Cellular radio network having mobile radio station user-activated unlocking of prevention of location-updating feature

• US 6,032,042 A
• Filed: 05/01/1995
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Telecommunications Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kauppi, Hanna-Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/397,175
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.4, 455/54.1, 455/56.1, 455/34.1, 455/432, 455/33, 455/435, 455/550, 455/575, 455/552, 455/525, 379/59
• US Class Current: 455/432.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A cellular radio network including mobile radio stations is provided in which at least some of the mobile radio stations are capable of moving in a primary network, and in at least one other network having a location area configuration different from that of the primary network. The user can manually prevent all location updatings and location updating attempts between the different networks and, thus, temporarily "lock" the use of the mobile station within a particular network. Not even an location updating attempt into a "foreign network" is made. It is up to the user of the mobile station to decide when the user activates the registration function. The locking function remains activated until deactivation by the user. Subsequent to the deactivation, location updatings between the networks are performed in a normal manner.

Claims

1. A cellular radio network, said network comprising:

a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least one base station of said primary network is arranged to transmit transmissions which contain a first locking code, wherein at least one base station of said at least one other network is arranged to transmit transmissions which contain a second locking code;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations comprising a prevention means which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, wherein

said prevention means is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and said at least one other network from each other by said locking codes,

said prevention means is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing the locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory, and

said prevention means is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.

2. A cellular radio network according to claim 1, wherein said primary network and said at least one other network have respective base stations which send network configuration information, wherein a network identifier is contained in or derivable from said network configuration information, and wherein

each of said at least some mobile stations is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and of said at least one other network from each other by means of said network identifier.

3. A cellular radio network according to claim 1, wherein

said prevention means is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing a network identifier of the respective current network in a memory, and

said prevention means is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received in network configuration information from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

4. A cellular radio system according to claim 1, wherein

with said prevention means inactivated, each of said some mobile stations is arranged to initiate an automatic location updating procedure each time when each of said some mobile stations moves from one location area to another.

5. A cellular radio network according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one other network comprises at least one complementary network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, and

said mobile radio stations are capable of moving in said primary network, in said at least one complementary network, and between said networks.

6. A cellular radio network according to claim 5, wherein said primary network and said at least one other network have respective base stations which send network configuration information, wherein a network identifier is contained in or derived from said network configuration information, and wherein

each of said at least some mobile stations is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and of said at least one other network from each other by means of said network identifier.

7. A mobile radio station for a cellular radio network, said cellular radio network includes a primary network having a first location area configuration and at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, said networks having base stations, said mobile radio station being capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed, said mobile radio station comprising:

means for initiating automatic location updatings to other networks; and

prevention means which, responsive to activation by a user, temporarily prevents said mobile station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, wherein

said prevention means is capable of distinguishing the location areas of the different networks from each other by different locking codes sent by base stations of said primary network and said at least one other network,

said prevention means is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing a locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory, and

said prevention means is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of said new location area

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.

8. A mobile radio station for a cellular radio network, said cellular radio network includes a primary network having a first location area configuration and at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, said networks having base stations, said mobile radio station being capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed, said mobile radio station comprising:

means for initiating automatic location updatings to other networks; and

prevention means which, responsive to activation by a user, temporarily prevents said mobile station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation,

wherein said mobile radio station is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and said at least one other network from each other by a network identifier contained in or derived from the network configuration information sent by said base stations,

said prevention means is responsive to activation by said user for storing the identifier of the present network in a memory, and

said prevention means is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received from the network configuration information sent a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

9. A method for controlling automatic location updating by a mobile radio station in a cellular radio network, said cellular network including a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations including prevention means which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, said method comprising;

responsive to manual activation by said user, storing a network identifier of the respective current network in a memory, and

responsive to an observation of a change of location area, comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received in network configuration information from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

10. A method for controlling automatic location updating by a mobile radio station in a cellular radio network, said cellular network including a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations including prevention means which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, said method comprising;

responsive to manual activation by said user, storing the locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory; and

responsive to an observation of a change of location area, comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.

