Cellular telephone system that uses position of a mobile unit to make call management decisions
First Claim
1. A cellular communications system that includes one or more cell sites and an MTSO, said system comprising:
- A) locating means in a mobile unit of a cellular communications system for determining the exact geographic location of the mobile unit, said locating means including means using a satellite communication system for establishing an exact geographic location of said mobile unit and for emitting a position signal of said exact geographic location;
B) means in the MTSO for receiving the position signal transmitted by the mobile unit and using that position signal to establish the exact geographic location of the mobile unit vis . .e.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.vis cell sites in the cellular communications . .network.!. .Iadd.system.Iaddend.; and
C) data storage and comparison means in the MTSO storing cell site location data giving a geographic location for each of the cell sites in the cellular communications . .network.!. .Iadd.system .Iaddend.and effecting a comparison between said position signal and . .said.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.cell site location data and selecting a chosen cell site for use by said mobile unit based on said comparison and establishing communication between said mobile unit and said chosen cell site based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit .Iadd.and using the geographic location of the mobile unit for taxing and billing wherein said taxing and billing is irrespective of cell site geographic location.Iaddend..
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular telephone system includes a plurality of cell sites and a mobile telephone switching office. Call management, including selection of a cell site most appropriate for a call associated with a mobile unit, are made based on the geographic location of the mobile unit as opposed to the strength of the signal associated with the call. The geographic location of the mobile unit is precisely determined using a NAVSTAR global positioning system, or its equivalent. Each mobile unit includes a GPS receiver that receives information from a geostationary satellite to determine the precise location of the mobile unit. This position information is relayed to the cell site initially managing the mobile unit, and the mobile unit is handed off to a cell site that is most appropriate for the call. Initial selection of an entrance cell site is made based on signal strength, but further call management decisions are made based on location of the mobile unit.
186 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A cellular communications system that includes one or more cell sites and an MTSO, said system comprising:
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A) locating means in a mobile unit of a cellular communications system for determining the exact geographic location of the mobile unit, said locating means including means using a satellite communication system for establishing an exact geographic location of said mobile unit and for emitting a position signal of said exact geographic location; B) means in the MTSO for receiving the position signal transmitted by the mobile unit and using that position signal to establish the exact geographic location of the mobile unit vis . .e.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.vis cell sites in the cellular communications . .network.!. .Iadd.system.Iaddend.; and C) data storage and comparison means in the MTSO storing cell site location data giving a geographic location for each of the cell sites in the cellular communications . .network.!. .Iadd.system .Iaddend.and effecting a comparison between said position signal and . .said.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.cell site location data and selecting a chosen cell site for use by said mobile unit based on said comparison and establishing communication between said mobile unit and said chosen cell site based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit .Iadd.and using the geographic location of the mobile unit for taxing and billing wherein said taxing and billing is irrespective of cell site geographic location.Iaddend.. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cellular communications system that includes one or more cell sites and an MTSO, said system comprising:
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A) locating means in a mobile unit in . .a.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.cellular communications system for determining the exact geographic location of the mobile unit; and B) management means in the MTSO for making management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location for each cell site in the cellular communications system and for comparing the exact geographic location of the mobile unit to the geographic location of each cell site and for selecting a .Iadd.chosen .Iaddend.cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such .Iadd.comparison and for call routing to provide proper services for the mobile unit.Iaddend..
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11. A method of making call management decisions in a cellular telephone system having a plurality of cell sites and an MTSO comprising:
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A) establishing a geographic location for a mobile unit; B) matching the geographic location of the mobile unit to a cell site location;
. .and.!.C) using the cell site matched to the mobile unit to handle calls associated with the mobile unit. ...!. .Iadd.and D) taxing and billing for the mobile unit irrespective of cell site geographic location..Iaddend. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification