EP0568824A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for marking zones in a cellular service area
Assignee: US WEST NEW VECTOR GROUP Inc
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Filing: 1993-04-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a system for marking a plurality of zones within a cellular service area. A plurality of marker transmitters disposed throughout a cellular area transmit a zone identification signal to a mobile or portable cellular receiver. Each zone identification signal is transmitted in a radio frequency coverage area that is substantially coincident with the boundary of a zone. The mobile unit attempts to receive the zone identification signal in order to determine whether it is in the zone. If the mobile unit has determined it is in a zone, it transmits a signal on a reverse control channel to a cell site transceiver that in turn transmits a signal to a mobile telephone switching office. The mobile telephone switching office then can adjust the rate charged on a telephone call made by a user of the mobile unit based on the unit's location within the zone. The marker transmitters are programmed to transmit the zone identification signal during a predefined time slot so that more than one marker transmitter may simultaneously transmit the zone identification signal, thereby increasing the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit. In order to reduce the area in which a zone identification signal may be received by a mobile unit, the marker transmitters may transmit a jamming signal at the same time as the zone identification signal is transmitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Dino J. Vendetti
- 👤 Don H. Atherly
- 👤 Ching Chuang
- 👤 Elliott H. Drucker
- 👤 Michael J. Dunn
- 👤 Ronald E. Foerster
- 👤 David G. Shoenmaker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/10; G01S5/14; H04K; H04K3/00; H04K3/40; H04K3/41; H04K3/43; H04K3/80; H04K3/82; H04K3/825; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8033; H04W60/00; H04K2203/00; H04K2203/10; H04K2203/16; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/7435; H04W64/00; H04W8/00; H04W8/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for marking a predefined zone within an area serviced by a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell site transceivers that transmit and receive signals to and from a mobile unit on one or more control channels, and for determining if a mobile unit is located within the predefined zone, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a zone identification signal that identifies the zone on a marker channel, the zone identification signal being transmitted from a marker transmitter having a radio frequency coverage area that includes at least part of the zone; shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter so that the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit in an area that substantially corresponds to the boundaries of the predefined zone; and monitoring the marker channel at the mobile unit and transmitting a signal from the mobile unit that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the zone identification signal is detected by the mobile unit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for marking a predefined zone within an area serviced by a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell site transceivers that transmit and receive signals to and from a mobile unit on one or more control channels, and for determining if a mobile unit is located within the predefined zone, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a zone identification signal that identifies the zone on a marker channel, the zone identification signal being transmitted from a marker transmitter having a radio frequency coverage area that includes at least part of the zone; shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter so that the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit in an area that substantially corresponds to the boundaries of the predefined zone; and monitoring the marker channel at the mobile unit and transmitting a signal from the mobile unit that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the zone identification signal is detected by the mobile unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein the markerchannel on which the zone identification signal is transmitted is separate from the control channels used by the cell site transceivers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter further comprises the step of: transmitting the zone identification signal from a plurality of marker transmitters at substantially the same time, to thereby increase the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter further comprises the step of: transmitting a jamming signal from a second marker transmitter at substantially the same time as a zone identification signal is being transmitted from the first mentioned marker transmitter, to thereby reduce the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of: transmitting a plurality of zone identification signals from a plurality of marker transmitters to mark a plurality of zones within the area serviced by the cellular telephone system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of Claim 5, wherein the plurality of marker transmitters sequentially transmit a marker signal that includes the plurality of zone identification signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 6, further comprising; dividing the marker signal into a plurality of time slots, wherein each zone identification signal that identifies a zone is transmitted during one of the time slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of Claim 6, wherein the step of shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter further comprises the step of: synchronizing the plurality of marker transmitters to transmit a zone identification signal during a single time slot to increase the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitter further comprises the step of: synchronizing a second marker transmitter to simultaneously transmit a jamming signal during a time slot when a zone identification signal is being transmitted from the first mentioned marker transmitter to thereby reduce the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of: varying the power at which a markertrans- mitter transmits the zone identification signal to shape the marker transmitter's radio frequency coverage area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of Claim 4, further comprising the step of: varying the power at which a markertrans- mitter transmits the jamming signal to vary the amount of reduction in the area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of Claim 7, further comprising the step of: transmitting a synchronize code at the beginning of each time slot from the plurality of marker transmitters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of Claim 5, further comprising the steps of: assigning a password to correspond to each of the plurality of zones; transmitting each of the passwords within the zone to which the password corresponds; and monitoring the marker channel at the mobile unit to detect a password and transmitting the detected password from the mobile unit to a mobile telephone switching office, wherein the mobile telephone switching office analyzes the password received from the mobile unit to determine if the mobile unit is within the zone to which the password corresponds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 2, wherein the markerchannel is a cellular traffic channel normally allocated to a cell site transceiver located within the area serviced by the cellular telephone system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted from the mobile unit that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone is transmitted on a reverse control channel that exists between the mobile unit and a cell site transceiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting the signal from the mobile unit is performed after a user of the mobile unit has activated a send button on the mobile unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein the zone identification signal comprises a digital code that is stored within the mobile unit, the method further comprising the step of: comparing the detected zone identification signal with the digital code stored in the mobile unit and transmitting the signal that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the received zone identification signal corresponds to the stored digital code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of Claim 5, further comprising the step of: transmitting information from a zone computer to each of the plurality of marker transmitters, the information indicating the time at which the zone identification signals are to be transmitted by each of the plurality of marker transmitters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of Claim 18, wherein the information transmitted from the zone computer includes a password that is to be transmitted for each zone and a power level at which the markers transmitters are to transmit the marker signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of Claim 7, further comprising the step of: transmitting more than one zone identification signal during a single time slot from more than one marker transmitter, provided thatthe radio frequency coverage areas of the marker transmitters do not overlap.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of Claim 5, further comprising the step of: monitoring the plurality of marker transmitters for a failure and, in the event a marker transmitter fails, transmitting a zone identification signal from at least one marker transmitter having a radio frequency coverage area that overlaps the radio frequency coverage area of the failed marker transmitter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing an indication to a user of the mobile unitwhetherthe mobile unit has received the zone identification signal that corresponds to the predefined zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
154 words
A zone marker system for use in marking a zone within a cellular telephone system that includes a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from a mobile telephone unit on one or more control channels in order to provide cellular telephone service within a cell site coverage area, the zone marker system comprising: a plurality of marker transmitters for transmitting one or more zone identification signals on a marker channel wherein the marker transmitters transmit the zone identification signal in a radio frequency coverage area that includes at least part of the zone; means for shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitters so that the zone identification signals can be received by a mobile unit that substantially corresponds to the boundaries of the zone; and receiver means for receiving a signal from a mobile unit that indicates whether the mobile unit has received the zone identification signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
154 words
A zone marker system for use in marking a zone within a cellular telephone system that includes a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives signals to and from a mobile telephone unit on one or more control channels in order to provide cellular telephone service within a cell site coverage area, the zone marker system comprising: a plurality of marker transmitters for transmitting one or more zone identification signals on a marker channel wherein the marker transmitters transmit the zone identification signal in a radio frequency coverage area that includes at least part of the zone; means for shaping the radio frequency coverage area of the marker transmitters so that the zone identification signals can be received by a mobile unit that substantially corresponds to the boundaries of the zone; and receiver means for receiving a signal from a mobile unit that indicates whether the mobile unit has received the zone identification signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 23, wherein the mobile unit has stored therein one or more zone identification signals such that the mobile unit can compare the detected zone identification signal with the stored zone identification signals, the signal that indicates the mobile unit is within a zone being transmitted if the detected zone identification signal corresponds to one of the stored zone identification signals.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 23, wherein a plurality of marker transmitters transmit a marker signal that includes the plurality of zone identification signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 25, wherein the marker signal is divided into a plurality of time slots, such that each zone identification signal that identifies a zone is transmitted during one of the time slots.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 23, wherein the means for shaping the radio frequency coverage area further comprises: a zone computer coupled to each of the marker transmitters, the zone computer operating to synchronize the plurality of marker transmitters to transmit a zone identification signal during a single time slot to increase the radio frequency coverage area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 26, wherein the means for shaping the radio frequency coverage area includes means for synchronizing a second marker transmitter to simultaneously transmit a jamming signal during a time slot when a zone identification signal is being transmitted from a first marker transmitter, to thereby reduce the radio frequency coverage area in which the zone identification signal can be received by the mobile unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 28, wherein the plurality of marker transmitters each include: means for receiving a power level signal from the zone computer that indicates the power level at which the zone identification signals and jamming signals are to be transmitted by the marker transmitter; and a variable power transmitter that varies the power at which a marker transmitter transmits the zone identification signals and jamming signals in response to the power level signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The zone marker system as in Claim 23, wherein said marker channel is a voice channel that is allocated from the cell site transceivers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
102 words
A mobile unit for use in a cellular telephone system that includes one or more cell site transceivers that transmit signals to and receives signals from the mobile unit on one or more control channels, and a zone marker system that includes one or more marker transmitters that transmit a zone identification signal that identifies a zone on a marker channel, the mobile unit comprising: means for monitoring the marker channel to detect the zone identification signal; means for transmitting a signal that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the zone identification signal is detected by the mobile unit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
102 words
A mobile unit for use in a cellular telephone system that includes one or more cell site transceivers that transmit signals to and receives signals from the mobile unit on one or more control channels, and a zone marker system that includes one or more marker transmitters that transmit a zone identification signal that identifies a zone on a marker channel, the mobile unit comprising: means for monitoring the marker channel to detect the zone identification signal; means for transmitting a signal that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the zone identification signal is detected by the mobile unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
68 words
The mobile unit as in Claim 31, further comprising: storage means for storing one or more zone identification signals; and means for comparing a detected zone identification signal with the one or more stored zone identification signals, wherein the mobile unit transmits the signal that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone if the detected zone identification signal corresponds to one of the stored zone identification signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The mobile unit as in Claim 31, further comprising: means forindicating to a user of the mobile unit whether the mobile unit is within a zone.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mobile unit as in Claim 33, wherein the means for indicating to the user of the mobile unit whether the mobile unit is within a zone comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mobile unit as in Claim 31, wherein the signal that indicates the mobile unit is within the zone is transmitted to a cell site transceiver on a reverse control channel that exists between the mobile unit and the cell site transceiver.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mobile unit as in Claim 31, wherein the marker channel is a voice channel that is allocated from a cell site transceiver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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