Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A cellular telecommunications network, characterised in that it permits communication with the subscriber equipment of at least two separate subscriber systems (e.g. GSM,MCN), in that the cells (CI,CII,A,B,C) of the network cannot all be used by the equipment of each of the systems (e.g. GSM,MCN), and by means for respectively transmitting from the cells (CI,CII,A,B,C) signals (LAI) identifying the particular subscriber systems (e.g. GSM,MCN) whose equipments can use the cells (CI,CII,A,B,C), and in that each subscriber equipment (MS) includes means operative in response to receipt of such identifying signal (LAI) for producing a responding signal identifying the subscriber system (e.g. GSM,MCN) to which the equipment belongs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
26 words
A network according to claim 1, characterised in that each responding signal is a signal dependent on the Class or power of the subscriber equipment (MS).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
176 words
A cellular telephone network, characterised in that it is adapted to serve subscribers to a macrocellular system (e.g. GSM) and also to serve subscribers to a microcellular system (e.g. MCN), in that it defines a plurality of cells (CI,CII,A,B,C) which can all be used by subscribers to the macrocellular system (GSM) but which cannot all be used by subscribers to the microcellular system (MCN), and in that the cells are grouped so that the cells of each such group (CI;CII;A,B,C) all transmit the same Location Area Identity signal (LAI) which differs from the LAI transmitted by the cells of at least all the other adjacent groups (CI;CII;A,B,C), and by means in each subscriber equipment (MS) to respond to a received LAI by transmitting a responding signal identifying whether the equipment belongs to the macrocellular (GSM) or the microcellular system (MCN), and means in the network for blocking service to equipment identified as belonging to the microcellular system (MCN) unless the LAI identifies the group of cells as being available for use by subscribers to that system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A network according to claim 3, characterised in that the cells (A,B,C) available for use by the subscribers to the microcellular system (MCN) are geographically smaller than the other cells (CI,CII).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A network according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the Class or power of the equipment of the microcellular system (MCN) is less than the power of the equipments of the subscribers to the macrocellular system (GSM), and in that the responding signal is a signal indicating the power of the respective equipment.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of operating a cellular telephone network (e.g. GSM), characterised in that it permits it also to offer service over part, only, of its area to subscribers to a microcellular system (e.g. MCN), in that the cells (A,B,C) available for use by subscribers to the microcellular network (MCN) and defining the said part of the area are arranged to broadcast a Location Area Identity signal (LAI) differing from the LAI's broadcast by cells (CI,CII) available for the macrocellular subscribers only, and by the step of blocking the service to any equipment which responds to an LAI and whose transmitter power level identifies it as belonging to the microcellular system (MCN) unless the LAI to which it is responding is one broadcast by a cell (A,B,C) available for use by subscribers to the microcellular system (MCN).