EP0685972A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile communication system and method therefore
Assignee: Nokia Oyj
•
Filing: 1995-04-19
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2015-04-19
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a mobile communication system where a manufacturer of mobile equipment (ME) has implemented in the equipment additional features exceeding the system standards and at least some of those additional features are supported by an operator's network (ON). The mobile equipment have an equipment identity code (IMEI) uniquely identifying the equipment, and the operator's network (ON) can request that identity code. In a system according to the invention the operator's network (ON) contains, primarily in the reqister equipment (NR) of the network, the means (LT) for connecting the information (AFS) about the additional features of a mobile equipment with the equipment identity code (IMEI) requested from the equipment (ME). In addition, the network contains, in the exchange (MSC), for example, the means (FSC) for determining on the basis of the received information (AFS) which of the additional features the network supports. The resulting information (SFS) is signalled to the mobile equipment (ME) that has the means (FC, MC) to enable the additional features according to the information (SFS). Connecting the additional feature set information (AFS) with an equipment identity code (IMEI) can be implemented with a look-up table, for example, and in the European GSM system the look-up table may comprise the list of approved equipment supplemented with the additional feature set information in the equipment identity register of the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Arto Kiema
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/22; H04M; H04M1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A method for implementing additional features in a mobile communication system in which the network comprises networks maintained and managed by operators, where the networks of the various operators and the mobile equipment manufactured by different manufacturers operate in a manner harmonized and limited by standards, where mobile equipment (ME) have a mobile equipment identity code (IMEI) identifying at least the manufacturer and production series of the equipment and the network can request that identity code, where at least one mobile equipment manufacturer has implemented additional features exceeding standards at least in one production series, and where the operator's network (ON) supports at least some of the additional features exceeding the standards, characterized in that the operator's network (ON), having requested the equipment identity code (IMEI) from a mobile equipment (ME), connects the information (AFS) defining the additional features of the equipment with the equipment identity code (IMEI), the operator's network (ON) determines on the basis of the information (AFS) defining the additional features what additional features it supports and signals the result (SFS) of the determination to the mobile equipment (ME), and on the basis of the signaled result (SFS) of the determination the mobile equipment (ME) enables the operation of the additional features supported by the network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
A mobile communication system, in which the network comprises networks maintained and managed by operators, where the networks of the various operators and the mobile equipment manufactured by different manufacturers operate in a manner harmonized and limited by standards, where mobile equipment (ME) have a mobile equipment identity code (IMEI) identifying at least the manufacturer and production series of the equipment and the network can request that identity code, where at least one mobile equipment manufacturer has implemented additional features exceeding standards at least in some production series, and where the operator's mobile network (ON) includes at least exchange means (MSC) for controlling the operation of the network and register means (NR) for storing the information needed for the operation of the network, and supports at least some of the above-mentioned additional features exceeding standards, characterized in that it includes: in the operator's network (ON), means (LT) for connecting the information (AFS) defining the additional features of a mobile equipment with the equipment identity code (IMEI) requested from the mobile equipment (ME), in the operator's network (ON), means (FSC) for determining on the basis of the information (AFS) defining the additional features, which of the additional features the network supports, in the operator's network (ON), means for signalling the result (SFS) of that determination to the mobile equipment (ME), and in the mobile equipment (ME), means (FC, MC) for enabling the operation of the additional features supported by the network according to the result (SFS) of the determination signalled to the mobile equipment (ME).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mobile communication system according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for connecting the information defining the additional features (AFS) of the mobile equipment with the equipment identity code (IMEI) requested from the mobile equipment comprise a look-up table (LT) in the register block (NR).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mobile communication system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the means (FSC) for determining, on the basis of the additional feature set information (AFS) defining the additional features, which of the additional features the network (ON) supports, are located at the exchange means (MSC).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A GSM mobile communication system according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the means (LT) for connecting the information (AFS) defining the additional features of a mobile equipment with the equipment identity code (IMEI) are located in the equipment identity register (EIR) of the network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A GSM mobile communication system according to claim 5, characterized in that the equipment identity register (EIR) contains a modified list (WL) of approved equipment identity codes in which a connection is made between the equipment identity code (IMEI) ranges (SNRm ... SNRn; SNRp ... SNRq; SNRt ... SNRu) and the corresponding information (AFS1; AFS2; AFS3) about the implemented additional features.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A GSM mobile communication system according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the means (LT) for connecting the information (AFS) defining the additional features with the equipment identity code (IMEI) are located in the subscriber data register (HLR, VLR) of the network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A communication system comprising a network for supporting predetermined features having means for receiving a signal from a radio unit indicative of features offered thereby, and means for correlating the predetermined features with the features offered by the radio unit for providing a signal indicative of the correlation to the radio unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A communication system according to claim 8 in which the radio unit is responsive to the signal indicative of the correlation for enabling those features supported by the network.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for allowing additional features to be implemented in a communication system in which a network is capable of supporting predetermined features, the method comprising receiving a signal from a radio unit indicative of features offered thereby, and correlating the predetermined features with the features offered by the radio unit for providing a signal indicative of the correlation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.