Mobile telephone cellular switching system

Claim 2

In a communication system having means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by selectively coupling a switching office channel with ones of a plurality of base station channels, said establishing means comprising means responsive to the controller for ascertaining transmission continuity to the mobile station through ones of the base station channels then noncoupled to the switching office channel, and means subsequently activated by said ascertaining means for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with one of the noncoupled base station channels ascertained to have transmission continuity.

Claim 3

In a communication system the establishing means set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for defining an interval of time during which said transmission continuity may be ascertained through one of said noncoupled base station channels with the mobile station.

Claim 4

In a communication system the establishing means set forth in claim 2 further comprising means activated by said defining means for notifying the controller of the absence of transmission continuity with the mobile station through one of said noncoupled base station channels.

Claim 5

In a communication system having means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by selectively coupling a switching office channel with ones of a plurality of base station channels, said establishing means comprising means responsive to the controller for ascertaining transmission continuity to the mobile station through ones of the base station channels then noncoupled to the switching office channel, means subsequently activated by said ascertaining means for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with one of the noncoupled base station channels ascertained to have said transmission continuity, and means for signaling the controller that the switching office channel has been coupled with said ascertained one of said base station channels.

Claim 6

In a communication system having means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by selectively coupling a switching office channel with ones of a plurality of base station channels, said establishing means comprising means responsive to the controller for ascertaining transmission continuity to the mobile station through ones of the base station channels then noncoupled to the switching office channel, means subsequently activated by said ascertaining means for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with one of the noncoupled base station channels ascertained to have said transmission continuity, and means for signaling the controller that the switching office channel has been coupled with said ascertained one of said base station channels.

Claim 7

In a communication system having trunk means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by coupling to a second channel connected to a switching Office one of a plurality of first channels each connected to a separate base station, said trunk means comprising means responsive to the controller detecting adverse quality of communications of said coupled one of the first channels for testing transmission continuity through noncoupled ones of the first channels to the mobile station in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the base stations, and means activated by said testing means upon detection of said continuity for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of said second channel with a tested one of said noncoupled first channels having said continuity.

Claim 8

In a communication system having trunk means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by coupling to a second channel connected to a switching Office one of a plurality of first channels each connected to a separate base station, said trunk means comprising means responsive to the controller detecting adverse quality of communications of said coupled one of the first channels for testing transmission continuity through noncoupled ones of the first channels to the mobile station in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the base stations, and means activated by said testing means upon detection of said continuity for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of said second channel with a tested one of said noncoupled first channels having said continuity.

Claim 9

In a communication system the trunk means set forth in claim 5 wherein said testing means comprises means enabled by the contoller for selecting said noncoupled ones of the first channels defined by said preferred base stations, and means in series with each of said first channels for detecting an off-hook signal of the mobile station received over said selected first channels while still noncoupled.

Claim 10

In a communication system the trunk means set forth in claim 6 wherein said maintaining means comprises means operated by said selecting means in combination with said detecting means subsequent to an operation of said testing means for rearranging the coupling of second second channel with a tested one of said selected noncoupled first channels having said off-hook signal.

Claim 11

In a communication system having trunk means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by coupling to a second channel connected to a switching office one of a plurality of first channels each connected to a separate base station, said trunk means comprising means responsive to the controller detecting adverse quality of communication of said coupled ones of the first channels for selecting noncoupled ones of the first channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the base stations, means in series with each of said first channels for detecting an off-hook signal of the mobile station received over said selected first channels, timing means for defining an interval of time during which said off-hook signal may be received over said selected first channels, means subsequently activated by said detecting means for maintaining continuous communications over the communication path by rearranging the coupling of the second channel with one of said selected first channels having said off-hook signal, and means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said off-hook signal has not been received over said selected first channels established through said preferred base stations.

Claim 12

In a communication system having trunk means responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a communication path with a mobile station by coupling to a second channel connected to a switching office one of a plurality of first channels each connected to a separate base station, said trunk means comprising means responsive to the controller detecting adverse quality of communication of said coupled ones of the first channels for selecting noncoupled ones of the first channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the base stations, means in series with each of said first channels for detecting an off-hook signal of the mobile station received over said selected first channels, timing means for defining an interval of time during which said off-hook signal may be received over said selected first channels, means subsequently activated by said detecting means for maintaining continuous communications over the communication path by rearranging the coupling of the second channel with one of said selected first channels having said off-hook signal, and means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said off-hook signal has not been received over said selected first channels established through said preferred base stations.

