Method and apparatus for over-the-air activation of neighborhood cordless-type services

• US 8,712,405 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Albert, Wang, Spencer, Ying, Wenchu
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERRERA, DIEGO D
• Application Number:
  US11/649,650
• Time in Patent Office: 2,672 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/715 Activating new subscriber or card
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 : adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A method for providing a neighborhood or local cordless service comprises the steps of receiving subscriber neighborhood zone selection input so that a mobile telephone equipped subscriber may place or receive calls for a fixed rate, for example, per month without having to pay radio frequency air time charges any time they are located within their selected subscribed-to zones. If the subscribed-to zones are adjacent to one another and the mobile subscriber roams from one zone to another, the subscriber may continue their free call uninterrupted and without paying air time charges.

Claims

1. A network architecture, comprising:

an intelligent base station for receiving radio frequency signals from a plurality of mobile stations, the intelligent base station is assigned a wired network directory number;

a local digital switch coupled to the intelligent base station, the local digital switch providing a bearer channel line interface to the intelligent base station, the local digital switch further providing a trunk-side interface to a network server platform and one of a public switched telecommunications system and a public cellular network, wherein the network server platform comprises a pair of redundant work stations and an intelligent database containing subscriber profile information within a home neighborhood zone, wherein the subscriber profile information comprises subscriber profiles, subscribed calling features and calling preferences, wherein the network server platform is linked with other network server platforms for communication via an internet protocol based local cordless-type service intranet via a router; and

a first remote digital terminal and a second remote digital terminal, wherein the first remote digital terminal provides an interface to the second remote digital terminal, and the second remote digital terminal provides an interface between the first remote digital terminal and the local digital switch, the first remote digital terminal is a concentrator for radio frequency signals received from the plurality of mobile stations over a bearer channel assigned from a pool of available radio frequencies, the bearer channel for communicating the radio frequency signals with the plurality of mobile stations.

2. The network architecture according to claim 1, further comprising the first remote digital terminal coupled to the intelligent base station having a plurality of intelligent base stations for providing bearer channel interfaces between each of the plurality of intelligent base stations and the local digital switch.

3. The network architecture according to claim 2, further comprising a basic rate interface bearer channel between each intelligent base station and the first remote digital terminal.

4. The network architecture according to claim 1, wherein the first remote digital terminal and the second remote digital terminal communicate using a GR-303 standard.

5. The network architecture according to claim 1, wherein the local digital switch interfaces with a mobile switching center over a trunk line.

6. The network architecture according to claim 1, wherein the intelligent base station is assigned a plurality of wired network directory numbers.

7. The network architecture according to claim 6, wherein upon detecting one of the mobile stations moving to another neighborhood zone, wherein one of the plurality of intelligent base stations acting as a proxy to associate one of the plurality of wired network directory numbers with the one mobile station.

8. The network architecture according to claim 7, wherein the neighborhood zone and the another neighborhood zone are adjacent.

9. The network architecture according to claim 7, wherein the neighborhood zone and the another neighborhood zone are non-adjacent.

10. The network architecture according to claim 1, wherein when one of the mobile stations is removed from a neighborhood zone where a telecommunications call was initiated, the telecommunications call is handed off to another intelligent base station.

11. A method, comprising:

assigning, by an intelligent base station from a plurality of intelligent base stations, a bearer channel from a pool of available radio frequencies to a telecommunications call initiated by a subscriber using one of a plurality of mobile stations, wherein a directory number assigned to the intelligent base station from the plurality of intelligent base stations is associated with each of the plurality of mobile stations; and

processing, by the intelligent base station, of the telecommunications call via a local digital switch in communication with a network server platform and one of a public switched telecommunications network and a public cellular network, the local digital switch providing a bearer channel line interface to the intelligent base station, the local digital switch further providing a trunk-side interface to one of the public switched telecommunications network and the public cellular network, wherein the network server platform comprises a pair of redundant work stations and an intelligent database containing subscriber profile information within a home neighborhood zone, wherein the subscriber profile information comprises subscriber profiles, subscribed calling features and calling preferences, wherein the network server platform is linked with other network server platforms for communication via an internet protocol based local cordless-type service intranet via a router, wherein a first remote digital terminal, coupled to the plurality of intelligent base stations provides bearer channel interfaces between each of the plurality of intelligent base stations and the local digital switch and wherein a second remote digital terminal provides an interface between the first remote digital terminal and the local digital switch, the first remote digital terminal functioning as a concentrator for radio frequency signals sent from the plurality of intelligent base stations over an integrated services digital network-basic rate interface bearer channel.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing a basic rate interface bearer channel between each of the plurality of intelligent base stations and the first remote digital terminal.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising processing, by one of the plurality of intelligent base stations via the integrated services digital network-basic rate interface bearer channel, simultaneously pending telecommunications calls.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising communicating between the first remote digital terminal and the second remote digital terminal using an GR-303 standard.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising interfacing the local digital switch with a mobile switching center over a trunk line.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising handing off the telecommunications call to another intelligent base station of the plurality of intelligent base stations, upon detecting if the subscriber using one of the plurality of mobile stations is removed from the neighborhood zone where the telecommunications call was initiated.