System for managing access by mobile users to an interconnected communications network where a billing authority is identified by a billing code from the user
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of providing access to a mobile user in a communications system having a plurality of interconnected radio frequency communication switches for selectively connecting calls to mobile users via radio frequency links, a plurality of billing authorities for maintaining service profiles of mobile users and a plurality of location authorities for maintaining current locations of mobile users within the interconnected communication switches, the method comprising:
- receiving at a radio frequency communication switch a personal identification number from a mobile user;
receiving from the mobile user at the communication switch a billing code identifying one of the plurality of billing authorities maintaining a service profile for the mobile use, wherein different ones of the plurality of billing authorities may maintain the service profile or a second profile for the mobile user identified by the personal identification number;
requesting a service profile of the mobile user from the billing authority identified by the received billing code;
storing in memory the service profile received from the billing authority; and
providing the mobile user access to the switch.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing a communications network for mobile users, each of which has a personal identification number, includes a network of communications switches for connecting calls between mobile users using the personal identification number as addresses. A plurality of billing authorities maintain service profiles and communicate with the communications switches. Also in communication with the switches are a plurality of location authorities. Each mobile user is assigned to a location authority. Each location authority tracks which switch, if any, each of its assigned mobile users is logged on to and permits logging onto only one switch at a time. A mobile user may subscribe to a plurality of billing authorities and maintain a plurality of service profiles with these authorities. A billing code entered by a mobile user designates a billing authority for a call. The billing authority forwards to the switch, if the switch is not already storing it, its service profile for the mobile user. A mobile user may contract with a location authority separate from the billing authority. Each communications switch includes a table for storing a limited number of individual service profiles. The directory table within the switch is linked to a number of queue lists for indicating the status of each service profile stored within the table.
93 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing access to a mobile user in a communications system having a plurality of interconnected radio frequency communication switches for selectively connecting calls to mobile users via radio frequency links, a plurality of billing authorities for maintaining service profiles of mobile users and a plurality of location authorities for maintaining current locations of mobile users within the interconnected communication switches, the method comprising:
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receiving at a radio frequency communication switch a personal identification number from a mobile user; receiving from the mobile user at the communication switch a billing code identifying one of the plurality of billing authorities maintaining a service profile for the mobile use, wherein different ones of the plurality of billing authorities may maintain the service profile or a second profile for the mobile user identified by the personal identification number; requesting a service profile of the mobile user from the billing authority identified by the received billing code; storing in memory the service profile received from the billing authority; and providing the mobile user access to the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing access to a mobile user in a communications system having a plurality of interconnected radio frequency communication switches for selectively connecting calls to mobile users via radio frequency links, a plurality of billing authorities for maintaining service profiles of mobile users and a plurality of location authorities for maintaining current locations of mobile users within the interconnected switches, the method comprising:
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receiving at a radio frequency communication switch a personal identification number from a mobile user; arithmetically compressing the personal identification number to unique integer index value; storing a service profile in the database record pointed to by the integer index value; and providing the mobile user access to the switch according to the service profile. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling calls from a mobile users in a communications network having a mobile communication switch interconnected with other communication switches, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a local mobile communications switch an identification number from a mobile user; accessing a database of service profiles of mobile users maintained at the switch and searching for a service profile corresponding to the identification number of the mobile user; if the database of service profiles does not include the service profile for the mobile user, requesting the service profile of the mobile user from a billing authority indicated by a billing authority designator received from the mobile user, the billing authority being responsible for maintaining the service profile for the mobile user, and requesting a location for authorizing the log on of the mobile user from a locating authority indicated by a location authority designator received from the mobile user; and logging the mobile user onto the mobile communications switch upon the switch'"'"'s receipt of the service profile from the billing authority and the location from the location authority; wherein accessing the database of service profiles stored at the mobile communication switch includes arithmetically compressing the identification number of the source mobile user to an integer value, the integer value pointing to a location in the database storing the service profile. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. In a communications network having a plurality of interconnected communication switches, and in which users are identified by a personal identification code wherever that user is located within the communications network, a method for completing a call from a source to a destination user comprising:
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receiving from a source user logged onto a first communication switch a personal identification code of a destination user to whom a call is to be routed; determining whether the destination user is currently logged onto the first communication switch; and if the destination user is not logged onto the first communication switch, identifying a location tracking authority assigned to the personal identification code of the destination user, requesting from the location tracking authority an identity for a destination communication switch on which the destination user is currently logged onto, receiving the identity of the destination communication switch at the first communication switch, and routing the call to the destination communication switch. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification