Cordless cellular system

• US 7,035,646 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raffel, Michael A., Leuca, Ileana A., Bamburak, Michael D., Jarett, Keith, Williams, Roland E., Winship, Peter L., Kibria, Masud, Nelson, Roderick, O'Neill, Paul B., Marx, Joseph P., Glass, David R., Lee, Tony S., Lawr nc, Christopher G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US10/647,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/561, 455/456
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 for controlling a wireless communication system, including a base station coupled to a cellular telephone network and coupled to a second network via a modem, wherein the base station is assigned a PSTN telephone number, and a mobile station assigned a cellular telephone number of the cellular network;

the method comprising;

the mobile station registering with the base station during which the mobile station stores base station identification information and the base station stores mobile station identification information;

the mobile station while in a cellular service mode, recognizing that the mobile station is in close proximity to the base station;

the mobile station selects the base station using the stored base station identification information;

the mobile station upon selecting the base station, couples to the base station, and wirelessly registers with the base station, and automatically de-registers from the cellular network; and

the mobile station automatically switches to the second network via the modem to begin communications over the second network.

2. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 1, wherein the communications over the second network are voice communications.

3. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 1, wherein a modem link is authorized and established before the communications over the second network begin.

4. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 3, wherein the second network responds with a validation return message to authorize and establish communications over the second network.

5. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 2, wherein the modem converts analog voice signals to digital signals for voice communications over the second network.

6. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 5, wherein the digital voice communications over the second network are compressed signals.

7. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 5, wherein the modem digitally Processes signals.

8. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 7, wherein the modem digitally processes speech signals.

9. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 7, wherein the modem further connects to a modem pool.

10. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 8, wherein the modem performs signal processing functions associated with voice detection to differentiate between noise and voice signals.

11. A method for controlling a wireless communication system, including a mobile station, a base station, and a modem, the method comprising;

wirelessly transmitting over a first network analog voice communications from the mobile station to the base station;

transmitting the analog voice communications from the base station to the modem;

converting the analog voice communications into compressed digital signals in the modem; and

transmitting the compressed digital signals over a second network via the modem.

12. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein only registered users may communicate with the base station.

13. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 12, wherein the modem digitally Processes signals.

14. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 13, wherein the modem digitally processes speech signals.

15. A method for controlling a wireless communication system, including a base station coupled to a cellular telephone network and coupled to a second network via a modem, wherein the base station is assigned a PSTN telephone number, and a mobile station assigned a cellular telephone number of the cellular network;

the method comprising;

the mobile station registering with the base station during which the mobile station stores base station identification information and the base station stores mobile station identification information;

the mobile station while in a cellular service mode, recognizing that the mobile station is in close proximity to the base station;

the mobile station selects the base station using the stored base station identification information;

the mobile station upon selecting the base station, couples to the base station, and wirelessly registers with the base station, and automatically de-registers from the cellular network; and

the mobile station automatically switches to the second network via the modem to begin communications over the second network, wherein the modem includes a digital signal processor and a speech encoder that converts analog voice communications from the mobile station into compressed digital signals to be transmitted over the second network.

16. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 15, wherein only registered users may communicate with the base station.

17. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 15, wherein the modem further connects to a modem pool.

18. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 17, wherein the modem digitally processes speech signals.

19. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 15, wherein a modem link is authorized and established before the communications over the second network begin.

20. A method for controlling a wireless communication system as in claim 18, wherein the second network responds with a validation return message to authorize and establish communications over the second network.