Cellular converter apparatus and method
A cellular conversion apparatus, system and method is disclosed and described. A cellular conversion apparatus comprises circuitry for communicating with a first local cellular device and circuitry for communicating with a second wide-area cellular system, where the first local cellular device and the second wide-area cellular system use different communication protocols.
1. A method implemented by a cellular converter module for providing cellular service to a third generation (3G) device, the method comprising:
performing a first provisioning function for provisioning first cellular communication circuitry associated with a cellular communication protocol that is different from a 3G cellular communication protocol;
performing a second provisioning function for provisioning cellular 3G circuitry;
receiving, from the 3G device, a first 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol; and
in response to the first 3G cellular signal, authenticating the 3G device for communication with the cellular converter module using the 3G cellular communication protocol;
receiving, from the 3G device, a second 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol;
demodulating the second 3G cellular signal to generate a demodulated 3G cellular signal;
converting the demodulated 3G cellular signal into a plurality of data packets; and
wirelessly transmitting, to a cellular network, the plurality of data packets using a cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) cellular communication protocol.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second provisioning function comprises provisioning based on the 3G cellular communication protocol.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fifth generation (5G) cellular communication protocol.
5. A cellular converter module for providing cellular service to a third generation (3G) device, the cellular converter module comprising:
a provisioning module configured to:
perform a first provisioning function associated with a cellular communication protocol that is different from a 3G cellular communication protocol;
perform a second provisioning function associated with the 3G cellular communication protocol; and
receive, from the 3G device, a first 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol;
in response to the first 3G cellular signal, authenticating the 3G device for communication with the cellular converter module using the 3G cellular communication protocol;
a 3G cellular receiver configured to receive, from the 3G device, a second 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol;
a modem in communication with the 3G cellular receiver the modem configured to demodulate the second 3G cellular signal and convert the second 3G cellular signal into a plurality of data packets; and
a transceiver in communication with the modem, the transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit, to a cellular network, the plurality of data packets using a cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol.
6. The cellular converter module of claim 5 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) cellular communication protocol.
7. The cellular converter module of claim 5 , wherein the second provisioning function comprises provisioning based on the 3G cellular communication protocol.
8. The cellular converter module of claim 5 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fifth generation (5G) cellular communication protocol.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising:
performing a first provisioning function for provisioning first cellular communication circuitry associated with a cellular communication protocol that is different from a 3G cellular communication protocol;
performing a second provisioning function for provisioning cellular 3G circuitry based on the 3G cellular communication protocol;
receiving, from a 3G device, a first 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol;
in response to the first 3G cellular signal, authenticating the 3G device for communication with a cellular converter module using the 3G cellular communication protocol;
receiving, from the 3G device, a second 3G cellular signal according to the 3G cellular communication protocol;
demodulating the second 3G cellular signal to generate a demodulated 3G cellular signal;
converting the demodulated 3G cellular signal into a plurality of data packets; and
wirelessly transmitting, to a cellular network, the plurality of data packets using a cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) cellular communication protocol.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol is a fifth generation (5G) cellular communication protocol.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises authenticating with the cellular network to using subscriber identity module (SIM) information.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises receiving the second 3G cellular signal from a security system.
14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the second 3G cellular signal indicates an event was detected by the security system during an armed state.
15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a data signal from the cellular network using the cellular communication protocol different from the 3G cellular communication protocol;
converting the data signal to a 3G cellular data signal; and
wirelessly transmitting the 3G cellular data signal to the 3G device.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the data signal comprises a firmware update for the 3G device.