System proximity detection by mobile stations

Claim 2

A mobile station comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies, a second receiver operating concurrently with said first receiver for receiving a proximity signal indicating the presence of a radiocommunication system, said proximity signal not being within said range of frequencies; and a processor for processing said received signals and said received proximity signal, wherein receipt of said proximity signal triggers said processor to tune said first receiver to a control channel associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 3

The mobile system of claim 1 , wherein said received proximity signal includes one or more additional information elements and said second receiver is further configured to read said one or more additional information elements.

Claim 4

The mobile station of claim 1 , wherein said second receiver includes an RF sensitive device.

Claim 5

The mobile station of claim 1 , wherein said second receiver includes a short range receiver.

Claim 6

The mobile station of claim 2 , wherein said additional information elements include one or more of: email information, voice mail information, and general information.

Claim 7

The mobile station of claim 2 , wherein said one or more additional information elements include information associated with a control channel associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 8

The mobile station of claim 2 , wherein said one or more additional information elements further include information associated with a range of frequencies within which a control channel associated with said radiocommunication system can be found.

Claim 9

The mobile station of claim 1 , wherein said second receiver is included within a smart card.

Claim 10

The mobile station of claim 1 , further comprising a display and wherein said processor operates to output a preprogrammed message on said display in response to receipt of said proximity signal.

Claim 11

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a device for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system and including data which indicates at least one of a control channel number, a frequency associated with a control channel being transmitted by said transceiver, a private system identity (PSID) code associated with said fixed portion, a range of frequencies within which a control channel is transmitted by said transceiver, and a range of PSIDs.

Claim 12

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a device for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system and including data which indicates at least one of a control channel number, a frequency associated with a control channel being transmitted by said transceiver, a private system identity (PSID) code associated with said fixed portion, a range of frequencies within which a control channel is transmitted by said transceiver, and a range of PSIDs.

Claim 13

The fixed portion of claim 10 , wherein said fixed portion includes a base station.

Claim 14

The fixed portion of claim 10 , wherein said data includes location information.

Claim 17

A mobile station comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies, a second receiver operating concurrently with said first receiver for receiving a proximity signal not being within said range of frequencies and having no information modulated thereon, said proximity signal indicating the presence of a radiocommunication system; and a processor for processing said received signals and said received proximity signal, wherein receipt of said proximity signal triggers said processor to initiate a search by said first receiver for a control channel signal associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 18

A mobile station comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies, a second receiver operating concurrently with said first receiver for receiving a proximity signal not being within said range of frequencies and having no information modulated thereon, said proximity signal indicating the presence of a radiocommunication system; and a processor for processing said received signals and said received proximity signal, wherein receipt of said proximity signal triggers said processor to initiate a search by said first receiver for a control channel signal associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 19

The mobile station of claim 14 , wherein said second receiver includes an RF sensitive device.

Claim 20

The mobile station of claim 14 , wherein said second receiver includes a magnetic sensor.

Claim 21

The mobile station of claim 14 , wherein said second receiver includes a short range receiver.

Claim 22

The mobile station of claim 14 , wherein said second receiver is included within a smart card.

Claim 23

The mobile station of claim 14 , further comprising a display and wherein said processor operates to output a preprogrammed message on said display in response to receipt of said proximity signal.

Claim 24

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a device for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system and including no information modulated thereon.

Claim 25

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a device for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system and including no information modulated thereon.

Claim 26

The fixed portion of claim 20 , wherein said fixed portion includes a base station.

Claim 29

A mobile station comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies, a second receiver operating concurrently with said first receiver for receiving one or more proximity signals not being within said range of frequencies, said proximity signals indicating the presence of a radiocommunication system; a second transmitter operative to transmit information to said radiocommunication system on one or more frequencies not within said range of frequencies; and a processor for processing said received signals and said received proximity signals, wherein receipt of said proximity signals triggers said processor to transmit information to said radiocommunication system via said second transmitter, and to tune a first transmitter to a control channel within said range of frequencies, said control channel associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 30

A mobile station comprising: a first receiver for receiving signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies, a second receiver operating concurrently with said first receiver for receiving one or more proximity signals not being within said range of frequencies, said proximity signals indicating the presence of a radiocommunication system; a second transmitter operative to transmit information to said radiocommunication system on one or more frequencies not within said range of frequencies; and a processor for processing said received signals and said received proximity signals, wherein receipt of said proximity signals triggers said processor to transmit information to said radiocommunication system via said second transmitter, and to tune a first transmitter to a control channel within said range of frequencies, said control channel associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 31

The mobile station of claim 23 wherein said second receiver and said second transmitter comprise an interface to an ad hoc wireless network.

Claim 32

The mobile station of claim 23 wherein said ad hoc wireless network is a Bluetooth® network.

Claim 33

The mobile system of claim 23 , wherein said received proximity signal includes one or more additional information elements and said second receiver is further configured to read said one or more additional information elements.

Claim 34

The mobile station of claim 26 , wherein said additional information elements include one or more of: email information, voice mail information, and general information.

Claim 35

The mobile station of claim 26 , wherein said one or more additional information elements include information associated with a control channel associated with said radiocommunication system.

Claim 36

The mobile station of claim 26 , wherein said one or more additional information elements further include information associated with a range of frequencies within which a control channel associated with said radiocommunication system can be found.

Claim 37

The mobile station of claim 23 , wherein said second transmitter is operative to transmit information from said mobile station to said radiocommunication system, said information including one or more of: user identifying information, email information, and general information.

Claim 38

The mobile station of claim 23 , wherein said second receiver is included within a smart card.

Claim 39

The mobile station of claim 23 , further comprising a display and wherein said processor operates to output a preprogrammed message on said display in response to receipt of said proximity signal.

Claim 40

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a second transceiver for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system, and for receiving information transmitted by a mobile station not within said range of frequencies.

Claim 41

A fixed portion of a radiocommunication system comprising: a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over an air interface within a range of frequencies; and a second transceiver for transmitting a proximity signal not within said range of frequencies, said proximity signal indicating a presence of said fixed portion of said radio communicating system, and for receiving information transmitted by a mobile station not within said range of frequencies.

Claim 42

The fixed portion of claim 33 , wherein said fixed portion includes a base station.

Claim 43

The fixed portion of claim 33 , wherein said fixed portion includes a Bluetooth® interface.