11. A cellular radio network, said network comprising:

a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least one base station of said primary network is arranged to transmit transmissions which contain a first locking code, wherein at least one base station of said at least one other network is arranged to transmit transmissions which contain a second locking code;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations comprising a location discriminator which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, wherein

said location discriminator is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and said at least one other network from each other by said locking codes,

said location discriminator is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing the locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory, and

said location discriminator is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.

12. A cellular radio network according to claim 11, wherein said primary network and said at least one other network have respective base stations which send network configuration information, wherein a network identifier is contained in or derivable from said network configuration information, and wherein

each of said at least some mobile stations is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and of said at least one other network from each other by said network identifier.

13. A cellular radio network according to claim 11, wherein

said location discriminator is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing a network identifier of the respective current network in a memory, and

said location discriminator is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received in network configuration information from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

14. A cellular radio system according to claim 11, wherein

with said location discriminator inactivated, each of said some mobile stations is arranged to initiate an automatic location updating procedure each time when each of said some mobile stations moves from one location area to another.

15. A cellular radio network according to claim 11, wherein

said at least one other network comprises at least one complementary network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, and

said mobile radio stations are capable of moving in said primary network, in said at least one complementary network, and between said networks.

16. A cellular radio network according to claim 15, wherein said primary network and said at least one other network have respective base stations which send network configuration information, wherein a network identifier is contained in or derived from said network configuration information, and wherein

each of said at least some mobile stations is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and of said at least one other network from each other by said network identifier.

17. A mobile radio station for a cellular radio network, said cellular radio network includes a primary network having a first location area configuration and at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, said networks having base stations, said mobile radio station being capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed, said mobile radio station comprising:

an updating initiator for initiating automatic location updatings to other networks; and

a location discriminator which, responsive to activation by a user, temporarily prevents said mobile station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, wherein

said location discriminator is capable of distinguishing the location areas of the different networks from each other by different locking codes sent by base stations of said primary network and said at least one other network,

said location discriminator is responsive to manual activation by said user for storing a locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory, and

said location discriminator is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of said new location area

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.

18. A mobile radio station for a cellular radio network, said cellular radio network includes a primary network having a first location area configuration and at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration, said networks having base stations, said mobile radio station being capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed, said mobile radio station comprising:

an updating initiator for initiating automatic location updatings to other networks; and

a location discriminator which, responsive to activation by a user, temporarily prevents said mobile station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation,

wherein said mobile radio station is capable of distinguishing the location areas of said primary network and said at least one other network from each other by a network identifier contained in or derived from the network configuration information sent by said base stations,

said location discriminator is responsive to activation by said user for storing the identifier of the present network in a memory, and

said location discriminator is responsive to an observation of a change of location area for comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received from the network configuration information sent a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

19. A method for controlling automatic location updating by a mobile radio station in a cellular radio network, said cellular network including a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations including a location discriminator which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updatings to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, said method comprising;

responsive to manual activation by said user, storing a network identifier of the respective current network in a memory, and

responsive to an observation of a change of location area, comparing said stored network identifier with a network identifier received in network configuration information from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the network identifiers are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the network identifiers are different.

20. A method for controlling automatic location updating by a mobile radio station in a cellular radio network, said cellular network including a primary network having a first location area configuration;

a plurality of mobile radio stations, each capable of moving in said primary network from one location area to another and of automatically starting a location updating procedure in said cellular network each time a changeover from one location area of said primary network to another is observed;

at least one other network having a second location area configuration differing from said first location area configuration;

at least some of said mobile radio stations being capable of moving in said at least one other network; and

at least some of said mobile radio stations including a location discriminator which, when activated by a user, temporarily prevents the respective mobile radio station from initiating automatic location updates to other networks from the network used at the time of activation, said method comprising;

responsive to manual activation by said user, storing the locking code sent by the respective present network in a memory; and

responsive to an observation of a change of location area, comparing said stored locking code with a locking code received from a base station of a new location area,

a) for allowing location updating if the locking codes are identical, and

b) for preventing location updating if the locking codes are different or said base station of said new location area sends no locking code at all.