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Including hand-off based cryptographic alteration |
Wireless digital personal communications system having voice/data/image two-way calling and intercell hand-off5325419
Abstract
A wireless digital personal communications system (or PCS) having a plurality of intelligent base stations and portable handset terminals, each having a predetermined radio cell coverage area. The radio cell, radio-telephone PCS has a full ISDN interface. The personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network. The personal communications system has voice/data/image (or any combination thereof), and incoming and outgoing calling capability. The PCS is fully operational and compatible with any modulation approach selected The intercell protocol hand-off being provided through distributed logic which is implemented in software that is resident in the intelligent portable handset terminals, in the intelligent base stations, and in the public switched telephone network (or any switched network). Alternative embodiments of the present invention include a wireless digital personal communications system having authentication means for authenticating a remote device; a wireless digital personal communications system having a combination of authentication means for authenticating a remote device and security means for securing signal and message content between an intelligent base station and a remote device, the security means including a predetermined encryption and decryption technique; a wireless digital personal communications system having dynamic zone grouping of portable handset terminals; and a wireless digital personal communications system having call forwarding for unanswered calls.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel; and
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
2. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 1 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
3. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 2 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
4. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 1 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
5. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 1 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
6. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 1 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
7. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication routine for validating a remote device, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
8. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 7 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
9. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 8 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
10. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 7 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
11. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 7 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
12. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 7 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
13. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication and security routine for validating a remote device and for securing communications between a remote device and a radio cell base station means, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
14. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 13 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
15. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 14 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
16. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 13 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
17. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 13 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
18. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 13 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
19. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having dynamic zone groupings of remote devices, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
20. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 19 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
21. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 20 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
22. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 19 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
23. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 19 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
24. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 19 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
25. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having call forwarding for unanswered calls, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel; and
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
means for call forwarding any unanswered call to a predetermined location; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area; and
means for call forwarding any unanswered call to a predetermined location,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
26. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 25 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
27. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 26 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
28. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 25 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
29. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 25 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
30. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 25 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
31. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a public switched telephone network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a public switched telephone network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having intercell handoff provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the public switched telephone network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel; and
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a public switched telephone network means;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a public switched telephone network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one public switched telephone network means, each public switched telephone network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each public switched telephone network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the public switched telephone network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of public switched telephone networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network.
32. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 31 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
33. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 32 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
34. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 31 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
35. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 31 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
36. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 31 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
37. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a public switched telephone network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a public switched telephone network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication routine for validating a remote device, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the public switched telephone network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a public switched telephone network means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a public switched telephone network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
at least one public switched telephone network means, each public switched telephone network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each public switched telephone network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the public switched telephone network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of public switched telephone networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network.
38. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 37 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
39. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 38 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
40. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 37 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
41. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 37 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
42. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 37 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
43. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a public switched telephone network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a public switched telephone network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication and security routine for validating a remote device and for securing communications between a remote device and a radio cell base station means, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the public switched telephone network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a public switched telephone network means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a public switched telephone network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
at least one public switched telephone network means, each public switched telephone network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each public switched telephone network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the public switched telephone network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of public switched telephone networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network.
44. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 43 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
45. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 44 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
46. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 43 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
47. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 43 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
48. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 43 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
49. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a public switched telephone network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a public switched telephone network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having dynamic zone groupings of remote devices, said system having intercell handoff provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the public switched telephone network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a public switched telephone network means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a public switched telephone network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one public switched telephone network means, each public switched telephone network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each public switched telephone network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the public switched telephone network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of public switched telephone networks means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network.
50. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 49 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
51. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 50 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
52. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 49 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
53. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 49 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
54. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 49 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
55. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a public switched telephone network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a public switched telephone network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having call forwarding for unanswered calls, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the public switched telephone network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel; and
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a public switched telephone network means;
a plurality of portable handset terminal means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a public switched telephone network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one public switched telephone network means, each public switched telephone network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each public switched telephone network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the public switched telephone network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of public switched telephone networks means; and
means for call forwarding any unanswered call to a predetermined location; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area; and
means for call forwarding any unanswered call to a predetermined location,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network.
56. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 55 where the means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol, said second protocol is a transaction application protocol.
57. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 56 where said transaction application protocol is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) protocol.
58. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 55 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal feature profiles.
59. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 55 where the means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means includes a means for storing the portable handset terminal user profiles.
60. The wireless digital personal communications system of claim 55 where the radio cell coverage area has a radius of less than 5,280 feet.
61. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station sites having at least one radio cell base station means, each site having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel; and
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means;
a plurality of portable handset terminal sites, each portable handset terminal site operatively disposed initially with an associated radio cell base station site, each portable handset terminal site having a predetermined radio cell reception area, each portable handset terminal site having a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each radio cell reception area having a predetermined relationship with respect to said radio cell coverage area, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
62. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication routine for validating a remote device, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station sites having at least one radio cell base station means, each site having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
a plurality of portable handset terminal sites, each portable handset terminal site operatively disposed initially with an associated radio cell base station site, each portable handset terminal site having a predetermined radio cell reception area, each portable handset terminal site having a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each radio cell reception area having a predetermined relationship with respect to said radio cell coverage area, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area; and
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
63. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having a predetermined authentication and security routine for validating a remote device and for securing communications between a remote device and a radio cell base station means, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station sites having at least one radio cell base station means, each site having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
a plurality of portable handset terminal sites, each portable handset terminal site operatively disposed initially with an associated radio cell base station site, each portable handset terminal site having a predetermined radio cell reception area, each portable handset terminal site having a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each radio cell reception area having a predetermined relationship with respect to said radio cell coverage area, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal;
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means; and
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area;
means for authenticating each portable handset terminal means in a predetermined manner; and
means for securing communications between each portable handset terminal means and said radio cell base station means, said means for security including means for security in accordance with a predetermined encryption and decryption technique,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
64. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having dynamic zone groupings of remote devices, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station sites having at least one radio cell base station means, each site having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air;
a plurality of portable handset terminal sites, each portable handset terminal site operatively disposed initially with an associated radio cell base station site, each portable handset terminal site having a predetermined radio cell reception area, each portable handset terminal site having a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each radio cell reception area having a predetermined relationship with respect to said radio cell coverage area, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
65. A wireless digital personal communications system, said system having a plurality of predetermined areas of radio cell coverage, said system having incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof, said system having an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless traffic through a switched network and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network, said system having a service control point data base using transaction application protocols, said system having dynamic zone groupings of remote devices, said system having intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network, said system comprising in combination:
a plurality of radio cell base station sites having at least one radio cell base station means, each site having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each radio cell base station means including:
means for digital communications with the ISDN interface;
means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels;
means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming or outgoing calling on the assigned communications channel;
means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in said radio cell coverage area and a switched network means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air;
a plurality of portable handset terminal sites, each portable handset terminal site operatively disposed initially with an associated radio cell base station site, each portable handset terminal site having a predetermined radio cell reception area, each portable handset terminal site having a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each radio cell reception area having a predetermined relationship with respect to said radio cell coverage area, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each portable handset terminal means including:
means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a switched network means;
means for selecting a voice communications channel of an operatively disposed radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal; and
means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means;
at least one switched network means, each switched network means operatively disposed with said radio cell base station means, each switched network means including:
means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network means;
means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area;
means for converting ISDN protocol to a second protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means;
means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks means; and
means for grouping each portable handset terminal means into predetermined zone configurations, said configurations capable of being changed over the air; and
a service control point data base means including:
means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a specific radio cell coverage area,
whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a wireless digital personal communications systems having a plurality of intelligent base stations and intelligent portable handset terminals, each having a predetermined radio cell coverage area, and more particularly to a digital, radio cell, radio-telephone, personal communications system (or PCS) having a full ISDN interface, thereby facilitating direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network, the personal communications system having voice/data/image (or any combination thereof) and two-way full-duplex incoming and outgoing calling capability, and being fully operational and compatible with any modulation approach selected, with the intercell protocol handoff being provided through distributed logic which is implemented in software that is resident in the intelligent portable handset terminals, the intelligent base stations, and the public switched telephone network (or any switched network) equipped with a PCS service control data base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The increasing availability of mobile and portable communications over the past decade is freeing business and residential users from the physical constraints of a totally wired telecommunications network. Particularly, cellular communications systems, together with paging and other complementary services, brought true mobility to telecommunications services for the first time. Significant technical advances in mobile and portable technologies, as well as in new technologies such as digital transmission with respect to wireless telecommunications, have substantially expanded the number and types of wireless telecommunications services using the radio spectrum that can be made available to the user. These prospective services include, but are not limited to, advanced forms of cellular telephone service, advanced digital cordless telephone service, portable facsimile services, wireless CENTRE and other switching center basic services, wireless private branch exchange services, and wireless local area network services, and may be used through the existing public switched network or through alternative local wired networks (such as cable television systems). As such, digital personal communications systems can exist independently of, and in conjunction with, local wired networks, filling gaps that are existing in current communications systems, and also in creating new markets, many of which are yet to be defined. The advent of PCS will have a great impact on the future development and configuration of all telecommunications networks by significantly improving their flexibility and functionality. Accordingly, providers of PCS will have the ability to reach and serve existing and new markets nationally in an economic and responsive manner. It would be an advantage to construct a digital PCS network that could share the functionality of the Public Switched Telephone Network through a standardized interface (e.g., ISDN) that may currently exist, or are expected to exist, to efficiently provide a broad set of functions.
Personal communications requirements in the United States are rapidly changing as the demand for instantaneous communications increases due to increased mobility of the user. One of the advantages of PCS is that it will use a single communications device to reach anyone, anytime, anywhere. PCS will facilitate increased mobility and flexibility of the user, since this approach solves the underlying problem of being in constant communications with the user. PCS wireless will enable users not to miss important calls, as well as reduce the time and expense in returning calls. PCS combines the functionality of radio and the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) technologies and infrastructure, and will accommodate full-duplex capabilities (two-way incoming and outgoing calling) and hand-off between radio cells (allowing users to freely move from one radio cell to another without interrupting the user's call within one switching center).
It is important to remember that there has been a steady increasing demand for new PCS services and technologies for numerous, sometimes incompatible, applications, namely, wireless private branch exchanges, smaller lighter portable cellular phones, portable fax machines, multi-channel cordless telephones, and additional services which are targeting the facilitation of contacting a particular individual user (rather than contacting a particular station). Current radio equipment and related services presently offered (i.e., cordless telephones, radio paging, and cellular radio) cannot fully meet the demands for these new types of PCS services. For example, cordless telephones are used in and around the home or office, operate on only a very few channels (10 or so) that are limited to use in the immediate vicinity of their associated base station. Radio paging services are only one-way and have limited capabilities. Cellular and specialized mobile radio services cannot meet the full range of expected demand for PCS. Over time, PCS will have standardized equipment with common modules in hardware resulting in improved reliability in the associated equipment which will also be less vulnerable to transient interference from external sources, have automatic call registration, automatic call forwarding, voice mail, faxing capability, easy roaming features, remote data transfer, increased privacy protection/caller ID/class services, increased battery life, and common protocols. In order to best fulfill this marketplace mandate, a digital PCS is a necessity. Wireless PCS may eventually eliminate the need to have a building hard-wired for communications. Generally speaking, PCS will facilitate communications equipment with additional features. A digital PCS will facilitate improvements in technical communications equipment, systems and design.
Presently, various digital personal communications systems are known in the art, none of which will allow direct interconnection and full featured switching of PCS call traffic through an ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network. Accordingly, it would be advantageous for any PCS to have a ISDN interface to connect a particular radio cell with the public switched telephone network, or any switched network, thereby allowing direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
Similarly, with respect to the various digital personal communications systems known in the art, none have the ability to directly handle user registration with the network, user validation by the network, voice/data/image information (or any combination thereof) and two-way full-duplex incoming and outgoing calling, and the capability of hand-off from one radio cell to a another radio cell via the public switched telephone network. Accordingly, it would be advantageous for any PCS to have these capabilities.
Another possible advantage would be if a digital PCS could be developed which would have a rather simplified system architecture resulting in associated logic being distributed, rather than being centralized. For example, it would be advantageous if a digital PCS could be developed which had its associated logic resident in the portable handset terminals, in the radio cell base stations, and in the switched network, thereby allowing the portable handset terminal to seek radio cell hand-off whenever required.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will have incoming or outgoing call capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will have a standard ISDN interface for connecting at least one radio cell with the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will facilitate the direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network, or any switched network.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will facilitate, but not limited to, the direct interconnection and switching of PCS call traffic through the ISDN interface and the public switched telephone network and not require an adjunct control unit located between the radio cell base station and the public switched telephone network.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will be able to convert ISDN protocol to a second protocol that provides interconnection to the distributed data base.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital PCS which can control the signaling information sent to the PSTN (or any switched network) from the portable handset terminals through the use of a zone grouping concept.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system having the ability to authenticate portable handset terminals to validate their identity.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system to encrypt information being transmitted between the portable handset terminal and the radio cell base station.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system that will have a distributed and partitioned Service Control Point data base, or PCS data base, containing portable handset terminal feature profiles and maintaining the location registration data for each portable handset terminal.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system having the radio cell protocol hand-off being provided through distributed logic implemented in software that is resident in the intelligent portable handset terminals, in the intelligent base stations, and in the public switched telephone network (or any switched network), equipped with a PCS service control point data base.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system having a simplified architecture with respect to system hardware and software configuration requirements and yet will be fully operational and compatible with any modulation approach selected to be used by the hardware in the system.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wireless digital personal communications system which will have increased reliability and flexibility, and which will fulfill anticipated demand for new state-of-the-art cellular communication products aimed at increasing personal communications with the user.
Briefly, according to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a wireless digital personal communications system, which has a plurality of radio cell areas of predetermined coverage. The system also has incoming and outgoing calling capability for either voice/data/image information, or any combination thereof. The system has an ISDN interface which allows for direct interconnection and switching of wireless and signaling traffic through a switched network (or the public switched telephone network) and for connecting at least one radio cell with a switched network (or the public switched telephone network). The system has a service control point data base which uses transaction application protocols for interconnection to the PCS Switching Center. The system has intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic that is resident in the portable handset terminals, distributed logic that is resident in the radio cell base stations, and distributed logic that is resident at predetermined locations in the switched network (or the public switched telephone network). The system comprises a plurality of radio cell base station means, each radio cell base station means having a predetermined coverage area, each radio cell base station means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each of the radio cell base station means including, means for digital communications with the ISDN interface, means for assigning a communications channel to a specific portable handset terminal means in the coverage area from a plurality of available communications channels, means for location registration of a portable handset terminal means within a radio cell coverage area for incoming calling on the assigned communications channel, and means for effectuating communications between each portable handset terminal means in the radio cell coverage area and the switched network (or public switched telephone network); a plurality of portable handset terminal means, each portable handset terminal means operative disposed with said radio cell base station means, each portable handset terminal means having means for simultaneously receiving and transmitting signal messages and a plurality of communications messages, each of the portable handset terminal means including means for initially selecting a radio cell base station means for location registration of the portable terminal means with the switched network (or public switched telephone network), means for selecting a voice communications channel of an associated radio cell base station means by scanning the available channels, comparing the quality of the signals, and then selecting the communications channel which has the best signal, and means for seeking and determining an intercell hand-off from an existing radio cell base station means to a second radio cell base station means; at least one switched network means (or public switched telephone network means) each switched network means (or public switched telephone network means) associated with the radio cell base station means, each of the switched network means (or public switched telephone network means) including means for connecting ISDN to each of the radio cell base station means to the switched network (or to the public switched telephone network), means for effectuating intercell hand-off from a first radio cell coverage area to a second radio cell coverage area; means for converting ISDN protocol to a transaction application protocol for interconnection to a service control point data base means, and means for determining and accepting calls to and from a plurality of switched networks (or public switched telephone network); and a service control point data base means including means for location registration of the portable handset terminal means with a plurality of specific radio cell coverage areas, whereby the personal communications system facilitates direct interconnection and switching of wireless call traffic through the ISDN interface and the switched network (or the public switched telephone network).
Alternative embodiments of the present invention include a wireless digital personal communications system having authentication means for authenticating a remote device; a wireless digital personal communications system having authentication means for authenticating a remote device and security means for securing signal and message content between an intelligent base station and a remote device, the security means including a predetermined encryption and decryption technique; a wireless digital personal communications system having dynamic zone grouping of portable handset terminals; and a wireless digital personal communications system having call forwarding for unanswered calls.
This invention is directed to solving these and other disadvantages of the prior art. Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as its organization, construction and operation, will be best understood from an examination of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system flowchart illustrating the total system functionality of the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a system flowchart illustrating the particular functionality of the distributed logic which is resident in the hand-held intelligent portable handset terminals associated with the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a system flowchart illustrating the particular functionality of the distributed logic which is resident in the intelligent base stations associated with the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a system flowchart illustrating the particular functionality of the distributed logic which is resident in the public switched telephone network associated with the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating registration of an intelligent portable handset terminal in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating authentication of an intelligent portable handset terminal, and security key derivation, in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating registration of an intelligent portable handset terminal in the roaming mode of operation in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention
FIG. 9 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating authentication of an intelligent portable handset terminal, and security key derivation, in the roaming mode of operation in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating call origination with respect to an intelligent portable handset terminal in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating an incoming call to an intelligent portable handset terminal in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating an incoming call to an intelligent portable handset terminal and the situation is "no answer" in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating an incoming call to an intelligent portable handset terminal and the situation is "user busy" in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating an incoming call to an intelligent portable handset terminal and the situation is "user not here" in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating an incoming call to an intelligent portable handset terminal and the situation is "interface busy" in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a time sequence diagrammatic flowchart illustrating the hand-off of an intelligent portable handset terminal in the wireless digital personal communications system in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The personal communications system of the present invention utilizes Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Advanced Intelligent Network Switches (AIN), Service Control Point (SCP), data base, and radio interfaces for various elements of the system. Accordingly, the following Bellcore technical references pertaining to ISDN, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) Switches, Service Control Point, are needed, but not limited to, the operation of the personal communications system of the present invention and are hereby incorporated by reference, namely: (i) "Advanced Intelligent Network 0.1 Switching Systems Generic Requirements" (TR-NWT-001284); (ii) "Advanced Intelligent Network 0.2 Switching Systems Generic Requirements" (TA-NWT-01298); (iii) "Advanced Intelligent Network 0.1 Switch Service Control Point Application Protocol Interface Generic Requirements" (TR-NWT-001285); (iv) "Advanced Intelligent Network 0.2 Switch Service Point Adjunct Interface Requirements" (TA-NWT-001299); (v) "ISDN Electronic Key Telephone Service" (TR-TSY-000205); (vi) "ISDN Access Call Control Switching And Signaling Requirements" (TR-TSY-000268); (vii) "Generic Guidelines For ISDN Terminal Equipment On Basic Access Interfaces" (SR-NWT-001953); (viii) "ISDN Layer 3 Protocol Details For The Support Of Supplementary Services" (TR-TSY-000861); (ix) "ISDN Hold Capability For Managing Multiple Independent Calls" (TR-TSY-000856); (x) "Additional Call Offering For Managing Multiple Independent Calls" (TR-TSY-000STET; and (xi) "Flexible Calling For Managing Multiple Independent Calls" (TR-TSY-000858). Furthermore, the Digital European Cordless Technology (DECT) European Telecom Standards Institute (DE/DES 300 175), has been referenced with respect to the radio interface and is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIG. 1 is a partial diagrammatic view illustrating the basic conceptual operation of the wireless digital personal communications system 10 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the wireless digital PCS 10 of the present invention utilizes the novel combination of a plurality of intelligent portable handset terminal(s) 12, or similar device(s), (also referred to as either portable handset terminal(s), or handset terminals, or terminals), a plurality of radio cell base station(s) 14 (also referred to as either intelligent base stations, or base stations, or IBS), PCS Switching Center 16 (including advanced intelligent network switche(s) and associated system(s)), and Service Control Point 18 to allow the PCS the capability of voice/data/image two-way calling, using radio cells 20, each radio cell have a predetermined area of coverage (i.e., to those skilled in the art the size of a radio cell includes, but is not limited to, a radio cell that has a radius up to, but not limited to, about 1 mile), and intercell hand-off provided through distributed logic resident in the intelligent portable handset terminals, as well as in the intelligent base stations and in the public switched telephone network 22 (or any switched network). The portable handset terminal 12 is a transmit and receive device that communicates with the intelligent base station.
The simplified PCS architecture utilizes standard ISDN network interfaces, a centralized database, and distributed logic or intelligence resident in the PCS radio portable handset terminals, the intelligent base stations, and the PCS Switching Center to provide a flexible system. Direct connections between the PCS Switching Center and the intelligent base stations allows small PCS intelligent base stations to be easily positioned in almost any location without sacrificing functionality. The primary physical components of the PCS system architecture include: (i) a plurality of radio cell portable handset terminals, essentially representing a phone, with associated logic to allow the portable handset terminal to register with an intelligent base station when entering a coverage zone (i.e., the intelligent base station which has a better, higher quality signal, and available channels), and initiates a hand-off when required; (ii) a plurality of intelligent base stations (e.g., indoor/outdoor base stations), which provide the radio access along with the corresponding ISDN interface to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), with distributed logic between the intelligent base stations and the PSTN such that no centralized real-time controller is required; (iii) a PCS Switching Center (PSC), essentially, a central office equipped with National ISDN and AIN hardware and software, with the hand-off between two adjacent radio cells being accomplished at the PSC as a result of the simplified architecture for the personal communications system; (iv) a Signaling Transfer Point (STP), essentially, a signaling node for a Signaling System 7 (SS7) network signaling software and hardware; (v) a plurality of Service Control Points, which are essentially a PSTN database equipped with SS7and AIN and additional software which maintains the PCS user's service feature capabilities and up-to-date current user location by intelligent base station for routing incoming calls; and (vi) a PCS Control Center (PCC), a center with computer and control systems performing administrative, provisioning, network management, and customer service functions.
Throughout the overall system, the PCS system utilizes the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) access lines and the Intelligent Network to provide the required hand-off(s) between adjacent radio cells, to deliver incoming calls to a specific radio cell, to provide registration of a portable handset terminal, and provide the portable handset terminal number for the portable handset terminal on call origination.
The radio cell portable handset terminal for the personal communications system provides high-quality digital voice communications, automatic location registration and intercell hand-off control.
At various locations throughout the personal communications system, the intelligent base stations provide the Radio Frequency (RF) link to the PCS portable handset terminals for accessing the PSTN. Additionally, the intelligent base stations are ISDN compatible and further provide radio channel management for incoming and outgoing calling, automatic channel selection, and incoming call alerting, and will collect operating and usage statistics. To allow the portable handset terminal to be used either at home or in the office, the intelligent base stations link the portable handset terminal to the PSTN.
The intelligent base stations are located either indoors or outdoors on buildings, street lights or utility poles throughout the coverage area. Each intelligent base station supports simultaneous conversations and provides handset access security, auto channel selection, billing data and built-in diagnostics. ISDN lines link the intelligent base stations to the telephone switched network.
The personal communications system control center (PCC), through comprehensive computer and dedicated control systems, is capable of performing portable handset terminal and intelligent base station provisioning, network management, specified customer service functions, and operate to control and administer the intelligent base stations and portable handset terminals throughout the personal communications system.
The PSTN has three main components, namely, (i) the PSC (a PCS Switching Center) with ISDN, where telephone central office switches equipped with National ISDN-1 and intelligent Network hardware and software; (ii) the Signaling Transfer Point (STP), which provides communications between the STP and the Service Control Point though suitable SS7 links, and (iii) the Service Control Point, where an intelligent network database exists maintaining user features records and user location. ISDN lines provide PSTN access for the PCS. The PSC performs traditional switching, routing and control functions. In addition, the telephone switch completes the hand-off between radio cells, when directed to do so by the portable terminal handset and intelligent base station. Standard ISDN signaling messages are converted to TCAP messages and directed to the Service Control Point by the STP for the PCS.
The PCS of the present invention creates certain system wide variables, namely, Registration, Authentication, Call Origination, Incoming Call, Hand-Off, Call Features, and Roaming.
Registration.
Generally, each portable handset terminal must be registered to allow the PSTN to locate the portable handset terminal for incoming calls. Registrations will take place when the portable handset terminal powers "on" in a radio cell, or receives a better or higher quality signal from a different zone. A zone may have multiple intelligent base stations. Registration will be performed according to class of service. If the portable handset terminal does not have two-way services, registration will not take place. When the portable handset terminal requests a registration it sends a location request message along with the portable handset terminal's identity. The intelligent base station formats a non-call message with the location request and portable handset terminal telephone number and PCS provider ID to be sent to the PCS Switching Center. The PCS Switching Center receives the message and performs a look-up on the access line and correlates that access line to its related zone number. The zone number is globally unique. The PCS Switching Center has a table within its data base that has all the intelligent base stations access line numbers and associated zone numbers. This affords the ability to broadcast to all intelligent base stations in a zone to locate a particular portable handset terminal, rather than track portable handset terminals to a particular intelligent base station. In some cases, however, a zone may be a single base station. The portable handset terminal can roam from one intelligent base station to another intelligent base station within a zone and not require registration. The PCS Switching Center formats a registration message with the portable handset terminal's identity. The message is now sent to the Service Control Point for registration. The Service Control Point temporarily stores the portable handset terminal information in its data base. The Service Control Point will now request an authentication of the portable handset terminal. This function is performed to verify that the portable handset terminal is allowed to use this PCS provider's network.
Authentication
Generally, the Service Control Point will request authentication of the portable handset terminal upon request for registration, call origination, and incoming call. The Service Control Point determines the user authentication key (UAK) from the providers data base. The UAK is a secret key or password which is known only to the portable handset terminal and the Service Control Point. Various algorithms can be used for purposes of authentication.
Call Origination
Generally, the portable handset terminal requests call origination. When this occurs, the portable handset terminal transmits a service request with the portable handset terminal identity to the intelligent base station. The intelligent base station receives the message with the portable handset terminal's identity. The intelligent base station formats the service request message to be forwarded to the PCS Switching Center. The PCS Switching Center receives the message and updates the activity block associated with the selected access line to indicate that the portable handset terminal is on an active call. The PCS Switching Center sends the service request with the portable handset terminal identity to the Service Control Point. The Service Control Point receives the request and initiates the authentication process for the portable handset terminal. The same authentication procedure is performed as described elsewhere herein.
After the Service Control Point compares RES1 and XRES1 and a match is found, a service acknowledgement message with the portable handset terminal identity and DCK is prepared and sent to the PCS Switching Center. The PCS Switching Center, upon receipt of the message, stores the DCK in the appropriate activity block holding the received portable handset terminal identity. The PCS Switching Center assembles a reply message with the portable handset terminal identity and DCK, provides dial-tone on the intelligent base station access line's "B" channel and sends the message to the intelligent base station. The intelligent base station receives the service reply from the PCS Switching Center and stores the DCK against the portable handset terminal's identity to cipher information between the portable handset terminal and the intelligent base station for this call. The intelligent base station sends the reply to the portable handset terminal along with dial-tone. Once the portable handset terminal receives dial-tone the portable handset terminal proceeds with the call. The call proceeds through the PCS Switching Center like any other call. At the end of the call, the connection is dropped and the portable handset terminal is back in a stand-by mode. All messages between intelligent base station and portable handset terminals are ciphered (as an option).
Incoming Call
Generally, the interaction of each component comprises the system for PCS. The intelligent base stations can be grouped in zones as to improve the ability to receive calls from the PSTN, although in some cases one base station may define a zone. In the case of incoming calling, the Service Control Point will maintain the location of the portable handset terminal by using the registration information received at the last time of registration. Once the routing number is found for the PCS user, the Service Control Point will send an SS7 message to the PCS Switching Center. This message will prompt the PCS Switching Center to look up the intelligent base station zone routing number. The PCS Switching Center will then send the message to all the intelligent base stations in that zone. When the portable handset terminal is found the portable handset terminal responds back through the intelligent base station and PCS Switching Center to the Service Control Point. The Service Control Point will then request authentication of the portable handset terminal. In the authentication process, the Service Control Point will route the request to the PCS Switching Center and the intelligent base station to the portable handset terminal. When the portable handset terminal calculates the result of the authentication algorithm, the portable handset terminal transmits the result back to the Service Control Point. If the authentication process is accepted, the Service Control Point will send a cipher key to the intelligent base station. The cipher key will be used for ciphering messages between the portable handset terminal and the intelligent base station. The messages (e.g., conversations) will not be ciphered over the PSTN network. At the same time the incoming call will be routed to the portable handset terminal through an alerting process and a connect process.
Hand-Off
Generally, during a stable call when the PCS user walks toward the end of the radio cell coverage area, the portable handset terminal may detect a better, higher quality signal from another intelligent base station. When this occurs, the portable handset terminal initiates a hand-off. Between the portable handset terminal and the new intelligent base station (IBS2), hand-off begins. IBS2 sends a message to the PCS Switching Center to request hand-off. The PCS Switching Center allocates a three port bridge for the hand-off between IBS1 and IBS2 access lines. The PCS Switching Center sends the acknowledgement to IBS2 along with DCK. DCK is sent to the new intelligent base station so it can send and receive messages from the portable handset terminal in a ciphered mode. The PCS Switching Center attaches the call to IBS2 access line, then sends the hand-off request to the old intelligent base station IBS1. IBS1 receives the message and accepts the hand-off. Once the three way connection is established, the portable handset terminal issues a disconnect command to IBS1. The call is now stable on IBS2.
Call Features
Generally, during the process of receiving a call, the PCS subscriber has options which may determine the call routing on a "no-answer", "busy", or "PCS user not found". Voice Mail allows a PCS user to forward unanswered incoming calls to a commercial voice mail system. Callers can automatically leave messages in response to a personal announcement from a PCS user. The calling party can receive "busy" tone if the PSC user is currently using the portable handset terminal. If the user cannot be found, the call can be transferred to an announcement indicating the status of the PCS user. The intelligent base station will send the PCS Switching Center a message indicating the status of what the intelligent base station found pertaining to the call.
Roaming
Generally, roaming service will be available to PCS subscribers; this will allow the user to roam out of the service area and still be capable of making and receiving calls from another service provider. For authentication, information from the PCS users regular Service Control Point will be required. The functions are the same as for calls made in their own service area. The PSTN will route messages and verify validity of the calls before the PCS user can receive a call or originate a call.
Radio Interface
The PCS of the present invention is fully compatible with any and all radio interfaces that have a signaling control channel and a message content channel. PCS facilitates call handling and radio cell-to-radio cell hand-off.
PCS Network Facilities
The messaging and conversations are transmitted over standard National ISDN facilities. Basic Rate ISDN Interfaces are comprised of two "B" channels and one "D" channel for signaling the ISDN interface between the intelligent base station and the PCS Switching Centers; Primary Rate ISDN Interfaces are comprised of twenty three "B" channels and one "D" channel for signaling the ISDN interface between the intelligent base station and the PCS Switching Centers. Messages sent between PCS Switching Center and the Service Control Point will utilize SS7 facilities.
Generally speaking with respect to synchronization of the PCS, some radio technologies may require synchronization to prevent adjacent base station radio frequency interference, and provide smooth hand-off. These conditions may require multiple synchronization techniques namely, (i) superframe frequency synchronization, and (ii) adjacent base station zero reference phase synchronization. With respect to (i) supra., the superframe frequency synchronization is accomplished by the radio cell alignment of the air interface superframe frequency synchronization with the ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) superframe frequency synchronization (4096 KHz). The DSL superframe frequency synchronization is aligned with the PSTN superframe frequency synchronization. The DSL superframe frequency synchronization is consistent with the requirements in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) T1.601. The PSTN superframe frequency synchronization is consistent with the requirements in Synchronization Interface Standards for Digital Networks (ANSI T1.101--1987). This superframe frequency synchronization alignment of the air interface for all radio cells connected to the PSTN provides superframe frequency synchronization back to a common source. With respect to (ii) supra., the adjacent radio cell zero reference phase synchronization can be accomplished using time base capabilities associated with several technologies (individually or in combination with other technologies). A brief listing of various zero reference synchronization techniques utilizing these technologies include: (i) radio frequency overlapping of cell radii; (ii) commercial television broadcast signal; (iii) global position satellites and time base receivers; and (iv) PSTN wireless connectivity.
FIG. 2 is a system flowchart illustration the total system functionality of the wireless digital personal communications system 10 of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, beginning with Start block 30, the portable handset terminal is tested to determine if the portable handset terminal is "on", or not, by the test in the Terminal On block 32. If the portable handset terminal is determined to be "on", the portable handset terminal is then tested to determine if the portable handset terminal is in a new zone, or not, by the test in the Terminal New Zone block 34. If the portable handset terminal is "off", the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to b "on" in accordance with block 32.
Once the portable handset terminal is determined to be "on", the portable handset terminal is tested to determine if the terminal is in a new zone by the test in the Terminal New Zone block 34. If the answer is affirmative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is in a new zone, then the Request Registration/Route Message To IBS/PSC/SCP routine in block 36 is initialized to request registration. After the Request Registration/Route Message To IBS/PSC/SCP routine in block 36 is completed, the routine SCP Request Authentication/Authentication OK/Registration Terminal in block 38 is initialized to authenticate terminal. After the SCP Request Authentication/Authentication OK/Registration Terminal routine in block 38 is completed, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32.
If the portable handset terminal is determined not to be in a new zone, then the portable handset terminal is tested for the presence of an active call by the Terminal Active Call test in block 40. If the answer to the Terminal Active Call test in block 40 is negative, indicating that the portable handset terminal does not have an active call, then the portable handset terminal is tested to determine if the portable handset terminal is terminating a call by the Terminal Terminating Call test in block 54.
If the answer to the Terminal Active Call test in block 40 is affirmative, indicating that the portable handset terminal has an active call, then the portable handset terminal is immediately tested to determine if the portable handset terminal is requesting a radio cell hand-off by the Terminal Requesting Hand-off test in block 42. If the answer to the Terminal Requesting Hand-off test in block 42 is negative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is not requesting a radio cell hand-off, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32. If the answer to the Terminal Requesting Hand-off test in block 42 is affirmative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is requesting a radio cell hand-off, then the Request Hand-off IBS2 routine in block 44 is initialized to begin hand-off. After the Request Hand-off IBS2 routine in block 44 is completed the IBS2 Receive Request/Forward routine in block 46 is initialized to forward request to PCS Switching Center. After the IBS2 Receive Request/Forward routine in block 46 is completed, the PSC Setup Acknowledgement To IBS1 routine in block 48 is initialized to inform IBS1 of hand-off. After the PSC Setup Acknowledgement To IBS1 routine in block 48 is completed, the PSC Bridge Call routine in block 50 is initialized to bridge the call. After the PSC Bridge Call routine in block 50 is completed, the PSC Connect Call/Drop IBS1 routine in block 52 is initialized to drop bridge to IBS1. Thereafter, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32.
If the answer to the Terminal Active Call test in block 40 is negative, indicating that the portable handset terminal does not have an active call, then the portable handset terminal is tested to determine if the portable handset terminal terminating a call by the Terminal Terminating Call test in block 54. If the answer to the Terminal Terminating Call test in block 54 is affirmative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is receiving a call, then the Incoming SCP Locate Terminal routine in block 56 is initialized to locate portable handset terminal.
If the answer to the Terminal Terminating Call test in block 54 is negative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is not terminating a call, then the portable handset terminal is tested to determine if the portable handset terminal is originating a call by the Terminal Originating Call test in block 58. If the answer to the Terminal Originating Call test in block 58 is negative, indicating that the portable handset terminal is not originating a call, then the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32. If the answer to the Terminal Originating Call test in block 58 is positive, indicating that the terminal is originating a call, the Terminal Request Call Origination To IBS routine in block 60 is initialized to request call origination. After the Terminal Request Call Origination To IBS routine in block 60 is completed, the IBS Receive Message Format/Send To PSC routine in block 62 is initialized to format and send message to PSC. After the IBS Receive Message Format/Send To PSC routine in block 62 is completed, the PSC Receive Message Format/Send To SCP routine in block 64 is initialized to format and send request to the Service Control Point. After the PSC Receive Message Format/Send To SCP routine in block 64 is completed, the SCP Request Authentication routine in block 66 is initialized to authenticate portable handset terminal. After the SCP Request Authentication routine in block 66 is completed, the Authentication OK Send Routing Information To PSC routine in block 68 is initialized to send routing information to PSC. After the Authentication OK Send Routing Information To PSC routine in block 68 is completed, the PSC Route Call routine in block 70 is initialized to route the call. After the PSC Route Call routine in block 70 is completed, the Call Connect routine in block 72 is initialized to connect the called and calling parties. After the Call Connect routine in block 72 is completed, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32.
After the Incoming SCP Locate Terminal routine in block 56 is completed, the location of the terminal is tested for by the Locate Terminal test in block 74. If the answer is negative, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventually found to be "on" in accordance with block 32. If the answer is affirmative, the SCP Request Terminal Authentication routine in block 76 is initialized to request portable handset terminal authentication. After the SCP Request Terminal Authentication routine in block 76 is completed, the Authentication OK routine in block 78 is initialized to compare results of the portable handset terminal with the expected result from the Service Control Point. After the Authentication OK routine in block 78 is completed, the PSC Look-up Routing IBS Number routine in block 80 is initialized to determine route number for incoming call. After the PSC Look-up Routing IBS Number routine in block 80 is completed, the PSC Broadcast To IBS In-Zone routine in block 82 is initialized to broadcast a signal to all intelligent base stations in zone. After the PSC Broadcast To IBS In Zone routine in block 82 is completed, the IBS Broadcast To Terminal routine in block 84 is initialized to locate portable handset terminal.
After the IBS Broadcast To Terminal routine in block 84 is competed, the area is tested to determine if a terminal is present within the area by the Terminal In Area test in block 86. If the answer to the Terminal In Area test of block 86 is positive, indicating that a terminal is present in the particular area, the Terminal Respond Call Connect routine in block 88 is initialized to indicate portable handset terminal location and connect call. After the Terminal Respond Call Connect routine in block 88 is completed, the PCS will continue testing through the Terminal On block 32 until the portable handset terminal is eventu |
