System and method for using licensed radio technology to determine the operation parameters of an unlicensed radio technology in a mobile terminal

• US 20060009219A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jaakkola, Mikko, Orava, Pekko, Maattanen, Tuomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• 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 system and method for using licensed radio technology for determining the operation parameters which should be used by a terminal. The present invention involves the terminal using its GSM system, if activated, to determine whether mobile country code for a nearby cellular terminal is located within the United States or Canada. If the code designates the United States or Canada, then the terminal uses the US domain and the corresponding transmission channels and power levels. If the code does not designate the United State or Canada, then an ETSI domain is used, along with the appropriate transmission channels and power levels.

Claims

1. A method for setting operating parameters for a terminal configurable for operation in a plurality of regions, comprising:

determining whether a mobile country code from a system designates one of at least one specified region;

if the mobile country code designates one of the at least one specified region, setting operating parameters for the mobile terminal to those parameters required by the designated region; and

if the mobile country code does not designate one of the at least one specified region, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to a set of default operating parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the most restrictive parameters from a list of parameters corresponding to all regulatory domains that the terminal supports.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before determining whether a mobile country code from the system designates one of the at least one specified region, determining whether a system is activated in an area within which the terminal is located; and

if the system is not activated in the area, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to the set of default operating parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a GSM system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a UMTS system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a CDMA system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a WLAN system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one specified region comprises the United States and Canada.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the operating parameters for the European Union.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating parameters for the at least one specified region comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using only channels 1-11; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 1000 mW.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using channels 1-13; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 100 mW.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using channels 1-13; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 10 mW.

13. A computer program product for a terminal configurable for operation in a plurality of regions, comprising:

computer code for determining whether a mobile country code from a system designates one of at least one specified region;

computer code for, if the mobile country code designates one of the at least one specified region, setting operating parameters for the terminal to those parameters required by the designated region; and

computer code for, if the mobile country code does not designate one of the at least one specified region, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to a set of default operating parameters.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a GSM system.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the most restrictive parameters from a list of parameters corresponding to all regulatory domains that the terminal supports.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

computer code for, before determining whether a mobile country code from the system designates one of the at least one specified region, determining whether a system is activated in an area within which the terminal is located; and

computer code for, if the system is not activated in the area, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to the set of default operating parameters.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a UMTS system.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a CDMA system.

19. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the system comprises a WLAN system.

20. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the at least one specified region comprises the United States and Canada.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the operating parameters for the European Union.

22. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the operating parameters for the at least one specified region comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using only channels 1-11; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 1000 mW.

23. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using channels 1-13; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 100 mW.

24. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using channels 1-13; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 10 mW.

25. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory unit operatively connected to the processor and including;

computer code for determining whether a mobile country code from a system designates one of at least one specified region;

computer code for, if the mobile country code designates one of the at least one specified region, setting operating parameters for the terminal to those parameters required by the designated region; and

computer code for, if the mobile country code does not designate one of the at least one specified region, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to a set of default operating parameters.

26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the system comprises a GSM system.

27. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the memory unit further comprises:

computer code for, before determining whether a mobile country code from the system designates one of the at least one specified region, determining whether a system is activated in an area within which the terminal is located; and

computer code for, if the system is not activated in the area, setting the operating parameters for the terminal to the set of default operating paramaters.

28. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the at least one specified region comprises the United States and Canada.

29. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the operating parameters for the European Union.

30. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the operating parameters for the at least one specified region comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using only channels 1-11; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 1000 mW.

31. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise:

permitting the terminal to communicate using channels 1-13; and

permitting the terminal to use a transmission power level of up to 100 mW.

32. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the system comprises a UMTS system.

33. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the system comprises a CDMA system.

34. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the system comprises a WLAN system.

35. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the memory unit further comprises computer code for caching the setting for the operating parameters for a designated period of time.

36. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the set of default operating parameters comprise the most restrictive parameters from a list of parameters corresponding to all regulatory domains that the terminal supports.