Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-01
2004-04-06
Gelin, Jean (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S456100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06718176
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a manner by which to utilize positional data, generated during operation of a radio communication system, such as a cellular communication system, of the locations at which mobile stations operable in the communication system are positioned. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and associated method, by which to display the positional data related to one or more mobile stations at a selected mobile station, thereby to permit the user of the selected mobile station better to utilize the data. The location at which the mobile stations are positioned are displayed together with a static map at a selected mobile station. The user of the selected mobile station is able to ascertain the position of the mobile station relative to the static map. When the position of more than one mobile station is displayed together with the static map, the relative positions of the mobile stations, in terms of the static map, are ascertainable by the user of the selected mobile station.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a sending station and a receiving station between which information is communicated. A communication channel is formed between the sending station and the receiving station. The information to be communicated by the sending station to the receiving station is communicated thereon. A wide variety of different types of communication systems have been developed and are regularly utilized to effectuate communication of information between the sending and receiving stations.
New types of communication systems have been developed and implemented as a result of advancements in communication technologies. Radio communication systems are exemplary of communication systems which have benefited from advancements in communication technologies. Improvements to existing types of radio communication systems, and new types of radio communication systems, have been made possible as a result of the advancements in communication technologies.
In contrast to a wireline communication system, a radio communication system utilizes a radio link extending between the sending and receiving stations upon which to define a radio channel which forms the communication channel. The radio link upon which the radio channel is formed is defined, at least in part, by frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum. Because a radio link is utilized to form the communication channel, the wireline connection, conventionally required in a wireline communication system, and otherwise needed to interconnect the sending and receiving stations, is obviated. Thereby, increased communication mobility is inherently permitted in a radio communication system, in contrast to a wireline communication system. Infrastructure costs which would otherwise be required to install a wireline communication system are generally significantly reduced in a radio communication system as radio links, rather than wirelines, are utilized to interconnect sending and receiving stations.
A cellular communication system is exemplary of a new type of radio communication which has been made possible as a result of advancements in communication technologies. A cellular communication system is a multi-user communication system which provides for radio communications with users of mobile stations when the mobile stations are operated within a geographical area encompassed by the network infrastructure of the communication system. Telephonic communication of voice, as well as non-voice, data is permitted in a cellular communication system through proper utilization of a mobile station.
A cellular communication system makes relatively efficient utilization of the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allocated thereto and upon which the radio channels are defined. The relatively efficient utilization of the allocated electro magnetic spectrum is provided by the positioning of a plurality of spaced-apart, fixed-site transceivers which form portions of the network infrastructure of the communication system. Through the use of the plurality of fixed-site transceivers, a mobile station is likely to be positioned in proximity to at least one of the transceivers. Only relatively low-power signals are thereby required to be generated, and the same frequency channels can be reused at different locations throughout the geographical area encompassed by the cellular communication system according to a cell reuse scheme.
While the use of the cellular communication system through which to communicate has many advantages, the mobility inherent of a mobile station operable in a cellular communication system does not provide for simple tracking of the location of the mobile station. Tracking of the location at which a mobile station is positioned is important, for instance, when a request is made for emergency assistance.
When a call is originated at a conventional wireline device, the geographical position from which the call is originated is easily determinable. A simple mapping of the identity of the wireline device at which the call is originated together with the location at which the device is installed provides some indication of the location at which the call is originated. A similar mapping is not possible when a call is originated at a mobile station due to the inherent mobility of the mobile station. The geographical position at which a call is originated by a user of a mobile station is not easily determinable.
Proposals have been set forth to overcome this shortcoming of use of a radio communication system. One such proposal makes use of GPS (global positioning system) technologies. GPS receivers are available to receive and to detect TOA (time of arrival) signals generated by satellite-based transmitters. Incorporation of a GPS receiver into a mobile station permits the location in which the mobile station is positioned to be determined. The network infrastructure of the communication system is provided with the position information determined at the mobile station. That is to say, signals indicative of the determination can be communicated by the mobile station by way of a radio link, thereby to indicate the position in which the mobile station is located when a call is originated therefrom. Other proposals have been set forth to facilitate determination of the location at which a mobile station is positioned utilizing signals communicated between the network infrastructure of the communication system and the mobile station.
Generally, existing, and proposed, system requirements relating to identification of the location in which a mobile station is positioned are set forth to provide emergency center personnel with indications of the position information. Utilization of this information for other uses would permit additional features and services to be provided to users of a cellular communication system.
Additional manners by which to utilize positional information indicative of the location at which a mobile station operable in a radio communication system is positioned would be beneficial.
It is in light of this background information related to positional information related to the location at which a mobile station operable in a cellular, or other radio, communication system is positioned that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides apparatus, and an associated method, by which to utilize positional data, generated during operation of a radio communication system, such as a cellular communication system of the location at which at least one mobile station operable in the communication system is positioned.
Through operation of an embodiment of the present invention, a manner is provided by which to display positional data related to one or more mobile stations at a selected mobile station. When displayed at the selected mobile station, the user of the mobile station is able to utilize the positional data.
In one aspect of the presen
Michaud Russ
Wikstedt Heikki
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