International roaming service for permitting a cellular/wireless telephone instrument to access different wireless telephone networks/systems

• US 7,164,910 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• 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: Russell, Jesse Eugene, Okoro, Jeremiah
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/871,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20040224679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/410, 455/411, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/551, 455/553.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/417, 455/465, 455/466, 455/467
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• 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 cellular/wireless foreign subscriber is enabled to use her/his own cellular/wireless telephone instrument in a local cellular/wireless (C/W) network/system by entry of a code and a PIN into the local network/system desired to be used. The local C/W network/system algorithmically responds to the code and PIN by changing characteristics of the radio equipment of the local C/W network/system to accommodate operation of the subscriber'"'"'s cellular/wireless telephone instrument with the network/system desired to be used.

Claims

1. A wireless transceiver for use in a local wireless communication system having provision for operating with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication system of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless system, comprising:

wireless receiver circuitry to receive a signal from the wireless device;

detection circuitry to determine the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type, the plurality comprising; and

channeling circuitry adapted to channel the signal when determined to be compatible with the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system to a processing circuit adapted to process signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the foreign wireless communication system;

converting circuitry adapted to convert signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication system, wherein the converting circuitry comprises;

a first processing circuit adapted to convert GSM signals;

a second processing circuit adapted to convert TDMA signals;

a third processing circuit adapted to convert FDMA signals; and

a fourth processing circuit adapted to convert PCS signals.

2. A wireless transceiver for use in a local wireless communication system having provision for operating with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication system of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless system, comprising:

wireless receiver circuitry to receive a signal from the wireless device;

detection circuitry to determine the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type;

channeling circuitry adapted to channel the signal when determined to be compatible with the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system to a processing circuit adapted to process signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the foreign wireless communication system;

converting circuitry adapted to convert signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication system; and

processing circuitry to convert the signal into a converted signal compatible with the North American TDMA; and

interface circuitry adapted to interface with a network compatible with the North American TDMA.

3. The wireless transceiver of claim 2 further comprising:

a processing circuit to determine whether the signal is North American TDMA or another type.

4. A wireless transceiver for use in a local wireless communication system having provision for operating with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication system of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless system, comprising:

wireless receiver circuitry to receive a signal from the wireless device;

detection circuitry to determine the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type, and wherein each processing circuit is adapted to perform frequency adjustment, demodulation, decoding, de-interleaving, deframing and protocol conversion of signals compatible with a particular communication system type;

channeling circuitry adapted to channel the signal when determined to be compatible with the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system to a processing circuit adapted to process signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the foreign wireless communication system; and

converting circuitry adapted to convert signals having the different signal format and set of parameters of the communication system type of the foreign wireless communication system into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication system.

5. A method for enabling a wireless transceiver of a local wireless network to operate with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication network of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless network, comprising:

receiving from the foreign subscriber wireless device a signal;

determining from the signal the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

channeling the signal to one of a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type; and

in a case where the signal is compatible with a communication system type other than that of the local wireless network, converting into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication network;

wherein the method further comprises converting the signal from a communication system type that is one of GSM, TDMA, FDMA, and PCS to North American TDMA.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining whether the communication system type of the signal is North American TDMA or a foreign type.

7. A method for enabling a wireless transceiver of a local wireless network to operate with a foreign subscriber wireless device designed for operation with a foreign wireless communication network of a type operating with a different signal format and set of parameters from that of the local wireless network, comprising:

receiving from the foreign subscriber wireless device a signal;

determining from the signal the communication system type with which the signal is compatible;

channeling the signal to one of a plurality of processing circuits, each processing circuit adapted to process signals having the respective signal format and set of parameters of a particular communication system type;

in a case where the signal is compatible with a communication system type other than that of the local wireless network, converting the signal into a structure suitable for normal processing by the local wireless communication network; and

performing frequency adjustment, demodulation, decoding, de-interleaving, deframing and protocol conversion of the signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the signal received from the foreign subscriber wireless device comprises a roaming id for the device and personal identification number for the user of the device, the method further comprising:

communicating the roaming id and the personal identification number to the network in which the device is roaming to validate the device and authenticate the user.