KR20020032535A - System and method for restricting mobility of cellular telephones - Google Patents

Abstract

The cellular telephone is limited to using only predetermined cells. First, when a telephone is used for the first time (306), the telephone stores the identification code of the serving cell and stores the identification code in the telephone (308). Thereafter, the request 314 to be serviced by a cell not stored in the phone will be rejected (316) if the call is not to a service provider or emergency response. If the call is to a service provider, the service provider may determine whether the requested cell should be in the phone as an approved cell (318).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESTRICTING MOBILITY OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES}

An important advantage of cell phone technology is that it provides mobility to the user. The user can move and use the cellular telephone in the area serviced by the cellular service provider. In new developing countries where all remote areas or minimal telephone service are present, cellular technology is chosen because cellular technology is less expensive to install than conventional terrestrial telecommunications systems requiring extended installation of copper wire. In this case, the cellular service provider would allow the cellular telephone to be used in the same way as a conventional landline telephone, i.e. in a fixed position.

However, there is little chance that it can be prevented from using the cell phone as a mobile device. If the phone is provided with a suitable power source, the user can move around with the phone freely and use it because the phone uses cellular technology. Nevertheless, the telephone should only be used as a landline telephone in a fixed position and the subscriber is charged only for use as a landline telephone. In general, fixed rates are cheaper than cellular (mobile) rates. The moving operation was not service planned by the cellular service provider, so that the subscriber would not be charged for cellular service.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for limiting the mobility of such a telephone, such that a user can use the device only in a relatively limited geographic area as the cellular service provider intends. The system and method of the present invention prevents subscribers from using the device in a mobile manner that is not charged.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to cellular telephone services, and more particularly, to a system and method for controlling efficient mobility of a cellular telephone.

1 illustrates a portion of a typical cellular communication system.

2 illustrates an exemplary cell buffer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a decision process taking into account the handling of a cellular telephone call and the acceptability of the call in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates a cellular telephone connecting with one of the cells identified in its cell buffer according to one embodiment of the invention.

5 illustrates a cellular telephone connecting with a cell not identified in a cell buffer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flow chart illustrating a process of identifying a cell that can be directly accessed and recording an identification code in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of cellular handoff in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

8 illustrates a generic computer system that can be used to perform the operations of the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method that allows a cellular service provider to control the mobility of a cellular telephone that is generally treated as a wireless telephone for billing purposes. The cellular telephone must identify a cell that can be accessed directly from some fixed location, such as the user's home. To discuss this, the cellular telephone can directly access the cell if the cellular telephone can connect the cell with the available radio frequency (RF) without requiring the intervention of the relay station. The identification codes of the directly accessible cells are recorded in the memory section of the cellular telephone called the cell buffer. Only when the cellular telephone is in the geographic area determined by the cell, hereinafter referred to as the home region of the telephone, the cellular telephone is subsequently available again at a wired rate. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, the home area includes areas where the cellular telephone can directly access one of the cells listed in the cell buffer. If the cellular phone is not in the home area, then the use of the cellular phone charged for the wire is blocked. In one embodiment of the invention, the operation of the cellular telephone is allowed outside the home area, but charged for cellular service. In another embodiment of the invention, cellular telephone operation outside the home area is completely blocked.

The present invention has the feature that enables cellular telephones to identify and record the cells that they can directly access.

The present invention has the additional feature of determining a home area for a cellular telephone.

The present invention has the additional feature of affecting the operability of the cellular telephone or changing to a fee that varies outside the home area.

The present invention has the advantage that a cellular service provider can efficiently control the mobility of a cellular telephone.

