Method and system for geographically verifying a wireless service customer

• US 7,142,874 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Oleniczak, Kevin James
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/440
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters

Abstract

A method and system for geographically verifying a wireless service customer. An operating boundary of a first sector is identified and a first transmitting characteristic is assigned to this first sector. The method includes assigning the customer to operate in the first sector and authorizing the customer to operate according to this first transmitting characteristic. Geographic coordinates of the customer are obtained and it is determined whether the customer resides within the first sector. The customer may be reassigned to a second sector if the customer is physically located within a boundary of a second sector. The method and system facilitates better verification of customer location.

Claims

1. A method of geographically verifying a fixed wireless service customer comprising the steps of:

(yellow is Zendle)

assigning the fixed wireless service customer to a first wireless service sector;

obtaining geographic coordinates defining a geographic location of the fixed wireless service customer;

determining whether the geographical coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer reside within a predefined boundary of the first sector wireless service;

the predefined boundary of the first wireless service sector defining in part a Response Service Area of a Multi-Channel Multipoint Distribution Service System

reassigning the customer to a second wireless service sector if the geographical coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer reside outside the predefined boundary of the first wireless service sector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

reassigning the fixed wireless service customer to a second wireless service sector if the geographical coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer reside outside the predefined boundary of the first sector.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

enabling the fixed wireless service customer to operate according to a first transmitting characteristic assigned to the first sector.

4. A method of spatially verifying a fixed wireless service customer comprising the steps of:

enabling the fixed wireless service customer to operate according to a transmitting characteristic assigned to a first wireless service sector;

obtaining geographic coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer;

determining whether the geographical coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer reside within a predefined boundary of the first wireless service sector, the predefined boundary of the first wireless service sector defining in part a Response Service Area of a Multi-Channel Multipoint Distribution Service System; and

taking corrective action by reassigning the customer to a second wireless service sector if the geographical coordinates of the fixed wireless service customer is not physically located within the boundary of the first wireless service sector.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of taking corrective action comprises the step of

assigning a second transmission characteristic to the fixed wireless service customer.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of

operating the fixed wireless service customer according to a second transmitting characteristic assigned to a second sector.

7. A method of spatially verifying a fixed point-to-multipoint wireless service customer premises equipment based on geopositional location information comprising the steps of:

providing a first wireless service sector assignment to the fixed customer premises equipment, the first wireless service sector assignment defining in part a Response Service Area;

authorizing the fixed customer premises equipment to operate according to a first transmitting characteristic associated with the first wireless service sector assignment;

obtaining geopositional location information of the fixed customer premises equipment;

confirming, based on the geopositional location information, whether the fixed customer premises equipment is located within the first wireless service sector; and

responsively notifying a back office system whether the physical location of the fixed customer premises equipment resides within the first sector;

reassigning the customer to a second wireless service sector if the geopositional location of the fixed customer premises equipment resides outside the predefined boundary of the first wireless service sector.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of

assigning a second sector to the fixed customer premises equipment;

and

operating the fixed customer premises equipment according to a second transmitting characteristic associated with the assigned second sector.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of assigning a second sector to the fixed customer premises comprises the step of

programming the back office system to assign the second sector assignment to the fixed customer premises equipment.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of

comparing said geopositional location information to a predetermined location of said fixed customer premises equipment.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of obtaining said geopositional location information of said fixed customer premises equipment comprises the step of obtaining a latitude value and longitude value.

12. A method of verifying a fixed wireless service customer equipment site comprising the steps of:

assigning the fixed wireless service customer equipment site a predetermined geographic location, the predetermined geographic location defining in part a Response Service Area of a Multi-Channel Multipoint Distribution Service System;

capturing geographic coordinates at an actual location of the fixed wireless service customer equipment site;

comparing the captured geographic coordinates to the predetermined geographic location; and

taking corrective action by reassigning the fixed wireless service customer equipment site to the actual location if the captured geographic coordinates are inconsistent with the predetermined geographic location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of comparing said captured geographic coordinates of said physical location to said predetermined geographic location comprises the steps of:

receiving a customer-specific input record into a computer, the customer-specific input record identifying at least one physical location data point that is measured at the customer premises site;

applying the computer to instruct a global positioning receiver to measure at least one physical location data point at the customer premises site and to then receive from the global positioning receiver a value of the at least one physical location data point as measured at the customer premises site; and

outputting a customer-specific output record from the computer, the customer-specific output record indicating the value of the at least one data point as measured at the customer premises site.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the computer comprises the global positioning receiver.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a test meter comprises the global positioning receiver.

16. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing the computer to carry out the method of claim 12.