providing at least one of: a location of an ad hoc cellular base station, a direction or travel of an ad hoc cellular base station, a mobility parameter for an ad hoc cellular base station, an environmental parameter for an ad hoc cellular base station, a coverage map of an ad-hoc cellular base station, an environmental parameter of a fixed base station, an operational parameter of a fixed base station, a location of a fixed base station, or a location of a user.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
b. monitoring a quality of the backhaul connection to the core network to determine if it falls below a threshold parameter;
c. providing a local limited core network to the ad hoc network if the backhaul connection falls below the threshold parameter further comprising the steps of:
i. The ad hoc cellular base station providing a minimal set of core network functionality to a user equipment within the ad hoc network on an access channel;
ii. Receiving an authentication information from a core network database having core authentication information stored therein;
iii. Storing the authentication information into a memory; and
iv. Using the authentication information to authenticate the user equipment.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:
d. a first ad hoc cellular base station detecting a third ad hoc cellular base station wherein the third ad hoc cellular base station has a processor having a limited core network functionality; and
e. using a wired backhaul connection or a wireless backhaul connection to integrate the third ad hoc cellular base station into the ad hoc cellular network wherein the integration is performed by exchanging messaging information with the second ad hoc cellular base station.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:
f. determining if the quality of the backhaul connection to the core network exceeds the threshold parameter; and
g. synchronizing the authentication information stored in the memory of the ad hoc cellular base station providing the limited core functionality with the core network database.