Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-15
2001-04-03
Eisenzopf, Reinhard (Department: 2682)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212375
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to radiotelephones and, in particular, to radiotelephones or mobile stations such as those capable of operation with a cellular network and also with a residential or personal base station.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In some modern wireless communications systems a mobile station, such as a cellular telephone or wireless communicator, is enable to operate in two frequency bands. In a first frequency band the mobile station is able to make and receive calls through a conventional cellular network having base stations and a mobile switching network. In a second frequency band the mobile station is able to make and receive calls through a local or residential base station, also sometimes referred to as a personal base station. By example, when entering a building (such as a residence or an office) having a personal base station the mobile station automatically switches from the first frequency band to the second frequency band. Appropriate signalling and message formats are used to inform the telephone network that any calls to the mobile station should be routed to a telephone number associated with the personal base station. If an incoming call arrives the personal base station pages the mobile station over a paging channel and thereafter sets up the required voice channel, with the paging and voice channels both being in the second frequency band.
A problem that exists in presently specified systems relates to the occurrence of a failure of the primary power to personal base station, and/or an incoming telephone line failure. By example, as presently specified the personal base station is required to delay for some period of time (e.g., 15 minutes) after an occurrence of a line failure before terminating the RF carrier. As can be appreciated, during this time the mobile station may miss any incoming paging messages and, thus, may not receive an important incoming call.
Another problem that is not adequately addressed in currently implemented or proposed systems relates to the case where a conventional residential telephone shares the telephone line with the personal base station. If the residential telephone is in use, a call to the associated telephone number that is intended for the mobile station will receive a busy signal.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is thus a first object of this invention to provide an improved method for operating a personal base station in conjunction with a mobile station that overcomes the foregoing and other problems.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved personal base station that overcomes the foregoing and other problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing and other problems are overcome and the objects of the invention are realized by methods and apparatus in accordance with embodiments of this invention. In accordance with the teaching of this invention a personal base station includes a transceiver coupled to an antenna for conducting bidirectional wireless communications with a mobile station; an interface to a telephone line; and a controller that includes a circuit for sensing that the telephone line is not available for use. The controller is responsive to the telephone line not being available for use for notifying a mobile station that the mobile station is to obtain service from a public cellular communication system. This may typically require the mobile station to register with the public cellular communication system using a system-specified messaging protocol.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention the sensing circuit is operable to discriminate between a disconnection of the telephone line and the use of the telephone line. In the first case the disconnect message may be sent immediately, while in the latter case the disconnect message may be sent after some predetermined time delay.
In one embodiment the controller formats and transmits a message to the mobile station for notifying the mobile station that the mobile station is to register with the cellular communication system, while in another embodiment the controller immediately terminates a transmission of an RF carrier signal to the mobile station for notifying the mobile station that the mobile station is to register with the cellular communication system.
Methods for operating the personal base station are also disclosed.
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patent: WO 93/16560 (1993-08-01), None
TR45, Mobile Station-Land Station Compatibility Specification for Analog Cellular Auxiliary Personal Communications Service (PN-3165), Dec. 14, 1993.
Bhattacharya Sam
Eisenzopf Reinhard
Nokia Mobile Phones Limited
Perman & Green LLP
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