System and method for checking service availability

• US 6,445,912 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cole, Allen, Engquist, Susan, Wei, Xinguo
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Persino, Raymond B.
• Application Number:
  US09/572,144
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406-408, 455/419, 455/423, 455/422, 455/424, 455/446, 455/456, 455/457, 705/1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2245 Management of the local loop plant
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A method has been provided for automatically defining the communication services available to a potential subscriber on the basis of street address. The method is able to provide rate center information in response to the submission of a street address. The method is especially advantageous when applied to fixed-position wireless systems, such as AT&T'"'"'s Fixed Wireless System (FWS), where the additional complication of determining the radio frequency (RF) coverage available to subscribers is involved. The method determines the base station associated with the street address and applies the business rules of that station to a new subscriber to determine service availability. The RF coverage and business rules determinations are made in response to the submission of a street address. A system for determining service availability in response to the submission of a subscriber address has also been provided.

Claims

1. In a communications network including rate center information for a plurality of rate centers and radio frequency (RF) coverage information for a plurality of RF coverage areas, a method for determining the availability of wireless service to subscribers comprising:

receiving a premises address for determination of wireless service availability in a rate center;

acessing the rate center and RF coverage information in response to the premises address;

determining, from the rate center information, a rate center in which the premises address is located;

determining, from the RF coverage information, an RF coverage area in which the premises address is located; and

if the premises address is located within an RF coverage area, assigning service to a remote unit at the address.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication network includes a rule-set applicable to each RF coverage area, and in which assigning service to the remote unit at the premises address includes:

determining a selected rule-set for the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located; and

assigning service to the premises address according to the selected reset.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the communicatons network includes a plurality of base stations to provide RF operations in the plurality of RF coverage areas, wherein the RF coverage information includes the relationship between base stations and RF coverage areas, and business rules associated with each base station;

wherein the determination of the selected rule-set includes selecting a base station corresponding to the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located; and

wherein the assigning of service availability to the premises address in response to the RF coverage rule-set includes applying the business rules of the selected base station to the remote unit at the premises address.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the assignment of service availability includes assigning service availability to the premises address in response to the selected base station business rules.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the communications network base station business rules include rules concerning base station capacity and base station availability.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the assignment of service availability includes assigning service availability from the options including service granted, service unavailable due to no base station coverage, service unavailable due to poor RF coverage, service unavailable due to base station low capacity, and service unavailable due to the base station being unavailable for use.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the accessing of rate center information includes converting the received premises address into a geographic location.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the determination of the RF coverage area includes converting the received premises address into a geographic location.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the communications network includes a computer, with a computer interface, and wherein the rate center information and RF coverage area information are hosted in the computer;

in which the receiving of an address includes receiving the premises address via the computer interface; and

the method further comprising;

providing the service availability assignment for the received premises address via the computer interface.

10. The method of claim 9 in which receiving the premises address includes the computer interface and the computer being linked through a communications network including landline and wireless telephones.

11. A communications network in accordance with claim 1, wherein the premises address is a street address.

12. A system for determining the availability of wireless communications services to a communications network subscriber with a premises address, the system comprising:

a service coverage and location (SCL) server including a database of rate centers in the communications network, said SCL including an application to convert premises addresses to geographically located positions, and to determine a rate center associated with a premises address, said SCL server including a database of radio frequency (RF) coverage areas, said SCL server application locating the premises address in an area of RF coverage and determining the availabillty of service in response to the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located, said SCL including a port to accept the premises address, and to provide the determined rate center and service availability; and

an SCL user interface connected to said SCL to provide the premises address to said SCL, and to accept the determined rate center and availability from said SCL.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a plurality of base stations to provide the areas of RF coverage; and

in which said SCL server includes a base station database, said base station database including a set of business rules associated with each base station, said SCL application generating a relationship between base stations and areas of RF coverage and selecting the base station associated with the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located, said application determining service availability in response to the business rules that are applied to the premises address.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a plurality of wireless remote unit, each said remote unit corresponding to a premises address where service is available.

15. The system of claim 13 in which said SCL user interface accepts RF coverage and business rule updates, and in which the updates are communicated to said SCL server to update said RF coverage and business rule databases.

16. The system of claim 12 in which said SCL server and said SCL server interface are connected through communications systems including landline and wireless telephones.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

an SCL interface display including;

a menu to enter the premises address of the subscriber;

a menu indicating the availability of wireless service; and

a map indicating the geographical location of the premises address.

18. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the premises address is a street address.

19. A method for determining the availability of wireless service to a premises address in a communications network, the communications network comprising a plurality of base stations providing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) service coverage areas and including rate center information for a plurality of rate centers, RF coverage information for the plurality of RF service coverage areas and a rule-set applicable to each RF coverage area, the RF coverage information including the relationship between base stations and RF coverage areas, and business rules associated with each base station, the method comprising:

receiving the premises address for determination of wireless service availability in a rate center;

accessing rate center and RF coverage information in response to the premises address;

determining, from the rate center information, a rate center in which the premises address is located;

determining, from the RF coverage information, an RF coverage area in which the premises addresses located;

determining a selected rule-set for the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located, the determination of the selected rule-set including selection of a base station corresponding to the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located; and

assigning service to the premises address if the premises address is located with an RF coverage area an in accordance with the selected rule-set, wherein the assigning of service availability to the premises address in response to the RF coverage rule-set includes applying the business rules of the selected base station to the remote unit at the premises address.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the assignment of service availability includes assigning service availability to the premises address in response to the selected base station business rules.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the communications network base station business rules include rules concerning base station capacity and base station availability.

