Methods and apparatus for hybrid access to a core network

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for hybrid access to a core network. In one embodiment, a wireless router enables a subscriber device to connect to a core network via an intermediate network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network) rather than the network traditionally associated with the core network (e.g., a cellular network). In one implementation, a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) is configured to directly connect to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) core network as a logical evolved NodeB (eNB).

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A wireless router apparatus configured to provide connectivity to a core network, comprising:
 a network interface, the network interface configured to connect to the core network associated with a first radio technology;   a radio interface, the radio interface configured to provide an open wireless network according to a first radio technology different than the second radio technology;   a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium in data communication with the processor and comprising one or more instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the wireless router apparatus to, responsive to receiving one or more transactions for the core network from a subscriber device connected to the open wireless network, translate the received one or more transactions for delivery to the core network.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless router apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a buffer configured to support multiple data pipe instances. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless router apparatus of  claim 14 , where the radio interface is configured to provide access to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and the network interface is configured to connect to one or more Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular data networks. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless router apparatus of  claim 14 , where the one or more transactions comprises access control information configured to identify the subscriber device to the core network. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless router apparatus of  claim 14 , where the translation comprises emulation of interactions between a virtualized physical layer and one or more medium access control (MAC) layers. 
     
     
         19 . A subscriber device configured to communicate with a core network via a wireless router, comprising:
 a radio interface, the radio interface configured to communicate with a wireless router, where the wireless router is configured to communicate with the core network;   a processor; and   a non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising one or more instructions which when executed by the processor, causes the subscriber device to transact one or more data payloads for a logical entity of the core network to the wireless router;   wherein the one or more data payloads does not include at least one physical or medium access control layer parameter required by the core network.   
     
     
         20 . The subscriber device of  claim 20 , where the one or more data payloads comprises a cryptographic challenge and response test configured to establish secure communications with the first network. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for providing connectivity to a core network via a wireless router apparatus, comprising:
 connecting to the core network associated with a first radio technology;   providing an open wireless network according to a first radio technology different than the second radio technology;   responsive to receiving one or more transactions for the core network from a subscriber device connected to the open wireless network, translating the received one or more transactions for delivery to the core network.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising supporting multiple data pipe instances. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the act of providing comprises providing access to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and wherein the act of connecting comprises connecting to one or more Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular data networks. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the received one or more transactions comprise access control information enabling an identification of the subscriber device to the core network. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , where the act of translating comprises emulating one or more interactions between a virtualized physical layer and one or more medium access control (MAC) layers.