Method and apparatus for controlling a base station utilizing a dual mode mobile station

• US 5,822,693 A
• Filed: 04/19/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation, Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Harrison, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US08/634,780
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/435, 455/436, 455/437, 455/426, 455/552, 455/127, 455/38.3, 455/560, 455/572, 455/574, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a base station of a first telecommunications system using control information generated in a second telecommunications system and transferred to the base station through a mobile station capable of operating in both the first and second systems. The control information is transmitted from the second system to the mobile station during operation of the mobile station in the second system. Upon operation of the mobile station in the first system the control information is then transferred to the first system. The control information is then used within the first system to control operation of a base station of the first system. The control information may include instructions defining parameters of operation for the base station. The instructions may include control data assigning radio channels or a frequency band to the base station and, instructions for setting output power levels for the base station.

Claims

1. In a telecommunications network having a first and a second system and a mobile station capable of operating in either of said first or second systems, a method of controlling a base station of said first system, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first message from the second system to the mobile station, said first message including selected control information;

receiving a second message at the base station of the first system, said second message transmitted from the mobile station and including said selected control information;

setting, responsive to receiving said second message, at least one parameter in the base station according to said selected control information; and

operating the base station according to said at least one parameter as set in said step of setting, at least during communications with the mobile station after the mobile station has obtained access to the second system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said step of setting, the step of storing said at least one parameter within the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second message received in said step of receiving is received upon registration of the mobile station in the first system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is capable of operating in a first or second mode, said first and second modes being for operation in the first and second systems, respectively, and wherein said first message transmitted in said step of transmitting is transmitted while the mobile station is operating in said second mode and said second message received in said step of receiving is received while the mobile station is operating in said first mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second system comprises a cellular system and the first system comprises a cordless phone system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first message comprises a short message service (SMS) message.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first system operates according to the PWT standard and the second system operates according to the PCS 1900 standard.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating comprises setting a transmission power level for the base station according to said at least one parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating comprises setting at least one radio channel for operation of the base station according to said at least one parameter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second systems are capable of operating in a common frequency band and said step of operating comprises operating said base station within a selected frequency band of said common frequency band according to said at least one parameter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of operating comprises operating said base station within a time period indicated by said at least one parameter.

12. In a telecommunications network having a first and a second system and a mobile station capable of operating in either of said first or second system, a method of collecting information on said first system, said method comprising the steps of:

collecting selected information within the first system;

transmitting a first message from the first system to the mobile station, said first message including said selected information;

receiving a second message at the second system, said second message transmitted from the mobile station and including said selected information; and

outputting responsive to receiving said second message, said selected information from said second system, wherein said selected in formation is utilized in administration of said first system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, after the step of transmitting, the step of storing said selected information within the mobile station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said second message received in the step of receiving is received upon registration of the mobile station in the first system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said mobile station is capable of operating in a first or second mode, said first and second modes being for operation in said first and second systems, respectively, and wherein said first message transmitted in said step of transmitting is transmitted while the mobile station is operating in said first mode and said second message received in said step of receiving is received while the mobile station is operating in said second mode.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first system comprises a cordless phone system and the second system comprises a cellular system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first system operates according to the PWT standard and the second system operates according to the PCS 1900 standard.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said selected information comprises billing information for calls carried in said first system.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said selected information comprises information to be used for maintenance of said first system.

20. An apparatus for controlling a base station in a telecommunications network comprising a first system and a second system, said apparatus comprising:

a first controller in said first system, said first controller for generating control information and for initiating transmission of a first message over a first air interface, wherein said first message includes said control information;

a second controller and a base station in said second system, said base station comprising second controller for receiving and processing said control information, wherein said control information is transmitted to said second system over a second air interface in a second message, wherein said second controller sets at least one parameter for operation of said base station according to said control information; and

a mobile station capable of operating in either said first or second systems, wherein said mobile station communicates with said first system over said first air interface and with said second system over said second air interface, and wherein said mobile station comprises a receiver for receiving said first message over said first air interface, a memory device for storing said control information, and a controller for generating said second message from said control information and initiating transmission of said second message over said second air interface to said second system, wherein said base station and said mobile station communicate with one another according to said at least one parameter as set in said base station at least during communications after the mobile station has obtained access to the second system.

21. The telecommunications network of claim 20 wherein said first system operates according to the PCS 1900 standard and said second system operates according to the PWT standard.

22. The telecommunications network of claim 20, wherein said second controller initiates the setting of transmission power levels for said base station according to said selected control information.

23. The telecommunications network of claim 20, wherein said second controller initiates the setting of at least one radio channel for said base station according to said selected control information.

24. The telecommunications network of claim 20, wherein said second controller initiates the setting of an allowed time of operation for said base station according to said selected control information.

25. The telecommunications network of claim 20, wherein said first and second systems are capable of operating in a common frequency band and, said second controller initiates the setting of a selected frequency band for operation of said base station according to said selected control information, wherein said selected frequency band is within said common frequency band.

26. A telecommunications network comprising:

a first system including a first controller and at least one base station, said first controller for collecting data reflecting an operation of said at least one base station, said first controller further for initiating transmission of a first message over a first air interface, wherein said first message includes said data;

a second system including a second controller, said second controller for receiving and processing said data, wherein said data is transmitted to said second system over a second air interface in a second message, said second controller further outputting said data from said second system, wherein said data is utilized in administration of said first system; and

a mobile station capable of operating in either said first or second system, wherein said mobile station communicates with said first system over said first air interface and with said second system over said second air interface, and wherein said mobile station comprises a receiver for receiving said first message over said first air interface, a memory device for storing said data included in said first message, and a controller for generating said second message from said data as stored in said memory device and initiating transmission of said second message over said second air interface to said second system.

27. The telecommunications network of claim 26 wherein said first system operates according to the PWT standard and said second system operates according to the PCS 1900 standard.

28. The telecommunications system of claim 26 wherein said data is data for use in maintenance of said first system.

29. A telecommunication system, comprising:

a first wireless system comprising a first transceiver and a first controller coupled to said first transceiver, said first controller comprising means for generating a control message and for transmitting said control message using said first transceiver;

a second wireless system comprising a second transceiver and a second controller coupled to said second transceiver, said second controller comprising means for receiving a control message from said second transceiver and for setting at least one parameter in said second wireless system according to said control message; and

a wireless user terminal comprising at least one third transceiver capable of operation at a given time with one of said first transceiver and said second transceiver, said wireless user terminal further comprising a memory coupled to said at least one third transceiver and a third controller responsive to a receipt of said control message from said first transceiver for storing said received control message in said memory, and for subsequently transmitting said stored control message to said second transceiver, wherein said second wireless system and said wireless user terminal communicate with one another according to said at least one parameter set in said second wireless system at least during communications after said wireless user terminal has obtained access to said second wireless system.

30. A telecommunications system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said first and second transceivers operate with first and second frequency bands, respectively, and wherein said first and second frequency bands are one of overlapping bands or non-overlapping bands.