Method for providing wireless communication services and network and system for delivering same

• US 6,813,497 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Leap Wireless Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saboe, John, Hutcheson, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US09/772,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405-408, 455/453, 455/450, 455/509, 455/517, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/446, 340/7.24
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an improved network and system for a wireless communication system. The improved business method, operations method, network and system of the present invention includes the steps of delivering cellular services to the mass market, reducing peak capacity, increasing overall capacity utilization, improving capital utilization, providing an “all-you-can-eat” pricing model, and designing capacity based upon where the users live, work, and play.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system, adapted to capacity rather than geographic coverage of the wireless communications system, comprising:

an average level of Erlangs per subscriber in a range of greater than about 0.03 to less than about 0.05 in an in-building region; and

a building penetration margin adapted to secure greater in-building penetration uniquely in the in-building region over penetration secured in a transportation region.

2. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising increased capacity utilization in a restrained geographic area, relative to wireless communications systems designed for geographic coverage.

3. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than or equal to about 0.04.

4. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than or equal to about 0.05.

5. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than or equal to about 0.055.

6. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 12 dB.

7. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 15 dB.

8. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 18 dB.

9. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a covered population per site of greater than or equal to about 4,000.

10. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a covered population per site of greater than or equal to about 6,000.

11. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a covered population per site of greater than or equal to about 8,000.

12. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a covered population per site of greater than or equal to about 10,000.

13. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 1%.

14. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 2%.

15. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 3%.

16. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more base stations, said base stations comprising more than one carrier frequency on the date said base stations became operational.

17. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more base stations, said base stations comprising more than one carrier frequency within three months of the date said base stations became operational.

18. The wireless communications system according to claim 1, further comprising a competitive price for unlimited access to wireless communications services provided by the wireless communications system, wherein said competitive price comprises a flat rate charge.

19. A wireless communications system, adapted to capacity rather than geographic coverage of the wireless communications system, comprising:

an average level of Erlangs per subscriber greater than about 0.03;

a building penetration margin adapted to secure greater in-building penetration than transportation region penetration; and

a covered population per site for the in-building penetration greater than or equal to about 5,000.

20. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising increased capacity utilization in a restrained geographic area.

21. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than about 0.04.

22. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than about 0.05.

23. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than about 0.055.

24. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 12 dB.

25. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 15 dB.

26. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 18 dB.

27. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 6,000.

28. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 8,000.

29. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 10,000.

30. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 1%.

31. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 2%.

32. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 3%.

33. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising one or more base stations, said base stations comprising more than one carrier frequency on the date said base stations became operational.

34. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising one or more base stations, said base stations comprising more than one carrier frequency within three months of the date said base stations became operational.

35. The wireless communications system according to claim 19, further comprising a competitive price for unlimited access to wireless communications services provided by the wireless communications system, wherein said competitive price comprises a flat rate charge.

36. A wireless communications system, adapted to capacity rather than geographic coverage of the wireless communications system, comprising:

an average level of Erlangs per subscriber greater than about 0.03;

a building penetration margin adapted to secure greater in-building penetration than transportation region penetration; and

a covered population per site for the in-building penetration greater than or equal to about 5,000; and

one or more base stations comprising more than one carrier frequency associated with said covered population per site.

37. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, further comprising increased capacity utilization in a restrained geographic area.

38. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than about 0.04.

39. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber is greater than about 0.05.

40. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the average level of Erlangs per subscriber per square mile is greater than or equal to about 0.055.

41. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 12 dB.

42. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 15 dB.

43. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the building penetration margin is greater than or equal to about 18 dB.

44. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 6,000.

45. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 8,000.

46. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein the covered population per site is greater than or equal to about 10,000.

47. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 1%.

48. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 2%.

49. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, further comprising a frame error rate of less than or equal to about 3%.

50. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, wherein said base stations comprise more than one carrier frequency on the date said base stations became operational.

51. The wireless communications system according to claim 36, further comprising a competitive price for unlimited access to wireless communications services provided by the wireless communications system, wherein said competitive price comprises a flat rate charge.