US6188897B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile station roaming in a multiple service provider area
Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
•
Filing: 1998-08-17
•
Granted: 2001-02-13
•
Expires: 2018-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling roaming in a multiple service provider environment. When a mobile station determines that it can no longer obtain acceptable service from a primary service provider, the mobile station determines whether it is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area. If it is, then the mobile station is permitted to obtain service from a secondary service provider (i.e. roam). If it is determined that the mobile station is not operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area, then the mobile station is prevented from roaming for a time period which allows the mobile station to emerge from a presumed coverage hole.
Inventors
- 👤 Roderick Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/24; H04W36/32; H04W36/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of: determining that acceptable service is no longer available from said primar service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and if said mobile station is not operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area, preventing said mobile station from obtaining service from said secondary service provider.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of: determining that acceptable service is no longer available from said primar service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and if said mobile station is not operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area, preventing said mobile station from obtaining service from said secondary service provider.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said message comprises a neighbor list.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprises the step of: determining that said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area if said neighbor list contains an identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said message comprises an indication that said base station is a periphery base station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said message comprises an identification of said base station, said step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprises the step of: looking up said identification in a stored list of base stations, said list indicating whether said base station is a periphery base station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider is an identification for a dummy control channel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of: determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and obtaining service from said secondary service provider if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of: determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and obtaining service from said secondary service provider if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said message comprises a neighbor list.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprises the step of: determining that said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area if said neighbor list contains an identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said message comprises an indication that said base station is a periphery base station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said message comprises an identification of said base station, said step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprises the step of: looking up said identification in a stored list of base stations, said list indicating whether said base station is a periphery base station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider is an identification for a dummy control channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
A mobile station capable of operating by obtaining service from a primary service provider or a secondary service provider in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from said primary service provider and said secondary service provider, said mobile station comprising: a processor for executing stored program instructions for controlling the operation of the mobile station; a memory storing said program instructions, said program instructions defining the steps of: determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and obtaining service from said secondary service provider only if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
143 words
A mobile station capable of operating by obtaining service from a primary service provider or a secondary service provider in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from said primary service provider and said secondary service provider, said mobile station comprising: a processor for executing stored program instructions for controlling the operation of the mobile station; a memory storing said program instructions, said program instructions defining the steps of: determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider; evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station; determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation; and obtaining service from said secondary service provider only if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mobile station of claim 13 wherein said message comprises a neighbor list.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
The mobile station of claim 14 wherein said stored program instructions defining the step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprise program instructions defining the step of: determining that said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area if said neighbor list contains an identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mobile station of claim 13 wherein said message comprises an indication that said base station is a periphery base station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
The mobile station of claim 13 wherein said message comprises an identification of said base station, said memory further storing a list of base stations, said list indicating whether said base station is a periphery base station, and wherein said stored program instructions defining the step of determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area further comprise program instructions defining the step of looking up said identification in said stored list of base stations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile station of claim 15 wherein said identification of a control channel of said secondary service provider is an identification for a dummy control channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4903320A
Cited
US4905301A
Cited
US5561845A
Cited
US5586170A
Cited
US5649291A
Cited
US5862490A
Cited
US5815808A
Cited
US5884157A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-13 | 2004-08-14 | 2005-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-13 | 2008-08-14 | 2009-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-13 | 2012-08-14 | 2013-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |