EP0597638A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Radio telecommunication systems and methods
Assignee: Vodafone Ltd
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Filing: 1993-11-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone system has mobiles (M) which can move within and between cells (C), each of which has a respective base station (BS). The charging tariff applicable to each mobile depends on the area in which it is located. For example, each mobile may operate on a low rate tariff when in its own or local area and on a higher rate elsewhere. Each base station (BS) broadcasts an identifying signal on its control channel. Each mobile in the corresponding cell responds by displaying to the user an identification of the cell or corresponding area so that the user is made aware of the applicable tariff. Instead, an identification of the tariff itself can be displayed.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward William Beddoes
- 👤 Michael John Mccombe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8083; H04M15/83; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0184; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A cellular telephone system, characterised by indicating means (18) associated with each telephone (e.g. M1) to provide to the user thereof an indication dependent on the area in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised by a base station (e.g. BS1) associated with each cell (e.g. C1) of the system, and means in each base station (e.g. BS1) for transmitting radio signals on a control channel, the transmitted radio signals including an identifying signal dependent on the identity of the particular cell (e.g. C1), and in that each telephone (e.g. M1) includes means (10,16) for receiving and responding to the control signals, the said indicating means (18) including means responsive to the identifying signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 2, characterised in that the radio signals include signals for use in setting up telephone calls between the base station (e.g. BS1) and the telephones (e.g. M1) in that cell (e.g. C1).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
92 words
A system according to any preceding claim, characterised by means responsive to the number of telephone calls being made at any time with telephones within each cell (e.g. C1) and for comparing this number with the maximum capacity available in that cell (e.g. C1) to assess the degree of congestion in the cell, and means operative when the degree of congestion within the cell (e.g. C1) exceeds a predetermined value to vary the said indication provided by the indicating means (18) associated with at least particular telephones (e.g. M1) within that cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 4, characterised by means operative when the degree of congestion exceeds the predetermined value to increase the charging rate applicable to calls made by the said particular telephones (e.g. M1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mobile telephone for a cellular telephone system, characterised by means (e.g. 10,16,18) responsive to a radio control signal received from a base station (e.g. BS1) of a cell (e.g. C1) in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is operative in use to provide to the telephone user an indication dependent on the area in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
52 words
A system or telephone according to any preceding claim, characterised by means (20) operative in response to the current time of day and/or day of the week to vary the charging rate applicable to calls made by telephones (e.g. M1) in each cell (e.g. C1) and to vary the said indication correspondingly.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
18 words
A system or telephone according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the indication is a visual indication.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
22 words
A system or telephone according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the indication is an audio indication.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
27 words
A system or telephone according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the indication indicates the charging rate applicable to calls made from the telephone (e.g. M1).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
31 words
A system or telephone according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the indication is dependent on the particular cell (e.g. C1) in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of operating a cellular telephone system, characterised in that for each telephone (e.g. M1) the charging rate applicable to calls made thereby depends on the area (e.g. C1) in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located, and by the step of providing to the user of each telephone (e.g. M1) an indication (e.g. 18) dependent on the area (e.g. C1) in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the step of producing the said indication comprises the step of producing it visually.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 12, characterised in that the step of producing the said indication comprises the step of producing it audibly.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
70 words
A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the step of providing the said indication (e.g. 18) to the user of each telephone (e.g. M1) comprises the step of causing the base station (e.g. BS1) of the cell (e.g. C1) in which the telephone (e.g. M1) is currently located to broadcast a control signal including an identifying signal dependent on that cell (e.g. C1).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
56 words
A method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterised by the steps of varying the charging rate applicable to a particular telephone (e.g. M1) according to the degree of congestion in the cell (e.g. C1) in which that telephone (e.g. M1) is located, and by the step of varying the said indication correspondingly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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