Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Zoned or cellular telephone system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-13
2001-04-17
Hunter, Daniel (Department: 2749)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Zoned or cellular telephone system
C455S419000, C455S410000, C455S411000, C455S556200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219556
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for pursuing a missing mobile communication terminal, and in particular, to a system and method for pursuing a missing cellular telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication terminal includes a unidirectional pager, a bidirectional pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a cellular telephone. With the advance of the mobile communication technology, the communication terminal has decreased in price and the charge rate for the communication service also has decreased. Accordingly, the communication terminal has come into wide use.
Among the above mentioned mobile communication terminals, the PDA and the cellular telephone are typical bidirectional mobile communication terminals, which provide a voice or data communication service. The position of the mobile communication terminal is changed according to the movement of the user. Thus, in a conventional method for pursuing the mobile terminal, the cellular telephone notifies its position to a base station at irregular intervals. Then, the base station transmits the received positional information of the cellular telephone to a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) and stores it in a home location register (HLR) of the MTSO.
Conventionally, since the cellular telephone transmits its positional information to the MSTO at irregular intervals, it is difficult to determine an accurate position of the cellular telephone. Accordingly, when the cellular telephone is missing, the user (i.e., the possessor) of the cellular telephone cannot determine the accurate position of the missing cellular telephone. In some cases, the finder may use the missing cellular telephone fraudulently.
Therefore a need exists for an improved method of locating a missing mobile communication terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for pursuing or locating an accurate position of a missing cellular telephone.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for pursuing a missing cellular telephone. The cellular telephone analyzes a control signal received from a mobile communication network. If the analyzed control signal corresponds to a missing mode setting signal, the cellular telephone enters a missing mode and transmits a position signal representing a current location at regular intervals. In the meantime, upon receipt of a missing mode release signal from the mobile communication network, the cellular telephone exits the missing mode.
Preferably, the cellular telephone transmits the position signal at regular intervals beginning at termination of an outgoing call, when the missing cellular telephone makes the outgoing call in the missing mode.
Further, the cellular telephone transmits the position signal at regular intervals beginning at termination of an incoming call, when the missing cellular telephone answers the incoming call in the missing mode.
A method for pursuing a missing cellular device, includes the steps of, upon receipt of a control signal from a mobile communication network, analyzing the received control signal, entering a missing mode and transmitting a position signal representing a current location of the cellular device at regular intervals, when the analyzed control signal corresponds to a missing mode setting signal, determining whether a missing mode release signal is received from the mobile communication network and releasing the missing mode, upon receipt of the missing mode release signal.
A system for locating a missing cellular device, having a controller, wherein the controller includes means for entering a missing mode and transmitting a position signal representing a current location of the cellular device at regular intervals, upon receipt of a control signal from a mobile communication network, the transmission of the position signal occurring when the analyzed control signal corresponds to a missing mode setting signal. Means for analyzing the received control signal and means for determining whether a missing mode release signal is received from the mobile communication network are also included. Means for releasing the device from missing mode, upon receipt of the missing mode release signal.
The cellular device may includes a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant or a cellular pager.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4700374 (1987-10-01), Bini
patent: 5043736 (1991-08-01), Darnell et al.
patent: 5095531 (1992-03-01), Ito
patent: 5208756 (1993-05-01), Song
patent: 5218367 (1993-06-01), Sheffer et al.
patent: 5327144 (1994-07-01), Stilp et al.
patent: 5389934 (1995-02-01), Kass
patent: 5418537 (1995-05-01), Bird
patent: 5428545 (1995-06-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5428546 (1995-06-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5432841 (1995-07-01), Rimer
patent: 5512908 (1996-04-01), Herrick
patent: 5519760 (1996-05-01), Borkowski et al.
patent: 5548296 (1996-08-01), Matsuno
patent: 5550551 (1996-08-01), Alesio
patent: 5587715 (1996-12-01), Lewis
patent: 5594425 (1997-01-01), Ladner et al.
patent: 5594650 (1997-01-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5610615 (1997-03-01), Chiodini
patent: 5612703 (1997-03-01), Mallinckrodt
patent: 5625668 (1997-04-01), Loomis et al.
patent: 5629710 (1997-05-01), Sawada
patent: 5630206 (1997-05-01), Urban et al.
patent: 5646632 (1997-07-01), Khan et al.
patent: 5650770 (1997-07-01), Schlager et al.
patent: 5652707 (1997-07-01), Wortham
patent: 5669061 (1997-09-01), Schipper
patent: 5697064 (1997-12-01), Okamoto et al.
patent: 5777580 (1998-07-01), Janky et al.
patent: 5832394 (1998-11-01), Wortham
patent: 5929752 (1999-07-01), Janky et al.
Dilworth & Barrese LLP
Hunter Daniel
Le Lana
Samsung Electronics Co., Inc.
LandOfFree
Method for pursuing missing cellular telephone 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 for pursuing missing cellular telephone, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for pursuing missing cellular telephone will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2490001