Multi-mode communication network with handset-assisted cordless base station activation

Claim 2

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: programming said handset with data which identify a cellular land station; first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset; and second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station while said handset is within radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station.

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the step of verifying that said handset is within said radio coverage area of said cellular land station prior to performing said second transferring step.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second transferring step comprises the step of establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset.

Claim 5

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by establishing a first RF communication session between said customer activation system and said handset, said first RF communication session being initiated by said customer activation system; and second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing a second RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said second RF communication session being initiated by said handset.

Claim 6

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by establishing a first RF communication session between said customer activation system and said handset, said first RF communication session being initiated by said customer activation system; and second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing a second RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said second RF communication session being initiated by said handset.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 4 additionally comprising the step of activating said handset to engage in cellular operations, said activating step being completed prior to said first transferring step.

Claim 8

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset and in which channels selected from a common pool of channels are used for delivering said cellular and said cordless communications, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring said cordless base station programming data to define a cordless subset of said pool of channels; first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset; tuning said handset and said cordless base station to a predetermined channel not included in said cordless subset of said pool of channels; second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset; and engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station using channels selected from said cordless subset of said pool of channels.

Claim 9

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset and in which channels selected from a common pool of channels are used for delivering said cellular and said cordless communications, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring said cordless base station programming data to define a cordless subset of said pool of channels; first transferring cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset; tuning said handset and said cordless base station to a predetermined channel not included in said cordless subset of said pool of channels; second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset; and engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station using channels selected from said cordless subset of said pool of channels.

Claim 10

A method as claimed in claim 6 additionally comprising the step of verifying, after said tuning step and before said second transferring step, that said predetermined channel is not in use.

Claim 11

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said first transferring step comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; and said second transferring step comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level.

Claim 12

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring cordless base station programming data to define an activated minimum access signal strength threshold; first transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level, said second transferring step being engaged in when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than a programming minimum access signal strength threshold, said programming minimum access signal strength threshold being greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold; and engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold.

Claim 13

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring cordless base station programming data to define an activated minimum access signal strength threshold; first transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said handset by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; second transferring said cordless base station programming data from said handset to said cordless base station by transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level, said second transferring step being engaged in when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than a programming minimum access signal strength threshold, said programming minimum access signal strength threshold being greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold; and engaging, after said second transferring step, in user communications between said handset and said cordless base station when handset signal strength measured at said cordless base station is greater than said activated minimum access signal strength threshold.

Claim 14

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a first handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring said cordless base station programming data to identify said first handset along with a second handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station; transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said first handset; transferring said cordless base station programming data from said customer activation system to said second handset; and transferring said cordless base station programming data from one of said first and second handsets to said cordless base station.

Claim 15

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a first handset, a method for programming a cordless base station comprising the steps of: configuring said cordless base station programming data to identify said first handset along with a second handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station; transferring said cordless base station programming data from a customer activation system to said first handset; transferring said cordless base station programming data from said customer activation system to said second handset; and transferring said cordless base station programming data from one of said first and second handsets to said cordless base station.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said programming data transferred in said second transferring step activates said cordless base station for providing cordless communications to said handset, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: third transferring cordless base station updated programming data from a customer activation system to said handset, said third transferring step occurring after said cordless base station has been activated; and fourth transferring said cordless base station updated programming data from said handset to said cordless base station.

Claim 17

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for activating a cordless base station comprising the steps of: a) programming said handset with data which identify a cellular land station; b) transferring cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system to said handset; c) establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset while said handset is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station; and d) transferring said cordless base station activation programming from said handset to said cordless base station during said RF communication session.

Claim 18

In a multi-mode communication network in which cellular and cordless communications are delivered through a multi-mode handset, a method for activating a cordless base station comprising the steps of: a) programming said handset with data which identify a cellular land station; b) transferring cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system to said handset; c) establishing an RF communication session between said handset and said cordless base station, said RF communication session being initiated by said handset while said handset is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station; and d) transferring said cordless base station activation programming from said handset to said cordless base station during said RF communication session.

Claim 19

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said RF communication session established between said handset and said cordless base station is a second RF communication session; and said transferring step b) comprises the step of establishing a first RF communication session between said customer activation system and said handset, said first RF communication session being initiated by said customer activation system.

Claim 20

A method as claimed in claim 13 additionally comprising the step of activating said handset to engage in cellular operations, said activating step being completed prior to said steps a), b), c) and d).

Claim 21

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said transferring step b) comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a first power level; and said establishing step c) comprises the step of transmitting radio frequency energy from said handset at a second power level, said second power level being less than said first power level.

Claim 22

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said transferring steps b) and d) involve a first handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station following said transferring step d), and said method additionally comprises the steps of: configuring said cordless base station programming data to identify said first handset along with a second handset which can engage in user communications through said cordless base station; and transferring said cordless base station programming data from said customer activation system to said second handset.

Claim 23

A multi-mode portable radiotelephone which communicates in a cellular mode with a cellular land station and in a cordless mode with a cordless base station after said cordless base station has been activated, said portable radiotelephone comprising: a controller; a memory coupled to said controller; a transmitter coupled to said controller; and a receiver coupled to said controller; wherein, said controller and memory are configured to obtain and save data which identify a cellular land station, to control said receiver to receive cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system, to store said cordless base station activation programming in said memory, and to control said transmitter to transmit said cordless base station activation programming to said cordless base station while said portable radiotelephone is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station.

Claim 24

A multi-mode portable radiotelephone which communicates in a cellular mode with a cellular land station and in a cordless mode with a cordless base station after said cordless base station has been activated, said portable radiotelephone comprising: a controller; a memory coupled to said controller; a transmitter coupled to said controller; and a receiver coupled to said controller; wherein, said controller and memory are configured to obtain and save data which identify a cellular land station, to control said receiver to receive cordless base station activation programming from a customer activation system, to store said cordless base station activation programming in said memory, and to control said transmitter to transmit said cordless base station activation programming to said cordless base station while said portable radiotelephone is within a radio coverage area of said identified cellular land station.

Claim 25

A portable radiotelephone as claimed in claim 17 wherein: said controller and memory are configured to control said transmitter to operate at a first power level in connection with receiving said cordless base station activation programming from said customer activation system; and said controller and memory are configured to control said transmitter to operate at a second power level in connection with transmitting said cordless base station activation programming to said cordless base station, said second power level being less than said first power level.