Portable device that operates as a multi-protocol gateway communications gateway to a wireless network

Abstract

A portable gateway device with a wireless local area network communications component capable of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications, a cellular wireless communications component capable of 3GPP LTE or LTE advanced communications, and a WiMAX communications component capable of WiMAX communications, and an identification module storing network authentication information for accessing a telecommunications network. The portable gateway device is configured such that the WLAN communications component enables Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications at the same time the cellular wireless communications component enables LTE or LTE Advanced communications. The portable gateway device is also configured such the WLAN communications component enables Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications at the same time the WiMAX communications component enables WiMAX communications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable gateway device comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory;   an identification module storing network authentication information;   a wireless local area network (WLAN) communications component;   a cellular wireless communications component; and   a WiMAX communications component,   wherein the network authentication information stored in the identification module includes   i) information for accessing a cellular telecommunication network using the cellular wireless communications component, or   ii) information for accessing a WiMAX network using the WiMAX communications component.   
     
     
         2 . The portable gateway device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of indicator lights for identifying a communication signal strength for communications between the portable gateway device and a serving base station. 
     
     
         3 . The portable gateway device of  claim 1 , further comprising a device authentication component for authenticating access to the portable gateway device by one or more external computing devices via the WLAN communications component. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The portable gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the WLAN communications component enables Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications. 
     
     
         6 . The portable gateway device of  claim 5 , wherein the cellular wireless communications component enables 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) or LTE Advanced communications over a cellular telecommunication network. 
     
     
         7 . The portable gateway device of  claim 6 , wherein the WiMAX communications component enables WiMAX communications. 
     
     
         8 . The portable gateway device of  claim 7 , wherein the WLAN communications component enables Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications at the same time that
 i) the cellular wireless communications component enables LTE or LTE Advanced communications, or   ii) the WiMAX communications component enables WiMAX communications.   
     
     
         9 . The portable gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable gateway device is connectable to an external power source that is portable. 
     
     
         10 . The portable gateway device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable gateway device is attachable to, and detachable from, a personal computing device. 
     
     
         11 . A wireless communications device comprising:
 one or more processors;   a memory;   a wireless local area network (WLAN) communications component enabling communications via a WLAN communications protocol;   a first wide area network (WAN) communications component enabling communications via a first WAN telecommunications protocol; and   a second WAN communications component enabling communications via a second WAN telecommunications protocol,   wherein the second WAN telecommunications protocol is different from the first WAN telecommunications protocol.   
     
     
         12 . The wireless communications device of  claim 11 , further comprising a network identification module storing authentication information for accessing a telecommunication network using the
 i) the first WAN communications component or   ii) the second WAN communications component.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless communications device of  claim 11 , wherein the WLAN communications protocol is associated with a Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth communications protocol. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless communications device of  claim 12 , wherein the first WAN communications protocol is associated with a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE Advanced telecommunications protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless communications device of  claim 12 , wherein the second WAN communications protocol is associated with a WiMAX telecommunications protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless communications device of  claim 11 , further comprising a device authentication component for authenticating access to the portable gateway device by one or more external computing devices via the WLAN communications component.