U.S. patent application number 11/860378 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-17 for cellular telephone system that uses position of a mobile unit to make call management decisions.
This patent application is currently assigned to EMSAT ADVANCED GEO-LOCATION TECHNOLOGY, LLC. Invention is credited to Everett Dennison, Timothy J. Duffy, Scott L. Jones, Gregory T. Pauley, Albert H. JR. Pharis, Warren P. IV Williamson.
Application Number | 20080014965 11/860378 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27489931 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080014965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dennison; Everett ; et
al. |
January 17, 2008 |
CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM THAT USES POSITION OF A MOBILE UNIT TO
MAKE CALL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
Abstract
A cellular telephone system has call management decisions made
based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit. These
call management decisions include billing and taxing decisions,
cell site selection, frequency selection and even cellular system
selection. The decisions are continuously updated during a call
whereby decisions can be made and changed regardless of where a
call originated. Cell site location, and even cellular system
selection, can be made in a specific manner to best serve the needs
of the mobile user, the cellular system as well as the public. It
is even possible for a cellular system to locate one or more of its
cell sites in the geographic area served by another cellular
system. In some cases, cellular systems might even share cell
sites.
Inventors: |
Dennison; Everett;
(Canfield, OH) ; Duffy; Timothy J.; (West
Middlesex, PA) ; Pauley; Gregory T.; (Canfield,
OH) ; Jones; Scott L.; (Sharon, PA) ; Pharis;
Albert H. JR.; (Canfield, OH) ; Williamson; Warren P.
IV; (Loveland, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Vista IP Law Group LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, 9TH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
EMSAT ADVANCED GEO-LOCATION
TECHNOLOGY, LLC
LOVELAND
OH
45140
|
Family ID: |
27489931 |
Appl. No.: |
11/860378 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
10993477 |
Nov 22, 2004 |
7289763 |
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|
11860378 |
Sep 24, 2007 |
|
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|
09662613 |
Sep 15, 2000 |
6847822 |
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|
10993477 |
Nov 22, 2004 |
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|
08848082 |
Mar 21, 1996 |
6324404 |
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09662613 |
Sep 15, 2000 |
|
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|
08555884 |
Oct 23, 1995 |
5546445 |
|
|
08848082 |
Mar 21, 1996 |
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08402976 |
Mar 13, 1995 |
|
|
|
08555884 |
Oct 23, 1995 |
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08057833 |
May 7, 1993 |
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08402976 |
Mar 13, 1995 |
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07813494 |
Dec 26, 1991 |
5235633 |
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08057833 |
May 7, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/456.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 64/00 20130101;
H04W 76/20 20180201; H04W 76/50 20180201; H04W 4/90 20180201; H04W
4/029 20180201; H04B 7/18552 20130101; H04W 4/02 20130101; H04B
7/18541 20130101; H04W 36/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/456.1 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/185 20060101
H04B007/185 |
Claims
1. A method of providing emergency call information for a mobile
unit, comprising the steps of: obtaining a mobile unit
identification number for the mobile unit via a cellular
communication system comprising a plurality of networked antennas
in communication with a plurality of mobile units; acquiring
positional data for the mobile unit corresponding to an exact
geographic location of the mobile unit via the cellular
communication system; and providing emergency call information to
an emergency service, the emergency call information comprising at
least the positional data.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency call information
further comprises information based on the mobile unit
identification number.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: storing
geographical location data for a plurality of emergency service
locations; and selecting one of the emergency service locations
based on a comparison of the positional data to the geographical
location data.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the emergency call information
further comprises information based on the mobile unit
identification number.
5. A method of providing an emergency service for a mobile unit in
a cellular communication system comprising a plurality of networked
antennas in communication with a plurality of mobile units,
comprising the steps of: acquiring an exact geographic location of
a mobile unit in communication with at least one antenna;
designating a provider of an emergency service for the mobile unit
based on the exact geographic location; and routing the exact
geographic location to the designated provider.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the exact geographic location is
acquired using a global positioning system.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the exact geographic location is
acquired using triangulation.
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: storing
geographical location data for providers of the emergency service;
and comparing the exact geographic location to the geographical
location data as a basis to designate the provider of the emergency
service.
9. A method of making emergency call decisions in a cellular
telephone system having a plurality of cell sites at various
geographic locations comprising: a) providing a mobile unit which
can be located at various and changeable geographic locations; b)
receiving a call from the mobile unit requesting emergency service
via a cellular telephone system; c) determining the exact
geographic location of the mobile unit from which the call is
received; d) storing geographic data in the cellular telephone
system and which are required to complete the call requesting
emergency service; e) comparing the exact geographic location of
the mobile unit placing the call requesting emergency service to
the stored geographic data; and f) automatically routing the mobile
unit call requesting emergency service to an emergency service
based on the comparison regardless of cell site location.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the exact geographic location of
the mobile unit is constantly updated.
11. A telecommunications system, comprising: a data storage system
for recording a geographic location associated with a mobile unit
identification number, and an updating system responsive to an
inaccuracy in the geographic location associated with the mobile
unit identification number that exceeds an interval defined by said
updating system, and in response thereto updating said data storage
system to identify an updated geographic location for said mobile
unit identification number, wherein the updated geographic location
is an exact geographic location provided to an emergency
service.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the emergency service comprises
a plurality of emergency service locations and the exact geographic
location is provided to a selected one of the emergency service
locations based on one of a recorded and updated geographic
location.
13. A cellular communications system comprising: a cellular
communication network comprising a plurality of cell sites and a
plurality of mobile units, for radio frequency communication
between said cell sites and mobile units, at least one of said cell
sites receiving an identification of a specific mobile unit, said
cellular communication network communicating with said specific
mobile unit via a cell site chosen based upon signal strength, and
a positioning system obtaining a position for said specific mobile
unit identifying an exact geographic location of the specific
mobile unit, and forwarding said exact geographic location and
specific mobile unit identification for use in a subsequent
service, wherein the subsequent service comprises a plurality of
service locations and said exact geographic location is forwarded
to one of said service locations based on stored data indicating a
geographic location of the mobile unit.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the subsequent service is an
emergency service.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/662,613 filed Sep. 15, 2000, now allowed, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/848,082, filed Mar.
21, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,404, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/555,884, filed
Oct. 23, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,445, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/402,976, filed
Mar. 13, 1995, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/057,833, filed May 7, 1993, now abandoned,
which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/813,494,
filed Dec. 26, 1991 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,633. The
disclosures of each of these applications is fully incorporated
herein by reference. Therefore, as used hereinafter, the term
"prior art" refers to art that is relevant prior to the invention
dates associated with this incorporated material.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the general art of wireless
over-the-air communication, which includes cellular mobile
radiotelephone (CMR) technology, and to the particular field of
managing communication processes in a wireless over-the-air
communication system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is concerned with wireless
over-the-air communication using a plurality of transmit/receive
cell sites or relay points. It should be understood that the
transmit/receive relay points can be either land based or non-land
based, such as satellite based, and that as used herein, the term
"cell site" or its equivalent refers to one of the relay points of
the system. CMR (Cellular Mobile Radio) is an example of one type
of wireless over-the-air communication system that can be included
in the present disclosure. It is understood that the term CMR is
not intended to be limiting, but is merely used as an example for
the purposes of discussion. It is also to be understood that the
term "cellular telephone system" or its equivalents is intended to
be shorthand notation for the term "wireless over-the-air
communications system" and no limitation is intended by the use of
the term "cellular." Also, as used herein, the terms "CD
(Communication Device)" and "MU (Mobile Unit)" are intended to
include any device used to communicate in the wireless over-the-air
communication system. Also, the term "cellular telephone system" is
used for purposes of discussion but can include any form of
wireless over-the-air communication system. It is also noted that
many forms of communication are and will be conducted over the
wireless over-the-air networks. Therefore, the present disclosure
will refer to a "communication process" which is intended to cover
calls as well as other forms of communication that can be conducted
in this manner.
[0004] CMR is a rapidly growing telecommunications system. The
typical CMR system includes a multiplicity of cells. A particular
geographic area can be subdivided into a multiplicity of subareas,
with each of the subareas being serviced by a stationary
transmitter/receiver setup. The cells are set up to carry signals
to and from mobile units in the range of the cell. If one cell site
becomes too crowded, it can be divided into smaller cells, by a
process known as cell site splitting. Any particular geographic
area can become quite complicated with cells overlapping each
other, and overlapping cells of other neighboring cellular systems.
Further, null zones with inadequate coverage, or even no coverage,
can result. It is noted that the term "cellular" is intended to be
a term of convenience, and is not intended to be limiting. The
present disclosure is intended to encompass any communication
system in which an overall area can be divided into one or more
subareas, and also to any communication system having at least some
portion of the communications occurring over the air.
[0005] A typical CMR set up is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and will
be described so an understanding of the problem to which this
invention is directed can be obtained.
[0006] A typical cellular telephone unit having a unique mobile
identification number stored in a suitable location such as an
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (not shown).
Telephone units of this kind are known to those skilled in this
art, and thus will not be described in detail.
[0007] The telephone unit includes a handset 4 having a keypad 5 as
well as a speaker 6 and a microphone 7. A transceiver 8, ordinarily
built into the telephone unit, exchanges signals via an antenna 10
with a mobile telecommunications switching office or MTSO 12 via a
cell site 14. A duplexer 15 connects the antenna to the
transceiver. The cell site 14 includes an antenna 16 connected to a
control terminal 17 via a transceiver 18. The cell site 14 is
connected to the MTSO via a transmission link 20. The Mobile
Telephone Switching Office has historically been known as the
center of the wireless over-the-air communications system. It is
where the communication process management decisions are made,
billing records are produced and where maintenance activities are
initiated for wireless over-the-air communications systems. The
MTSO is not a specific piece of equipment, but is comprised of many
individual pieces. The MTSO will contain a telephone switch,
peripheral processors, adjunct processors, and various other
information gathering equipment used in the operation and
management of a wireless over-the-air communications system. Each
of the different pieces of equipment may directly or indirectly be
involved providing the highest quality connection possible. The
makeup of the MTSO therefore comprises many different pieces of
equipment and many components, which can be supplied by different
vendors. Therefore, communication process management decisions made
at the MTSO can actually, be made outside of a switch and can be
made in a cluster of nodes housed along the network or even in
separate cell sites. Therefore, as used herein the term MTSO really
refers to all of the systems, nodes, modules, equipment and
components that combine to define a wireless over-the-air
communication process management network, regardless of the
physical or system location of these elements. The term MTSO
therefore is not intended to be limiting to the "switching office"
as it may have been viewed in the prior art. The term is intended
to be much broader than that and to include any combinations of
equipment, etc that may be connected within the communication
processing network of the service provider. The term MTSO is one of
convenience and is intended to include all the information
processing hardware and software associated with the wireless
over-the-air communication process management process within a
wireless over-the-air system, no matter where the hardware or
software is located in the system. It is also noted that the term
"intra-system" refers to actions and components within a particular
system; whereas, the term "inter-system" refers to actions and
components located outside a particular system.
[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation of the CMR can be
understood. The mobile unit M moves about the geographic areas
covered by the various cells. As that mobile unit moves about, it
decodes the overhead message control signals generated by various
cell site control channels. The mobile unit locks onto the cell
site that is emitting the strongest signal. The mobile unit rescans
channels periodically to update its status. If, for example, a
fixed-position land-based telephone T is used to call the mobile
unit, a signal is sent via landlines L, to the central office CO of
a public/switched telephone system (PTSN) 12A. This system then
utilizes the switching network SN associated therewith to call the
MTSO 12 via a transmission link L1. The MTSO then utilizes its own
switching network and generates a page request signal to cell sites
via transmission links, such as the transmission link 20. The cell
site which has been notified of the presence of the mobile unit M
sends a signal back to the MTSO via the landlines or wireless links
alerting the MTSO of the presence of the mobile unit. The MTSO then
orders the mobile unit, via the notifying cell site, to tune to an
assigned channel and receive the communication process.
[0009] On the other hand, during communication process origination,
the mobile unit rescans the control channels to determine which is
the best server based on signal strength. Upon selecting the best
server, the mobile unit transmits cell site information on the
control channel receive frequency and then receives a voice channel
to tune to if the mobile unit is authorized to place a
communication process.
[0010] As the mobile unit moves, the signal strength between that
mobile unit and the originating cell site changes, and perhaps
diminishes. Since signal strength is an inverse function of the
square of the distance between the mobile unit and the cell site,
signal strength can change rapidly and drastically as the mobile
unit moves with respect to the cell site and therefore must be
monitored closely. The MTSO has a signal strength table, and signal
strength from the mobile unit is constantly compared to acceptable
signal strength levels in the table. Such a table can be located in
each cell site if desired.
[0011] Should signal strength diminish below a preset range, the
MTSO generates a "locate request" signal to all cell sites that
neighbor the original cell site. Each of such neighboring cell
sites receiving a signal from the mobile unit signals the MTSO, and
the signal strengths from such neighboring cell sites are checked
against the signal strength table. The MTSO makes a decision as to
which cell site should control the communication process, and
notifies the original cell site to order the mobile unit to retune
to a voice channel of the new cell site.
[0012] As soon as the mobile unit retunes, the mobile unit
completes the communication process via the new cell site channel.
This transfer of control is known as a handoff.
[0013] Typically, governments grant rights to provide wireless
communication services to a specified land area based on geographic
boundaries. Since wireless propagation does not end at exact
geographic boundaries, many conflicts have arisen between service
providers as to which service provider should provide service at
the location from where the Communication Process (CP) is being
originated or received. Today, there are no methods or procedures
to resolve these issues. A Communication Process (CP) can be
defined as the exchange of information between communication
devices, such as, but not limited to, Analog or Digital
radiotelephones, digital data communications, analog or digital
video, and the like.
[0014] When the initial wireless systems were built, they were
constructed around major metropolitan areas. This created service
voids between major metropolitan markets. In these early systems,
boundary service problems did not arise because there were areas of
"no service" buffering competing systems. Today, as rural systems
fill in the patchwork of nationwide coverage, network service
provision boundary disputes are becoming common. Prior to the
Dennison, et al patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,633 and the patents and
applications depending therefrom as continuations and
continuations-in-part, the disclosures of which are fully
incorporated hereinto by reference, and the invention disclosed
herein, it was impossible to honor the exact geographic boundaries.
Attempts are currently made to control coverage boundaries by
installing directional antennas and adjusting cell site receive and
transmit parameters. The methods used to match the system
boundaries to the geographic boundaries are not entirely successful
due to the variations in terrain, environment and limitations of
antenna design and wireless propagation. A common result of these
problems is inadequate wireless signal strength or null coverage
and border disputes around the geographic boundaries and hence poor
service.
[0015] The incorporated material, including the Dennison et al
patent disclose that cell sites sometimes have overlapping coverage
due to the aforementioned variations in terrain and environment,
and propose a solution. While the proposed solution works well,
there is still room for further improvement in the areas of cost,
subscriber service, billing and taxing.
[0016] Furthermore, wireless propagation, such as but not limited
to the cellular operating band of 800-900 MHz, is generally
line-of-site transmission. This presents substantial challenges
when choosing sites in which to place wireless transmit/receive
antennas. Boundaries assigned to service providers are based on
maps depicting the geographic borders of service boundaries. The
question arises in a disputed territory of who will get to service
the Communications Process (CP). In the past, it has been the cell
site that can provide the highest signal strength from the CD
(Communications Device), not the provider that owns the legal
territorial rights to the Communication Process (CP) that has
serviced the Communication Process (CP). Until the invention
disclosed herein, the service provider that could receive the best
signal would handle the communication process (CP), and depending
on whether the Communication Process (CP) was handed off and/or
depending on the agreement made between the wireless communication
systems, possibly keep all of the revenue from the communication
process CP. Additionally, with real estate values being very high
in established communities, cell sites are harder to construct and
more expensive to build. Each cell site must be optimized for the
maximum effective coverage area to overcome the real estate
problems encountered when constructing a cell site. This in turn
creates problems with overlapping coverage between wireless systems
and thus disputes over which wireless system handles the
communication process. Further, due to business considerations, it
may be economically advantageous for one wireless system to own a
cell site which is geographically located in the geographic area of
another wireless system.
[0017] Cell sites are very expensive to install and maintain, so
there is a very real savings for a service provider if fewer cell
sites could be constructed while also improving coverage. Another
area that would be affected by this is problems of quality service.
This is because the service provider has conflicting requirements.
To provide good coverage next to borders the provider would like to
have high signal strength. To allow for hand-offs between cell
sites and networks the signal strength needs to "fade out" at just
the right level near the border to invoke a low threshold to start
a hand-off process. It would be ideal to have high signal strength
right up to a geographic boundary and then drop off beyond that
boundary. However, at the present time, presently available systems
do not permit this type of coverage.
[0018] Some areas inherently have wireless propagation problems,
such as service areas next to bodies of water or in steep valleys.
Wireless propagation can provide some very undesirable results for
a number of reasons, some of which have been mentioned above and in
the incorporated material. Therefore, there is a need to provide
each network information as to which system has a right to handle a
Communications Process (CP). For instance, a communications device
(CD) might attempt to select a geographically incorrect service
provider. Therefore, there is a need for a system that will permit
a service provider to redirect the communication process to the
geographically correct service provider, especially in a manner
that is transparent to the Communications Device (CD) user.
