Wireless telecommunications system and method of operation providing users′ carrier selection in overlapping hetergenous networks

• US 6,591,103 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Willner, Barry E., Dunn, James M., Semple, Bruce P., Stern, Edith H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US09/343,234
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 455/439, 455/432, 455/433, 455/456, 455/435, 455/512, 455/552, 455/553, 455/405, 455/524, 455/525, 455/554, 455/555, 455/443
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

An improved wireless telecommunication system enables a user to obtain communication services in overlapping wireless heterogeneous or homogeneous cellular networks at the most economical cost and bandwidth. A plurality of overlapping cellular networks includes a common command channel, a Central Selection Agency (CSA), a home location register, a visitor location register, and a user device positional location mechanism. In one embodiment the user device is equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine its location. In placing a call, the user device broadcasts its ID, location and connection capability requirements on the common command channel. When a base station for the command channel bears the request, the CSA and the home location register for the user are informed. The CSA capability/requirements determine which network and base station selections are potential carriers for the call. Based on user preferences established by a profile stored in an accessible database, the CSA assigns a network and base station to handle the connection. The user device is informed and tunes to the appropriate network and protocols. For incoming calls, the calling party checks the home location register to determine the last known location. The user device is informed that a called is waiting. The user device selects the network and base station to receive the call in a fashion similar to that of placing the call. A call may be transferred from one network to a different network, the networks using different protocol. The user device may be programmed to change networks at random times to provide enhanced security for a call.

Claims

1. An improved wireless telecommunication system providing users with carrier selection in overlapping heterogeneous wireless networks, comprising:

(a) a plurality of wireless networks using different frequencies and protocols in the overlapping heterogeneous wireless networks;

(b) a common command channel linking all networks, the channel providing user information indicative of a user'"'"'s calling preferences, and providing access to the user'"'"'s home location and visitor location registers;

(c) a Central Selection Agency (CSA) coupled to the command control channel and storing profiles of user network preferences; and

(d) a user device coupled to a network for a call received on the command control channel;

recognized and assigned by the Central Selection Agency to a network depending on the user profile information, the assigned network being electable by the user thereby providing the user with a preferred protocol, bandwidth, and cost.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a local exchange carrier in an enterprise for transporting a call to a central selection agent for selection of a carrier to serve the user call.

3. The System of claim 2 herein the central selection agency is a processor coupled to the control channel and processing calls from mobile user devices for carrier selection in accordance with user information stored in the processor and incorporated into an application program for a selection of the preferred carrier network to serve the user device at a location defined in the user call.

4. An improved wireless telecommunication system providing users with carrier selection in overlapping heterogeneous wireless networks, comprising:

(a) a plurality of wireless networks using different frequencies and protocols in the overlapping heterogeneous wireless networks;

(b) a common command channel linking all networks, the channel storing user information indicative of a user'"'"'s calling preferences, and providing access to a home location and a visitor location registers;

(c) a Central Selection Agency (CSA) coupled to the command control channel;

(d) a user device coupled to a network for a call received on the command control channel;

recognized by the Central Selection Agency and assigned to a network depending on the user information thereby providing the user with a preferred protocol, bandwidth, and cost; and

(e) wherein the central selection agency is a processor coupled to the control channel and processing calls from mobile user devices for carrier selection in accordance with user information stored in the processor and incorporated into an application program for a selection of the preferred carrier network to serve the user device at a location defined in the user call.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising means for determining the user'"'"'s device position for selecting a carrier in originating the call.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising at least one PBX/edge node, the PBX/edge node mediating the selection of an appropriate network connection for a user based upon the user preference profile information stored in the user device.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the user device includes geographical location means and algorithms to determine and select a desired network and base station directly as an alternative to the central selection agency.

8. The system of claim 4 in which the shared command channel provides carrier information for selection by the user.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein algorithm means in the user device determine the preferred network for communication services.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the user device is coupled to the shared command channel and incorporates programming means to make a carrier selection based upon the shared command channel information.

11. In an improved telecommunication network system including a plurality of overlapping cellular cells using different communication protocols, frequencies and further including an internetwork command channel, a Central Selection Agency (CSA), a home location register and a visitor location register accessible to the agency, a method for obtaining communication services for a user at a preferred protocol, bandwidth, an cost comprising the steps of:

registering user connection requirements in a profile different from default connection requirements in the Central Selection Agency;

determining the user location and connection parameter;

broadcasting user information including user ID, location, connection capabilities on a common command channel;

receiving the user information at a base station and transmitting the information to the Central Selection Agency;

selecting the network and base station for the connection and forwarding the selection to the associated base station for transmitting to the user device;

tuning the user device to the base station and initiating a connection with the appropriate protocol where by the user is connected to the network at a preferred protocol, bandwidth and cost;

including an edge node in a network to mediate user connection to a network, the edge node including a business model so that a local business could become a micro-local exchange carrier, comprising the steps of;

broadcasting user information including user ID and connection capability requirements on a command channel;

receiving the user information at the edge node which requests information regarding bandwidth availability, pricing from potential networks;

sending the network information to the user from the edge node for selection of a carrier; and

initiating a call by the user device to the selected network and channel.

12. An improved wireless telecommunication system providing users with carrier selection in overlapping heterogeneous wireless networks, comprising:

a plurality of base stations, each serving a different carrier and operating a shared command channel;

each base station broadcasting on the shared command channel their location, frequency availability and bandwidth price;

a user device including means for determining the geographical location of the device; and

means within the user device accessing the shared command channel and selecting and tuning to the selected carrier directly for communication services.

13. In an improved telecommunication network system including a plurality of overlapping cellular cells using different communication protocols, frequencies and further including a command channel, a Central Selection Agency (CSA), a home location register and a visitor location register accessible to the agency, a method for obtaining communication services for a user at a preferred protocol, bandwidth, and cost comprising the steps of:

registering user connection requirements in a profile different from default connection requirements in the Central Selection Agency;

determining the user location and connection parameter;

broadcasting user information including user ID, location, connection capabilities on a common command channel;

receiving the user information at a base station and transmitting the information to the Central Selection Agency;

selecting the network and base station for the connection and forwarding the selection to the associated base station for transmitting to the user device;

tuning the user device to the base station and initiating a connection with the appropriate protocol where by the user is connected to the network at a preferred protocol, bandwidth and cost;

informing a called user device on the command channel that a call is waiting; and

selecting in the user device a network and base station to receive the call.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the command channel is a shared channel by the networks and further comprises the steps of:

using the network device to listen to the shared channel to determine which network base stations are within range; and

selecting one of the networks or base stations and initiating the connection with the appropriate protocols based upon a stored algorithm in the user device.

15. The method of claim 13 including an edge node in a network to mediate user connection to a network, the edge node including a business model so that a local business could become a micro-local exchange carrier, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting user information including user ID and connection capability requirements on a command channel;

receiving the user information at the edge node which requests information regarding bandwidth availability, pricing from potential networks;

sending the network information to the user from the edge node for selection of a carrier; and

initiating a call by the user device to the selected network and channel.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein a local exchange carrier connection installed in an enterprise serves as an edge node in a network.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

detecting an impending handoff of a call in a first network to a second network;

notifying the CSA of the impending handoff;

checking the CSA database for call parameters of the second network;

sending an incoming traffic message to the second network from the CSA;

picking up the call by the second network;

mapping the user to a landline port by network; and

updating the CSA database and billing files.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

sending the second network call parameter to the user;

determining if the second network parameters are acceptable to the user;

transferring the user to the second network if the second network parameters are acceptable; and

forwarding a landline connection of the user to the second network.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

programming a user device to change call connections at random times from one network to a different network covering the user.

20. In an improved telecommunication network system including a plurality of overlapping cellular cells using different communication protocols, frequencies and further including a command channel, a Central Selection Agency (CSA), a home location register and a visitor location register accessible to the agency, a method for obtaining communication services for a user at a preferred protocol, bandwidth, and cost comprising the steps of:

registering user connection requirements in a profile different from default connection requirements in the Central Selection Agency;

determining the user location and connection parameter;

broadcasting user information including user ID, location, connection capabilities on a common command channel;

receiving the user information at a base station and transmitting the information to the Central Selection Agency;

selecting the network and base station for the connection and forwarding the selection to the associated base station for transmitting to the user device;

tuning the user device to the base station and initiating a connection with the appropriate protocol where by the user is connected to the network at a preferred protocol, bandwidth and cost;

detecting an impending handoff of a call in a first network to a second network;

notifying the CSA of the impending handoff;

checking the CSA database for call parameters of the second network;

sending an incoming traffic message to the second network from the CSA;

picking up the call by the second network;

mapping the user to a landline port by the network; and

updating the CSA database and billing.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:

sending the second network call parameter to the user;

determining if the second network parameters are acceptable to the user;

transferring the user to the second network if the second network parameters are acceptable; and

forwarding a landline connection of the user to the second network.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

programming a user device to change call connections at random times from one network to a different network covering the user.