Multi-service Provider Wireless Access Point

摘要

Novel tools and techniques that can provide wireless service for multiple service providers from a single, multi-service provider wireless access point. In an aspect, a multi-service provider wireless access point might communicate with a plurality of wireless devices, each associated with a different wireless carrier, and route communications from each device to the appropriate carrier (and/or, similarly, transmit communications from each carrier to the appropriate wireless device). In this way, for example, a single wireless access point could provide service to cellphones of subscribers of a number of different carriers. Such a wireless access point can provide enhanced efficiency and reduced cost, along with the ability to provide higher service for a number of wireless carriers.

主权项

1. A method of providing wireless service for multiple service providers from a single access point, the method comprising:
providing a multi-service provider wireless access point having one or more radios to communicate with wireless devices and an uplink interface to provide an uplink connection to a plurality of wireless service providers, wherein the multi-service provider wireless access point further comprises a plurality of antennas; mapping each of a plurality of sub-bands to one or more respective wireless service providers; receiving, at the multi-service provider wireless access point, a communication from a wireless device; identifying a wireless service provider serving the wireless device; identifying a sub-band allocated to the wireless service provider serving the wireless device; identifying which one or more of the antennas of the plurality of antennas provides enhanced communication performance for the identified sub-band that is allocated to the wireless service provider serving the wireless device; communicating with the wireless device using the sub-band assigned to the wireless service provider serving the wireless device via the one or more antennas that provide enhanced communication performance for the identified sub-band; receiving, at the multi-service provider wireless access point, one or more subsequent communications from the wireless device; and routing, from the multi-service provider wireless access point, the one or more subsequent communications to the identified wireless service provider, over the uplink connection.