Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A cellular telecommunications network characterised in that it permits communication with mobile subscriber equipment (MS) of at least two separate subscriber systems (e.g. GSM, MCN), in that the cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) of the network are not all permitted for use by the mobile equipment (MS) of each of the systems (GSM,MCN), and by means for each cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) for receiving a request for communication from or with mobile equipment (MS), measuring means responsive to such a request in respect of a particular cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) which is permitted for use by the requesting equipment to carry out respective measurements of the radio signal strengths between the equipment and cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) adjacent to the particular cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z), means operative when there is an available communication channel within the particular cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) to set up the requested communication by means of that channel, and means operative in the event of absence of such an available communication channel to set up the requested communication via an unoccupied one of the communication channels of any of the adjacent cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) in respect of which the said radio signal strength exceeds a predetermined minimum and which is also a cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) permitted for use by the requesting equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
A network according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the systems is a GSM system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A network according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that one of the systems is a microcellular system (MCN).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
165 words
A cellular telecommunications network, comprising means defining a plurality of cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) each having a predetermined plurality of communication channels by means of a selected one of which a mobile station (MS) can communicate by radio with another party, and means (BS) for each cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) for receiving a request for communication from or with a mobile station (MS), characterised by measuring means responsive to such a request in respect of a particular cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) to measure the radio signal strengths between the mobile station (MS) and cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) adjacent to the particular cell, and selecting means operative in response to absence of an available communication channel in the particular cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) and in dependence on the extent of occupation of the communication channels in the adjacent cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) to establish communication with the mobile station (MS) via an available communication channel in one of the adjacent cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z), provided that the respective measured radio signal strength relating to that cell exceeds a predetermined minimum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A network according to claim 4, characterised by blocking means for preventing the selecting means from selecting particular ones of the adjacent cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A network according to claim 5, characterised in that the blocking means blocks the selection of the said particular ones of the adjacent cells (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) depending on the identity of the mobile station (MS).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A network according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the measuring means is located in the mobile equipment or stations (MS).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of operating a GSM cellular telephone network in which a predetermined plurality of communications channels are provided within each cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) by means of which a mobile subscriber equipment (MS) may communicate with another party via the network, characterised in that the network also offers service over part, only, of its area to subscribers to a microcellular system (MCN), and by the steps of responding in each cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) to a request for service in that cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) from mobile equipment (MS) belonging to the microcellular system (MCN) by (a) denying such service if that cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) does not lie in the said part of the area, (b) providing such service via a communications channel in that cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) if that cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) does lie in the said part and that communications channel is available in that cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z), and (c) providing such service to that subscriber equipment (MS) via an unoccupied communications channel in an adjacent cell (CI,CII,X,Y,Z) if that adjacent cell lies in the said part of the area and the radio signal strength between that adjacent cell and the mobile equipment (MS) exceeds a predetermined minimum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 8, characterised by the step of causing (a) each GSM subscriber equipment (MS) requesting service from a particular cell (CI,CII), or (b) each microcellular subscriber equipment (MS) requesting service from a particular cell (X,Y,Z) lying in the said part of the area, to measure the signal strengths of the cells adjacent to the particular cell.