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

• US 9,578,590 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chow, Albert, Wang, Spencer, Ying, Wenchu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sams, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/263,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 roans from one zone to another, the subscriber may continue their fee call uninterrupted and without paying air time charges. However, when the subscriber roans outside their subscribed-to zones they may be switched from the present local cordless services t conventional personal communications services and pay air time charges. However for an active call. No air-time charges are incurred as the user transitions between the cellular/DPCS environment and the local cordless service environment.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a local digital switch for providing a bearer channel line interface to an intelligent base station, wherein the local digital switch is further for 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 intelligent base station provides a local cordless-type service to a plurality of mobile stations, the intelligent base station comprising a controller for receiving radio frequency signals from the plurality of mobile stations, wherein the intelligent base station is assigned a wired network directory number, wherein the intelligent base station is in communication with the local digital switch; and

the network server platform, 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 the network server platform is in communication with the trunk-side interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent base station is in communication with a first remote digital terminal for providing a bearer channel interface between the intelligent base station and the local digital switch.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the intelligent base station communicates with the first remote digital terminal via a basic rate interface bearer channel.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first remote digital terminal is for communicating with a second remote digital terminal using a GR-303 standard.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the local digital switch is for interfacing with a mobile switching center over a trunk line.

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

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

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the home neighborhood zone and the another neighborhood zone are adjacent.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the home neighborhood zone and the another neighborhood zone are non-adjacent.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein when one of the plurality of 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.