Short-range wireless transmitter registration for a mobile user of a communications system

• US 7,003,295 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Cook, Fred S., Pearce, Jim F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US10/223,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/411, 455/67.11, 455/458
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A communication system comprises a transmitter, receiver, communication device, and control system. The transmitter transmits a wireless registration signal within a maximum range. The receiver receives the wireless registration signal from the transmitter when in range of the transmitter. The receiver transfers registration information based on the wireless registration signal to a control system. The control system receives and processes the registration information from the receiver to identify the user. In response to identifying the user, the control system directs communications for the user to the communication device. The communication device is located near the receiver—less than the maximum range. The maximum range could be less than one-hundred feet or less than fifty feet.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, wherein a user has a home system that receives communications directed to the user and wherein the user carries a short-range wireless transmitter having a maximum range of less than one-hundred feet, the method comprising:

in a remote system, receiving a wireless registration signal from the short-range wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless registration signal identifies the user and the user'"'"'s home system;

in the remote system, identifying the user'"'"'s home system and transferring a registration message identifying the user to the user'"'"'s home system in response to receiving the wireless registration signal;

in the home system, receiving the registration message and registering the user with the remote system in response to receiving the registration message;

in the home system, receiving a communication directed to the user and transferring the communication to the remote system in response to the user registration;

in the remote system, receiving the communication from the user'"'"'s home system and transferring the communication to a communication device proximate to the user;

in the remote system, detecting that a time period has elapsed without receiving the wireless registration signal;

in the remote system, transferring a de-registration message identifying the user to the user'"'"'s home system in response to the detected time period;

in the home system, receiving the de-registration message and de-registering the user from the remote system in response to receiving the de-registration message; and

in the home system, receiving another communication directed to the user and transferring the other communication to a communication device in the home system in response to the user de-registration.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring a pilot signal in the remote system wherein the short-range wireless transmitter transfers the wireless registration signal in response to receiving the pilot signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the short-range wireless transmitter periodically transfers the wireless registration signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless registration signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.

5. A communication system wherein a user carries a short-range wireless transmitter having a maximum range of less than one-hundred feet, the communication system comprising:

a remote system configured to receive a wireless registration signal from the short-range wireless transmitter, wherein the wireless registration signal identifies the user and the user'"'"'s home system, and wherein the user'"'"'s home system receives communications directed to the user;

the remote system is further configured to identify the user'"'"'s home system and transfer a registration message identifying the user to the user'"'"'s home system in response to receiving the wireless registration signal;

the home system is configured to receive the registration message and register the user with the remote system in response to receiving the registration message, and to receive a communication directed to the user and transfer the communication to the remote system in response to the user registration;

the remote system is further configured to receive the communication from the user'"'"'s home system and transfer the communication to a communication device proximate to the user;

the remote system is further configured to detect that a time period has elapsed without receiving the wireless registration signal and transfer a de-registration message identifying the user to the user'"'"'s home system in response to the detected time period;

the home system is further configured to receive the de-registration message and de-register the user from the remote system in response to receiving the de-registration message; and

the home system is further configured to receive another communication directed to the user and transfer the other communication to a communication device in the home system in response to the user de-registration.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the remote system is further configured to transfer a pilot signal wherein the short-range wireless transmitter transfers the wireless registration signal in response to receiving the pilot signal.

7. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the short-range wireless transmitter periodically transfers the wireless registration signal.

8. The communication system of claim 5 wherein the wireless registration signal comprises a Bluetooth signal.