Use of cellular digital packet data (CDPD) communications to convey system identification list data to roaming cellular subscriber stations

• US 6,246,875 B1
• Filed: 03/26/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Seazholtz, John W., Farris, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US09/277,160
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/435, 455/551, 455/552, 455/403, 455/422, 455/419, 455/434, 455/433, 455/432, 455/512, 455/31.3, 455/154.1, 455/161.1, 455/566, 370/349, 379/357
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An analog cellular voice telephone system and subscriber stations associated therewith are controlled to conserve power and to provide alternate service carriers. Acquisition of all of the service carriers is facilitated through the use of system identification numbers (SIDS) associated with each service carrier. A roaming subscriber will tune to a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) frequency to obtain a list of service carriers operating within that geographical area. Based upon a comparison with a preferred SID list stored in the subscriber station, an available service carrier will be selected by the subscriber station, and registration with the selected service carrier will take place. Usually, analog voice communication is suspended until the selection process takes place.

Claims

1. A radio telephone subscriber unit arranged for use in a communication system having a plurality of frequencies divided into a plurality of available frequency bands, said radio telephone subscriber unit including a controller, said controller comprising:

(a) means for scanning a cellular digital packet data (CDPD) radio frequency for a list of system identification numbers (SID) where each SID is associated with one of a plurality of available radio frequency bands;

(b) means for comparing said scanned SIDs to a list of preferred SIDs stored in said radio telephone subscriber unit;

(c) means for selecting a single scanned SID based upon said list of preferred SIDs stored in said radio telephone subscriber unit; and

(d) means for acquiring a radio frequency carrier corresponding to a radio frequency band of said selected single scanned SID.

2. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises:

(e) means for suspending analog cellular voice communication until said radio frequency carrier corresponding to the radio frequency band of said selected single scan SID is acquired.

3. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 2, wherein said list of preferred SID stored in said radio telephone subscriber unit is arranged upon a priority basis and a single scanned SID is selected based upon said priority.

4. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 3, wherein said controller further comprises:

(f) means for scanning for a home SID corresponding to a home service provider for said radio telephone subscriber unit.

5. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 4, wherein said controller further comprises:

(g) means for initiating scanning of all said radio frequencies when said home SID is not received.

6. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 5, further comprising a roaming light activated when said home SID is not received by said radio telephone subscriber unit.

7. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 1, further comprising an alphanumeric display.

8. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 5, wherein said controller further comprises:

(h) means for deactivating said means for comparing and said means for selecting whereby said radio telephone subscriber unit selects a strongest received signal regardless of property of an associated SID.

9. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 1, further comprising means for manually entering said list of preferred SIDs into a memory contained within said radio telephone subscriber unit.

10. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 9, wherein said means for manually entering comprise a keyboard.

11. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein said means for selecting further comprise second means for comparing strength of received signals to a predetermined range of signal strength.

12. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein said means for scanning comprise means for comparing Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of received SIDs to a predetermined threshold indicative of a desired signal level.

13. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 12, wherein said means for recording records at least two SIDs associated with any frequency band dedicated to Personal Communication System (PCS).

14. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 12, wherein said means for recording records at least two SIDs for each of said frequency bands, said recorded SIDs having the highest RSSI for each of said frequency bands.

15. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 14, wherein said means for comparing comprise means for prioritizing said received SIDs based upon said list of preferred SIDs stored in said radio telephone subscriber unit.

16. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 14, wherein said means for selecting comprise second means for comparing at least a signal quality of said single received SID with a predetermined threshold based upon other received SID signal characteristics found on said list of preferred SIDs stored in said radio telephone subscriber unit.

17. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 16, wherein said means for selecting further comprise third means for comparing a signal quality of said selected received SID to a second threshold value determined by signal values of all said received SIDs.

18. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 8, wherein said controller further comprises:

(i) means for deactivating a high voltage auxiliary output until said radio telephone subscriber unit registers with both analog cellular voice system and a CDPD system.

19. The radio telephone subscriber unit of claim 18, wherein said means for deactivating said high voltage auxiliary output is activated by detection of analog cellular voice communication and CDPD communication.