Radiotelephone subscriber unit having a generic phone number

• US 5,797,101 A
• Filed: 01/31/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Osmani, Rashid Masood, Metroka, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/594,218
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/425, 455/434, 455/551, 455/565, 455/564, 455/405-409, 379/111, 379/114
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A radiotelephone subscriber unit (101) comprises a memory unit (259) having stored therein an identification sequence including a phone number (MIN1 and MIN2) and an electronic serial number (ESN). The phone number (MIN1 and MIN2) is common to at least one other portable radiotelephone subscriber unit in a radiotelephone system (102) The electronic serial number (ESN) is unique to the portable radiotelephone subscriber unit (101) in the radiotelephone system.

Claims

1. A radiotelephone subscriber unit for use in a radiotelephone system by a subscriber, the radiotelephone subscriber unit comprising:

a memory unit having stored therein an identification sequence including a generic phone number and an electronic serial number, wherein the generic phone number is common to a plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units for use in the radiotelephone system by a plurality of subscribers who are members of a public community including members who do not personally know the subscriber, and wherein the electronic serial number is unique to the radiotelephone subscriber unit in the radiotelephone system; and

a transceiver operatively coupled to the memory unit, wherein the transceiver is permitted to place outgoing calls responsive to the identification sequence and is restricted from receiving incoming calls directed to the generic phone number, whereby an operator of a radiotelephone system permits the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units to be distributed to the plurality of subscribers, who are members of the public community that do not require a radiotelephone subscriber unit that receives incoming calls directed to the generic phone number, without assigning each of the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units one of a predetermined number of unique phone numbers.

2. A radiotelephone subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is permitted to make only local calls in the radiotelephone system.

3. A radiotelephone subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is permitted to make calls on only one radiotelephone system.

4. A radiotelephone subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is not turned on until after the phone number has been entered by the subscriber and validated by the radiotelephone subscriber unit.

5. A method for operating a radiotelephone subscriber unit in a radiotelephone system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to turn on selected circuitry in the radiotelephone subscriber unit while keeping the transceiver turned off;

activating a keypad of the radiotelephone subscriber unit responsive to the step of receiving a request;

receiving a phone number entered in the keypad before a lapse of a predetermined amount of time responsive to the step of activating the keypad;

validating the phone number according to a predetermined criterion responsive to the step of receiving the phone number;

turning on a transceiver responsive to the step of validating the phone number;

scanning frequency channels for service in the radiotelephone system responsive to the step of turning on the transceiver;

obtaining service in the radiotelephone system responsive to the step of scanning the frequency channels;

sending a call sequence message having a generic phone number responsive to the step of obtaining service, wherein the generic phone number is common to a plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units for use in the radiotelephone system by a plurality of subscribers who are members of a public community including members who do not personally know each other, and wherein the radiotelephone is restricted from receiving incoming calls directed to the generic phone number;

establishing a call responsive to the step of sending the call sequence message; and

turning off the radiotelephone subscriber unit responsive to ending the call or the lapse of the predetermined amount of time.

6. A radiotelephone system for servicing a plurality of subscribers who are members of a public community including members who do not personally know each other, the radiotelephone system comprising:

a plurality of fixed base stations coupled to a telephone exchange switch network; and

a plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units for use by the plurality of subscribers to communicate with at least one of the plurality of fixed base stations, wherein each of the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units further comprises;

a memory unit having stored therein an identification sequence including a generic phone number and an electronic serial number, wherein the generic phone number is common to each of the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units, and wherein the electronic serial number is unique to each of the radiotelephone subscriber units; and

a transceiver operatively coupled to the memory unit, wherein the transceiver is permitted to place outgoing calls responsive to the identification sequence and is restricted from receiving incoming calls directed to the generic phone number, whereby an operator of a radiotelephone system permits the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units to be distributed to the plurality of subscribers, who are members of the public community that do not require a radiotelephone subscriber unit that receives incoming calls directed to the generic phone number, without assigning each of the plurality of radiotelephone subscriber units one of a predetermined number of unique phone numbers.