JP2003527776A - System and method for limiting the mobility of a cellular telephone device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] Cellular telephone devices are limited to using only predetermined cells. First, the telephone is used at 306 and learns the identity of the cell serving it at 308 and stores that identity on the telephone. Thereafter, the request 314 serviced by a cell whose identity is not stored on the phone is denied at 316 unless this is for a service provider or emergency department. If this is for a service provider, the service provider can determine at 318 whether the requested cell should be on the phone as an approved cell.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cellular telephone services, and more particularly to controlling effective mobility of cellular telephone devices.

[0002]

[Prior art]

A great advantage over cellular telephone technology is that it provides user mobility. Users can roam and use cellular telephone devices in any area served by the cellular service provider. At some remote location or in some state, such as a newly developed nation where existing telephone services are minimal, installation is cheaper than traditional landline systems that require the installation of large copper wire connections. Cellular technology is selected. In such a situation, the cellular service provider intends for the cellular telephone device to be used in a manner similar to a typical wireline telephone, ie in a fixed location.

However, little can be done to substantiate the use of cellular telephone devices such as mobile devices. If the phone can be provided with a suitable power source, the device uses cellular technology so that the user can carry around the phone device and use it at his disposal. Nevertheless, the phone is intended to be used as a fixed location, wire-connected phone, and the subscriber is charged only for such use. Wireline charges are typically cheaper than cellular charges. Mobile operation is not expected by the cellular service provider and subscribers are not billed at the cellular rate.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

What is needed is a system and method for limiting the mobility of such telephone devices so that the user can use the device only in a relatively limited geographical area, as intended by the cellular service provider. . This allows the subscriber to prevent the use of the device in a way in uncharged mobiles.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention provides a system and method that allows a cellular service provider to control the mobility of a cellular telephone device, which is typically treated as a wireline telephone for billing purposes. Cellular telephone devices must identify cells that can be accessed directly from some fixed location, such as the user's home. For purposes of this description, a cellular telephone device can directly access a cell if the telephone can establish a valid radio frequency (RF) contact with the cell without the need for any intervening relays. The identities of directly accessible cells are recorded in a section of memory of the cellular telephone device, referred to below as the cell buffer. The use of cellular telephone equipment at wireline rate is then used only if the cellular telephone equipment is present in the geographical area determined by these cells, hereinafter known as the home area of the telephone. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, the home area includes locations where the cellular telephone device has direct access to any cell listed in its cell buffer. If the cellular telephone device is not in the home area, use of the cellular telephone device at the wireline billed rate is blocked. In one embodiment of the invention, operation of the cellular telephone device is allowed outside the home area, but only at the cellular billing rate. In another embodiment of the invention, operation of the cellular telephone device outside the home area is totally blocked.

Features and Benefits The present invention has features that allow a cellular telephone device to identify and record directly accessible cells.

The present invention has the additional feature of allowing determination of the home area of a cellular telephone device.

The present invention has the additional feature of affecting the operational capabilities of the cellular telephone device or altering the billing rate outside the home area.

The present invention has the advantage of enabling cellular service providers to control the effective mobility of cellular telephone devices.

The present invention further has the advantage of having flexibility in construction. The invention can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination thereof.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. I. SUMMARY The present invention provides systems and methods that allow cellular service providers to control the mobility of cellular telephone devices. To do this, the cellular telephone device must identify the cells that can be accessed directly from some fixed location, such as the user's home or office. This fixed position is hereinafter referred to as the home position. The identities of directly accessible cells are recorded in the memory part of the cellular telephone device known as the cell buffer. The telephone device is then used only if the cellular telephone device is in the geographic area determined by these cells. For the purposes of this description, the geographic area is known as the home area. A method by which such a home area can be determined will be described below. If the cellular telephone device is not in the home area, the use of the cellular telephone device at normal wireline billing rates is blocked.
In one embodiment of the invention, operation of the cellular telephone device is allowed outside this area,
Only allowed at cellular billing rates. In another embodiment of the invention, operation of the cellular telephone device outside the home area is totally blocked. In another embodiment of the invention, operation of cellular telephone equipment outside this area is completely blocked.

II. Device The invention operates in the context of a cellular telephone device system, the general architecture of which is known to those skilled in the art. A portion of an exemplary cellular telephone device system is shown in FIG. The cellular telephone device 101 is shown in a position where it can reach any one of the cells 102, 104, 106 directly. Once in contact with a cell, the cellular telephone device 101 can make or receive calls via the cellular system by the cell.
Note that at any given time, there are cells that cannot be accessed by the cellular telephone device 101. Cell 108 is one such cell. As described below, cells that can be accessed directly by the cellular telephone device 101 from a home location (such as the user's home or office) are used to determine the home area. Within the home area, the cellular telephone device 101 can operate at normal wireline billing rates in accordance with the present invention.

The cellular telephone device 101 includes a cell buffer used to record the identities of cells that can be directly accessed by the cellular telephone device 101. FIG. 2 shows such a buffer. Cell buffer 202 comprises a plurality of memory locations illustrated as memory locations 204A-204H. Memory locations 204A-204C contain identifiers 102 1, 104 2, 106 2, respectively. These identifiers correspond to cells that are directly accessible by the cellular telephone device 101 from its home location.

III. Process The process of the present invention requires a cellular telephone device to learn the identity of a cell accessible from a defined location. Use of cellular telephone devices at wireline billing rates is only permitted when the cellular telephone devices are in the home area determined by these cells. If the cellular telephone device moves to a location outside this home area, the use of the cellular telephone device at wireline billing rates is not acceptable.

A. Making a Call The process of the present invention is described in detail in FIG. 3, according to one embodiment.
In step 304, the user attempts to make a call from some location using the cellular telephone device. In step 306, the process asks if this is the first call made by the cellular telephone device. If yes, step 30
At 8, the cellular telephone device must learn the identity of its cell, which it has direct access to. This learning process is described below. Once learned, the process ends and in step 310 the user proceeds with the call.

It should be noted that, in another embodiment of the present invention, the learning process occurs as soon as the cellular telephone device is activated on, even before attempting to place a call.

If it is determined in step 306 that this is not the first call, the learning process must be done in advance. In this case, the set of cell identifiers is already stored in the cell buffer of the cellular telephone device. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, operation of a cell phone at wireline tariff rates is possible even if one or more cells identified in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular phone. Is acceptable. Therefore, in step 312, the process asks if any cells listed in the cell buffer are accessible by the cellular telephone device from its current location. If yes, call is step
Proceed to 310.

If none of the cells listed in the cell buffer are accessible by the cellular telephone device, then the cellular telephone device must move some distance from its home position, in which case First performed in learning step 308.
Normally, calls in this state are rejected by the present invention. However, in some embodiments of the invention, exceptions are made to calls to the cellular service provider and emergency calls, such as 911. Therefore, in step 314, the process asks if the call is to a cellular service provider. If no, step 31
At 6, the call is rejected according to an embodiment of the invention. If the call is directed to a cellular service provider, the call is admitted in step 317. The cellular service provider must then determine in step 318 whether explicit transfer of the cellular telephone device should be allowed. If the transfer is allowed, the cellular telephone device must undergo a learning process 319 that is identical to the learning process 308, thereby learning the identity of the cell that can be accessed by the cellular telephone device from its new location. To do. If the transfer is not authorized in step 318, the process stops.

FIG. 4 shows that one of the cells originally listed in the cell buffer is directly accessible by the cellular telephone device. Cellular telephone device here 10
1 has direct access to cell 102, which is one of the cells whose identifier is stored in the cell buffer. In such a situation, the cellular telephone device
Calls originated by 101 are enabled according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the situation where no cell originally listed in the cell buffer is directly accessible by the cellular telephone device. Cellular telephone device here 10
1 can only directly access cell 108, which is not one of the cells whose identifier was recorded in its cell buffer. In such a situation, a call made by the cellular telephone device 101 is not enabled unless the call is directed to the cellular service provider according to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.

Note that in other embodiments of the present invention, non-privileged calls (ie, calls made by a cellular telephone device while outside the home area and directed to a party other than the cellular service provider) are not denied. To do. In another embodiment, such calls are admitted, but are billed at the cellular rate rather than the wireline rate.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the home area may be determined in another way than that described above with respect to FIG. For example, the home area may include locations where all cells identified in the cell buffer are directly accessible rather than just one cell. In this case, unrestricted operation at the wireline rate is only allowed if all cells in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone device, instead the home area is defined by some predetermined number of cells. The included subset may include locations that are directly accessible. Direct access to two of the cells identified in the cell buffer, for example, is required before unrestricted operation at wireline rate is allowed. In another alternative embodiment,
A cellular telephone device is considered to be located in its home area if cells not listed in the cell buffer are not directly accessible. In this case, direct access to other cells not listed in the cell buffer indicates that the cellular telephone device is no longer in the home area. In yet another alternative embodiment, the cellular telephone device is considered to be in the home area as long as the signal from the cell identified in the cell buffer is strong enough. Here, receiving a weak signal from the identified cell in the cell buffer does not allow unrestricted operation at the radio rate because the cellular telephone device is outside the home area.

B. Receiving a Call The process of receiving a call is generally similar to the process of making a call. Receipt of calls at the wireline billing rate is allowed if the cellular telephone device is in the home area determined by the cell identified by the cell buffer. If the cellular telephone device moves to a location outside this home area, it will not be allowed to receive calls at the wireline billing rate. It should be noted that in one embodiment of the present invention, exceptions are made for calls originated from the cellular service provider. Here, the receipt of such calls is allowed at the wireline rate regardless of the location of the cellular telephone device.

C. Learning The present invention requires a cellular telephone device to be able to record the identity of a cell that can be accessed directly from a given location. This learning process is shown in Figure 6.
Is shown in. At step 604, the cell phone cell buffer is cleared. In step 606, the process asks if a new cell, ie a cell not currently listed in the cell buffer, is directly accessible by the cellular telephone device. If no such cell exists, the process ends at step 607. If there are such cells, then in step 608 the process asks if the cell buffer is currently full. If the cell buffer is full, the cell identifier can no longer be added to the cell buffer and the process ends at step 607. If the cell buffer is not full, then in step 610 the cell identifier is added to the cell buffer. The process is repeated at step 606. The learning process continues until no accessible cells are found or the cell buffer is full.

D. Handoff A special problem arises when a cellular telephone device originates a call from a home area location and moves to another location during the call as cell handoff is required. The present invention addresses this by terminating the call or changing to a cellular billing rate if the new cell (for which the handoff is taking place) is not identified in the cell buffer.

A process for addressing such a handoff problem is shown in FIG. In step 704, the process asks if a handoff is needed. If yes, then in step 706 the process asks if the identifier of the newly accessible cell (for which the connection is about to be handed) is listed in the cell buffer. If this cell is not listed in the cell buffer, the call is step 70.
Finish at 8. In another embodiment, the call proceeds in this state but at the cellular rate. When it is determined in step 706 that the newly accessible cell is listed in the cell buffer, handoff is performed in step 710.
The call proceeds in step 712.

IV. Environment The invention is preferably implemented in software. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented using hardware or a combination of hardware and software. As a result, the present invention may be implemented in computer systems or other processing systems. An example of such a computer system 800 is shown in FIG. Computer system 800 includes one or more processors, such as processor 804. Processor 804 is connected to communication infrastructure 806 (eg, a bus or network). Various software configurations have been described with respect to this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art how to implement the invention using other computer systems and / or computer architectures.

Computer system 800 is preferably random access memory (RAM)
The main memory 808 may be included, and the auxiliary memory 810 may be included. Auxiliary memory 810 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 812 and / or a removable storage drive 814 representing a floppy disk drive, magnetic tape drive, optical disk drive, etc. Removable storage drive 814 reads from and / or writes to removable storage 818 in a well known manner. Removable storage device 818 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to by removable storage drive 814. As will be appreciated, removable storage 818 includes computer usable storage media having computer software and / or data stored thereon.

In another structure, auxiliary memory 810 may include computer programs or other similar means that allow other instructions to be loaded into computer system 800. Such means may include, for example, removable storage 822 and interface 820. Examples of such means are program cartridges and cartridge interfaces (as found in video game devices), removable memory chips (EPROM or PROM), associated sockets, software and data removable storage devices. Another removable storage device 822 that allows it to be transferred from the 822 to the computer system 800.
And interface 820.

Computer system 800 may also include a communication interface 824. Communications interface 824 allows software and data to be transferred between computer system 800 and external devices. Communication interface
Examples of 824 may include modems, network interfaces (such as Ethernet cards), communication ports, PCMCIA slots and cards and the like. Software and data transferred via communication interface 824 are in the form of signals 828, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals that may be received by communication interface 824. These signals 828 are provided to communication interface 824 via communication path 826. Communication path 826 carries signal 828 and may be configured using wire or cable, fiber optics, telephone lines, cellular telephone equipment links, RF links and other communication channels.

In this specification, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are removable storage drive 814 and hard disk drive 81.
2, hard disk installed, used to indicate media such as signal 828. These computer program products are means for providing software to computer system 800.

A computer program (also called computer control logic) is stored in the main memory 8
08 and / or auxiliary memory 810. Computer programs can also be received via communications interface 824. Such computer programs, when executed, enable computer system 800 to perform the invention as described herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor 804 to perform the processes of the present invention. Therefore, such a computer program is a computer system
Represents a control device of. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the process by which a cellular telephone device is allowed (or denied) to place or receive a call, learns and records the identifier of an accessible cell, and handoffs the cell is entirely computer controlled logic. Done. The present invention is implemented using software, which may be stored in a computer program product using removable storage drive 814, hard drive 812 or communication interface 824 and loaded into computer system 800. it can.

V. CONCLUSION While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be understood that they are provided by way of illustration and not limitation of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in detail can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1]   FIG. 3 is a partial view of an exemplary cellular communication system.

[Fig. 2]   FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary cell buffer according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of a cellular telephone call and decision process for call admission according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a cellular telephone device in contact with one of the cells identified in a cell buffer according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a cellular telephone device in contact with an unidentified cell in a cell buffer according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of identifying directly accessible cells and recording their identities according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process of cellular handoff according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a general purpose computer system that may be used to perform the operations of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ , CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, K E, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG , ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, C A, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM , DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, K E, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS , LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, R U, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM , TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Kaplan, Diego A.             California, United States             92126 San Diego, Number 116, Mosquito             Les Cristobal 7370 F-term (reference) 5K025 DD06 EE04 EE05 EE22                 5K067 AA29 BB04 DD19 DD44 EE24                       FF03 FF04 FF17 GG06 HH12                       HH23

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A method of limiting the mobility of a cellular telephone device in a cellular communication system comprising: (a) identifying a cell that is directly accessible by the cellular telephone device when the cellular telephone device is in a home position; and (b) the cellular telephone device. Recording the identity of the cell in a cell buffer inside the device, and (c) operating the cellular telephone device at a predetermined wireline rate when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area determined by the cell. A method comprising the steps of: 2. In step (c), (i) blocking the execution of calls to other parties except the cellular service provider or the emergency station when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area; and (ii) Blocking reception of an incoming call from a party other than the cellular service provider or an emergency station when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area, and (iii) making the call when the cellular telephone device is inside the home area. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (iv) enabling receipt of the incoming call when the cellular telephone device is in the home area. 3. In step (c), (i) enabling the origination of the call regardless of the location of the cellular telephone device, and (ii) being performed when the cellular telephone device is in the home area. Billing at the predetermined wireline rate for making the call, and (iii) a predetermined cellular for the calling made when the cellular telephone device is not in the home area. Billing at a toll rate, (iv) enabling receipt of the incoming call regardless of the location of the cellular telephone device, (v) before being received when the cellular telephone device is in the home area. Charging for incoming calls at the predetermined wireline rate, and (vi) prior to the incoming call received when the cellular telephone device is not in the home area. The method of claim 1 including the step to charge at a predetermined cellular toll rates. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the step of terminating the originated call when the cellular telephone device is attempting to handoff to a cell not identified in the cell buffer. Method. 5. Step (c) comprises charging the outgoing call at the predetermined cellular tariff rate when the cellular telephone device is attempting to handoff to the cell not identified in the cell buffer. The method of claim 1 including the step of claiming. 6. The home area has a geographical location where a cellular telephone device can directly access a subset of cells whose identifiers are recorded in the cell buffer, where the subset operates in a cellular communication system. The method of claim 1, wherein the method has a predetermined size that is less than the total number of existing cells. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the home area includes a geographic location where a cellular telephone device has direct access to all the cells whose identifiers are recorded in the cell buffer. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the home area includes a geographic location where a cellular telephone device can directly access at least one of the cells whose identifier is recorded in the cell buffer. 9. The home area includes a geographical area, in which (i) all cells for which an identifier is recorded in the cell buffer are directly accessible by a cellular telephone device, (Ii) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal coming from the cell and received by the cellular telephone device has a signal strength greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum signal strength. 10. The home area includes a geographic location, where other cells cannot be directly accessed by a cellular telephone device, except for cells whose identifiers are recorded in the cell buffer. The method according to item 1. 11. A system for limiting the mobility of a cellular telephone device of a cellular communication system, comprising: (i) identifying means for identifying a cell directly accessible by the cellular telephone device when the cellular telephone device is in a home position. ii) a recording means for recording the identity of said cell in a cell buffer inside the cellular telephone device, and (iii) the cellular telephone device being predetermined when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area determined by said cell. A system comprising blocking means for blocking operation at wireline tariff rates. 12. The blocking means comprises: (i) call blocking means for blocking execution of a call to a cellular service provider or another party except 911 when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area; (Ii) reception blocking means for blocking the reception of a call coming from the cellular service provider or a party other than 911 when the cellular telephone device is outside the home area; and (iii) the cellular telephone device is inside the home area. And a home area reception permitting means that enables reception of the incoming call when the cellular telephone device is in the home area. The system according to claim 11, further comprising: 13. The blocking means includes: (i) a call permitting means that enables the call to be originated regardless of the location of the cellular telephone device; and (ii) the cellular telephone device is in the home area. Outgoing wireline billing means for billing at said predetermined wireline toll rate at the time of making said call, and (iii) made when a cellular telephone device is not in said home area. An outgoing cellular charge request means for charging a charge at a predetermined cellular charge rate in the call origination, and (iv) a reception permission means for enabling reception of the incoming call regardless of the position of the cellular telephone device. (V) charge the incoming call received when the cellular telephone device is in the home area at the predetermined wireline rate Incoming wireline fee billing means, and (vi) an incoming cellular fee for charging the incoming call received when the cellular telephone device is not within the home area at the predetermined cellular fee rate. A system according to claim 11, comprising: 14. The blocking means comprises handoff termination means for terminating an outgoing call when a cellular telephone device is attempting to handoff to an unidentified cell in the cell buffer. system. 15. The blocking means charges a charge for the outgoing call at the predetermined cellular charge rate when a cellular telephone device is attempting to handoff to the cell not identified in the cell buffer. 12. The system of claim 11, comprising means for billing cellular handoff fees. 16. The home area includes a geographical location where a cellular telephone device can directly access a subset of cells whose identifiers are stored in the cell buffer, wherein the subset is a cell operating in a cellular communication system. 12. The system of claim 11, having a predetermined size less than the total number of. 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the home area includes a geographic location where the cellular telephone device has direct access to all cells whose identifiers are recorded in the cell buffer. 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the home area includes a geographical location where a cellular telephone device can directly access at least one of the cells whose identifier is recorded in the cell buffer. 19. The home area comprises a geographical area, in which (i) all cells for which an identifier is recorded in the cell buffer are directly accessible by a cellular telephone device, 12. The system of claim 11, wherein (ii) the signal coming from the cell and received by the cellular telephone device has a signal strength greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum signal strength. 20. The home area includes a geographic location, and no other cells can be directly accessed by a cellular telephone device except the cell whose identifier is recorded in the cell buffer. system. 21. A computer-usable computer-readable program code means embodied in the medium for executing an application program on a computer that limits the mobility of a cellular telephone device in a cellular communication system. In a computer program product comprising such a medium, the computer readable program code means comprises: (a) a first computer for causing the computer to identify a cell directly accessible by the cellular telephone device when the cellular telephone device is in the home position. (B) a second computer readable program code means for causing a computer to record the identity of said cell in a cell buffer internal to the cellular telephone device; When the cellular telephone device is in the home area outside which is determined by the cell,
A third computer readable program code means for causing a computer to prevent the cellular telephone device from operating at a predetermined wireline tariff rate.