Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-27
2001-04-24
To, Doris H. (Department: 2682)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S067150, C455S067700, C455S575100, C455S422100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223032
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless communications system which detects the misbehavior or improper functioning of a mobile station. The present invention also relates to a mobile station having a remotely activated shutdown mechanism for the purposes of remotely shutting the mobile station down when misbehavior is detected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art of wireless communications in which mobile stations access a wireless system including one or more base stations, and in the case of cellular telephony an array of base stations arranged in cells, to shut down or end wireless communications with a given mobile station when signal strength becomes too weak. This routine is part of controlling wireless communications in the system. It is also known to provide, as a security feature, an automatic shutdown of communications with a mobile station when the authenticity of the mobile station's identification response code is doubted. Security control is an important feature to prevent fraudulent use of subscriber accounts, and to prevent fraudulent access to otherwise secure communications systems.
It has been discovered that some mobile stations are fully capable of transmitting and receiving with sufficient signal strength, and are able to provide acceptable identification codes to the wireless system in order to register and continue having access to the wireless system, even though such mobile stations fail to communicate according to an expected quality standard respecting the wireless communications protocols used in the system. Failure to operate according to protocol adversely affects the quality and reliability of the communication with the misbehaving mobile station, and consequently is a disturbance to the subscriber using the mobile station and/or to neighboring mobile station subscribers. Furthermore, the wireless system is taxed by having to manage the misbehaving mobile station which decreases the system's efficiency in providing reliable service to all subscribers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved wireless communications system in which malfunctioning or misbehaving mobile stations, that are capable nonetheless of continuing to communicate, are detected for the purposes of either shutting down misbehaving mobile stations or reporting misbehaving mobile stations so that corrective action can be taken in order to improve the quality of service to subscribers using the wireless communications system.
According to the invention, there is provided a misbehaving mobile station identification system in a wireless communication system, the identification system comprising error detection means for detecting, in wireless communication signals received from a mobile station, errors indicative of faulty operation of the mobile station and for generating error signals, and means for analyzing the error signals to determine whether the mobile station is misbehaving and to output a misbehaving identification signal identifying the mobile station as misbehaving if the mobile station is determined to be misbehaving.
Preferably, the identification system according to the invention also comprises operator notification means for providing an operator at least periodically with a display of the identification. In addition, the system also comprises mobile station notification means for providing a subscriber using said mobile station with a message in response to said identification signal.
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Kall, et al. “Maintenance Information in the GSM System”; Jun. 1987 International Conference on Digital Land Mobile Radio Communications; pp. 497-506.
PCT International Search Report; Jun. 11, 1999; PCT/SE99/00183.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
To Doris H.
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