Multi-mode communication network with handset-assisted cordless base station activation

• US 5,794,141 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zicker, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/659,731
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/422, 455/462, 455/465, 455/552, 455/553, 455/456, 455/426
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72505 Radio link set-up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A multi-mode communication network (12) uses a two phase process to activate a cordless base station (22) using the assistance of a multi-mode handset (18). A customer activation system (30,32) collects cellular and cordless activation data (56,58). The handset (18) is activated for cellular use (92). In a first phase of activation, cordless base station programming data are transferred from the customer activation system (30,32) to the handset (18). During a second phase of activation (124,150), the cordless base station programming data are transferred from the handset (18) to the cordless base station (22).

Claims

1. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

programming said handset with data which identify a cellular land station;

first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset; and

second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station while said handset is within radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of verifying that said handset is within said radio coverage area of said cellular land station prior to performing said second transferring step.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second transferring step comprises the step of establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said first transferring step comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; and

said second transferring step comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programming data transferred in said second transferring step activates said cordless base station for providing cordless communications to said handset, and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

third transferring cordless base station updated programming data from a customer activation system to said handset, said third transferring step occurring after said cordless base station has been activated; and

fourth transferring said cordless base station updated programming data from said handset to said cordless base station.

4. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by establishing a first RF communication session between said customer activation system and said handset, said first RF communication session being initiated by said customer activation system; and

second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing a second RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said second RF communication session being initiated by said handset.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 additionally comprising the step of activating said handset to engage in cellular operations, said activating step being completed prior to said first transferring step.

6. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset and in which channels selected from a common pool of channels are used for delivering said cellular and said cordless communications, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

configuring said cordless base station programming data to define a cordless subset of said pool of channels;

first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset;

tuning said handset and said cordless base station to a predetermined channel not included in said cordless subset of said pool of channels;

second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset; and

engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station using channels selected from said cordless subset of said pool of channels.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 additionally comprising the step of verifying, after said tuning step and before said second transferring step, that said predetermined channel is not in use.

9. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

configuring cordless base station programming data to define an activated minimum access signal strength threshold;

first transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level;

second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level, said second transferring step being engaged in when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than a programming minimum access signal strength threshold, said programming minimum access signal strength threshold being greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold; and

engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold.

10. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a first handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

configuring said cordless base station programming data to identify said first handset along with a second handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station;

transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said first handset;

transferring said cordless base station programming data from said customer activation system to said second handset; and

transferring said cordless base station programming data from one of said first and second handsets to said cordless base station.

12. In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for activating a cordless base station comprising the steps of:

a) programming said handset with data which identify a cellular land station;

b) transferring cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system to said handset;

c) establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset while said handset is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station; and

d) transferring said cordless base station activation programming from said handset to said cordless base station during said RF communication session.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

said RF communication session established between said handset and said cordless base station is a second RF communication session; and

said transferring step b) comprises the step of establishing a first RF communication session between said customer activation system and said handset, said first RF communication session being initiated by said customer activation system.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 additionally comprising the step of activating said handset to engage in cellular operations, said activating step being completed prior to said steps a), b), c) and d).

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein:

said transferring step b) comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; and

said establishing step c) comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transferring steps b) and d) involve a first handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station following said transferring step d), and said method additionally comprises the steps of:

configuring said cordless base station programming data to identify said first handset along with a second handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station; and

transferring said cordless base station programming data from said customer activation system to said second handset.

17. A multi-mode portable radiotelephone which communicates in a cellular mode with a cellular land station and in a cordless mode with a cordless base station after said cordless base station has been activated, said portable radiotelephone comprising:

a controller;

a memory coupled to said controller;

a transmitter coupled to said controller; and

a receiver coupled to said controller;

wherein,

said controller and memory are configured to obtain and save data which identify a cellular land station, to control said receiver to receive cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system, to store said cordless base station activation programming in said memory, and to control said transmitter to transmit said cordless base station activation programming to said cordless base station while said portable radiotelephone is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station.

18. A portable radiotelephone as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller and memory are configured to control said transmitter to operate at a first power level in connection with receiving said cordless base station activation programming from said customer activation system; and

said controller and memory are configured to control said transmitter to operate at a second power level in connection with transmitting said cordless base station activation programming to said cordless base station, said second power level being less than said first power level.