Method and apparatus for providing fixed cellular functionality

• US 5,905,950 A
• Filed: 09/17/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktienbolaget L M Ericsson
• Inventors: Anell, Carl Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/932,346
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 455/421, 455/422, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/437, 455/456, 455/517, 455/524, 455/67.1, 455/67.6
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing fixed telephony service in a mobile cellular telecommunications system is disclosed. In the invention a fixed subscriber is assigned a fixed area within a cellular system and may not move beyond the fixed area. The restriction on movement is accomplished by monitoring a location area identity (LAI), a timing advance (TA) value and a handover candidate cell list for the fixed subscriber. Monitored parameters are then compared with a fixed LAI, a fixed TA and a fixed handover candidate cell list to determine if the fixed subscriber has moved beyond the fixed area. If the comparison indicates movement has occurred, a violation signal is generated.

Claims

1. A method of providing fixed telephony services to a transmitting unit at a fixed subscriber location within a cellular network, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning at least one fixed subscriber parameter to only said transmitting unit, said at least one fixed subscriber parameter defining said fixed subscriber location;

monitoring one or more cellular parameters indicating if said transmitting unit has moved from said fixed subscriber location, said fixed subscriber location comprising a portion of a coverage area of a base station that is not centered on the base station, said transmitting unit being in wireless communication with said base station within the cellular network;

comparing said one or more cellular parameters with said at least one fixed subscriber parameter to determine if said transmitting unit has moved from the fixed subscriber location; and

, in response to an affirmative determination;

generating an indication that the transmitting unit has moved beyond said fixed subscriber location.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular parameters comprise a handover candidate list, the handover candidate list comprising a listing of cells neighboring a cell containing the transmitting unit.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one fixed subscriber parameter comprises a standard handover candidate list, and wherein the step of comparing comprises the step of comparing the handover candidate list of the transmitting unit with the standard handover candidate list, the standard handover candidate list containing a listing of neighboring cells when the transmitting unit is at the first subscriber location.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular parameters comprise a timing advance value, the timing advance value indicating an amount of timing advance necessary to achieve signal synchronization between a mobile station and a base station.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one fixed subscriber parameter comprises a predetermined range of timing advance values, and wherein the step of comparing comprises the step of comparing the timing advance value to the predetermined range of timing advance values to determine if the timing advance value falls within the predetermined range.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular parameters comprise a location area identity in which the transmitting unit is located.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one fixed subscriber parameter comprises a predetermined location area identity associated with the fixed subscriber location, and wherein the step of comparing comprises the step of comparing the location area identity with the predetermined location area identity.

15. The method of claim 1 further including the step of notifying a controller of movement of the transmitting unit from the fixed subscriber location.

2. An apparatus for providing telephony service to a transmitting unit at a fixed subscriber location within a cellular network, comprising:

a base station within the cellular network;

a fixed subscriber station in wireless communication with said base station, said fixed subscriber station assigned to operate at the fixed subscriber location, the fixed subscriber location comprising a portion of the coverage area of said base station that is not centered on the base station;

means associated with the base station, for monitoring a first set of cellular parameters indicative of said fixed subscriber station'"'"'s position within the coverage area of the base station, said fixed subscriber location comprising only a portion of the coverage area of the base station; and

control means for determining when the first set of cellular parameters do not match any one of a second set of cellular parameters assigned to only said fixed subscriber station, said second set of cellular parameters defining the fixed subscriber location, and discontinuing telephone service in response thereto.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said first set of cellular parameters includes a handover candidate list.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said first set of cellular parameters includes a timing advance value.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said first set of cellular parameters includes a location area identity.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for storing the second set of cellular parameters.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said second set of cellular parameters include each of a handover candidate list, a timing advance value and a location area identity.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for generating a signal in response to a determination, made within said means for determining, that said fixed subscriber is not located within said fixed area.

16. A method for providing telephone services to a transmitting unit at a fixed subscriber location within a cellular network, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a first set of parameters comprising a location area identifier, a timing advance value and a handover candidate list, the first set of parameters associated with a present location of the transmitting unit;

comparing the first set of parameters to a predetermined second set of parameters comprising a fixed location area identifier, a fixed timing advance value range and a fixed handover candidate list, the predetermined second set of parameters being assigned to only said transmitting unit and defining the fixed subscriber location, the fixed subscriber location comprising a portion of a coverage area of a cell within the cellular network that is not centered as a transceiver for the cell; and

generating an indication that the transmitting unit has moved from the fixed subscriber location if any of the first set of parameters do not match the predetermined second set of parameters.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of establishing the predetermined second set of parameters during initial power up of the transmitting unit.

18. The method of claim 16 further including the step of notifying a controller of movement of the transmitting unit from the fixed subscriber location.

19. The method of claim 16 further including the step of terminating telephone services to the transmitting unit upon movement of the transmitting unit from the fixed location.