Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-09
2001-07-03
Legree, Tracy (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S414200, C455S415000, C455S417000, C455S445000, 57, 57
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to an improved communications system. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved communications system in which wireless mobile communication devices are utilized to initiate communication transactions. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved communications system in which communication transactions occur between originators and terminators.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cordless telephone systems are well-known in the prior art. A cordless telephone system generally includes a portable cordless handset and a cordless base station which is connected to a telephone company phone system by a landline. The cordless base station has an assigned landline telephone number that allows cordless telephone users to place and receive calls using the cordless portable handset within a limited range of the cordless portable base station, such as within the range of an office or home. However, due to the limited range of such systems, a cordless portable handset provides users with only relatively local radio-telephone communication.
Radio-telephone communication outside the range of a cordless telephone system can be provided to users via cellular telephone systems. Cellular radio is a radio-telephone communications system that began to develop rapidly in the early
1980
s. Basically, this system is a small-scale, “cellular” version of the communication linkage provided by large radio-broadcasting systems. A metropolitan area can be divided into smaller units, called cells, that can each have a radius of about 13 to 19 km (8 to 12 mi). Depending on the design of a given cellular telephone system, the radius of a cell can range from several hundred feet to approximately 25 miles.
Whatever the case may be, each cell does have its own small radio transmitter. If necessary, a cell can be further subdivided into smaller cells. In this way, the honeycomb pattern of cells can repeatedly utilize the same range of radio frequencies without interfering with one another, so long as neighboring cells do not utilize precisely the same radio channels. Individuals equipped with mobile communication devices such as small mobile telephones can thus utilize this system in the same way that telephone calls can be made with standard carriers.
Computerized switching is essential to the operation of cellular radio, so that when mobile-unit calls are switched from one cell to the next, the transfer in channels occurs without interruption or, at most, a brief delay. The growth of electronic switching systems and the development of microprocessors have made this possible. For each area to be covered by cellular radio, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses different types of organizations. For example, one type can be a telephone company, while another, a business that agrees to construct the necessary radio system. In recent years, the FCC has also awarded newer frequency bands that utilize cellular technology.
A cellular telephone system typically includes cellular subscriber units that can be mobile or portable, and cellular base stations which are connected to the public telephone company via one or more cellular switching networks. Each cellular subscriber has an assigned cellular telephone number which allows the user (i.e., the cellular subscriber) to place and receive calls within a widespread range of the cellular base stations, such as throughout a metropolitan area.
Cellular telephone systems are thus based on a structure of associated cells, which are specified geographic areas that (a) are defined for a specific mobile communication system; and (b) each have their own base station and a single controller interconnected with a public telephone network. Cellular telephone systems are particularly advantageous in providing cellular mobile service, a communications service that allows users to access telephone networks from stationary or moving vehicles, and which is based on a combination of radio transmission and telephone switching. Cellular mobile services typically provide communications links to the user by segmenting a large geographic area into many smaller areas (i.e. cells). As a user passes from cell to cell, the cellular mobile service allows calls in progress to be handed over without interruption to adjacent base stations.
Cellular telephone systems are particularly useful in service industries where it is important to maintain client contacts, but not at the expense of the service itself. A user might wish to receive calls from clients when physically close to the client (i.e. an originator). However, if the user is not located in an area physically close to client, the user might otherwise prefer that any calls placed by the client be routed to a dispatcher or message center, while still leaving the line open to clients located nearby. Currently, a user must deactivate the cellular telephone itself (i.e., put the cellular phone in an “off” state). The disadvantage with this approach is that the terminating user of the terminating cellular telephone may not be contacted directly by those clients located nearby who desire the immediate services of the terminating user.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a need exists for a method and system which allow a terminating user to restrict incoming phone calls based on the geographic location of an originating caller relative to the geographic location of the terminating user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved communications system.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide an improved wireless communications telephone system in which communication transactions occur between originators and terminators.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved wireless communications network that includes restricted user termination areas based on the location of an originator.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provided an improved wireless communications network such that communication transactions between an originator and terminator can be processed or terminated based on the proximity of the originator to the terminator.
The above and other objects are achieved as is now described. A method and system in a wireless communications network are provided for restricting communication transactions based on the geographic location of originators and terminators within the wireless communications network. First, a communications transaction is initiated. In response to an initiation of the communications transaction, a geographic location of an originator of the communications transaction is determined. In response to determining the geographic location of the originator, a geographic location of a terminator of the communications transaction is determined. The geographic location of the originator is thereafter automatically compared to the geographic location of the terminator. The communications transaction is completed based upon a selected proximity of the geographic location of the originator to the geographic location of the terminator. Alternative action to the communications transaction is also provided in response to a lack of proximity of the geographic location of the originator to the geographic location of the terminator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4752951 (1988-06-01), Konneker
patent: 5214789 (1993-05-01), George
patent: 5463674 (1995-10-01), Gillig et al.
patent: 5476671 (1995-12-01), Partridge, III
patent: 5493286 (1996-02-01), Grube et al.
patent: 5506888 (1996-04-01), Hayes et al.
patent: 5568153 (1996-10-01), Beliveau
patent: 5610970 (1997-03-01), Fuller
patent: 5765108 (1998-06-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5809418 (1998-09-01), Tayloe et al.
patent: 5815814 (1998-09-01), Dennison et al.
patent: 5930699 (1999-07-01), Bhatia
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Crane John D.
Legree Tracy
Nortel Networks Limited
LandOfFree
Method and system in a wireless communications network for... 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 system in a wireless communications network for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and system in a wireless communications network for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2528488