Method of providing cellular and landline cordless service using a dual mode mobile telephone

• US 6,681,118 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Winship, Peter L., Nelson, Roderick, Marx, Joseph P., OʼNeill, Paul B., Jarett, Keith, Williams, Roland E., Raffel, Michael A., Leuca, Ileana A., Bamburak, Michael D., Kibria, Masud, Lawrence, Christopher G., Glass, David R., Lee, Tony S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US10/279,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552, 455/426, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• 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 mobile station communicates with both a cellular network, by which it is assigned a mobile identification number, and to a cordless cellular base station utilizing the same cellular frequency range and communications protocol. The cordless cellular base station is preferably connected to a public switched telephone network and is assigned a landline number. The cordless cellular base station acts as a conduit between the mobile station and the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station comes within range of a cordless cellular base station, it deregisters automatically from the cellular network and register with the cordless cellular base station. Once the mobile station is communicating with the cordless cellular base station, the cordless cellular base station communicates with the cellular network to instruct the cellular network to route all calls for mobile identification number to the cordless cellular base station'"'"'s landline number. In addition, all calls placed on the mobile station are sent through the cordless cellular base station to the public switched telephone network. When the mobile station severs contact with the cordless cellular base station. the mobile station registers with the regional cellular base station of the regional cellular network. The cordless cellular base station then sends a network forwarding cancellation message to the cellular network to cancel the forwarding of calls for the mobile station'"'"'s identification number. Once the mobile station is registered with the regional cell, calls to the mobile stations identification number are directly routed by the cellular network to the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a dual mode mobile telephone that automatically selects from among a cellular mode and a cordless telephone mode, wherein the mobile telephone functions as a cellular telephone communicating through a cellular network when operating in the cellular mode, the method comprising;

pre-registering with a base station during which the mobile station stores base station identification information, wherein the base station is coupled among the cellular network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the base station includes operational information received from the cellular network including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels, and;

while in the cellular mode, recognizes locations that are in proximity to the base station in accordance with the base station operating power levels;

searching for the base station using the stored base station identification information and, upon detecting the base station, automatically de-registers from the cellular network, couples to the base station, registers with the base station, automatically switches to the cordless telephone mode, and confirms the switch to the cordless telephone mode with the base station, wherein the base station provides a call forwarding update message to the cellular network requesting routing of calls addressed to the mobile telephone to the base station via the PSTN;

receiving a call information message from the base station when the base station receives a forwarded call from the cellular network directed to the mobile telephone, wherein the call information message is selected by the base station in response to a determination of mobile telephone status; and

receiving the forwarded call via the PSTN and the base station.

2. The method of controlling the mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the step of pre-registering further comprises:

transmitting a registration request message to the base station;

receiving a registration receipt message from the base station in response to the registration request message, wherein the registration receipt message requests user confirmation of a desire to register with the base station;

transmitting a registration acknowledge message to the base station in response to the registration receipt message, wherein the registration acknowledge message is an acceptance of the registration with the base station; and

receiving a registration accept message from the base station in response to the registration acknowledge message.

3. The method of controlling the mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein detecting the base station comprises:

determining a match between an extended Public Service Profile (PSP) of the stored base station information and a PSP of the mobile telephone;

forming an extended neighbor list by adding base station frequencies of stored primary and alternate base stations to a stored neighbor list; and

scanning the extended neighbor list.

4. The method of controlling the mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the stored base station identification information includes information on a primary base station and two or more non-primary base stations, wherein the primary base station is designated by a user as associated with a subscription to service on the cellular network, wherein the non-primary base stations are automatically maintained in an order of most recent use, wherein the stored base station identification information includes operating frequencies, operating channels, back-up operating channels, and information about a regional cell of the cellular network in which the base station operates.

5. The method of controlling the mobile telephone of claim 1, wherein the call information message includes digital control channel information and calling number information when up to two mobile telephones are registered with the base station in a standby mode, wherein the call information message includes an alert message that rings the registered mobile telephones when more than two mobile telephones are registered with the base station in a standby mode.

6. A method of providing cellular service and cordless landline service using a dual mode mobile telephone, comprising:

coupling the mobile telephone to a cellular network;

pre-registering the mobile telephone with a base station so that the mobile telephone receives and stores base station identification information, wherein the base station stores operational information downloaded from the cellular network including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels, wherein the base station is coupled among the cellular network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and has a PSTN telephone number;

recognizing locations that are in proximity to the base station using the base station operating power levels, wherein the cellular telephone is operating in a cellular mode and communicating via the cellular network;

searching for the base station using the stored base station identification information when in proximity to the base station;

upon detecting the base station, automatically de-registering the mobile telephone with the cellular network, registering the mobile telephone with the base station, automatically switching the mobile telephone to a cordless telephone landline service mode, and confirming the switch to the cordless telephone landline service mode with the base station, wherein the base station provides a call forwarding update message to the cellular network requesting re-routing of calls addressed to the cellular telephone from the cellular network to the PSTN telephone number;

receiving a call information message at the mobile telephone from the base station in response to receipt at the base station of a forwarded call for the mobile telephone, wherein the call information message is selected in response to a determination of mobile telephone status; and

receiving the forwarded call via the PSTN and a wireless link from the base station in response to a user action initiated in response to the call information message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein recognizing locations that are in proximity to the base station further comprises:

maintaining a list in the mobile telephone of at least one base station with which the mobile telephone previously registered, wherein the list includes information regarding cellular service of a cell whose coverage area includes the base station and a list of channels on which a digital control channel for the base station was previously located; and

determining if cellular service for a cell in which the mobile telephone is currently operating matches the cellular service for the cell whose coverage area includes the at least one base station.