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

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specific description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

I. Overview

The present invention provides a system and method by which a cellular service provider can control the mobility of a cellular telephone. To provide the method and apparatus, cellular telephones must identify a cell that can be accessed directly from some fixed location, such as a user's home or office. This fixed position is hereinafter referred to as home position. The identification code of a cell that can be directly accessed is written to the memory portion of the cellular telephone known as the cell buffer. Subsequent use of the telephone can only be made when there is a cellular telephone in the geographic area determined by the cells. For this purpose, the geographical area is known as the home area. The way in which the home area can be determined is described below. If the cellular telephone is not in its home area, the cellular telephone paying only the wire charge is blocked. In one embodiment of the invention, the operation of the cellular telephone is allowed outside the area, but instead the operation of the cellular telephone is only allowed when paying for cellular service charges. In another embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the cellular telephone outside the area is completely blocked.

II. Device

The present invention operates in a cellular telephone system, the general structure of which is known to those skilled in the art. Part of a typical cell phone system is shown in FIG. Cell phone 101 is shown in a location where it can directly reach one of cells 102, 104, 106. Once connected to one cell, cellular phone 101 can establish or receive calls using the cellular system through the cell. There are cells that are not accessible by the cellular telephone 101 at any given time. Cell 108 is such a cell. As described below, cells that can be directly accessed by the cellular telephone 101 from the home location (the user's home or office) are used to determine the home area. It is in the home area where the cellular system 101 can operate at a typical wired rate in accordance with the present invention.

A cell buffer is included in the cell phone 101, which cell buffer is used to record identification codes of cells that can be directly accessed by the cell phone 101. 2 illustrates the cell buffer. Cell buffer 202 includes a number of memory regions, shown as memory regions 204A-204H. Memory regions 204A-204C include identifiers 102, 104, 106, respectively. The identifier corresponds to cells that can be directly accessed by the cellular telephone 101 from the home location of the cellular telephone 101.

III. process

The process of the present invention requires the cellular telephone to store the identification code of the cells accessible from the limited area. The use of a cellular telephone at a fixed rate is only allowed when the cellular telephone is in the home area determined by the cells. If the cellular telephone is moved outside the home area, use of the cellular telephone at the fixed rate is not allowed.

A. Call Settings

The process of the present invention according to one embodiment is described in detail in FIG. In step 304, the user wants to set up the call at some location using the cellular telephone. In step 306, the process asks if this is the first call made by the cellular phone. If so, in step 308 the cellular telephone must remember the identification codes of the cells that it can directly access. The storage process is described below. Once the storage process is complete, in step 310 the user can proceed with the call.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the storage process may be executed as soon as the cellular telephone is powered on before there is an attempt to establish a call.

In step 306, if it is determined that this is not the first call, the storage process would have been executed beforehand. In this case the set of cell identifiers will already be stored in the cell buffer of the cellular telephone. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the operation of a cellular telephone at a wired rate is only allowed when one or more cells identified in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone. Thus, at step 312, the process queries whether one of the cells listed in the cell buffer is accessible by the cellular telephone from its current location. If possible, the call can proceed to step 310.

If none of the cells listed in the cell buffer are accessible by the cellular telephone, then the cellular telephone must move a predetermined distance from its home position, and the moved position is initially stored in step 308. Is the location where In general, a call if none of the cells listed above are accessible will be rejected by the present invention. However, in one embodiment of the invention, there are exceptions when calling to a cellular service provider and when making an emergency call, for example, a call to 911. Thus, in step 314 the processor inquires whether the call is for a cellular service provider. Otherwise, at step 316 the call is rejected in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. If the call is to a cellular service provider, the call is allowed in step 317. In step 318 the cellular service provider must determine whether an explicit repositioning of the cellular telephone should be authenticated. If the relocation is authenticated, then the cellular telephone must perform the same storage process 319 as the storage process 308 to store the identification codes of the cells accessible by the cellular telephone from the new location. If the repositioning is not authenticated in step 318, then processing ends.

4 illustrates the case where one of the cells originally listed in the cell buffer can be directly accessed by the cellular telephone. Here, the cellular telephone 101 can directly access the cell 102 whose identity code is one of the cells recorded in the cell buffer. In the above case, the call set up by the cellular telephone 101 will be allowed according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

5 illustrates a case in which none of the cells originally listed in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone. The cellular telephone 101 can directly access only the cell 108 and not one of the cells whose identification code is written in the cell buffer. In this case, according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, a call set up by the cellular telephone 101 is not allowed unless the call is to a cellular service provider.

