Communication method

• US 20060079223A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Mueller, Christel, Daussmann, Frank, Hoepelman, Jakob Ph., Trinkel, Marian
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method for communication over a telecommunications network includes selecting a public telecommunication station located in the vicinity of a mobile telephone. The public telecommunication station is used by the mobile telephone as an access point to the telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A method for communication over a telecommunications network, the method comprising:

selecting a public telecommunication station disposed in a vicinity of a first mobile telephone; and

using the public telecommunication station by the first mobile telephone as an access point to a telecommunications network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the communication includes voice communication.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the public telecommunication station includes a public telephone booth.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the access point is used as a virtual access point.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first mobile telephone includes a wireless handset of the public telecommunication station.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the wireless handset includes a receiver, a microphone and keypad.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising using the public telecommunication station as the access point to the telecommunications network by a second mobile telephone at a same time as the using the public telecommunication station by the first mobile telephone as an access point to a telecommunications network.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein public telecommunication station includes a public telephone booth, and further comprising providing the a first user of the first mobile telephone and a second user of the second mobile telephone simultaneous access to the telecommunications network via the public telephone booth.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising sending a radio signal by the first mobile telephone, and wherein the public telecommunication station is disposed within a range of the radio signal.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the selecting is performed as a function of at least one of a reception quality and a received field strength of the radio signal.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the radio signal has a maximum range of 100 meters.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising calling a telephone number, and wherein the selecting is performed as a function of an identifier in response to the calling.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the identifier includes a network address of the first mobile telephone.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the telephone number is a service telephone number.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the calling is performed by pressing a single key on the first mobile telephone.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the identifier is at least one of a network address, a device identifier, and a user identifier.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising assigning an individual service telephone number to the public telecommunication station, and wherein the selecting is performed by calling the individual service telephone number from the first mobile telephone.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising changing the individual service telephone number over time.

19. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising establishing a communication connection between the first mobile telephone and the public telecommunication station over at least one of a mobile telecommunications network and a direct radio link.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

informing, using the public telecommunication station after the selecting, a user of the first mobile telephone that the public telecommunication station is a possible access point; and

confirming the selecting by the user.

21. The method as recited in claim 20 further comprising establishing a communication connection to a desired telephone number after the confirming.

22. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising assigning, to a communication, an identifier of the public telecommunication station.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the assigning is performed so as to assign the identifier in a call detail record.

24. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising passing a communication through a service in or downstream of the public telecommunication station.

25. A communication system comprising:

a telecommunications network including at least one public telecommunication station; and

a mobile telephone configured to establish access to the telecommunications network via the at least one public telecommunication station.