Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Programming control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-17
2002-09-24
Kincaid, Lester G. (Department: 2685)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Programming control
C455S432300, C455S466000, C455S186100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06456843
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to over-the-air programming of telecommunication services. More particularly, the present invention provides dynamic updating of mobile station databases to provide flexible telecommunication services.
An industry standard referred to as IS-136 defines a standard for mobile stations which communicate in the cellular and PCS bands. The standard defines the basic functionality of the mobile station as well as the communication protocols between the mobile station and a mobile station switching center. One of the important aspects of a mobile station designed in accordance with this standard is the programmability of the station to be flexible in its operation.
The mobile stations employing this particular standard have been recognized as being useful for implementing a feature known as Intelligent Roaming (IR). This is a process that a mobile station or phone goes through to assure that it is receiving the best service possible regardless of the location that the phone is in.
The following description provides the background for understanding the significance of intelligent roaming in the mobile environment. This should be understood as providing merely an example of one particular telecommunication service which is available using an IS-136 mobile station.
FIG. 1
illustrates a portion of the radio frequency spectrum. Frequency range
10
centered around 800 MHz has historically been known as the cellular frequency range and frequency range
12
centered about 1900 MHz is a newer defined frequency range associated with Personal Communication Services (PCS). Each range of frequencies, i.e., the cellular and PCS are broken into two portions. In cellular frequency range
10
, there is up-link portion
14
which is used for communications from a mobile communication device to a base station such as a cellular base station. Portion
16
of cellular frequency range
10
is used for down-link communications, that is, communications from a cellular base station to a mobile communication device. In a similar fashion, portion
18
of PCS frequency range
12
is used for up-link communications, that is, communications from a mobile communication device to a base station. Portion
20
of PCS frequency range
12
is used for down-link communications, i.e., communications from a base station to a mobile communication device.
Each of the frequency ranges is broken into bands which are typically associated with different service providers. In the case of cellular frequency range
10
, frequency bands
30
and
32
are designated band “a” for up-link and down-link communications respectively. In a particular geographic area, a cellular service provider is assigned frequency band “a” to carry out mobile communications. Likewise, in the same geographic area another cellular service provider is assigned frequency bands
34
(up-link) and
36
(down-link) which are designated “b”. The frequency spectra assigned to the service providers are separated so as to not interfere with each other's communications. This enables two separate service providers to provide cellular service in the same geographic area.
The U.S. government has auctioned the PCS frequency spectra to service providers. As with the cellular frequency range, the PCS frequency range is broken into several bands where a different service provider may use a particular frequency band for which it is licensed within a particular geographic area. The PCS bands are referred to as A, B, C, D, E, and F. The A band includes up-link band
50
and down-link band
52
. The B band includes up-link band
54
and down-link band
56
. Band C includes up-link band
58
and down-link band
60
. Each up-link and down-link band of the A, B, and C bands are approximately 30 MHz wide. The D band includes up-link band
62
and down-link
64
. The E band includes up-link band
66
and down-link band
68
. Likewise, band F includes up-link band
70
and down-link band
72
. The up-link and down-link bands of bands D, E and F are approximately 10 MHz wide each. It should be noted that with these cellular and PCS frequency bands it is possible to have as many as eight different wireless communication service providers in a particular area.
Each of the different cellular and PCS bands consist of control channels and communication channels in both the up-link and down-link direction. In the case of analog cellular bands there are twenty-one control channels for the “a” and “b” bands. Each of the control channels include an up-link and down-link portion. The control channels transmit information such as a System Operator Code (SOC), a System Identifier Code (SID), paging information, call set-up information and other overhead information, such as information relating to registering with the mobile communication system.
A portion of the cellular band's spectrum not occupied by the control channels is used for communication channels. Communication channels carry voice or data communications, where each channel consists of an up-link or down-link communications link. Presently, there are several cellular communication standards. An analog standard known as EIA/TIA553 was built upon the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) standard. This standard supports twenty-one Analog Control Channels, (ACC) and several hundred Analog Voice or Traffic Channels (AVC). A newer standard is the EIA/TIA IS54B standard which supports dual mode operation. Dual mode operation refers to having an analog control channel, and either an analog/traffic channel or a Digital Traffic Channel (DTC). The AVC or DTC are used for actual communications, and the ACC is used to transfer information relating to, for example, call set-ups, service provider identification and the other overhead or system information. The EIA/TIA IS136 standard supports communications covered by both analog and dual mode cellular, and also includes a totally digital communication scheme which was designed for the PCS frequency bands A to F and cellular frequency bands “a” and “b”. This standard allows for a digital traffic channel and a digital control channel (DCCH). In the case of the DTC, not only is the voice or data communicated, but in addition, a digital channel locator (DL) is transmitted to the DTC. The DL enables a mobile communication device that locks onto the DTC to use the information in the DL to locate a DCCH for purposes of obtaining information such as the SOC, SID, paging information and other system overhead information carried on the digital control channel.
When a mobile communication device such as a mobile telephone, attempts to register with the service provider, it locks onto a control channel and reads information such as the SOC and SID. If the SOC and/or SID correspond to a service provider with which the user has a communication services agreement, the telephone may register with the service provider's mobile communication system via the up-link control channel.
FIG. 2
illustrates a map of the United States illustrating cities such as Seattle, Chicago and Washington, D.C. For example, in Seattle frequency band A has been licensed to SOC
001
with a SID of 43 and band C has been licensed to SOC
003
with a SID of 37. In Chicago, suppose that frequency band C has been licensed to SOC
001
with a SID equal to 57, and that band B has been licensed to SOC
003
with a SID of 51. In Washington, D.C. suppose that frequency band “a” has been licensed to SOC
001
with a SID of 21, and that band A has been licensed to SOC
003
with a SID of 17. It should be noted that the same SOC may be found in several different locations although on different frequency bands. It should also be noted that the same SOC will be associated with different SIDs in each geographical area and that in the same geographic area different service providers have different SIDs. If a particular subscriber to a wireless communication service has an agreement with a service provider having a SOC of 001, that subscriber would prefer to use systems with a S
AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
Kincaid Lester G.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for over-the-air programming of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for over-the-air programming of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for over-the-air programming of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2860318