Cellular telephone system that uses position of a mobile unit to make call management decisions

• US 5,815,814 A
• Filed: 11/22/1995
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EMSAT Advanced Geo-Location Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Sygnet Communications, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pharis, Albert H. Jr., Dennison, Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/563,897
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 379/59, 379/60, 379/58, 379/63, 379/112, 379/114, 379/144, 379/37, 379/45, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/33.11, 455/404, 455/406-408, 455/436, 455/422, 455/427, 455/428, 455/432, 455/456, 455/457, 455/440, 342/450, 342/457, 370/111, 370/118, 370/477
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18541 for handover of resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18552 using a telephonic control signal and a second ranging satellite determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location G01S5/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A cellular telephone system (20) includes a plurality of cell sites (14) and a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO,12). Call management, including selection of a cell site most appropriate for a call associated with a mobile unit (M,M'"'"') 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 triangulation, a NAVSTAR global positioning system, or its equivalent. Each mobile unit includes a GPS receiver (24) that receives information from a geostationary satellite (22) 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.

Claims

1. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone, that includes more than one cell site and one or more mobile telephone switching offices (MTSO), said system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit;

B) management means in each MTSO of the system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location, shape and size of each cell site in the 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 cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison, said management means including means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, means for locating the mobile unit in relation to the geographic size of each cell site, and means for providing billing information irrespective of cell site location; and

C) means for call routing to provide proper services for the mobile unit based on the location of the mobile unit.

12. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 1 further including means for providing taxing information.

2. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone system, that includes one or more intra-system cell sites, a system boundary and an MTSO, the wireless radio communications system being located adjacent to at least one neighboring wireless radio communications system carrier having its own cell sites which are inter-system cell sites with respect to the wireless radio communications system, the wireless radio communications system being authorized to provide service to calls handled by the intra-system cell sites, the wireless radio communications system and the neighboring wireless radio communications system carrier being subject to inter-system interference, said wireless radio communications system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit; and

B) management means in each MTSO of the wireless radio communications system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location, shape and size of each cell site in the wireless radio 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 cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison, said management means including means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, means for locating the mobile unit in relation to the geographic location of each cell site, and data means in said management means responsive to said locating means for automatically routing a call to completion to provide services requested by a mobile unit user based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit regardless of cell site location.

13. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 2 further including means for providing billing information.

14. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 13 further including means for providing taxing information.

3. A wireless radio communications set-up comprising:

A) a wireless radio communications system;

B) a system boundary defining an authorized area for said wireless radio communications system;

C) at least one intra-system cell site that provides service within said authorized area;

D) an MTSO for said wireless radio communications system;

E) a neighboring wireless carrier that provides service outside of said authorized area;

F) at least one inter-system cell site that provides service outside of said authorized area, said at least one inter-system cell site being associated with said neighboring wireless carrier;

G) said wireless radio communications system and said neighboring wireless carrier being subject to inter-system interference;

H) locating means for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit, said locating means including means for storing the geographic location, shape and size of each cell site in the wireless radio 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 chosen cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison and accepting the call from said mobile unit if the chosen cell site provides service within said authorized area for reducing provision of service by said wireless radio communications system outside of said authorized area and reducing interference between said wireless radio communications system and said neighboring wireless carrier, and means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, and means for locating the mobile unit in relation to the geographic location of each cell site; and

I) data means in said management means responsive to said locating means for automatically routing and completing a call to an emergency service provider to provide services requested by a mobile unit user based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit regardless of cell site location.

15. The wireless radio communications set-up defined in claim 3 further including means for providing billing information.

16. The wireless radio communications set-up defined in claim 15 further including means for providing taxing information.

4. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone, that includes one or more elements and one or more mobile telephone switching offices (MTSO), said system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit; and

B) management means in each MTSO of the system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location of each element in the communications system and for comparing the exact geographic location of the mobile unit to the geographic location of each element and for selecting an element for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison, said management means including means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, and means for providing billing information based on the location of the mobile unit with the billing information being independent of the geographic location of any cell site.

17. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 4 further including means for providing taxing information.

5. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone, that includes one or more intra-system cell sites, a system boundary and an MTSO, the wireless radio communications system being located adjacent to at least one neighboring wireless radio communications system carrier having its own cell sites which are inter-system cell sites with respect to the wireless radio communications system, the wireless radio communications system being authorized to provide service to calls handled by the intra-system cell sites, the wireless radio communications system and the neighboring wireless radio communications system carrier being subject to inter-system interference, said wireless radio communications system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit; and

B) management means in each MTSO of the wireless radio communications system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location, shape and size of each cell site in the wireless radio 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 cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison, said management means including means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, means for locating the mobile unit in relation to the geographic size of each cell site, and means for providing taxing information based on the location of the mobile unit independent of the geographic location of any cell site.

6. A wireless radio communications set-up comprising:

A) a wireless radio communications system;

B) a system boundary defining an authorized area for said wireless radio communications system;

C) at least one intra-system cell site that provides service within said authorized area;

D) an MTSO for said wireless radio communications system;

E) a neighboring wireless carrier that provides service outside of said authorized area;

F) at least one inter-system cell site that provides service outside of said authorized area, said at least one inter-system cell site being associated with said neighboring wireless carrier;

G) said wireless radio communications system and said neighboring wireless carrier being subject to inter-system interference;

H) locating means for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit, said locating means including means for storing the geographic location, shape and size of each cell site in the wireless radio 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 chosen cell site for use by the mobile unit based on such comparison and accepting the call from said mobile unit if the chosen cell site provides service within said authorized area for reducing provision of service by said wireless radio communications system outside of said authorized area and reducing interference between said wireless radio communications system and said neighboring wireless carrier, and means for receiving mobile signals from three or more cell sites, circuit means for compensating for time delay of said signals from said three or more cell sites and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, and means for locating the mobile unit in relation to the geographic size of each cell site; and

I) means for providing taxing information based on the location of the mobile unit independent of the geographic location of any cell site.

7. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone system, that includes a plurality of elements, such as land based sites, and one or more mobile telephone switching offices (MTSO), said system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit; and

B) management means in each MTSO of the system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location co-ordinates of each element in the communications system and for comparing the exact geographic location of the mobile unit to the geographic location of a chosen element, said management means including means for receiving signals from a plurality of cell sites, circuit means for analyzing said signals and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, and data means in said management means responsive to said locating means for automatically routing to completion a call placed by a mobile unit, to provide services requested by a mobile unit user based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit independent of cell site geographic location.

9. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 7 wherein said management means further includes means for providing billing information.

11. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 9 wherein said management means further includes means for providing taxing information with the taxing information being independent of the geographic location of any cell site.

8. A wireless radio communications system such as a cellular telephone system, that includes a plurality of elements such as land based sites, and one or more mobile telephone switching offices (MTSO), said system comprising:

A) locating means in a radio communications system for determining the exact geographic location of a mobile unit; and

B) management means in each MTSO of the system for making call management decisions based on the geographic location of the mobile unit, said management means including means for storing the geographic location co-ordinates of each element in the communications system and for comparing the exact geographic location of the mobile unit to the geographic location of a chosen element, said management means including means for receiving signals from a plurality of cell sites, circuit means for analyzing said signals and means for determining distance between each cell site and the mobile unit by triangulation, and means for providing billing information based on the location of the mobile unit independent of the geographic location of any cell site, and data means in said management means responsive to said locating means for automatically routing and completing a call made by a mobile unit to provide services requested by a mobile unit user based on the exact geographic location of the mobile unit regardless of the location of a cell site.

10. The wireless radio communications system defined in claim 8 wherein said management means further includes means for providing taxing information with the taxing information being independent of the geographic location of any cell site.