Claim 13

In a communication system the trunk means set forth in claim 8 wherein said maintaining means also comprises means enabled upon activation of said timing means for signaling the controller that said mobile station off-hook signal has been received over said one selected first channel. 10 In a communication system the trunk means set forth in claim 9 further comprising means for indicating an interruption in the rearrangement of the coupling of the second channel with the first channels.

Claim 14

In a cellular mobile communication system having trunk means responsive to a cell controller and arranged for establishing a communication path between a mobile station and a switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel with one of a plurality of base station channels each terminating on separate cell base stations, said trunk means comprising means enabled by the cell controller detecting adverse quality of communications over the coupled base station channel for selecting noncoupled ones of the base station channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the cell base stations, means in series with each of the base station channelS for testing transmission continuity through said selected noncoupled base station channels to the mobile station, means subsequently enabled by said selecting means in combination with said testing means for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with a tested one of said noncoupled base station channels having said continuity, means enabled by said selecting means in combination with said maintaining means for defining an interval of time during which said testing means may receive a transmission continuity signal from the mobile station over said selected base station channels, and means enabled by said timing means for signaling the cell controller of the rearrangement of coupling with said tested one of said base station channels.

Claim 15

In a cellular mobile communication system having trunk means responsive to a cell controller and arranged for establishing a communication path between a mobile station and a switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel with one of a plurality of base station channels each terminating on separate cell base stations, said trunk means comprising means enabled by the cell controller detecting adverse quality of communications over the coupled base station channel for selecting noncoupled ones of the base station channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the cell base stations, means in series with each of the base station channelS for testing transmission continuity through said selected noncoupled base station channels to the mobile station, means subsequently enabled by said selecting means in combination with said testing means for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with a tested one of said noncoupled base station channels having said continuity, means enabled by said selecting means in combination with said maintaining means for defining an interval of time during which said testing means may receive a transmission continuity signal from the mobile station over said selected base station channels, and means enabled by said timing means for signaling the cell controller of the rearrangement of coupling with said tested one of said base station channels.

Claim 16

In a cellular mobile communication system having trunk means responsive to a cell controller and arranged for establishing a communication path between a mobile station and a switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel with one of a plurality of base station channels terminating on separate cell base stations, said trunk means comprising means enabled by the cell controller detecting adverse quality of communications over the coupled base station channel for selecting noncoupled ones of the base station channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the cell base stations, means in series with each of the base station channels for testing transmission continuity to the mobile station through the selected noncoupled base station channels, means activated by said selecting means for defining an interval of time during which said testing means may receive a transmission continuity signal from the mobile station over said selected base station channels, means activated by the controller upon notification of failure to receive said continuity signal over said selected base station channels within said time interval for recycling said time defining means through successive time periods corresponding to said interval of time for testing said continuity through remaining noncoupled base station channels, means subsequently activated by said testing means upon receipt of said continuity signal for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with a tested one of said selected base station channels, and means enabled by said timing means for signaling the cell controller of the rearrangement of coupling with said tested one of said selected base station channels.

Claim 17

In a cellular mobile communication system having trunk means responsive to a cell controller and arranged for establishing a communication path between a mobile station and a switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel with one of a plurality of base station channels terminating on separate cell base stations, said trunk means comprising means enabled by the cell controller detecting adverse quality of communications over the coupled base station channel for selecting noncoupled ones of the base station channels in a prescribed sequence defined by preferred ones of the cell base stations, means in series with each of the base station channels for testing transmission continuity to the mobile station through the selected noncoupled base station channels, means activated by said selecting means for defining an interval of time during which said testing means may receive a transmission continuity signal from the mobile station over said selected base station channels, means activated by the controller upon notification of failure to receive said continuity signal over said selected base station channels within said time interval for recycling said time defining means through successive time periods corresponding to said interval of time for testing said continuity through remaining noncoupled base station channels, means subsequently activated by said testing means upon receipt of said continuity signal for maintaining continuous communications with the mobile station by rearranging the coupling of the switching office channel with a tested one of said selected base station channels, and means enabled by said timing means for signaling the cell controller of the rearrangement of coupling with said tested one of said selected base station channels.

Claim 18

In a cellular communication system the trunk means set forth in claim 12 further comprising means enabled by said testing means for repeating supervision signals between the mobile station and the switching office over the switching office channel and the base station channels.

Claim 19

Trunk apparatus arranged for establishing a continuous communication path from a first port connectable with a switching office to a plurality of second ports each connectable with a mobile station, said trunk apparatus comprising first relay means for selecting ones of the second ports connectable with the mobile station, second relay means for testing continuity of signal transmission between selected ones of the second ports and the mobile station, third relay means for maintaining continuous communications over the communication path by rearranging the coupling of the first port with one of the selected second ports priorly identified as having established said signal transmission continuity with the mobile station, and means enabled by predetermined combinations of said first, second, and third relay means for indicating a status of the signal transmission continuity occurring through the selected ones of the second ports.

Claim 20

Trunk apparatus arranged for establishing a continuous communication path from a first port connectable with a switching office to a plurality of second ports each connectable with a mobile station, said trunk apparatus comprising first relay means for selecting ones of the second ports connectable with the mobile station, second relay means for testing continuity of signal transmission between selected ones of the second ports and the mobile station, third relay means for maintaining continuous communications over the communication path by rearranging the coupling of the first port with one of the selected second ports priorly identified as having established said signal transmission continuity with the mobile station, and means enabled by predetermined combinations of said first, second, and third relay means for indicating a status of the signal transmission continuity occurring through the selected ones of the second ports.

Claim 21

Trunk apparatus responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a continuous communication pAth between a mobile station and a telephone switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel connected to a first port with one of a plurality of base station channels individually connected to second ports, said trunk apparatus comprising selecting relays enabled by the controller for choosing ones of the base station channels connected to the second ports, supervision relays enabled by the switching office for determining transmission continuity of the switching office channel connected with the first port, testing relays enabled by an off-hook signal received over the chosen base station channels for determining said transmission continuity of the chosen base station channels connected with the mobile station, coupling relays responsive to said selecting relays in combination with said testing relays and said supervision relays for maintaining the continuous communication path by rearranging the coupling of the first port with one of the second ports connected with one of the chosen base station channels priorly identified as having established said transmission continuity with the mobile station, timing means enabled by said selecting relays in combination with said coupling relays for defining an interval of time during which one of said testing relays may be operated by said mobile station off-hook signal, first path means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said mobile station off-hook signal has been received through the second port coupled with the first port and comprising first make contacts of said testing relays in series combination with first make contacts of said selecting relays and said coupling relays, second path means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said mobile station off-hook signal has not been received through second ports connected with the chosen base station channels and comprising second make contacts of said selecting relays and said coupling relays, and third path means for indicating an interruption in the continuous communication path comprising second make contacts of said testing relays in combination with first make contacts of said supervision relays.

Claim 22

Trunk apparatus responsive to a controller and arranged for establishing a continuous communication pAth between a mobile station and a telephone switching office by selectively coupling a switching office channel connected to a first port with one of a plurality of base station channels individually connected to second ports, said trunk apparatus comprising selecting relays enabled by the controller for choosing ones of the base station channels connected to the second ports, supervision relays enabled by the switching office for determining transmission continuity of the switching office channel connected with the first port, testing relays enabled by an off-hook signal received over the chosen base station channels for determining said transmission continuity of the chosen base station channels connected with the mobile station, coupling relays responsive to said selecting relays in combination with said testing relays and said supervision relays for maintaining the continuous communication path by rearranging the coupling of the first port with one of the second ports connected with one of the chosen base station channels priorly identified as having established said transmission continuity with the mobile station, timing means enabled by said selecting relays in combination with said coupling relays for defining an interval of time during which one of said testing relays may be operated by said mobile station off-hook signal, first path means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said mobile station off-hook signal has been received through the second port coupled with the first port and comprising first make contacts of said testing relays in series combination with first make contacts of said selecting relays and said coupling relays, second path means enabled by said timing means for notifying the controller that said mobile station off-hook signal has not been received through second ports connected with the chosen base station channels and comprising second make contacts of said selecting relays and said coupling relays, and third path means for indicating an interruption in the continuous communication path comprising second make contacts of said testing relays in combination with first make contacts of said supervision relays.

Claim 23

The trunk apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said timing means comprises a timing relay designating expiration of said interval of time, a first relay operable by the controller, a second relay operated by third make contacts of enabled ones of said selecting relays connected in predetermined combination with break and third make contacts of said coupling relays, and a resistance capacitive timer enabled by operation of said second relay and recycled by operation of said first relay for controlling operation of said timing relay.

Claim 24

In a mobile telephone communication switching circuit comprising a plurality of ports each connectable to a separate communication channel extending to separate base stations equipped to communicate with mobile stations and a termination connectable to a communication channel extending to a mobile telephone switching office, the invention comprising means operable for coupling a preferred one of said ports to said termination, means subsequently responsive to a controller for testing for availability of communication continuity to a mobile station over others of said ports then noncoupled by said coupling means to said termination, and means subsequently activated by said testing means in response to detection of said availability of communication continuity over one of said other noncoupled ports for causing an operation of said coupling means to couple said one of said other noncoupled ports with said switching office termination.

Claim 25

In a mobile telephone communication switching circuit comprising a plurality of ports each connectable to a separate communication channel extending to separate base stations equipped to communicate with mobile stations and a termination connectable to a communication channel extending to a mobile telephone switching office, the invention comprising means operable for coupling a preferred one of said ports to said termination, means subsequently responsive to a controller for testing for availability of communication continuity to a mobile station over others of said ports then noncoupled by said coupling means to said termination, and means subsequently activated by said testing means in response to detection of said availability of communication continuity over one of said other noncoupled ports for causing an operation of said coupling means to couple said one of said other noncoupled ports with said switching office termination.

Claim 26

In a mobile telephone communication switching circuit comprising a plurality of ports each connectable to a separate communication channel extending to separate base stations equipped to communicate with mobile stations and a termination connectable to a communication channel extending to a mobile telephone switching office, the invention comprising means responsive to a receipt of a signal indicating a degradation of communication with a mobile station over one of said ports then coupled to said termination for testing communication continuity through remaining noncoupled ones of said ports to said mobile station, means for controlling a sequential activation of said testing means to test communication continuity through each of the then noncoupled ports to said mobile station in a prescribed ordered sequence, means subsequently activated by said testing means in response to detection of communication continuity over a tested one of said noncoupled ports for coupling said tested port with said switching office termination.

Claim 27

In a mobile telephone communication switching circuit comprising a plurality of ports each connectable to a separate communication channel extending to separate base stations equipped to communicate with mobile stations and a termination connectable to a communication channel extending to a mobile telephone switching office, the invention comprising means responsive to a receipt of a signal indicating a degradation of communication with a mobile station over one of said ports then coupled to said termination for testing communication continuity through remaining noncoupled ones of said ports to said mobile station, means for controlling a sequential activation of said testing means to test communication continuity through each of the then noncoupled ports to said mobile station in a prescribed ordered sequence, means subsequently activated by said testing means in response to detection of communication continuity over a tested one of said noncoupled ports for coupling said tested port with said switching office termination.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 18 wherein said controlling means comprises means responsive to a failure to detect communication continuity over said tested port for advancing said sequence to test communication continuity on another prescribed one of said noncoupled ports, and wherein said testing means comprises means responsive to a successful continuity test of said tested port for sending a continuity notification signal to said controlling means.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 19 wherein said testing means further comprises means operable by said controlling means for seizing a preferred one of said noncoupled ports for testing communication continuity, and means responsive to an operation of said seizing means for monitoring communication continuity via said preferred one of said noncoupled ports.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 20 where said coupling means comprises means enabled by said seizing means and activated by said monitoring means for notifying said controlling means of the detection of continuity via a monitored one of said ports, means jointly activated by said seizing means and said monitoring means for rearranging a coupling of said switching office termination from a coupled one of said ports to a monitored one of said noncoupled ports having communication continuity, and means activated by said coupling means for notifying said controlling means of a rearranging of said switching office termination to said monitored port.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 21 further comprising timing means activated by said seizing means in combination with said coupling means for defining an interval of time during which continuity is tested via one of said noncoupled ports, means activated at the expiration of said defined interval for sending a notification signal to said controlling means of an absence of continuity via said monitored one of said ports, means subsequently activated by said controlling means for recycling said timing means to define a succeeding interval of time, and means responsive to the recycling of said timing means for verifying the recycling of said timing means to said controlling means.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 20 further comprising means comprising said seizing means for maintaining an operation of said seizing means, said maintaining means including means insuring seizure of only one of said ports at a time for communication continuity testing.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 21 further comprising holding means for maintaining a coupling from said switching office termination to said first-mentioned one of said ports while testing communication continuity via said noncoupled ports, said holding means comprising means comprising said seizing means and said coupling means and activated by detection of continuity to said mobile station via said monitored port for rearranging the coupling of said switching office termination from said first-mentioned port to said monitored port.