22. The method of claim 21 in which the assignment of service availability includes assigning service availability from the options including service granted, service unavailable due to no base station coverage, service unavailable due to poor RF coverage, service unavailable due to base station low capacity, and service unavailable due to the base station being unavailable for use.

23. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the premises address is a street address.

24. A method for determining the availability of service in a wireless communications network including a plurality of base stations to provide areas of radio frequency (RF) coverage and including information concerning rate centers, the base stations having business rules governing the availability and capacity of each base station, and wherein a relationship exists between RF coverage areas and base stations, the method comprising:

receiving a premises address for the determination of service availability;

geocoding the premises address to create a place;

locating the place in an area of RF coverage;

locating the place in a rate center;

assigning the place to a base station; and

assigning service availability to the place in response to the business rules of the assigned base station and the adequacy of RF coverage.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the premises address is a street address.

26. A system for determining the availability of wireless communications services to a communications network subscriber with a premises address, the system comprising:

a service coverage and location (SCL) server including a database of rate centers in the communications network, said SCL including an application to convert premises addresses to geographically located positions, and to determine a rate center associated with a premises address, said SCL server including a database of radio frequency (RF) coverage areas, said SCL server application locating the premises address in an area of RF coverage and determining the availability of service in response to the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located, said SCL including a port to accept the premises address, and to provide the determined rate center and service availability;

an SCC user interface connected to said SCL to provide the premises address to said SCL, and to accept the determined rate center and availability from said SCL; and

a plurality of base stations to provide the areas of RF coverage; and

in which said SCL server includes a base station database, said base station database including a set of business rules associated with each base station, said SCL application generating a relationship between base stations and areas of RF coverage and selecting the base station associated with the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located, said application determining service availability in response to the business rules that are applied to the premises address.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

a plurality of wireless remote units, each said remote unit corresponding to a premises address where service is available.

28. The system of claim 26 in which said SCL user interface accepts RF coverage and business rule updates, and in which the updates are communicated to said SCL server to update said RF coverage and business rule databases.

29. The system of claim 26 in which said SCL server and said SCL server interface are connected through communications systems including landline and wireless telephones.

30. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

an SCL interface display including;

a menu to enter the premises address of the subscriber;

a menu indicating the availability of wireless service; and

a map indicating the geographical location of the premises address.

31. A system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the premises address is a street address.

32. A method of providing wireless service to a premises through a communications network, the method comprising:

receiving an address of the premises;

determining a rate center containing the address;

accessing radio frequency (RF) coverage information for a plurality of radio frequency (RF) coverage areas provided by a plurality of base stations, the RF coverage information including a relationship between the plurality of base stations and the plurality RF coverage areas; and

assigning wireless service to the promises if the premises is located within an RF coverage area of the plurality of RF coverage areas.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, the RF coverage information comprising business rules for the plurality of base stations, wherein the assigning the wireless service comprises:

assigning the wireless service in accordance with the business rules.

34. A method in accordance with claim 33, wherein the business rules include rules concerning base station capacity and base station availability.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34, wherein the assigning wireless service comprises assigning wireless service from options including service granted, service unavailable due to no base station coverage, service unavailable due to poor RF coverage, service unavailable due to base station low capacity, and service unavailable due to the base station being unavailable for use.

36. A method in accordance with claim 32, further comprising converting the received address into a geographic location.

37. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein the communications network includes a computer, with a computer interface, and wherein the rate center information and RF coverage area information are hosted in the computer;

wherein the receiving of an address includes receiving the address via the computer interface, the method further comprising;

providing a service availability assignment for the received address via the computer interface.

38. A method in accordance with claim 32, wherein the address is a street address.

39. A system for determining the availability of wireless communications services to a communications network subscriber with a premises address, the system comprising:

a plurality of base stations providing a plurality of RF coverage areas; and

a service coverage and location (SCL) server comprising;

a port to accept the premises address and to provide a determined rate center and service availability;

a database of rate centers in the communications network;

a database of the radio frequency (RF) coverage areas, and

a server application to convert addresses to geographically located positions and to determine a rate center associated with the premises address, the server application including code to locate the premises address in an area of RF coverage and to determine the availability of service in response to the RF coverage area in which the premises address is located.

40. A system in accordance with claim 39, wherein the SCL server further comprises a base station database including a set of business rules associated with the plurality of base stations, the server application generating a relationship between base stations and areas of RF coverage and selecting the base station associated with the RF coverage area in which the premise address is located, the server application determining service availability in response to the business rules that are applied to the premises address.

41. A system in accordance with claim 40, further comprising:

a user interface connected to the SCL server to provide the premises address to said SCL server and to accept the determined rate center and service availability from the SCL server.

42. A system in accordance with claim 39, wherein the premises address is a street address.