System and method for delivering a call for a mobile station using either a wireless network or a wireline network

• US 6,154,650 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Abidi, Abbas, Kim, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US09/089,790
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 455/461, 455/462, 455/465, 455/552, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A combination mobile station and cordless wireline cordless base station, each having a different directory number, includes a mobile station that functions in a wireless network as a typical wireless unit. When the mobile station is within radio range of the wireline cordless base station, it retunes its operating frequency to that of the wireline cordless base station. The wireline cordless base station, when it senses that the mobile station is within radio range, notifies the wireless network of the wireline directory number of the wireline cordless base station. When the wireless network receives a call for the mobile station, it forwards the call to the wireline cordless base station over the wireline network. When the mobile station is moved out of radio range of the cordless wireline cordless base station, the mobile station returns to the operating frequency of the wireless network, and the wireline cordless base station informs the wireless network that it is no longer receiving calls for that mobile station.

Claims

1. In a wireless network having a home location register for identifying the location of a mobile station, a method for delivering a call to a directory number assigned to a mobile station comprising:

a limited radio range wireline cordless base station, having a wireline directory number, identifying said mobile station to said home location register as being at said wireline directory number responsive to said mobile station being within radio range of said limited radio range wireline cordless base station;

said wireless network delivering said call to said wireline directory number when said mobile station is registered in the home location register at said directory number; and

said limited range wireline cordless base station notifying said wireless network when said mobile station moves out of radio range of said limited radio range wireline cordless base station and said wireless network registering the mobile station'"'"'s location relative to said wireless network in said home location register.

2. A cordless telephone wireline cordless base station for use with a mobile station associated with a wireless network, said mobile station having a directory number in said wireless network, said wireline cordless base station having a directory number in a wireline network that is different from said mobile station'"'"'s wireless network directory number, said wireline cordless base station comprising:

sensing means for determining when said mobile station is within a limited radio range of said wireline cordless base station;

means responsive to said sensing means determining that said mobile station is within said limited radio range of said wireline cordless base station for informing a home location register in said wireless network of the wireline directory number of said wireline cordless base station to facilitate said wireless network to deliver calls to said mobile station'"'"'s directory number to said wireline cordless base station; and

means responsive to said determining means determining that said mobile station has moved out of radio range to inform said wireless network that said feature is no longer active.

3. A wireline cordless base station in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means responsive to said determining means comprises means for placing a telephone call to said wireless network and delivering a feature request and the directory number of said wireline cordless base station.

4. A wireline cordless base station in accordance with claim 3 wherein said wireless network includes a mobile switching center, said means for placing a telephone call includes placing said telephone call to said mobile switching center.

5. A combination mobile station and wireline cordless base station comprising:

said mobile station being associated with a directory number in a wireless network;

said wireline cordless base station being associated with a directory number in a wireline network;

said wireline cordless base station including sensing means for determining when said wireline cordless base station is within radio range of said mobile station and for identifying to said wireless network the wireline directory number of said wireline cordless base station and for identifying to said wireless network when said mobile station moves out of radio range of said wireline cordless base station; and

said mobile station including means for tuning to a frequency associated with said wireline cordless base station when it is within radio range of said wireline cordless base station and means for tuning to a frequency associated with said wireless network when it is outside of radio range of said wireline cordless base station.