In another embodiment of the present invention, unauthorized calls (ie, calls set up by a cellular telephone to an entity other than a cellular service provider outside of the home area) will not be rejected. In an alternative embodiment, the call is allowed but will be charged a cellular service fee rather than a wired fee.

In addition, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the groove area may be determined in a manner different from that described above with respect to FIG. 3. For example, the home region may include regions that can directly access all the cells identified in the cell buffer rather than one cell. In this case, unlimited operation at the wire rate is allowed only when all the cells of the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone. Optionally, the home region may include regions that can directly access some predetermined subset of cells. Direct access to two of the cells identified in the cell buffer may be requested, for example, before unlimited operation in the cellular service fee is allowed. In another alternative embodiment, the cellular telephone is considered to be in the home area when a cell not listed in the cell buffer is not directly accessible. In this case, direct access to some other cell not listed in the cell buffer implies that the cellular telephone is not in the home area. In another alternative embodiment, the cellular telephone is considered to be in the home area while the signals from the identified cells of the cell buffer are strong enough. Here, if a weak signal is received from the identified cell of the cell buffer, this means that the cellular telephone is outside the home area, and unlimited operation at a cellular service fee will not be allowed.

B. Receive Calls

Call reception processing is almost similar to call setup processing. If the cellular telephone is in the home area determined by the identified cells of the cell buffer, then the reception of a call at a wire rate is allowed. If the cellular phone is moved outside the home area, receiving calls at a wire rate is not allowed. In one embodiment of the invention, there is an exception for calls originating from the cellular service provider. The reception of the call here will be allowed at a wired rate regardless of the location of the cellular telephone.

C. Memory storage

The present invention requires a cellular telephone capable of recording identification codes of cells that can be accessed directly from a given location. The storage process is shown in FIG. In step 604, the cell buffer of the cellular telephone is cleared. In step 606, the process queries if the new cell not currently listed in the cell buffer is directly accessible by the cellular telephone. If no such cell exists, the process ends at 607. If such a cell exists, then at step 608 the process inquires whether the cell buffer is currently saturated. If the cell buffer is saturated, the cell identifier can no longer be added to the cell buffer, and the process ends at 607. If the cell buffer is not saturated, then at step 610, the identifier of the cell is added to the cell buffer. The process then repeats step 606. The storage process continues until no more accessible cells are found or the cell buffer is saturated.

D. Handoff

A special problem may arise that requires the cell handoff when the cellular telephone initiates a call from a location within the home area and then moves to another location during the call. The present invention handles this by ending the call or switching to cellular service charges if a new cell (handoff is made) is not identified in the cell buffer.

A processor that handles such handoff problem is shown in FIG. In step 704, the process inquires whether a handoff is requested. If a handoff is requested, in step 706 the process queries if the cell buffer lists the identification of the newly accessible cell (the cell to which the connection is immediately forwarded). If the cell is not listed in the cell buffer, the call ends at step 708. In an alternative embodiment, the call proceeds even if the cell is not listed in the cell buffer, but instead is serviced at a cellular service fee. As determined in step 706, if the newly accessible cell is listed in the cell buffer, the handoff proceeds to step 710. In step 712, the call continues.

Ⅳ. Environment

The invention is preferably implemented in software. Alternatively, the invention may be practiced using hardware or a combination of hardware and software. As a result, the invention may be practiced in computer systems or other processing systems. An example of such a computer system is shown in FIG. 8. The computer system 800 includes one or more processors, such as the processor 804. The processor 804 is coupled to a communication infrastructure (eg, a bus or a network). Various software implementations on such typical computer systems are described. After reading the above description, those skilled in the art will clearly understand how to implement the invention using other computer systems and / or computer architectures.

Computer system 800 also includes main memory 808, preferably random access memory (RAM), and also includes auxiliary memory 810. The secondary memory 810 may include a hard disk drive 812 and / or a removable storage drive 814 representing a floppy disk drive, magnetic tape drive, optical disk drive, or the like. The removable storage drive 814 reads and writes to the removable storage unit 818 in a known manner. Removable storage unit 818 represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, and the like that is read and written by removable storage drive 814. The removable storage unit 818 includes a computer usable storage medium having stored computer software and / or data.

In alternative embodiments, secondary memory 810 may include other similar means for receiving a computer program or other instruction loaded into computer system 800. The means may include, for example, a removable storage unit 822 and an interface 820. Examples of such means include program cartridges and cartridge interfaces (such as those found in video game devices), removable memory chips (such as EPROM or PROM) and associated sockets, other removable storage units 822 and interfaces 820. Means for causing the software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 822 to the computer system 800.

Computer system 800 also includes a communication interface 824. Communication interface 824 allows software and data to be transferred between computer system 800 and external devices. Examples of communication interface 824 may include a modem, a network interface (eg, an Ethernet card), a communication port, a PCMCIA slot and a card, and the like. Software and data transmitted over communication interface 824 may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals that may be received by communication interface 824. The signals 828 are provided to the communication interface 824 via the communication path 826. The communication path 826 carries a signal 828 and can be established using wires or cables, optical fiber, telephone lines, cellular telephone links, RF links, and other communication channels.

In this document, the terms "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium" are generally used to refer to removable storage drive 814, hard disk installed in hard disk drive 812, and signal 828. The computer program product is a means for providing software to computer system 800.

The computer program (also referred to as computer control logic) is stored in main memory 808 and / or auxiliary memory 810. The computer program may be received via the communication interface 824. When the above computer program is executed, the computer system 800 can implement the present invention discussed above. In particular, when the computer program is executed, the processor 804 may execute the process of the present invention. Thus, the computer program represents a controller of computer system 800. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the process by which the cellular telephone is allowed (or rejected) to set up or receive a call, remembers and records the identifiers of the accessible cells, and performs the cell handoff all in computer control logic. Is performed by. The invention is carried out using software, which can be stored in a computer program and loaded into computer system 800 using removable storage drive 814, hard disk drive 812, or communication interface 824. have.

Ⅴ. conclusion

While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that this is by way of illustration only and not limitation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the embodiments described above, but only by the following claims.

Claims (21)

