Communications system having variable system performance capability

• US 5,666,649 A
• Filed: 09/01/1994
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Dent, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/299,420
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1-33.4, 455/34.1, 455/34.2, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/56.1, 455/69, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/12 Discriminative metering , charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/283 Power depending on the position of the mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

System performance in a mobile communications system is improved by detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability, and adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability. The capability may be radio reception with lower signal to interference (C/I) requirements. In this case, system performance may be improved by adjusting base station transmitter power to a reduced power range in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability, thereby creating less interference to mobiles that require a higher C/I, and increasing system capacity. Detection may include receiving a signal from the mobile unit, wherein the signal is encoded to indicate whether the mobile station has the particular capability. Alternatively, the signal may be a signal that is encoded to identify from which one of a plurality of mobile units the identifying signal was received. In this instance, the base station uses the identifying signal to retrieve a capability-indicating code from a database, which may be located in the subscriber'"'"'s home exchange. In another aspect of the invention, a lower of two billing rates is selected for billing a mobile unit in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability. This passes along system savings to the subscriber, and creates an incentive for the subscriber to purchase the usually more expensive mobile unit that has the particular capability.

Claims

1. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, a method for operating the base station, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability, wherein improving system performance includes reducing consumption of spectral resources consumed in the cellular communications system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting comprises:

receiving a signal from the mobile unit, wherein the signal is encoded to indicate whether the mobile station has the particular capability.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting comprises:

receiving an identifying signal from the mobile unit, wherein the identifying signal is encoded to identify from which one of a plurality of mobile units the identifying signal was received; and

using the identifying signal to retrieve a capability-indicating code from a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular capability to receive signals at the lower signal-to-interference ratio is due to the mobile unit utilizing diversity receiving techniques.

5. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, a method for operating the base station, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability,

wherein;

the step of adjusting operation of the base station comprises adjusting base station transmitter power to a reduced power range in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability.

6. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, a method for operating the base station, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability,

wherein;

the base station includes a plurality of assignable frequencies, each assignable frequency being characterized by a re-use parameter that indicates re-use proximity of a nearest other base station that also includes the assignable frequency; and

the step of adjusting operation of the base station comprises assigning, for use by the mobile unit, a selected one of the assignable frequencies that has a re-use parameter that indicates closer re-use proximity than a re-use proximity of another one of the assignable frequencies.

7. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, a method for operating the base station, comprising the steps of:

detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability,

wherein the step of adjusting operation of the base station comprises selecting, in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability, a lower of two billing rates, and using the selected billing rate for governing automatic accumulation of charges for a call by or to the mobile unit.

8. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, an apparatus for controlling operation of the base station, comprising:

means for detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

means for adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability, wherein improving system performance includes reducing consumption of spectral resources consumed in the cellular communications system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detecting means comprises:

means for receiving a signal from the mobile unit, wherein the signal is encoded to indicate whether the mobile station has the particular capability.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detecting means comprises:

means for receiving an identifying signal from the mobile unit, wherein the identifying signal is encoded to identify from which one of a plurality of mobile units the identifying signal was received;

means for using the identifying signal to retrieve a capability-indicating code from a database.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the particular capability to receive signals at the lower signal-to-interference ratio is due to the mobile unit utilizing diversity receiving techniques.

12. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, an apparatus for controlling operation of the base station, comprising:

means for detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

means for adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability,

wherein;

the means for adjusting operation of the base station comprises means for adjusting base station transmitter power to a reduced power range in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability.

13. In a cellular communications system including a base station and a mobile unit, an apparatus for controlling operation of the base station, comprising:

means for detecting whether the mobile unit has a particular capability to receive signals at a lower signal-to-interference ratio; and

means for adjusting operation of the base station to improve system performance in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability,

wherein the means for adjusting operation of the base station comprises means for selecting a lower of two billing rates for billing the mobile unit in response to detection that the mobile unit has the particular capability.