Phantom mobile identification number method and apparatus

Claim 1

A cellular telephone apparatus, comprising: a cellular transceiver operable to receive a first system identification number from a first cellular telephone system; a controller coupled to the cellular transceiver and operable to read the first system identification number; a first database coupled to the controller and operable to store authorized system identification numbers, the controller operable to interrogate the first database to determine if the first system identification number is authorized, the controller further operable to direct the cellular transceiver to receive a second system identification number corresponding to a second cellular telephone system if the first system identification number is not authorized, the controller further operable to designate one of the first and second system identification numbers as a selected system identification number if one of the first and second system identification numbers is authorized; a second database coupled to the controller and operable to store network planning area numbers of authorized system identification numbers, the controller operable to retrieve a local network planning area number from the network planning area numbers stored in the second database corresponding to the selected system identification number, the cellular telephone apparatus having a home mobile identification number indicating a home cellular telephone system, the controller further operable to replace a network planning area number of the home mobile identification number with the local network planning area number to provide a local mobile identification number; and a third database coupled to the controller and operable to store authorized numbers, the controller operable to interrogate the third database and to allow authorized calls to be made from the cellular transceiver in response to the interrogation of the third database, wherein the authorized calls include calls containing the local network planning area number.

Claim 10

A method for selecting a cellular telephone system to provide service to a cellular telephone, the cellular telephone having a home mobile identification number corresponding to a home cellular telephone system, the home mobile identification number comprising a home network planning area number, the method comprising: receiving at the cellular telephone a first system identification number from a first cellular telephone system; interrogating a first database to determine if the first system identification number is authorized; receiving at the cellular telephone a second system identification number from a second cellular telephone system if the first system identification number is not authorized; interrogating the first database to determine if the second system identification number is authorized if the first system identification number is not authorized; designating one of the first and second system identification numbers as a selected system identification number corresponding to a selected cellular telephone system if one of the first and second system identification numbers is authorized; interrogating a second database to retrieve a local network planning area number corresponding to the selected system identification number; replacing the home network planning area number with the local network planning area number to provide a local mobile identification number; inputting a telephone number at the cellular telephone; interrogating a third database to determine if the telephone number is authorized; and placing a call by transmitting the telephone number and the local mobile identification number to the selected cellular telephone system if the telephone number is authorized.

Claim 11

A method for selecting a cellular telephone system to provide service to a cellular telephone, the cellular telephone having a home mobile identification number corresponding to a home cellular telephone system, the home mobile identification number comprising a home network planning area number, the method comprising: receiving at the cellular telephone a first system identification number from a first cellular telephone system; interrogating a first database to determine if the first system identification number is authorized; receiving at the cellular telephone a second system identification number from a second cellular telephone system if the first system identification number is not authorized; interrogating the first database to determine if the second system identification number is authorized if the first system identification number is not authorized; designating one of the first and second system identification numbers as a selected system identification number corresponding to a selected cellular telephone system if one of the first and second system identification numbers is authorized; interrogating a second database to retrieve a local network planning area number corresponding to the selected system identification number; replacing the home network planning area number with the local network planning area number to provide a local mobile identification number; inputting a telephone number at the cellular telephone; interrogating a third database to determine if the telephone number is authorized; and placing a call by transmitting the telephone number and the local mobile identification number to the selected cellular telephone system if the telephone number is authorized.