Method for calling by a terminal, like a card controlled mobile station, of a mobile communication system

• US 5,956,653 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Data Advisors LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sonera OY
• Inventors: Lahti, Aapo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US08/817,124
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/558, 455/559, 455/575, 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/409, 455/432, 455/433, 455/435, 455/551, 455/552
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

The invention relates to method for calling by a terminal, like a card controlled mobile station, of a mobile communication system, in which method the terminal is controlled by a SIM-card and the subscriber is identified from data of the said SIM-card. Characteristic for the invention is that by attaching a mobile station to special teleterminal adapter a local subscriber status is given to the mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method of charging for telephone calls made through a mobile telecommunications system having a base station which communicates with a subscriber that utilizes a mobile station to make the telephone calls wherein the mobile station comprises first and second subscriber identifying memory modules having common subscriber identity data and different charging data stored therein, comprising the steps of:

activating the first subscriber identifying memory module having first call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is in a predefined geographic region and deactivating the second subscriber identifying memory module;

activating the second subscriber identifying memory module having second call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is outside the predefined geographic region and deactivating the first subscriber identifying memory module; and

monitoring through the telecommunications system a geographic position of the mobile station to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region so that when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region, the calls made by the subscriber are charged according to the first call charging data.

2. A method of charging for telephone calls made through a mobile telecommunications system having a base station which communicates with a subscriber that utilizes a mobile station to make the telephone calls wherein the mobile station comprises first and second subscriber identifying memory modules having common subscriber identity data and different charging data stored therein, comprising the steps of:

activating the first subscriber identifying memory module having first call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is in a predefined geographic region and deactivating a second subscriber identifying memory module;

activating the second subscriber identifying memory module having second call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is outside the predefined geographic region and deactivating the first subscriber identifying memory module; and

monitoring through the telecommunications system a position of the mobile station to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region so that when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region, the calls made by the subscriber are charged according to the first call charging data,

wherein the predefined geographic region is a home cell, and wherein said step of monitoring to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the home cell comprises monitoring signals associated with the second subscriber identifying module such that if the telecommunications system senses a subscriber identity other than a subscriber identity associated with the second subscriber identity memory module in the home cell then the second subscriber memory module is deactivated.

3. A method of charging for telephone calls made through a mobile telecommunications system having a base station which communicates with a subscriber that utilizes a mobile station to make the telephone calls wherein the mobile station comprises first and second subscriber identifying memory modules having common subscriber identity data and different charging data stored therein, comprising the steps of:

activating the first subscriber identifying memory module having first call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is in a predefined geographic region and deactivating the second subscriber identifying memory module;

activating the second subscriber identifying memory module having second call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is outside the predefined geographic region and deactivating the first subscriber identifying memory module; and

monitoring through the telecommunications system a position of the mobile station to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region so that when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region, the calls made by the subscriber are charged according to the first call charging data,

wherein said step of monitoring to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region comprises storing in a memory associated with the mobile station, base station configuration data which comprises information relating to management by a teleoperator of the subscriber and management of the base station by other teleoperators such that when both the information of the management by the teleoperator of the subscriber and the management of the base stations by the other teleoperators are alternated in a time continuation usage sequence of the data in the second subscriber identifying memory module, the first subscriber identifying memory module is deactivated.

4. A method of charging for telephone calls made through a mobile telecommunications system having a base station which communicates with a subscriber that utilizes a mobile station to make the telephone calls wherein the mobile station comprises first and second subscriber identifying memory modules having common subscriber identity data and different charging data stored therein, comprising the steps of:

activating the first subscriber identifying memory module having first call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is in a predefined geographic region and deactivating the second subscriber identifying memory module;

activating the second subscriber identifying memory module having second call charging data stored therein when the mobile station is outside the predefined geographic region and deactivating the first subscriber identifying memory module; and

monitoring through the telecommunications system a geographic position of the mobile station to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region so that when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region, the calls made by the subscriber are charged according to the first call charging data,

wherein said step of monitoring to determine whether the mobile station is in or out of the predefined geographic region comprises detecting an adjustable limit that is set by a circuit in the mobile station, and if the adjustable limit is exceeded, disengaging, by the circuit, data transmission from the second subscriber memory identifying module.

5. An adapter for use in a mobile station of a mobile telecommunications system having a base station that allows the mobile telecommunications system to charge for calls made by a subscriber to the system according to charges for a predefined geographic region, comprising:

a first subscriber identifying memory module having first call charging data stored therein associated with the predefined geographic region and which is active when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region and not active when the mobile station is not in the predefined geographic region;

a second subscriber identifying memory module having second call charging data stored therein associated with at least one other geographic region and which is active when the mobile station is not in the predefined geographic region and not active when the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region; and

a circuit that communicates with the base station so that the system can determine whether the mobile station is in the predefined geographic region or out of the predefined geographic region so that when the mobile station is in the predefined region, the calls made by the subscriber are only charged according to the first call charging data.