Mobile communication optimization near wireless dead zone regions

• US 6,721,572 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gordon James, Van Leeuwen, George Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/534,508
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/440, 455/421, 455/67.1, 455/404.2, 455/565, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 Connection re-establishment

Abstract

As a mobile unit approaches a communication dead zone, a call is automatically disconnected in an orderly fashion. The call can be automatically reconnected when the mobile unit exits the communication dead zone. As part of the orderly disconnection, parties to the call are given an audible and/or visual message and/or sensual tactile stimulus letting them know that a dead zone is being approached. The message can also indicate the time before entering the dead zone, and/or what actions will be taken. Similarly, when the mobile unit is about to exit the dead zone, the parties can be given an indication prior to being reconnected.

Claims

1. In a communication system having a base station and a mobile unit, a method of handling a call between the mobile unit and at least one other party through the base station, comprising:

determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit relative to an identified dead zone;

controlling the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party based on the determining;

wherein the controlling comprises;

performing an orderly automatic disconnection of the call before the mobile unit enters the dead zone; and

sending a first indication to the mobile unit and the at least one other party that a dead zone is being approached and that the call will be automatically disconnected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling further comprises performing an orderly automatic reconnection of the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party as the mobile unit exits the dead zone.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controlling further comprises sending a second indication to the at least one other party that the dead zone is being exited by the mobile unit that the call is being automatically reconnected.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first indication includes information about how much time remains before the dead zone is entered and the call is disconnected.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second indication includes information about how much time remains before the dead zone is exited and the call is reconnected.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second indications comprise audible indications.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the audible indications comprise at least one of recorded speech or synthesized speech.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second audible indications includes a series of tones which change in at least one of volume, pitch and/or repetition rate, to indicate much time remains before the dead zone is entered or exited, respectively.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second indications comprise visible indications.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the visible indications comprise alpha-numeric characters.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the visible indications comprise at least one light.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one light is controlled to change in at least one of brightness, color and/or flashing repetition rate, to indicate much time remains before the dead zone is entered or exited, respectively.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one light is green when the mobile unit is not relatively near any approaching dead zone, amber when the mobile unit is relatively near an approaching dead zone, and red when the mobile unit is in a dead zone.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one light flashes faster as the mobile unit gets closer to a dead zone entry or exit boundary.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second indications comprise tactile indications.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second tactile indications comprise a vibrating steering wheel in the mobile unit.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call comprises a voice communication.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call comprises a data communication.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call comprises voice and data communications.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein while the mobile unit is in the dead zone, the method further comprising:

providing a count down to an estimated time when the mobile unit will exit the dead zone.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein while the mobile unit is in the dead zone, the method further comprising:

providing an indication of alternative routes through the dead zone and the estimated time to exit the dead zone of each alternative route.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit comprises at least one of:

utilizing a global positioning satellite system;

utilizing an inertial navigation system;

utilizing an odometer of the mobile unit; and

/or

utilizing a dead reckoning system.

23. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program product, the computer program product comprising a substrate and means disposed on the substrate for causing a computer system to implement a method of handling a call according to claim 1.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein if data is being transmitted in the call, further comprising:

determining whether the data transmission can be completed before the dead zone is entered; and

informing the mobile unit what if any changes in mobile unit speed would be required to complete the data transmission before the dead zone is entered and the call disconnected.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing the mobile unit with an alternative path around the dead zone to avoid interrupting the call.

26. In a communication system having a base station and a mobile unit, a method of handling a call between the mobile unit and at least one other party through the base station, comprising:

determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit relative to an identified dead zone;

controlling the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party based on the determining;

wherein the controlling comprises;

sending an indication to the mobile unit and the at least one other party when a dead zone is being approached by the mobile unit;

instructing the mobile unit and the at least one other party how to end the call; and

informing the mobile unit and the at least one other party how to reconnect the call after a specified time, the specified time being based on the speed of the mobile unit and the distance through the dead zone along the current path of the mobile unit.

27. In a communication system having a base station and a mobile unit, a method of handling a call between the mobile unit and at least one other party through the base station, comprising:

determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit relative to an identified dead zone;

controlling the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party based on the determining;

wherein the controlling comprises;

performing an orderly automatic disconnection of the call before the mobile unit enters the dead zone;

performing an orderly automatic reconnection of the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party as the mobile unit exits the dead zone; and

if data is being transmitted in the call;

informing the mobile unit that data transmission will be interrupted before entering the dead zone;

after exiting the dead zone, resuming the data transmission; and

informing the mobile unit when the data transmission has been completed.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein if the data is incoming e-mail:

while the mobile unit is in the dead zone, displaying in the mobile unit as much of the incoming e-mail as was received prior to entering the dead zone;

storing outgoing e-mail in the mobile unit; and

when the mobile unit exits the dead zone, receiving any remaining incoming e-mail with the mobile unit and transmitting the stored outgoing e-mail from the mobile unit.

29. In a communication system having a base station and a mobile unit, a method of handling a call between the mobile unit and at least one other party through the base station, comprising:

determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit relative to an identified dead zone;

controlling the call between the mobile unit and the at least one other party based on the determining;

wherein the controlling comprises;

performing an orderly automatic disconnection of the call before the mobile unit enters the dead zone;

wherein while the mobile unit is in the dead zone, the method further comprising;

in response to an attempt to make a call by the mobile unit, informing the mobile unit of an estimated time remaining before exiting the dead zone; and

in response to an attempt by an other party to place a call to the mobile unit, informing the other party of an estimated time remaining before the mobile unit exits the dead zone.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein call information is stored and a call is automatically placed when the estimated time remaining before the mobile unit exits the dead zone has elapsed.

31. A call handling system for facilitating wireless communication between at least one mobile unit and at least one other party through a base station having a communication zone, comprising:

positioning means in the at least one mobile unit for determining an instantaneous geographical position and direction of travel of the at least one mobile unit;

forwarding means in the at least one mobile unit for forwarding the instantaneous geographical position and direction of travel of the at least one mobile unit to the base station;

identified communication area data base means in the base station for storing a data base of identified communication area locations within the communication zone;

comparing means in the base station for comparing the forwarded instantaneous geographical position and direction of travel of the at least one mobile unit with the data base of identified dead zones within the communication zone, and determining a relative position of the at least one mobile unit with respect to the identified communication area locations; and

handling means in at least one of the base station and the mobile unit, for performing an orderly automatic disconnection of a call before the mobile unit enters one of the identified dead zones and for sending a first indication to the mobile unit and the at least one other party that a dead zone is being approached and that the call will be automatically disconnected.

32. The call handling system according to claim 31, wherein the handling means further comprises means for performing an orderly automatic reconnection of the call with the mobile unit as the mobile unit exits the dead zone.

33. The call handling system according to claim 32, wherein the handling means further comprises means for sending a second indication to the at least one other party that the dead zone is being exited by the mobile unit that the call is being automatically reconnected.

34. The call handling system according to claim 33, wherein the first indication includes information about how much time remains before the dead zone is entered and the call is disconnected.

35. The call handling system according to claim 34, wherein the second indication includes information about how much time remains before the dead zone is exited and the call is reconnected.

36. In a communication system having a base station and a mobile unit, a method of handling a call between the mobile unit through the base station, comprising:

determining a location and direction of travel of the mobile unit relative to an identified dead zone;

controlling the call between the mobile unit based on the determining;

wherein the controlling comprises;

performing an orderly automatic disconnection of the call before the mobile unit enters the dead zone; and

sending a first indication to the mobile unit that a dead zone is being approached and that the call will be automatically disconnected.