[0019] Since cellular system geographic borders can be non-linear
and can have irregular shapes, problems can arise. Problems
associated with irregular boundaries are indicated in FIG. 3. FIG.
3 graphically shows the problem of obtaining coverage for areas
that have irregular boundaries. In this figure, areas A and C are
serviced by Carrier X, and area B is serviced by Carrier Y. It is
noted that areas A and C are intra-system with respect to Carrier X
and area B is intra-system with respect to Carrier Y, while areas A
and C are inter-system with respect to Carrier Y and area B is
inter-system with respect to Carrier X. It is also noted that areas
A and B could be covered by just one cell site each but the overlap
into adjacent territories would be difficult to resolve. Today,
areas such as these would be split into two or more cell sites. For
instance, Carrier X might elect to install three cell sites A1, A3
and A4 which provides a minimum of overlap into area B. Overlap is
indicated at the shaded areas. Therefore, there is a need for a
system what would allow Carrier X to install a cell site with a
larger coverage area such as A2 (shown in dotted lines).
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a prior art attempt of providing sectored
cells.
[0021] Using prior art technology requires installation of
directional antennas to minimize the overlap into neighboring
territory in order to resolve a border issue. Since these antenna
patterns cannot be made to follow curved geographic borders,
sectors are installed and directed for the best geographic coverage
possible. This often involves obtaining a cell site location close
to the border and "shooting back" toward the wireless communication
system's own territory. This can leave null zones where cells back
onto each other in an effort to keep signals from overlapping into
neighboring territory. These null zones will have either poor
quality service or even no service at all, thereby resulting in
poor service. Therefore, there is a need to overcome this problem
as well.
[0022] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a problem of how geographic
terrain can affect prior art systems. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, a small
rural network A is located just across the river from a large city
C, which is part of a neighboring network B. The river defines the
geographic and legal border between these two systems. The city C
is in another state just across the river. In some river towns,
there is a bluff on each side of the river. The network A can place
their cell sites very near the border atop the bluff providing
overlapping coverage into the city C. Network A will get all the
service of the neighboring community D further away from the city
C. Network A now has better line of cell site reception into the
river valley with its corresponding traffic at river level than
does network B who legally "owns" the territory. Network B would
have to install additional cell sites in the river valley to obtain
the same coverage. Due to the stronger signal level provided by
Network A, Network A will process a communications process (CP).
The result is that subscriber's Communication Process (CP) may not
be processed by the correct service provider.
[0023] Note in FIG. 5A that there are two service providers X and
Y. The inter-system boundary is shown as a dashed line down the
middle of the river. With a bluff on either side of the river, the
cells can only service the opposite bluff. This is shown where Y1
cell site cannot "see" the subscriber CD' hidden below. Cell site
Y1 can however find CD3 in service provider X's territory. This
issue denies revenue to the wireless communication system that has
legal right to serve the subscribers within its licensed geographic
service boundaries. Prior art systems are incapable of determining
the geographic location of both the communications devices and
their service boundaries and thus compromise quality of coverage.
Therefore, there is a need to resolve this issue.
[0024] There is also need for providing a wireless over-the-air
communication system with the ability to adjust its coverage and
billing as the mobile unit moves. This will permit the system to
determine taxes based on where the communication process is
actually being made as opposed to the criteria used with the prior
art. Still further, there is a need to permit a wireless
over-the-air communication system to change frequencies as the
mobile unit moves whereby a single wireless service provider can
provide service to its subscribers regardless of frequency.
[0025] Still further, due to various business reasons, a single
cell site may advantageously be used by more than one system. It
will be necessary to determine which wireless communication system
bills the communication process. Prior art systems cannot fully
account for this.
[0026] Still further, if there is a service problem with a mobile
unit, prior art systems are not able to accurately identify the
exact geographic location of the unit when the problem arose. This
makes it difficult for the network to pinpoint coverage problems.
Therefore, there is a need for a wireless over-the-air
communication system that permits a wireless communication system
to exactly and precisely identify the exact geographic location of
a mobile unit when a communication problem occurs.
[0027] Still further, with the advent of emergency response
networks that use telephones, such as the E-911 systems, there is a
need for a wireless over-the-air communication system that can
precisely locate a mobile unit and pass that information on to an
emergency response system.
[0028] The location of an over-the-air system mobile unit making a
communication process can also be of use to law enforcement
agencies. However, signal strength from one cell site does not
provide such location information with sufficient accuracy to be of
the best assistance to law enforcement agencies. Therefore, there
is a need for an over-the-air communications network that can
provide geographic location of a mobile unit during a communication
process with accuracy sufficient to satisfy law enforcement
agencies. This information should be rapidly updatable so a mobile
unit can be tracked.
[0029] Since the CMR industry is growing rapidly, competition is
growing. Therefore, it is in the best interest of a system to be
able to provide the best service possible to its subscribers. One
way of achieving this objective is to customize the service to the
exact needs of each subscriber. This can be achieved by, among
other things, customizing and varying a billing rate plan for each
subscriber. That is, the subscriber may be able to pay a lower rate
when he is at work than he pays when he or she is at home.
Therefore, there is need to a wireless over-the-air communication
system that can vary rate plans and vary rates in a manner that
will permit offering the best rate plan to each subscriber based on
that particular subscriber's use and needs. Still further, some
communication processes must be handled in a special manner to
account for environmental conditions, or system needs, such as down
time for a specific cell. Therefore, even if a communication
process should be handled by a certain cell site, there may be
times when that communication process must be handled by another
cell site. Therefore, there is need for a wireless over-the-air
communication system that can account for special circumstances
associated with a communication process, and alter the system
response when the mobile unit meets the criteria for those
circumstances, even if the communication process is already in
progress when the criteria are met.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] It is a main object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will permit a
wireless communication system to determine the most efficient and
accurate service to a mobile unit.
