System and method for providing alternate wireless and network service in a bandwidth constrained environment

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing alternate wireless and network service on a cruise ship or in other remote or isolated “captive” environments where available wireless communication options tend to be limited and/or bandwidth constrained. Aspects of the disclosed systems and methods allow existing wireless customers to continue using their normal wireless phone and phone number in the captive environments while still easily avoiding large roaming and bandwidth charges, all while nearly transparently maintaining the full range of normal wireless voice, text, and MMS services.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing alternate wireless and network service in a bandwidth constrained environment, the system comprising:
 a wireless telecommunications device of a user in the bandwidth constrained environment, the wireless telecommunications device comprising an application installed on the wireless telecommunications device,   wherein the application is programmed to interface thorough a wireless access network to an application server;   the application server connected to a home service provider network via a roaming connection, wherein the application server sets the wireless telecommunications device to roaming;   wherein when the user initiates a communication to a recipient user from within the bandwidth constrained environment, the system is configured to automatically prioritize and select the form of wireless access network the wireless telecommunications device operates on, based on a recipient user location within or outside of the bandwidth constrained environment.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless access network comprises one selected from the group consisting of: a local broadband WiFi network and a backhaul satellite link outside of the bandwidth constrained environment. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the automatic prioritization and selection by the system comprises:
 limiting the user communication to devices attached to the local broadband WiFi network, or   granting permission for connection of the wireless telecommunications device to both within the bandwidth constrained environment via the local broadband WiFi network and to outside of the bandwidth constrained environment via the satellite link.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system is configured to provision permissions for granting access to both the local broadband WiFi network and the backhaul satellite link on a per user device basis. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bandwidth constrained environment is one selected from a group consisting of: a cruise ship, an aircraft, a military base, a university campus, a disaster recovery area, and oil rig, and a mining environment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the application server is located within the bandwidth constrained environment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the application server is located remotely outside of the bandwidth constrained environment at another end of the backhaul satellite link, and wherein the application communicates directly with the application server via the backhaul satellite link. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the application replaces the native wireless data or voice communications of the wireless telecommunications device, and adds, in conjunction with the native wireless data or voice communications, an alternate wireless data or voice communications method. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the communication initiated by the user comprises one selected from the group consisting of: voice calls, data, text messages, and MMS messages. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein voice calls are prioritized over data, text messages, and MMS messages in the bandwidth constrained environment. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein voice call comprise PUSH to TALK (PPT) communications.