Trunked communication system with variable communication capability support for roamers

• US 5,392,458 A
• Filed: 04/28/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coe, Richard H., Sasuta, Michael D., Ablay, Sewim F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Application Number:
  US08/052,845
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.4, 455/34.1, 455/34.2, 455/54.1, 455/54.2, 455/56.1, 379/59, 379/60
• US Class Current: 455/432.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• 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 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

In a trunked communication system that supports roaming communication units, communication capabilities in support of the communication activities of the communication unit may be varied from system to system in a controlled manner. This control may be initiated at the instance of the communication unit itself, on a system by system basis (wherein each system maintains a data base and/or retains the capability of contacting a home system for the communication unit), or by a hub that interconnects with each of the trunking systems and which either maintains a data base of preauthorization information or that contacts home systems in order to obtain authorization information.

Claims

1. A method for determining communication capabilities of a roaming communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:

a) Roaming, by the roaming communication unit, from a first communication system to a second communication system;

b) Transmitting, by the roaming communication unit, a capabilities request to the second communication system;

c) Receiving, by the second communication system, capability information of the roaming communication unit; and

d) Determining by the second communication system, a fifth set of communication capabilities for the roaming communication unit based on a fourth set of communication capabilities of the second communication system and the capability information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first communication system is operably coupled to the second communication system, and wherein the step of receiving capability information comprises the steps of:

1) establishing communication between the second communication system and the first communication system;

2) providing information to the first system regarding the establishment of communications between the second communication system and the communication unit;

3) providing, from the first system to the second system, the capability information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communication system is operably coupled to a remote data base, and wherein the step of receiving capability information comprises the steps of:

1) establishing communication between the second communication system and the remote data base;

2) requesting information from the remote data base regarding authorized communication capabilities for the communication unit;

3) providing, from the remote data base to the second system, the capability information.

4. In the method of claim 1, step c further comprises receiving the capability information from the communication unit, wherein the communication unit includes a data base of a first set of communication capabilities.