[0031] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will permit a
wireless communication system to accurately bill a subscriber.
[0032] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will permit a
wireless communication system to accurately determine taxes for a
subscriber for that subscriber's use of the system.
[0033] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will be able to
handle all communication processes legally permitted it.
[0034] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will be able to
handle all communication processes legally permitted it and to
forward communication processes that rightfully belong to another
wireless communication system while retaining billing and taxing of
any portion of the communication process that belongs to it.
[0035] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that will be able to
handle all communication processes legally permitted it based on
geographic constraints.
[0036] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can bill a
subscriber based on the geographic location of communication
process origination, and then can update and alter that billing as
the mobile unit moves.
[0037] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can co-operate
with other wireless networks in handling a communication
process.
[0038] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can share cell
sites with other networks while retaining its ability to bill and
service its own subscribers.
[0039] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can provide the
most efficient and effective service to its subscribers and
users.
[0040] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can update any
communication process management parameter to account for
instantaneous geographic location of a mobile unit.
[0041] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can assign and
re-assign a communication process according to the location of the
mobile unit during the communication process.
[0042] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can share
geographic boundaries with other wireless over-the-air service
providers without border issues.
[0043] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can change and
update its operating frequencies during a communication
process.
[0044] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system which can have the
highest possible signal strength at its borders.
[0045] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system which can identify the
location of a mobile unit when a service problem arises.
[0046] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can efficiently
work with emergency service providers.
[0047] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can efficiently
implement and utilize special rate plans.
[0048] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can efficiently
implement and utilize special requirements for a communication
process.
[0049] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can establish
parameters for updating mobile unit information based on the
particular needs of the mobile unit.
[0050] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
wireless over-the-air communications system that can establish time
and/or distance parameters for updating mobile unit information
based on the particular needs of the mobile unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0051] These, and other, objects are achieved by a CMR system that
allows the Exact Geographic Location (EGL) of a communications
device to be tracked and compared to geographic land data and
information data and to continuously update this information during
the communication process whereby the proper and most efficient
service is provided, including proper communication process
management and billing decisions. Within the scope of this
invention is the ability to solve the above-mentioned problems and
achieve the above-mentioned objects. By knowing the exact
geographic location of a mobile unit during a communication
process, competing service providers can locate their cell sites
anywhere where the wireless reception will allow them to provide
the best wireless coverage of their territory. The cell sites can
even have overlapping coverage, or be inside an adjacent wireless
communication system's coverage area. By knowing the location of
the calling device at all times during the communication process,
the wireless over-the-air communication system can configure the
system to work together with other systems and wireless
communication systems to process a communication process correctly.
Service can be provided by the proper licensed wireless
communication system because the exact location of the mobile unit
is known at all times during the communication process. Propagation
patterns and the like are not needed.
[0052] By way of background, the operation of a cellular system 20
is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 7A. The cellular system 20 uses
positional data associated with the mobile unit M' to make
communication process management decisions. To this end, the
cellular system 20, while similar in all other respects to the
cellular system illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes means for
accurately and precisely determining the exact position of the
mobile unit M', and then further includes means for using this
positional information to determine which cell site is best suited
to handle a communication process associated with that mobile unit
M'.
[0053] The means for accurately determining the precise position of
the mobile unit includes a Global Positioning System. The GPS
includes satellites, such as satellite 22 in geostationary orbit
about the earth. Each mobile unit further includes a GPS receiver
24 located between the duplexer and the logic circuitry 25 of the
mobile unit. The GPS receiver communicates with the satellite 22
and the exact longitude and latitude of the mobile unit are
determined. This information is sent to the MTSO via a cell site,
and the MTSO uses a look-up table such as disclosed in FIG. 9, to
determine which cell site is most appropriate for use by the mobile
unit. The mobile unit communicates with cell sites using unused
bits of the aforediscussed overhead messages to send its positional
information to the MTSO when the mobile unit is first activated.
This positional information is relayed to the MTSO by the first
cell site to communicate with the mobile unit. The MTSO then
selects the cell site most appropriate for the mobile unit and
hands that mobile unit off to that cell site. The cell sites
transmit system service boundaries in their overhead messages that
are interpreted by mobile units. The mobile units use the location
information supplied by the GPS receiver as opposed to signal
strength to determine which system to originate on. Communication
process termination can utilize the paging process as is currently
utilized. A response from a mobile unit includes the location
information, and the designated control channel instructs the
mobile unit to tune to one of its channels. A communication process
in progress utilizes the overhead message of the voice channel to
communicate location information. Once a mobile unit that is
processing on a particular cell site crosses a cell site boundary,
it is instructed to perform a handoff to the cell site that is to
service the new location. It is understood that the GPS is used as
an example of the preferred source of positional data; however,
other sources similar to the GPS can be used without departing from
the scope of the present invention. All that is required is that
the source of positional data be able to generate precise and
accurate locational data on a fixed or a rapidly moving object. It
is also helpful, but not absolutely required, that in some
circumstances, such as triangulation, the CMR be only passively
involved in the determination of the positional data.
[0054] The handoff process is similar to the present hand-off
processes, except it will be controlled according to position of
the mobile unit instead of signal strength. This position
information is used to determine communication process rating and
taxing for billing purposes and communication process routing to
make sure that the proper services for that location are
provided.
[0055] A "locate request" signal is not used, since the exact
location of the mobile unit is known to the MTSO. However, a signal
strength method can also be used in making communication process
management decisions if suitable. Such a process would be used if
the mobile unit moves into a prior art cellular system.
[0056] The hereinafter disclosed system has many advantages over
the prior art systems. Multiple layers of information can be
generated and used. The system using the invention disclosed herein
and in the incorporated material may use many levels of mapping
such as cell site selection, taxing, billing, special rate plans,
and the mapping of E-911 calls to an appropriate service
provider.
[0057] The above and other objects and advantages of the present
invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and
the description thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art mobile cellular
telephone and its link with a fixed cell site and an MTSO.
