Geographical restriction in cellular telecommunications network

• US 6,230,017 B1
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Andersson, Mikael, Westroos, Kjell Anders, Ostrup, Nils Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/916,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 455/63, 455/422, 455/457, 455/456, 455/509, 455/517, 455/520, 455/524, 455/440, 455/435, 455/436, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

In a cellular telecommunications network, geographical restriction is stored for a mobile subscriber in the subscriber'"'"'s record (100A, 100B, 100C, 100D) in a database at a node of the network, preferably at a home location register [HLR] (24). In accordance with one mode of the invention, the mobile station is permitted to operate only in cells identified in the subscriber'"'"'s record in the HLR. In accordance with this mode, only applicable cells listed in the subscriber'"'"'s record are paged when a call is direct to the mobile station, and the mobile station can only originate calls and sustain calls from such cells. In a variation of this mode, calls originated by the mobile station in the applicable cells listed in the subscriber'"'"'s record can be sustained when the mobile station travels into non-applicable cells. In accordance with another mode known as “soft” restriction, a first (e.g., reduced) tariff is applied to calls originated and received in cells listed in a geographical restriction field of the subscriber'"'"'s record in the home location register, with calls to and from other cells being permitted at a second (e.g., standard) tariff.

Claims

1. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained at a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the database is maintained at a home location register and the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted from the home location register to a visitor location register for the mobile switching center.

2. The cellular telecommunications network of claim 1, wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls at a first tariff rate, and wherein the mobile station can be paged and originate calls in other cells at a second tariff rate.

3. The cellular telecommunications network of claim 1, wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a list of cells in which the mobile station can originate a call and/or receive a call, and wherein subsequent to establishment of a call the mobile switching center permits handoff or handover of the call to a non-allowed cell not on the list so long as the call was originated or set up while the mobile station was in a cell on the list.

4. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained by a node of the network;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of cells from which the mobile station can originate a call and a second list of cells in which the mobile station can have a call set up to the mobile station, the second list of cells being different from the first list of cells.

5. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained by a node of the network;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of at least a first cell and a second list of at least a second cell, and wherein the first list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a first time period and wherein the second list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a second time period, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for the first time period and the second time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calendar unit.

6. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access via signaling to the home location register and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

wherein, for the mobile station, the home location register has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

wherein, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted to the visitor location register when the mobile station is in an area served by the mobile switching center; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of cells from which the mobile station can originate a call and a second list of cells in which the mobile station can have a call set up to the mobile station, the second list of cells being different from the first list of cells.

7. The cellular telecommunications network of claim 6, wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls at a first tariff rate, and wherein the mobile station can be paged and originate calls in other cells at a second tariff rate.

8. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access via signaling to the home location register and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

wherein, for the mobile station, the home location register has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

wherein, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted to the visitor location register when the mobile station is in an area served by the mobile switching center; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of at least a first cell and a second list of at least a second cell, and wherein the first list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a first time period and wherein the second list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a second time period, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for the first time period and the second time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calendar unit.

9. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access via signaling to the home location register and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

wherein, for the mobile station, the home location register has stored therein information for geograhically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

wherein, the information for geogaphically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted to the visitor location register when the mobile station is in an area served by the mobile switching center; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a list of cells in which the mobile station can originate a call and/or receive a call, and wherein subsequent to establishment of a call the mobile switching center permits handoff or handover of the call to a non-allowed cell not on the list so long as the call was originated or set up while the mobile station was in a cell on the list.

10. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access via signaling to the home location register and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

wherein, for the mobile station, the home location register has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station in accordance with a first tariff rate, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

wherein, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted to the visitor location register when the mobile station is in an area served by the mobile switching center; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining, in accordance with the first tariff rate, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls, the mobile station being paged and originating calls in other cells at a second tariff rate.

11. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a home location register;

a mobile switching center having access via signaling to the home location register and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

wherein, for the mobile station, the home location register has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

wherein, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is transmitted to the visitor location register when the mobile station is in an area served by the mobile switching center; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls;

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls at a first tariff rate, and wherein the mobile station can be paged and originate calls in other cells at a second tariff rate; and

wherein the information restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of at least a first cell and a second list of at least a second cell, and wherein the first list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a first time period and wherein the second list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a second time period, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for the first time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calandar unit.

12. A method of connecting a call involving a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising:

maintaining for the mobile station, in a home location register, information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

when the mobile station enters an area served by a mobile switching center, transferring the information for geogaphically restricting operation of the mobile station to a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

using the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station for determining, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of at least a first cell and a second list of at least a second cell, and wherein the method further comprises;

utilizing the first list for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a first time period; and

utilizing the second list for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a second time period;

including in the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for the first time period and the second time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calendar unit.

13. A method of connecting a call involving a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising:

maintaining for the mobile station, in a home location register, information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station comprising a list of cells, the cells on the list being included irrespective of network location area;

when the mobile station enters an area served by a mobile switching center, transferring the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station to a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

using the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station for determining, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a list of cells in which the mobile station can originate a call and/or receive a call, and wherein subsequent to establishment of a call the mobile switching center permits handoff or handover of the call to a non-allowed cell not on the list so long as the call was originated or set up while the mobile station was in a cell on the list.

14. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained by a node of the network;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station is used for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station icluding a first list of cells from which the mobile station can originate a call and a second list of cells in which the mobile station can have a call set up to the mobile station, the second list of cells being different from the first list of cells.

15. A method of connecting a call involving a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising:

maintaining for the mobile station, in a home location register, information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station;

when the mobile station enters an area served by a mobile switching center, transferring the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station to a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

using the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station for determining, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls;

including in the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station a first list of cells from which the mobile station can originate a call and a second list of cells in which the mobile station can have a call set up to the mobile station, the second list of cells being different from the first list of cells.

16. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained by a node of the network;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a first list of at least a first cell and a second list of at least a second cell, and wherein the first list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a first time period and wherein the second list is utilized for determining in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls during a second time period, the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for the first time period and the second time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calendar unit.

17. A method of connecting a call involving a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising:

maintaining for the mobile station, in a home location register, information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station;

when the mobile station enters an area served by a mobile switching center, transferring the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station to a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

using the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station for determining, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls;

including in the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station including both a start time and a stop time for a first time period and a second time period, the start time and stop time being expressed as hours/minutes of a calendar unit.

18. A cellular telecommunications network comprising:

a mobile station;

a database maintained by a node of the network;

a mobile switching center having access to the database and being connected to at least one base station serving the mobile station;

wherein, for the mobile station, the database has stored therein information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station; and

wherein the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station includes a list of cells in which the mobile station can originate a call and/or receive a call, and wherein subsequent to establishment of a call the mobile switching center permits handoff or handover of the call to a non-allowed cell not on the list so long as the call was originated or set up while the mobile station was in a cell on the list.

19. A method of connecting a call involving a mobile station in a cellular telecommunications network, the method comprising:

maintaining for the mobile station, in a home location register, information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station;

when the mobile station enters an area served by a mobile switching center, transferring the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station to a visitor location register connected to the mobile switching center;

using the information for geographically restricting operation of the mobile station for determining, in what cells the mobile station can be paged and from what cells the mobile station can originate calls;

subsequent to establishment of a call, permitting handoff or handover of the call to a non-allowed cell not on the list so long as the call was originated or set up while the mobile station was in a cell on the list.