Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Special service
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-17
2001-01-30
To, Doris H. (Department: 2745)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Special service
C455S412100, C455S405000, C455S461000, C379S067100, C379S088060, C379S201060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181927
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to cellular communications systems and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for communicating messages to a subscriber station in response to one or more attributes relating to the subscriber station.
BACKGROUND
The current costs for subscribing to a telecommunications system, including wireless mobile telecommunications systems, are prohibitive for some persons. These costs are directly attributable to the complexity of such telecommunication systems and the large capital outlay needed for the design and development of infrastructure for the systems. The significant costs that must be charged to subscribers for utilization of these telecommunications and to maintain (and recoup investment in) such systems prevents some persons from utilizing the systems. If the cost of services were reduced, more persons would subscribe to such services.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and apparatus that will increase the number of users in a telecommunications system by reducing the cost of calls made by the user(s). Also, there is needed a method and apparatus that provides the capability of transmitting messages to a subscriber station in a telecommunications system based on the location of the subscriber station and/or other attributes or characteristics of the subscriber station.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and method for selecting and transmitting a message to a user in a telecommunications system. The apparatus (and method) performs the steps of receiving a call from a subscriber station, the call comprising call origination information; comparing the call origination information to triggering criteria and triggering if the call origination information meets the triggering criteria; selecting a message based on one or more attributes of the subscriber station in response to the triggering; and transmitting the selected message to be received by the subscriber station.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for selecting and transmitting a message to a user in a telecommunications system. The method includes the steps of receiving a call from a subscriber station, receiving location data identifying the location of the subscriber station, selecting a message in response to the location data, and transmitting the selected message to be received by the subscriber station.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for selecting and playing an announcement to a user in a telecommunications system. The apparatus includes a base station that receives a call from a subscriber station. A service control processor receives location data identifying the location of the subscriber station and selects one of the plurality of announcements from a database having a plurality of announcements, in response to the location data. The selected announcement is then played or transmitted to the subscriber station.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5333186 (1994-07-01), Gupta
patent: 5448625 (1995-09-01), Lederman
patent: 5539809 (1996-07-01), Mayer et al.
patent: 5852775 (1998-12-01), Hidary
patent: 5937037 (1999-10-01), Kamel et al.
patent: 6009150 (1999-12-01), Kamel
patent: 2206265 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 91/06187 (1991-05-01), None
Chiniwala Sima
Maxwell Stewart Hodde
Pham Thanh
Vaserfirer Anatoly
Welling, Jr. James Brian
Carr & Storm, L.L.P.
Nortel Networks Corporation
To Doris H.
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