[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical prior art cellular system in
which a mobile unit can be connected with a fixed-position
unit.
[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates an overlapping boundary problem with
prior art systems as well as a fading signal at the borders.
[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a null zone problem associated with prior
art systems.
[0062] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate boundary issue problems between
two prior art systems separated by a natural boundary, such as a
river.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a mobile unit of a wireless
over-the-air communications system which incorporates a GPS
location determining system embodying the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless over-the-air communications
system incorporating a GPS position locating system for a mobile
unit communicating with other units, such as the fixed-position
unit shown.
[0065] FIG. 7A is a block diagram showing systems included in an
MTSO.
[0066] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a flow chart for the
wireless over-the-air communications system embodying the present
invention.
[0067] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a registration process
used in the present invention.
[0068] FIG. 9A is a block diagram showing a communication process
rating procedure used in the present invention.
[0069] FIG. 9B is a block diagram of a communication process
routing process used in the present invention.
[0070] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a billing process used in the
present invention.
[0071] FIG. 11 illustrates the elimination of a null zone problem
with a system embodying the present invention.
[0072] FIG. 12 illustrates variable billing and/or taxing for a
mobile unit using the system of the present invention.
[0073] FIG. 13 illustrates how cell sites can be shared using the
system of the present invention.
[0074] FIG. 14 illustrates how a cell site for one wireless
over-the-air communication system can be located in the geographic
boundary of another wireless communication system when the present
invention is used to manage communication processes made by a
mobile unit.
[0075] FIG. 15 illustrates the solution to overlapping boundary
problems achieved by the present invention.
[0076] FIG. 16 illustrates how frequency of a communication process
can be changed using the system of the present invention during a
communication process and without the unit being aware that the
frequency is being changed.
[0077] FIG. 17 illustrates the application of the present invention
to a geographic area which includes several countries.
[0078] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with a general description of the
invention given above, and the detailed description of the
embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0079] A representation of the logical flow that may occur in a
wireless communications system incorporating the use of exact
geographic location (EGL) for the communication process management
decisions is shown in FIGS. 8-10. The communication process
management decisions are based on information provided by the
communication device (CD) towards the fixed system and to the
communications device from the fixed system. The description of a
sample communications process (CP) begins upon the powering up of
the communicating device and continues until that communications
process is completed.
[0080] When a communications device is powered up, block 101, the
registration process, block 102 is initiated. The registration
process is detailed in FIG. 9. The first step in the registration
process, block 102 is to determine the exact geographic location,
block 201 of the communications device via either GPS, block 202,
signal strength, block 203, Loran, block 204, triangulation or
other similar location means. The information is used by the
initial (Home) serving system and the exact geographic location
(EGL) is compared to the service boundaries, block 205 for that
home system. A determination is made as to whether or not the
Communications Device (CD) is located within the serving system's
boundaries via the means of communication data filed in the serving
system, block 206. The communication data may include computerized
latitude and longitude tables which are then compared to geographic
location tables of service allocation. In the absence of
comparative tables, algorithms may be run to determine the mapping
of exact geographic location (EGL) to service boundaries. If the
Communications Device (CD) is located within the serving system's
boundaries, the exact geographic location (EGL) is reestablished,
block 216 and recorded, block 217 for billing or other purposes. If
the Communications Device (CD) is determined to be located outside
of the serving system's boundaries, then the exact geographic
location (EGL) is compared to the neighboring system boundaries,
block 208 and block 212 on an interactive basis until the system
that is authorized to serve the Communications Device (CD) at the
current exact geographic location (EGL) is determined. In addition
to the reference tables that assign the service provider, the
communication data, blocks 209, 213 also identifies the means of
transferring control of the Communications Device (CD) from one
system to another. Once the correct system is identified, the
Communications Device (CD) is commanded to establish communications
with the proper cell site within the correct system 211, 215. An
example of this would be commanding the Communications Device (CD)
to tune to the neighboring system's control channel. A registration
increment timer 103 is then sent to the Communications Device (CD)
informing it of the intervals 104 at which re-registration is
required. This registration process is continued through the period
that the Communications Device (CD) is not in a Communication
Process (CP) active state.
[0081] If a Communication Process (CP) were initiated then the
registration process, block 106, FIG. 9, would take place to update
the exact geographic location (EGL). Once the exact geographic
location (EGL) is established the routing selection for the
Communication Process (CP) is begun, block 107. FIG. 9B shows that
the first step is to identify the Communications Device (CD), block
401 so that the service characteristics, block 402 can be
identified. A determination is then made as to whether or not
service is to be provided, block 403. If service is to be provided
proper routing is selected, with the most appropriate
communications path to connect point A to point B is selected for
the specific communication process based on the exact geographic
location (EGL) of the Communications Device (CD), block 404. This
may include activities and decision to route communication
processes through land based networks, microwave, fiberoptic links
and the like to allow for cost effective or expeditious connections
to be established. If service is to be denied, the wireless
communication system can direct the communication process to the
appropriate announcement, block 405 and if the Communication
Process (CP) being initiated is determined not to be a 911
emergency call, block 406. If a communication process is determined
to be a 911 emergency call, then the system identifies the proper
routing of the emergency communication process, blocks 407, 408 and
409, and the communication process will be directed to the proper
emergency response system. The routing of this emergency call
should be accompanied by all of the information that is pertinent
and available, blocks 410 and 411. If the exact geographic location
(EGL) continues to change, updates should be sent to the serving
emergency response system, block 412. If another emergency response
system needs to gain control of the call, the system will be able
to establish a connection with the new emergency response system,
block 413. This event is then recorded upon completion, block
414.
[0082] With communications established (FIG. 8), block 108, the
exact geographic location (EGL) may be stored for Communication
Process (CP) management, billing purposes, and other identification
needs, block 114. The stored exact geographic location (EGL) is
then recorded for establishing the origination point for billing
purposes, block 109, emergency 911 call accounting, block 110,
taxing purposes, block 111, rating the Communication Process (CP),
block 112, or post communication process subscriber service, block
113. The Communication Process (CP) rating process shown in FIG. 9A
identifies the subscriber characteristics, blocks 301 and 302. The
recorded exact geographic location (EGL) is then compared to the
Communication Process (CP) rating table, blocks 303 and 304 to
select the correct rating, block 305 for that communication process
(CP). This information is then recorded for later processing which
may include application of taxes, Communication Process (CP)
billing rates, or any other information which could be matched to
the exact geographic location (EGL) of the communication process
(CP). As the Communication Process (CP) continues, the exact
geographic location (EGL) is constantly updated, block 1 15 or
alternately updated at various intervals, block 114a, which
intervals can be changed based on the time and/or distance traveled
by the mobile unit to meet system needs for efficient communication
process management, and these updated Communications Device (CD)
locations are used for communication Process (CP) management, block
116, billing decisions, block 119, and other real time processing
uses, such as 911 emergency calls made while a non-emergency
communication process was in progress, block 120, taxing, block
121, Communication Process (CP) rating, block 122, subscriber
service, block 123, and frequency selection, block 124. The
intervals at which the updating occurs can be determined on a
preset time, such as every minute, or can be determined according
to distance traveled by the mobile unit, such as every twenty
miles, or the interval can be set according to the nearest border
so that the mobile unit will be monitored whenever it reaches a
location that would cross over the border if the mobile unit
traveled toward that border. In this manner, the billing
information, the tax information and the frequency of the
communication process can be based on the location of the
communication process origination, but can also be continuously
updated and changed as the mobile unit moves during the
communication process whereby the exact rates and frequencies at
any instant during the communication process can be applied to the
communication process. As was discussed above, this will even
permit separate networks to share cell sites as even though a
single cell site handles a communication process, the location of
the mobile unit will determine which system receives credit for the
communication process and will handle the billing and taxing of the
communication process. Alternatively, this will permit separate
cellular systems to locate their own cell sites within the
geographic area of another cellular system, and may even permit
several different systems to share a single cell site.
[0083] The cell site can re-direct a communication process to
another cell site under certain circumstances. For example, even
though a particular cell site is chosen to handle a communication
process, there may be special circumstances associated with a
particular location that dictate all communication processes from
that location be handled by a certain cell site. Special
environmental conditions may be one such special circumstance, cell
sites under repair may be another special circumstance or other
business reasons may dictate such re-directing of communication
processes. This redirecting can also occur for cellular systems.
That is, if a selected cell site is not owned by the cellular
system having rights to the communication process made by the
mobile unit at that particular location, the communication process
could be redirected to another cellular system. In this manner,
customization of cellular service can be maximized with billing,
taxing, frequency and the like all being selected according to the
exact needs of the mobile unit during the communication process,
and changed as the needs of the mobile unit change during the
communication process. As discussed above, the preferred means for
establishing the exact geographic location of the mobile unit
includes a satellite communications system; however, other means
can also be used.
[0084] All of this data collection and monitoring continues until
the Communication Process (CP) is completed, block 117. When the
Communication Process (CP) is complete, and exact geographic
location (EGL) of the mobile unit is recorded for various data
processing uses prior to the data record closure, block 118.
[0085] FIG. 10 shows how the billing information is passed along
through an external billing system. The MTSO first generates
Automatic Message Accounting (AMA) files, usually in magnetic tape
format, which holds all the detailed records for communication
processes processed from a particular MTSO during that billing
period. The AMA records are then processed (formatted into database
readable media) at the wireless communication system's billing
center which emerge as Call Detail Records (CDR). Call Detail
Records are the detailed accounting of all the communication
processes assigned to a subscriber's account. The roaming and home
reports are combined which are then processed as subscriber bills.
It is here in the prior art system that any taxes may be applied by
the service provider or by the wireless communication system.
Ideally, taxes should be assessed based on the location of the
mobile unit when service is provided. This is not the case with
prior art systems. For example, home communication processes are
taxed according to either the billing address of the subscriber or
the zip code or business address of the service provider and roam
communication processes, that is communication processes made using
a cell site that is not in the mobile unit's home area, are taxed
based on the billing address of the roam network or where the cell
site is located that services the communication process. Any tax
based on the cell site location has the possibility of being in
error, especially if the cell site is located adjacent to a border.
The prior art has failed to teach the distinction between fixed
location of hardware and exact geographic location (EGL) of the
Communications Device (CD) for billing.
[0086] In the present system, the wireless communication system
will obtain the instant location of the Communications Device (CD)
at the registration process (FIG. 9). In a system where bills are
processed externally, billing information combined with the
location of on the Call Detail Records can then be compared to
lookup tables or algorithms that will assess the proper tax or
billing rate depending on the location (origination, termination,
duration, instantaneous location, or the like) of the communication
process.
[0087] If needed, the billing location codes could be recorded at
some given interval (perhaps, for example, every minute, or after
the mobile unit has traveled a certain distance) that would allow
for updates and changes to the billing code as the Communications
Device (CD) moves through different territories or beyond interval
distances which can be calculated directly in a GPS system or
indirectly via vector calculations in other systems.
[0088] One of the additional features that can be provided by the
system of the present invention is real time subscriber service
(FIG. 8, block 123). Knowing the location of the Communications
Device (CD) is important to the wireless service provider to help
solve some service problems associated with the wireless
network.
[0089] Although billing and taxing issues are important to current
land based wireless communications systems service providers, these
issues will be even more important for satellite systems (see FIG.
17) because the footprint of a satellite can cover many states or
even different small countries such as in the European Community,
with enormous tax generating capacity. With GPS location devices or
Loran-C or any other type of location technology used to locate the
satellite mobile phones, the problem can be avoided using the
system disclosed herein. The exact geographic location of each
subscriber unit will be carried along with voice transmission to
allow location of the billing unit to be determined for tax
assessment billing.
[0090] The advantages realized by the present invention can also be
understood by comparing FIGS. 3-5 to FIGS. 11-16.
[0091] FIG. 11 shows the identical borders and cells as shown in
FIG. 4. However, this time omnidirectional antennas are shown which
improve coverage but can cause overlap into a neighboring system.
This overlap can be handled as described above by each network
having independent inter-system cells which map the exact
geographic location (EGL) of the Communications Device (CD) to
determine which system will service the CP.
[0092] FIG. 13 shows still another configuration which could be
utilized where borders are concerned. Two or more bordering service
providers could erect single cells on or very near the border.
Since the systems will track the exact geographic location (EGL) of
each communications device (CD), it will know which service
provider to connect the Communication Process (CP) to. This system
uses a routing processor after the Communication Process (CP) has
been accepted.
[0093] FIG. 14 shows a situation where the cell site from a
competitive service provider is inside their borders. As shown,
cell site Z3 is in place in service provider Q's territory.
Communications Devices which are physically located inside
territory Z which come up on cell site Z3 (communication device
CD13) will be accepted. Communication device CD14 which will come
up on cell site Z3 will be redirected to the control channel of
cell site Q2 since it lies within territory Q.
[0094] FIG. 15 shows the same territory depicted in FIG. 3 which in
the prior art had many cells and many border overlap issues, which
resulted, in prior art systems, in the service providers adding
smaller cell sites to break up the coverage into smaller sells.
FIG. 15 shows what can be done with the inventive system to reduce
the number of cell sites. By having fewer cells, they will have to
be of higher power which allows for better signal strength out at
the borders. By using the inventive system to manage the
Communication Process, the correct system will handle communication
processes even under conditions of overlapping coverage into a
neighbor's territory. To illustrate this, the signal values are
shown in FIGS. 3 and 15 for cell site coverage of cell sites A1 and
B1. In the prior art system (FIG. 3), each service provider will
adjust its cell site to give some predetermined signal strength at
the border. As an example, this value is shown as -5 dB. This value
will be as close to the border as possible to invoke a hand-off to
the neighboring service provider (Note, communication device CD5 is
at signal strength levels, A1=-2 dB, B1=-5 dB). However, the weaker
the signal, the poorer the service such as terminated communication
processes. However, if a contrast is made with the signal strengths
in the inventive system, it will be found that higher values at the
borders can be maintained which results in better service. For
example, communication device CD6 signal strength A1=1 dB, B1=5 dB.
Since most borders are straight lines and wireless communication
sometimes propagates in a radial fashion, prior art service
providers cannot simply increase the cell site's power to provide
higher signal strength values at the borders. Therefore, if a
provider sets a cell site to hand off at a certain value, it will
hand-off wherever the signal strength decreases to that level,
which may be a radial curve, which most times may not follow the
geographic service boundaries.
[0095] Therefore, as can be seen from the figures, if the provider
were to increase the signal strength in an area, it may result in
more overlap. This overlap is not a problem with the inventive
system since the service boundaries are mapped to the exact
geographic location (EGL) of the communications device (CD).
[0096] An example of another advantage realized with the present
system is that all communication processes may be processed through
the tax data base, but the wireless communication system may have a
select group of subscribers that are identified to pay a certain
billing rate in a specified geographic area which would constitute
an additional loop through another look-up table. For example, as
indicated in FIG. 16, company A has negotiated for an attractive
airtime rate within its plant's boundaries. This plant also resides
in school district B which has assessed it own tax. The company
employees will therefore enjoy the attractive rates while inside
the plant and must pay the school tax on those communication
processes. But if those employees go beyond the plant, they will
lose the lower rate. For instance, communication device CD8 may
have a low pre-negotiated rate, but pay school district B and state
P taxes. Communication device CD9 pays the school district B and
state P taxes, and communication device CD10 pays only the state
tax. Billing is continuously updated no matter where the
communication process originated as the mobile unit moves.
[0097] Still another application for the technology of this
invention could encompass the switching of a dual frequency phone
to a second frequency based on exact geographic location (EGL) of
the communication device (CD). An example of this would be
switching from 800-900 MHz to 2 GHz frequencies used in the
upcoming PCS system. This would be useful for the commuter who
wants PCS for his Communications Device (CD) in the city and to be
able to roam out of PCS territory into cellular territory. It may
even come to the time when subscribers are given rate plans that
correspond to different zones, such as a 2000 foot perimeter of
their residence which would be billed at a residence rate, and be
billed at a Home market rate beyond that. Still further, when the
subscriber enters into the geographic zone of his or her employer,
the MTSO will forward his business communication processes to his
communication device (CD), all based on his present exact
geographic location. This could be an important competitive
advantage to a service provider that owned the 900 MHz in one area
and the 2000 MHz rights in a second area. For example, FIG. 16
shows service provider A, which owns the license to 2000 MHz in
territory 1, the 900 MHz license in territory 2 and the 2000 MHz
license in territory 3. When mobile unit CDX travels on roadway XR,
it will pass through all through all three territories. The service
provider would like to handle all the billing revenue for its
subscribers traveling through territory 2, but does not have the
2000 MHz license in that area. The communication device CDX is
therefore instructed to retune to 900 MHz in territory 2 because
System A does have rights to communication processes in territory 2
at the 900 MHz frequency. This allows System A to by pass System B
even though the System B is a 2000 Mhz service provider adjacent to
two System A territories.
[0098] The preferred means for establishing exact geographic
location (EGL) is a satellite communication system such as
discussed in the incorporated material. However, other means,
including, but not limited to, triangulation and the like, can be
used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0099] It is understood that while certain forms of the present
invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to
be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described
and shown.
[0100] While the present invention has been illustrated by a
description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The
invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the
specific details, representative apparatus and method, and
illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or
scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
* * * * *