Communication system and suitable process for running a communication system

• US 6,763,232 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VIAG Interkom GmbH & Company (Telefonica SA)
• Original Assignee: VIAG Interkom GmbH & Company (Telefonica SA)
• Inventors: Odorfer, Thomas, Lord, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho, Un C
• Application Number:
  US09/743,129
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/558, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A communication system and a process which create the possibility to guarantee undisturbed movements between areas belonging to different communication units, by assigning third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) and second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) to a second subscriber data module (SIM-VI), and in which the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) and the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) contain a common profile.

Claims

1. Communication system, for a mobile telephone system, comprising:

at least one first communication unit (V-1), which provides a first area by a first user unit (MS-1) with first subscriber identification data (IMSI-1) controlled by a first subscriber data module (SIM-1), and

at least one second communication unit (V-VI), which provides a second area by a second user unit (MS-VI) with second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) controlled by a second subscriber data module (SIM-VI),

a third communication unit (V-3), which provides a third area by a third user unit (MS-3) with third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) controlled by a third subscriber data module (SIM-3), in which

the first communication unit (V-1) and the third communication unit (V3) are connected to each other for using a total area consisting of the first area and the third area, and at least

the second communication unit (V-VI) is connected with the third communication unit (V-3) for using a total area consisting of the second area and the third area, wherein

the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) and the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) are assigned to the second subscriber data module (SIM-VI) and the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) and the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) contain a common profile, in order to provide to the subscriber the necessary and well-known service, and

that a first switching unit is provided, which switches over from the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) to the third subscriber identification data (IMSI3) when

the second user unit (MS-VI) leaves the second area and enters the first area, to every communication unit being assigned an own PIN number, which differs from the PIN number of the first communication unit (V-1) by an additional cipher and is recognized by the first switching unit.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the second area is a partial area of the first area and/or the third area lies outside of the first area.

3. System according claim 1, further comprising a second switching unit is provided;

which switches over from the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) to the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) when the second user unit (MS-VI) returns from the first area into the second subscriber area.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the second switching unit in the second user unit (MS-VI) and contains an inquiry algorithm with search mode which periodically examines if the second user unit (MS-VI) is situated in the second area.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the switching state of the second switching unit is represented by the second user unit (MS-V1).

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and/or the third user unit has the form of a mobile telephone.

7. Method for operating a communication system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first communication unit (V-1), a second communication unit (V-VI) and a third communication unit (V-3), which in each case provide a first area with first subscriber identification data, a second area with second subscriber identification data and a third area with third subscriber identification data;

b) producing a link between the second communication unit (VVI) with the third communication unit (V-3) for using of a total area consisting in the second area and the third area, in which the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) and the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI) contain a common profile, in order to provide to the subscriber the necessary and well-known service, and

c) switching over from the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-V1) to the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) when the user unit (MS-VI) leaves the second area and enters the third area, in which the switching over happens by means of inputting an own PIN number for the respective communication unit, and the PIN number of the respective communication unit differs from the PIN number of the first communication unit (V-1) by an additional cipher.

8. Process according to claim 7, wherein a switching over is provided by a second switching unit, which switches over from the third subscriber identification data (IMSI-3) to the second subscriber identification data (IMSI-VI), when the user unit (MS-VI) returns from the first area into the second area.

9. Process according to claim 7, wherein an inquiry algorithm with search mode periodically examines if the second user unit (MS-VI) is situated in the second area.

10. Process according to claim 7, wherein the second area is a partial area of the first area and/or the third area lies outside of the first area.