Mobile communication service provider selection system

• US 5,915,214 A
• Filed: 02/23/1995
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matthew L. Reece, Richard W. Reece
• Inventors: Reece, Richard W., Reece, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/393,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 379/112, 379/114, 379/115, 379/144, 379/58, 379/59, 379/60, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/34.1, 455/406-408, 455/422, 455/432, 455/434, 455/436, 455/552
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/805 Bidding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/84 Types of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• 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 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7457 Biding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/81 Notifying aspects, e.g. notifications or displays to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8129 Type of notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a user of wireless communication services such as mobile cellular telephone services to easily switch among various available service providers based on real time cost and service feature information. A central processing facility serves as an intermediary between mobile communication users and service providers and broadcasts real time service provider information over an established information channel, in each region served by wireless communication carriers. Users are able to select an optimal service provider based on the received service provider information. In this way, competition among wireless carriers is enhanced.

Claims

1. A system for providing selectable wireless communication service to users of mobile communication devices, comprising:

a central processing facility for collecting and processing cost and service feature information for a plurality of available wireless service providers in particular geographical regions; and

means for transmitting the wireless service provider information processed by said central processing facility to mobile communication devices;

wherein users of said mobile communication devices are able to select a wireless communication service provider from among said at least two available service providers based on information received from said information transmitting means.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information transmitting means comprises at least one broadcast transmitter for broadcasting said service provider information to said mobile communication devices on a predetermined information channel.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said central processing facility further includes means for accepting and storing messages which can be retrieved by said users of said mobile communication devices.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said central processing facility further includes means for providing billing services to said wireless communication service providers.

5. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said information broadcast on said information channel includes identification of available service providers and pricing information for services provided by said providers.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information transmitted by said means for transmitting includes communication protocol standards used by said service providers.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mobile communication devices having means for selecting specific wireless communication service providers.

8. A system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of mobile communication devices having means for receiving information broadcast over said information channel and means for selecting control channels of specific wireless communication service providers based on said received information.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said mobile communication devices further comprise means for displaying said received information and means for enabling a user to manually select a wireless communication service provider based on said displayed information.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said mobile communication devices further comprise means for inputting user-defined service provider parameters and means for storing said user-defined parameters, said selecting means including means for comparing stored user-defined parameters with said received information and means for automatically selecting an available service provider.

11. A method for providing selectable wireless communication service to users of mobile communication devices, comprising the steps of:

collecting and processing cost and service feature information on at least two available wireless communication service providers in particular geographical regions; and

transmitting the processed wireless service provider information to mobile communication devices;

wherein users of said mobile communication devices are able to select a wireless communication service provider from among said at least two available service providers based on information received from said transmitting step.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said transmitting step comprises the step of broadcasting said service provider information to said mobile communication devices on a predetermined information channel.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the steps of accepting and storing messages which can be retrieved by said users of said mobile communication devices.

14. A method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of providing billing services to said wireless communication service providers in connection with said selectable wireless communication service.

15. A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said information broadcast on said information channel includes identification of available service providers and pricing information for services provided by said providers.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said transmitted information includes communication protocol standards used by said service providers.

17. A method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of selecting specific wireless communication service providers through a mobile communication device.

18. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the steps of receiving at a mobile communication device information broadcast over said information channel, and

selecting control channels of specific wireless communication service providers based on said received information.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the steps of displaying said received information, and

manually selecting a wireless communication service provider based on said displayed information.

20. A method for enabling a user of wireless communication services to switch among various available service providers, comprising the steps of:

transmitting to a user'"'"'s mobile communication device real time cost and service feature information for a plurality of available service providers for a region in which said user is currently located, thereby allowing said user to select a service provider to provide communication services to said user based on said transmitted information;

transmitting user status and identification information on specific users to service providers in response to requests transmitted by said service providers;

determining if users identified in said requests are presently engaged in a two-way wireless communication;

instructing a requesting service provider to allocate a communication channel for a specific user determined to be presently engaged in a two-way wireless communication; and

transferring said two-way wireless communication to said requesting service provider and disconnecting said two-way wireless communication from a previous service provider in response to a ready signal received from said requesting service provider.