Cordless cellular system and method

• US 6,735,432 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1998
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• 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: Jarett, Keith, Williams, Roland E., Raffel, Michael A., Leuca, Ileana A., Kibria, Masud, Lawrence, Christopher G., Nelson, Roderick, Glass, David R., Lee, Tony S., Bamburak, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/185,859
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/38.1, 455/417, 455/552, 455/434, 455/452, 455/422, 455/561, 455/450, 455/423, 455/464, 455/553, 455/421, 370/95.1, 370/350, 379/114
• US Class Current: 455/417
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

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 for controlling a wireless communication system, including

a base station coupled among a cellular telephone network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the base station is assigned a PSTN telephone number, and

a mobile telephone assigned a cellular telephone number of the cellular network;

the method comprising;

the base station initially registering with the cellular network to receive operational information including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels;

the mobile telephone pre-registering with the registered base station during which the mobile station stores base station identification information and the base station stores mobile station identification information;

the mobile telephone, while in a cellular service mode, recognizing locations that are in proximity to the base station in accordance with the base station operating power levels;

the mobile telephone 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 a cordless telephone landline service mode, and confirms the switch to the cordless telephone landline service mode with the base station;

the base station providing a call forwarding update message to the cellular network requesting routing of calls addressed to the mobile telephone to the base station telephone number via the PSTN;

the base station sending a call information message to the mobile telephone upon receiving a call from the cellular network directed to the cellular telephone number, wherein the call information message is selected in response to a determination of mobile telephone status; and

the base station transferring the call to the mobile telephone via a wireless link in response to a user selection of the call.

2. The method of controlling the wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephone pre-registration 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 wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile station further:

determines when it is out of range of the base station with which it is pre-registered and, in response, de-registers with the base station, wherein the base station automatically sends a forwarding cancellation message to the cellular network that terminates the routing of calls addressed to the mobile station to the base station telephone number;

automatically couples to and re-registers with the cellular network and switches from the cordless telephone landline service mode to the cellular service mode; and

receives calls directed to the cellular telephone number via the cellular network.

4. The method of controlling the wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile station further initiates a call while in the cordless telephone landline service mode, wherein the base station;

determines the absence of a match between a telephone number of the initiated call and a cellular telephone number of a second mobile station currently registered with the base station; and

establishes a connection between the mobile station and the telephone number of the initiated call via the PSTN.

5. The method of controlling the wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile station further initiates a call while in the cordless telephone landline service mode, wherein the base station:

determines that a telephone number of the initiated call matches a cellular telephone number of a second mobile station currently registered with the base station;

pages the second mobile station; and

initiates an intercom connection between the mobile station initiating the call and the second mobile station when a user of the second mobile station responds to the page.

6. A method of providing wireless communication, comprising:

coupling a base station among a cellular network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the base station is assigned a PSTN telephone number,

registering the base station with the cellular network, wherein the base station receives operational information including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels;

pre-registering a cellular telephone with the registered base station, wherein the cellular telephone stores base station identification information and the base station stores cellular telephone identification information;

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

searching for the base station with the cellular telephone using the stored base station identification information;

upon detecting the base station, automatically de-registering the cellular telephone with the cellular network, coupling the cellular telephone to the base station, registering the cellular telephone with the base station, automatically switching the cellular telephone to a cordless telephone landline service mode, and confirming the switch to the cordless telephone landline service mode with the base station;

providing a call forwarding update message from the base station to the cellular network, the message requesting re-routing of calls addressed to the cellular telephone from the cellular network to the PSTN telephone number;

receiving a call addressed to the cellular telephone at the base station;

determining a status of the cellular telephone in response to the call;

selecting a call information message at the base station in response to the status;

sending the call information message to the cellular telephone; and

transferring the call to the cellular telephone via a wireless link in response to a user response to the call information message.

7. A wireless communication system, comprising:

means for coupling a base station among a cellular network and a public switched telephone network (PSTN), wherein the base station is assigned a PSTN telephone number;

means for registering the base station with the cellular network, wherein the base station receives operational information including base station operating frequencies and base station operating power levels that support user-selected service levels;

means for preregistering a cellular telephone with the registered base station, wherein the cellular telephone stores base station identification information and the base station stores cellular telephone identification information,

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

means for searching for the base station with the cellular telephone using the stored base station identification information;

upon detecting the base station, means for automatically de-registering the cellular telephone with the cellular network registering the cellular telephone with the base station, automatically switching the cellular telephone to a cordless telephone landline service mode, and confirming the switch to the cordless telephone landline service mode with the base station;

means for providing a call forwarding update message from the base station to the cellular network, the message requesting re-routing of calls addressed to the cellular telephone from the cellular network to the PSTN telephone number;

means for receiving a call addressed to the cellular telephone at the base station;

means for determining a status of the cellular telephone in response to the call;

means for selecting a call information message at the base station in response to the status,

means for sending the call information message to the cellular telephone; and

means for transferring the call to the cellular telephone via a wireless link in response to a user response to the call information message.