A method of limiting the mobility of a cellular telephone in a cellular communication system, (a) identifying a cell that is directly accessible by the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is in a home location; (b) writing the identification code of the cell in the cellular telephone internal cell buffer; (c) blocking the cellular telephone from operating at a predetermined wired rate when the cellular telephone is outside of the home area determined by the cells. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: (Iii) blocking outgoing calls to entities other than cellular service providers or emergency services when the cellular telephone is outside of the home area; (Ii) blocking incoming call from an entity other than a cellular service provider or emergency response when the cellular telephone is outside of the home area; (Iii) allowing the outgoing call setup when the cellular telephone is in the home area; And (Iii) allowing the incoming call to be received when the cellular telephone is in the home area. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: (Iii) allowing the outgoing call setup regardless of the location of the cellular telephone; (Ii) charging a predetermined fixed rate for the set outgoing call when the cellular telephone is in the home area; (Iii) charging a predetermined cellular service fee for the established outgoing call when the cellular telephone is not in the home area; (Iii) allowing the incoming call to be received regardless of the location of the cellular telephone; (Iii) charging the predetermined landline fee for the received incoming call when the cellular telephone is in the home area; And (Iii) charging the predetermined cellular service fee for the received incoming call when the cellular telephone is not in the home area. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises terminating the ongoing call when the cellular telephone attempts to handoff to a cell that is not identified in the cell buffer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes charging the predetermined cellular service fee for the ongoing call when the cellular telephone attempts to handoff to a cell that is not identified in the cell buffer. How to feature. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the home area includes a geographic area that can directly access the subset of cells in which an identification code is written in the cell buffer, wherein the subset is a total number of cells operating in a cellular communication system. And a smaller number of predetermined sizes. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the home area comprises a geographic area within which the cellular telephone can directly access all the cells for which an identification code is written in the cell buffer. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the home area comprises a geographic area in which the cellular telephone can directly access at least one of the cells with an identification code written in the cell buffer. The method of claim 1, wherein the groove region, (Iii) all the cells with an identification code written in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone, and (Ii) the signals originating from said cells and received by said cellular telephone comprise a geographic area having a signal strength equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum signal strength. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the home area comprises a geographical area away from the cells in which an identification code is written in the cell buffer and not directly accessible by the cellular telephone to other cells. A system for limiting the mobility of a cellular telephone in a cellular communication system, (Iii) identification means for identifying cells that are directly accessible by the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is in a home area; (Ii) recording means for recording the identification codes of the cells in an internal cell buffer of the cellular telephone; And (Iii) blocking means for blocking operation of the cellular telephone at a predetermined wire rate when the cellular telephone is outside the home area determined by the cell. The method of claim 11, wherein the blocking means, (Iii) configuration blocking means for blocking an outgoing call setup to a cellular service provider or an entity other than 911 when the cellular telephone is outside the home area; (Ii) reception blocking means for blocking reception of an incoming call from a cellular service provider or an entity other than 911 when the cellular telephone is outside the home area; (Iii) home area setting allowance means for allowing the outgoing call setting when the cellular telephone is in the home area; And (Iii) home area reception allowing means for allowing the incoming call reception when the cellular telephone is in the home area. The method of claim 11, wherein the blocking means, (Iii) setting allowance means for allowing setting of the outgoing call regardless of the position of the cellular telephone; (Ii) outgoing landline charging means for charging a predetermined landline charge for said set outgoing call when said cellular telephone is in said home area; (Iii) outgoing cellular service charging means for charging a predetermined cellular service charge for the set outgoing call when the cellular telephone is not in the home area; (Iii) reception permission means for allowing reception of the incoming call regardless of the location of the cellular telephone; (Iii) incoming landline charging means for charging the predetermined landline charge for the incoming call received when the cellular telephone is in the home area; (Iii) incoming cellular service billing means for charging the predetermined cellular service fee for the incoming call received when the cellular telephone is in the home area. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the blocking means comprises handoff termination means for terminating the ongoing call when the cellular telephone attempts to handoff to the cell not identified in the cell buffer. 12. The cellular handoff charge system of claim 11, wherein the blocking means charges an ongoing call at the predetermined cellular service fee when the cellular telephone attempts to handoff to the cell that is not identified in the cell buffer. System comprising means. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the home area comprises a geographic area that can directly access the subset of cells in which an identification code is written in the cell buffer, wherein the subset is a total number of cells operating in a cellular communication system. Less number of predetermined sizes. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the home area comprises a geographic area that can directly access all the cells in which an identification code is written in the cell buffer. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the home area comprises a geographic area that can directly access at least one of the cells with an identification code written in the cell buffer. The method of claim 11, wherein the groove area, (Iii) all the cells with an identification code written in the cell buffer are directly accessible by the cellular telephone, and (Ii) signals originating from the cells and received by the cellular telephone comprise a geographic area having a signal strength equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum signal strength. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the home area comprises a geographical area away from the cells in which an identification code is written in the cell buffer and not directly accessible by the cellular telephone to other cells. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium incorporating computer readable program code means for executing on a computer an application that limits the mobility of a cellular telephone in a cellular communication system, comprising: (a) first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to identify cells directly accessible by the cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is in a home area; (b) second computer readable program code means for causing a computer to write the identification codes of the cells in a cell buffer inside the cellular telephone; And (c) third computer readable program code means for causing a computer to block the operation of the cellular telephone at a predetermined wire rate when the cellular telephone is outside the home area determined by the cells.