Mobile telephone position system

Details Mobile telephone position system Mobile telephone position system

1999-09-09

2003-05-13

Vo, Nguyen T. (Department: 2682)

Telecommunications

Radiotelephone system

Zoned or cellular telephone system

C455S406000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06564063

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of mobile telephone systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved mobile telephone position system and mobile telephone that obtains its geographic position.
II. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating the use of the geographic position of a mobile telephone in the prior art.
FIG. 1
depicts a Global Position Satellite (GPS) system
100
, mobile telephone
101
, communication system
102
, and emergency call system
103
. The communication system
102
includes a position calculation system
104
. The configuration and operation of these devices and systems are well known.
The GPS system
100
broadcasts a GPS signal
110
that is received by the mobile telephone
101
and the communication system
102
. The mobile telephone
101
processes the GPS signal
110
and transfers resulting GPS information to the communication system
102
in a control signal
111
. The position calculation system
104
uses the GPS signal
110
and the GPS information from the control signal
111
to calculate the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
.
In an emergency, the user of the mobile telephone
101
places an emergency call
112
through the communication system
102
to the emergency call system
103
. The emergency call
112
could be initiated in several ways, such as dialing
911
, pressing a programmed key, or selecting from a menu. The user typically converses with an operator at the emergency call system
103
to relay important information related to the emergency. The position of the user is a critical piece of information because it is required for emergency personnel to locate and assist the user. If the user is unable to converse with the emergency system
103
on the emergency call
112
, then the emergency call system
103
obtains the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
from the position calculation system
104
using communication link
113
. Emergency personnel use the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
to locate and assist the user.
The use of the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
in an emergency is of vital importance to the user. Unfortunately, the user is unable to effectively access this information in non-emergencies. In some situations, user access to the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
could prevent an emergency from occurring. The ability for the user to obtain the geographic position of the mobile telephone
101
would enhance the value and utility of the services provided by the communication system
102
.
Although mobile GPS devices are available that obtain and display position information, these devices are not integrated with a mobile telephone. Unfortunately, the user is required to purchase and carry additional equipment to obtain position information and to place calls. In addition, these GPS devices require additional circuitry to calculate their position using the GPS signal since they do not use the position calculation system
104
in the communication system
102
. The additional circuitry is costly, consumes battery power, and may fail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a novel and improved mobile telephone position system and mobile telephone. Advantageously, mobile telephone position system allows the user to obtain their geographic position. The system is operational in nonemergency situations. The system efficiently uses the position calculations of a communication system to avoid the additional circuitry and battery power required to perform such calculations within the mobile telephone.
The mobile telephone user places a call through the communication system to a position call system when they want their geographic position. The call could be initiated in several ways, such as dialing a number, pressing a programmed key, or selecting from a menu. In response to the call, the position call system obtains the geographic position of the mobile telephone from the communication system. The position call system transfers the geographic position to the mobile telephone over the call. The mobile telephone provides the geographic position to the user. The position call system also transfers billing information to a billing system.
In other embodiments the mobile telephone user enters a position request during an active call to any call device. In response to position request, the position call system obtains the geographic position of the mobile telephone from the communication system. The position call system transfers the geographic position to the mobile telephone over the call. The mobile telephone provides the geographic position to the user. The position call system also transfers billing information to a billing system.


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Nokia, Nokia 6160 Owner's Manual, Nokia Mobile Phones, Inc. (Canada).

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