Communication unit control for wide area communication systems
First Claim
1. A method for establishing communication with a communication device in a communication system including a plurality of operatively interconnected communication sub-systems each having defined coverage areas, the communication system also including a wide area communication system having a communication coverage area which overlaps the communication coverage areas of the plurality of communication sub-systems, one of the plurality of communication subsystems being the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system, the method comprising the steps of:
- initiating a call message to the communication device;
determining if the communication device is located in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system;
determining at the wide area system which of the communication sub-systems to recommend to be used by the communication unit considering the type of call message that is being sent to the communication device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities;
transmitting a message over the wide area system directed to the communication device if the communication device cannot be found in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system;
receiving the wide area system message at the communication device; and
switching the communication device to operate in a communication sub-system directed by the wide area system message.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention allows for a communication device (136) which roams within a communication system (100), the ability of maintaining in contact with other communication units, even while the unit is away from its home sub-system. Communication system (100) comprises a wide area paging system which includes a wide area paging controller (184) which controls at least one local area paging controller (108, 182 and 156). When a communication unit is away from its home system, the home system sends out a page via the wide area paging system in order to locate the communication unit and direct the unit to a local sub-system which the unit can use to communicate with the calling unit.
38 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for establishing communication with a communication device in a communication system including a plurality of operatively interconnected communication sub-systems each having defined coverage areas, the communication system also including a wide area communication system having a communication coverage area which overlaps the communication coverage areas of the plurality of communication sub-systems, one of the plurality of communication subsystems being the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
initiating a call message to the communication device; determining if the communication device is located in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system; determining at the wide area system which of the communication sub-systems to recommend to be used by the communication unit considering the type of call message that is being sent to the communication device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities; transmitting a message over the wide area system directed to the communication device if the communication device cannot be found in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system; receiving the wide area system message at the communication device; and switching the communication device to operate in a communication sub-system directed by the wide area system message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method for establishing communication with a communication device in a communication system including a plurality of operatively interconnected communication sub-systems each having defined coverage areas, the communication system also including a wide area communication system having a communication coverage area which overlaps the communication coverage areas of the plurality of communication sub-systems, one of the plurality of communication sub-systems being the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system, the method comprising the steps of;
-
initiating a call message to the communication device; determining if the communication device is located in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system; transmitting a message over the wide area system directed to the communication device if the communication device cannot be found in the communication device'"'"'s home communication sub-system; receiving the wide area system message at the communication device; switching the communication device to operate in a communication sub-system directed by the wide area system message; establishing a communication link between the communication sub-system the communication device was directed to and the home communication sub-system in order for the communication device to be able to receive the call message; sending a message from the local communication sub-system to the wide area system, the message comprising information regarding the type of call message that is being sent to the communication device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities; and determining at the wide area system which of the communication subsystems to recommend to be used by the communication unit considering the type of call message that is being sent to the communication device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities.
-
-
5. A communication device capable of operating in a communication system having a plurality of communication sub-systems and a wide area communication system overlapping the plurality of communication sub-systems, one of the plurality of communication subsystems being the communication device'"'"'s home sub-system, the communication device comprising:
-
receiver means for receiving information messages and for monitoring the wide area communication system; means coupled to the receiver means for determining if the communication device is located within its home sub-system and for providing a control signal if it is determined that the communication device is not located in the home sub-system, the receiver means monitors the wide area system in response to the control signal; decoding means coupled to the monitoring means for decoding a message from the wide area communication system, the decoded message informing the communication device which communication sub-system from among the plurality of communication sub-systems to use, based on the type of call message that is being sent to the communication device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities, to establish a communication link with the home sub-system; and controller means coupled to the decoding means for placing the receiver means in condition to receive the information message. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A communication system providing roaming capabilities to a communication device, comprising:
-
a plurality of operatively interconnected communication sub-systems each having a defined coverage area, one of the plurality of communication sub-systems serving as the communication device'"'"'s home sub-system; a wide area paging system operatively coupled to the plurality of sub-systems, the wide area paging system having a communication coverage area which overlaps the coverage areas formed by the plurality of communication sub-systems, the wide area paging system including a wide area controller and a plurality of local area controllers coupled to the wide area controller; the home communication sub-system further comprising a sub-system controller for determining if the communication device is located within the home sub-system and for generating a message to the wide area system when it is determined that the communication device is not in its home sub-system; and the wide area paging system further comprising a means responsive to the home sub-system message for generating a wide area message which directs the communication device to one of the plurality of communication sub-systems, considering the type of call message that is being sent to the communications device and the communication device'"'"'s capabilities, in order for the communication device to establish a communication link with the home communication sub-system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification