US5758288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Signal time of arrival position determining method for calculating cellular telephone billing charges
Assignee: Comcast MO Group Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-31
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2017-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone mobile unit position determining method which utilizes a plurality of range transceivers located at known fixed locations adapted to transmit approximately synchronized digital range signals. The method is especially adapted to determine the position of a cellular mobile unit within cellular service areas for determining billing charges and/or access restrictions. According to the invention, the fixed position range transceivers transmit range signals which are received by a mobile unit. The mobile unit determines either the time difference of arrival or absolute time of arrival of the range signals, which in turn is used to determine the mobile unit's position for cellular billing and/or access restriction purposes. The range transceivers are operable to receive an error signal and correspondingly adjust the output of the next transmitted range signal so as to drive the detected synchronization error to approximately zero.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Jeffrey Dunn
- 👤 Don Harold Atherly
- 👤 Douglas Otto John Reudink
- 👤 Martin Jay Feuerstein
- 👤 Ronald Ernest Foerster
- 👤 Ching Chuang
- 👤 Dino John Vendetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/02; G01S5/14; G01S5/10; H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/80; H04M15/8033; H04M15/8083; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/24; H04W60/00; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0184; H04M2215/32; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/7435; H04W4/02; H04W64/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
For use in a wireless telephone system that includes a computer having memory provided in electrical communication with a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives voice signals and control signals to and from a mobile telephone unit over one or more respective voice and primary control channels in order to provide wireless telephone service within a cell site coverage area, a method of providing predefined user zones for access restriction and billing purposes, comprising: defining (1) by primary coordinate boundaries a user zone; and (2) a plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations and storing said coordinates and corresponding user zone in said computer memory; at said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations, generating approximately synchronized digital range signals over one or more secondary control channels; at a known location relative to the locations of said range transceivers, receiving said range signals by a primary receiver, determining the amount that each range signal deviates from system synchronization, and sending corresponding error signals over said secondary control channels to said range transceivers so as to more closely bring said transmitted range signals into synchronization; receiving said range signals by said mobile unit over said secondary control channels; determining the difference of arrival times of said received range signals in said mobile unit; determining secondary coordinate values, from said difference of arrival times of the received range signals, defining the position of said mobile unit relative to said predetermined zone; transmitting an electrical signal over said primary control channel for receipt by said cell site transceiver indicating whether said mobile unit is in or out of said predetermined zone; and determining telephone service charges and/or access based on said determined mobile unit position and predetermined tariff and access tables.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
For use in a wireless telephone system that includes a computer having memory provided in electrical communication with a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives voice signals and control signals to and from a mobile telephone unit over one or more respective voice and primary control channels in order to provide wireless telephone service within a cell site coverage area, a method of providing predefined user zones for access restriction and billing purposes, comprising: defining (1) by primary coordinate boundaries a user zone; and (2) a plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations and storing said coordinates and corresponding user zone in said computer memory; at said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations, generating approximately synchronized digital range signals over one or more secondary control channels; at a known location relative to the locations of said range transceivers, receiving said range signals by a primary receiver, determining the amount that each range signal deviates from system synchronization, and sending corresponding error signals over said secondary control channels to said range transceivers so as to more closely bring said transmitted range signals into synchronization; receiving said range signals by said mobile unit over said secondary control channels; determining the difference of arrival times of said received range signals in said mobile unit; determining secondary coordinate values, from said difference of arrival times of the received range signals, defining the position of said mobile unit relative to said predetermined zone; transmitting an electrical signal over said primary control channel for receipt by said cell site transceiver indicating whether said mobile unit is in or out of said predetermined zone; and determining telephone service charges and/or access based on said determined mobile unit position and predetermined tariff and access tables.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a time stamp of the next transmitted range signal of each of said range transceivers in accordance with said determined synchronization error so as to simulate synchronization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of adjusting the time stamp of the next range signal generated by each of said range transceivers in accordance with the last determined synchronization error of the corresponding range signals received by said primary receiver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the output of the next transmitted range signal of each of said range transceivers in accordance with said determined synchronization error so as to drive said corresponding synchronization error to approximately zero.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said range transceivers are each adapted to transmit multiple pulse sequences, said pulse sequences including an error portion corresponding to the approximate synchronization error of each range signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of adjusting the error portion of the next range signal generated by each of said range transceivers in accordance with the last determined synchronization error of the corresponding range signals received by said primary receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations are stored in said computer memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations are encoded in said digital range signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
288 words
For use in a wireless telephone system that includes a computer having memory provided in electrical communication with a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives voice signals and control signals to and from a mobile telephone unit over one or more respective voice and primary control channels in order to provide wireless telephone service within a cell site coverage area, a method of providing predefined user zones for access restriction and billing purposes, comprising: defining (1) by primary coordinate boundaries a user zone; and (2) a plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations and storing said coordinates and corresponding user zone in said computer memory; at said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations, generating approximately synchronized digital range signals over one or more secondary control channels; at a known location relative to the locations of said range transceivers, receiving said range signals by a primary receiver, determining the amount that each range signal deviates from system synchronization, and sending corresponding error signals over said secondary control channels to said range transceivers so as to more closely bring said transmitted range signals into synchronization; receiving said range signals by said mobile unit over said secondary control channels; determining the absolute time of arrival of said received range signals, in said mobile unit determining secondary coordinate values, from said absolute time of a rival of the received range signals, defining the position of said mobile unit relative to said predetermined zone; transmitting an electrical signal over said primary control channel for receipt by said cell site transceiver indicating whether said mobile unit is in or out of said predetermined zone; and determining telephone service charges and/or access based on said determined mobile unit position and predetermined tariff and access tables.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
288 words
For use in a wireless telephone system that includes a computer having memory provided in electrical communication with a cell site transceiver that transmits and receives voice signals and control signals to and from a mobile telephone unit over one or more respective voice and primary control channels in order to provide wireless telephone service within a cell site coverage area, a method of providing predefined user zones for access restriction and billing purposes, comprising: defining (1) by primary coordinate boundaries a user zone; and (2) a plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations and storing said coordinates and corresponding user zone in said computer memory; at said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations, generating approximately synchronized digital range signals over one or more secondary control channels; at a known location relative to the locations of said range transceivers, receiving said range signals by a primary receiver, determining the amount that each range signal deviates from system synchronization, and sending corresponding error signals over said secondary control channels to said range transceivers so as to more closely bring said transmitted range signals into synchronization; receiving said range signals by said mobile unit over said secondary control channels; determining the absolute time of arrival of said received range signals, in said mobile unit determining secondary coordinate values, from said absolute time of a rival of the received range signals, defining the position of said mobile unit relative to said predetermined zone; transmitting an electrical signal over said primary control channel for receipt by said cell site transceiver indicating whether said mobile unit is in or out of said predetermined zone; and determining telephone service charges and/or access based on said determined mobile unit position and predetermined tariff and access tables.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising adjusting a time stamp of the next transmitted range signal of each of said range transceivers in accordance with said determined synchronization error so as to simulate synchronization.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of adjusting the time stamp of the next range signal generated by each of said range transceivers in accordance with the last determined synchronization error of the corresponding range signals received by said primary receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising adjusting the output of the next transmitted range signal of each of said range transceivers in accordance with said determined synchronization error so as to drive said corresponding synchronization error to approximately zero.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said range transceivers are each adapted to transmit multiple pulse sequences, said pulse sequences including an error portion corresponding to the approximate synchronization error of each range signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of adjusting the error portion of the next range signal generated by each of said range transceivers in accordance with the last determined synchronization error of the corresponding range signals received by said primary receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations are stored in said computer memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said plurality of ranging transceiver fixed locations are encoded in said digital range signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |