International roaming service for permitting a cellular/wireless telephone instrument to access different wireless telephone networks/systems

• US 20040224679A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russell, Jesse Eugene, Okoro, Jeremiah
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A cellular/wireless foreign subscriber is enabled to use her/his own cellular/wireless telephone instrument in a local cellular/wireless (C/W) network/system by entry of a code and a PIN into the local network/system desired to be used. The local C/W network/system algorithmically responds to the code and PIN by changing characteristics of the radio equipment of the local C/W network/system to accommodate operation of the subscriber'"'"'s cellular/wireless telephone instrument with the network/system desired to be used.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A wireless transceiver for use in a local wireless communication system having provision for operating with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication system of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless system, comprising:

wireless receiver circuitry to receive a signal from the wireless device;

detection circuitry to determine the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type;

channeling circuitry adapted to channel the signal when determined to be compatible with the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system to a processing circuit adapted to process signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the foreign wireless communication system; and

converting circuitry adapted to convert signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication system.

12. The wireless transceiver of claim 11, comprising:

a first processing circuit adapted to convert GSM signals; and

a second processing circuit adapted to convert TDMA signals.

13. The wireless transceiver of claim 12, further comprising:

a third processing circuit adapted to convert FDMA signals; and

a fourth processing circuit adapted to convert PCS signals.

14. The wireless transceiver of claim 11, further comprising processing circuitry to:

convert the signal into a converted signal compatible with the North American TDMA; and

the interface circuitry adapted to interface with a network compatible with the North American TDMA.

15. The wireless transceiver of claim 11, further comprising:

a processing circuit to determine whether the signal is North American TDMA or another type.

16. The wireless transceiver of claim 11 wherein each processing circuit is adapted to:

perform frequency adjustment, demodulation, decoding, de-interleaving, deframing and protocol conversion of signals compatible with a particular communication system type.

17. A method-for enabling a wireless transceiver of a local wireless network to operate with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication network of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless network, comprising:

receiving from the foreign subscriber wireless device a signal;

determining from the signal the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

channeling the signal to one of a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type; and

in a case where the signal is compatible with a communication system type other than that of the local wireless network, converting the signal into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication network.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

converting the signal from a communication system type that is one of GSM, TDMA, FDMA, and PCS to North American TDMA.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining whether the communication system type of the signal is North American TDMA or a foreign type.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

performing frequency adjustment, demodulation, decoding, de-interleaving, deframing and protocol conversion of the signal.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the signal received from the foreign subscriber wireless device comprises a roaming id for the device and personal identification number for the user of the device, the method further comprising:

communicating the roaming id and the personal identification number to the network in which the device is roaming to validate the device and authenticate the user.