Patent ID: 6064889
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
In a communications system providing service to a plurality of mobile stations over a plurality of communications channels, said channels including at least one analog control channel (ACCH) and at least one digital control channel (DCCH), said mobile stations including at least one analog-only mobile station capable of operating on said at least one ACCH but not on said at least one DCCH, and at least one dual-mode mobile station capable of operating on either said at least one ACCH or said at least one DCCH, a method for the registration of said mobile stations and for directing said at least one dual-mode mobile station to said at least one DCCH comprising the steps of:transmitting over said at least one ACCH from one of said mobile stations to said system a registration access message including an indication of whether said mobile station is an analog-only or a dual-mode mobile station;determining at said system from said indication whether said one mobile station is an analog-only or a dual-mode mobile station;if said one mobile station is determined to be an analog-only mobile station, transmitting over said at least one ACCH from said system to said one mobile station, in response to said registration access message, a registration confirmation message indicating that said one mobile station has been registered with said system;if said one mobile station is determined to be a dual-mode mobile station, transmitting over said at least one ACCH from said system to said one mobile station, in response to said registration access message, a registration confirmation message indicating that said one mobile station has been registered with said system and further including an indication of the location of a particular DCCH which has been selected by the system based on the subscriber profile and/or physical location of said one mobile station; andupon receipt of said DCCH indication, switching said one mobile station to said selected DCCH.