Abstract:
A reconciliation system automatically updates cell face transfer data in one form to match cell face transfer data in another form. The system includes an automatic read and comparison module for reading cell face transfer data from one form and automatically comparing the cell face transfer data to the data in another form. An automatic modification module automatically changes cell face transfer data entries in one form to match data in entries of another form.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to cellular communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to reconciling cell face transfer data in directed retry lists. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   With the increasing popularity of cellular phone communications, managing the calls to and from cellular phones has become increasingly complex. Cellular phone systems typically include a cell face (or antenna) mounted on an antenna tower receiving calls from cell phones. Typically, a cell face receives calls within an associated geographic coverage area called a cell. An antenna tower can have multiple cell faces oriented at different angles to handle calls originating from multiple directions around the antenna tower. A process is employed in order to choose a cell face that handles the call from each cell phone. 
   The process of selecting and switching among cell faces involves the use of data that designates available cell faces. This data is referred to herein as cell face transfer data. One form of cell face transfer data known in the industry is a Directed Retry List (DRL). The DRL cell face data is typically used to select a cell face when a call is attempted from a cell phone. When the call is placed, if all the channels of an initially selected cell face are being used or if the signal strength is weak, the caller will get a busy signal, indicating that no channels are available to carry the call. When the caller gets a busy signal, the call is lost. To maximize revenue, the phone company must minimize the occurrence of lost calls. The DRL is used to minimize the number of lost calls. If the call signal strength is weak, the DRL is accessed to select another cell face in the same vicinity. As another example, if all of the radios of a cell face are in use and the cell face cannot handle an incoming call, the DRL is accessed to select a cell face in the area that can handle the call. Because of factors such as voice channel blocking or weak signal strength, a call may be denied service at a cell site. A DRL offers an additional chance for success to setup attempts that are denied service. When the DRL is active at a cell site, the cell site directs the cell phone to retry its setup attempt at another cell site in the near vicinity. 
   One problem with the current approach is that cell face transfer data is updated manually. Cell face transfer data must be updated when a new cell site is built providing new cell faces. The new cell site and cell faces affect existing cell face transfer data, particularly for adjacent cells. The current approach to updating cell face transfer data is to manually enter the new cell site and cell face transfer data into a database. Manual entry of the data is time consuming. Adding to the problem of manual entry are multiple cell face transfer data formats. The effort and time required for manual entry is compounded when multiple cell face transfer data formats are used. Data entry personnel must first enter the data in one cell face transfer data format and reenter the same data in other cell face transfer data formats. 
   With the advancement of telecommunications, numerous technologies are now used. Multiple forms of cell face transfer data have been developed and are used to provide data specifically designed for each of the technologies. For example, a form known as Cell Equipage Face (CEQFACE) is typically used in conjunction with the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) technology, while a form called Reselection (RESEL) is used with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). A number of problems have emerged as a result of multiple cell face transfer data formats. 
   Another problem is that data is often entered only in one cell face transfer data format associated with one technology. Thus, new available cell face data is frequently not available in all technologies. For example, typically CEQFACE forms are updated with new cell face information, but RESEL forms are not updated. As a result, cell faces that are available for TDMA users are often not selectable because those cell faces are not in the RESEL cell face transfer data. Thus, available cell faces are not used efficiently. Manual data entry is also error prone. Errors become even more likely when the data entry personnel must reenter the same data multiple times in multiple formats. Consequently, errors in the cell face transfer data can result in cell faces being used that are inappropriate for a call. When cell face transfer data is updated only in one format or errors are made during data entry, the cell face transfer data in each of the formats is different. 
   Therefore, there is a need in the art for an automated system and method for reconciling cell face transfer data in different forms, thereby enabling more efficient and effective use of cellular antennas. Preferably, the system and method will conform to one or more Directed Retry List (DRL) forms, such as CEQFACE or RESEL, and will enable selection and hand off to cell faces. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention automatically reconcile cell face transfer data in two or more formats. After cell face transfer data is entered in a standard format, other formats may be automatically compared with it. Cell face transfer data that differs from the standard format can be automatically updated to match the data in the standard format. Automatic update saves time and prevents errors in cell face data entry. 
   An embodiment includes a method of reconciling receiver transfer data in a first format with receiver transfer data in a second format by comparing an entry of the first format an entry in the second format, and automatically modifying the first format entry if receiver transfer data of the second format entry is not included in first format entry. 
   An embodiment includes a method of automatically reconciling a first directed retry list with a second directed retry list by determining if the second directed retry list is a standard form, and modifying the first directed retry list if the second directed retry list is the standard form. To modify the first directed retry list, the embodiment may determine if the first directed retry list does not include an available cell face identifier of the second directed retry list, and add the available cell face identifier of the second directed retry list to the first directed retry list if the available cell face identifier is not included in the first directed retry list. The method may also involve replacing a no indicator with a yes indicator in the Reselection List form where the first directed retry list is a Reselection List form and the second directed retry list is a Cell Equipage Face form. 
   Yet another embodiment is a cellular phone system having a database with cell face transfer data in a first format and cell face transfer data in a second format, and a reconciling system operative to automatically reconcile the first format with the second format. 
   The various aspects of the present invention may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to the drawings and claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exemplary operating environment implementing an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cellular operating environment implementing an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a multiple cell operating environment implementing an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary forms database utilized in the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary screen shot presenting data and cell equipage face form utilized in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an exemplary partial screen shot of data in reselection list form utilized in the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a method of utilizing reconciled data in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of reconciling directed retry list forms. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures. When referring to the figures, like structures and elements shown throughout are indicated with like reference numerals. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary operating environment  100  using an embodiment of the present invention. The operating environment  100  includes a mobile device  102  transmitting a signal  104  to a receiver R 1    106 . The receiver R 1    106  receives the signal  104  so that the signal can be communicated to an external network  108 . The receiver R 1    106  communicates with cellular processor  116 , which communicates with a mobile switching center (MSC)  110 . The MSC  110  switches the signal  104  onto the external network  108 . The mobile device  102  can be any mobile communications device including, but not limited to, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, or a radio transmitter/receiver. The external network  108  is any external communications network including, but not limited to, a wire line phone network. Typically, the mobile device  102  is moving as it transmits the signal  104  to the receiver R 1    106 . As the mobile device  102  moves, the signal strength of the signal  104  will vary with respect to the receiver  106 . Typically, as the mobile device  102  moves away from the receiver  106 , the signal strength of the signal  104  weakens. 
   As the mobile device  102  moves, it may move away from the receiver R 1    106  and may move closer to a receiver R 2    112 . The cellular processor  116  monitors the signal strength of signal  104 . As the mobile device  102  moves farther from the receiver  106  and closer to the receiver  112 , the signal strength of the signal  104  typically becomes weaker with respect to the receiver  106 . The cellular processor  116  monitors the signal strengths of the signal  104  and the signal  114  and determines that the receiver  112  is receiving a more powerful signal then the receiver R 1    106 . The cellular processor  116  sends a signal to a radio transmitter associated with receiver R 1    106  to instruct the mobile device  102  to transfer from receiver  106  to receiver  112 . The mobile device  102  transfers to the receiver  112  typically by transmitting another signal  114  at a transmission frequency recognizable by the receiver  112 . 
   In other words, while the signal strength of the signal  104  is greater than a minimum value, the signal  104  will be switched onto the external network  108  via receiver  106 . However, when the signal strength of the signal  104  falls below the minimum level, the signal  114  will be received by receiver  112  and switched onto the external network  108 . Stated another way, for some time period the receiver  106  may be optimal for receiving a call from the mobile device  102 . As the mobile device  102  moves over time, the receiver  112  may become optimal for receiving calls from the mobile device  102 . The cellular processor makes a decision as to whether receiver  106  is optimal or whether the receiver  112  is optimal for receiving calls from the mobile device  102 . Typically, the cellular processor  116  accesses a database  118  that contains a list of receivers where a call can be transferred from the receiver  106 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , cellular processor  116  will identify the receiver  112  as being available to receive a call from the mobile device  102 . Stated differently, cellular processor  116  will find the receiver  112  in a list associated with the receiver  106  and will determine that the signal  104  can be transferred to the signal  114 . Consequently, the cellular processor facilitates a transfer from the receiver  106  to the receiver  112 . 
   With respect to the mobile device  102 , the mobile device  102  may transmit signals in any of a number of protocols known in the art. For example, the signal  104  may be an analog signal or it may be a digital signal. The signal  104  may further be transmitted at any of a number of frequencies. The receiver  106  can typically receive signals having different protocols. For example, the receiver  106  can receive an analog signal or a digital signal. Similarly, receiver  112  can receive analog or digital signals. Data in the database  118  may be in one form for one communications protocol, and may be in another form for another communications protocol. The cellular processor  116  determines which protocol is being transmitted by the mobile device  102  in order to determine which form in the database  118  should be used. As the mobile device  102  moves from the receiver  106  to the receiver  112 , the cellular processor  116  monitors the signal strength as discussed earlier. When the signal strength of the signal  104  is below the minimum power level, the cellular processor  116  determines the protocol of the signal  104 . Based on that determination, the cellular processor  116  chooses a form containing receiver transfer data in the database  118  to identify a receiver to switch to. For example, if the signal  104  and the signal  114  are analog signals, the cellular processor  116  will access a form in the database  118  that is designed for the analog protocol. On the other hand, if the signals  104  and  114  are in a digital protocol, the cellular processor  116  accesses a form in the database  118  designed for the digital protocol. 
   From time-to-time, data in the database  118  is updated. The data may be updated for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the availability of receivers in the area of the mobile device  102 . For example, the receiver  112  may need repairs. As a result of the repairs, the receiver  112  may be unavailable for some time. The data in the database  118  may be updated to reflect the fact that the receiver  112  is unavailable. Referring to the earlier example, if the receiver  112  is unavailable and the database  118  has been updated to reflect the unavailability, as the mobile device  102  moves from the receiver  106  to the receiver  112 , the cellular processor  116  will not identify the receiver  112  as available for transfer when the cellular processor  116  accesses the database  118 . As was discussed earlier, the database  118  may have different forms for different communications protocols. For a number of reasons, the data in the different forms is often different in substance as well as different in format. For example, a form associated with an analog protocol may have the receiver  112  listed as an available transfer receiver, while the form for the digital protocol may not have the receiver  112  listed. When data in different forms is mismatched, the forms need to be reconciled, or updated so that the data matches. 
   Advantageously, the reconciling system  120  automatically reconciles the data in the different forms by updating one form to match another form. Preferably, the reconciling system  120  can reconcile receiver transfer data in the database  118 . The reconciling system  120  is typically a computer, such as, but not limited to, a desktop personal computer, a laptop computer, or a workstation connected to a server. The reconciling system  120  communicates to the cellular processor  116  via a communications network  122 . The network  122  may be any form of network known in the art including, but not limited to, Internet, intranet, or wireless. 
   The reconciling system  120  implements an embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment can be an executable program running on the reconciling system  120  that automatically reconciles data in two different forms on the database  118 . The embodiment of the present invention accesses forms on the database  118  via the network  122  and the cellular processor  116 . Differences in the data of two different forms are identified. One of the forms is updated with the data in another form. After the data in the forms of the database  118  are reconciled, available transfer receivers are the same for each of the different forms. As a result, the available transfer receivers are available to mobile devices  102  utilizing different communications technologies. For example, before reconciliation of the forms in the database  118 , the receiver  112  may be listed as available in the analog form but may not be listed in the digital form. Thus, before reconciliation, a mobile device  102  utilizing an analog protocol will be switched to the receiver  112  as it gets closer to the receiver  112 , but a mobile device utilizing a digital protocol will not be switched to the receiver  112  as the mobile device moves toward the receiver  112 . After automatic reconciliation of the forms, receiver  112  is available to both the analog user and the digital user. The method employed to reconcile forms in the database  118  will be discussed in more detail with respect to the embodiments shown in the following figures. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a suitable operating environment  200  utilizing an embodiment of the present invention. The environment  200  is generally a cellular telephone system for receiving and transmitting cellular phone calls. A cellular phone  202  is transmitting a signal  204  within a cell  206 . The cell  206  is a geographic area generally defined by a boundary  208 . The cell includes an antenna tower  210  that has transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving signals. The transmitters on the antenna tower  210  transmit at a designated power level. Likewise, the cell phone  202  transmits the signal  204  at a designated power level. The designated power levels of the antenna tower transmitters and the cell phone  202  dictate the location of the boundary  208  of the cell  206 . Receivers on the antenna tower  210  will generally receive the signal  204  while the cell phone  202  is within the boundary  208  of the cell  206 . Generally, when the cell phone  202  leaves the boundary  208  of the cell  206 , the receiver of the antenna  210  will no longer receive the signal  204 . In one embodiment, the cell boundary  208  is substantially hexagonal in shape. 
   A receiver on the antenna tower  210  is generally referred to as a cell face. The antenna tower  210  may have more than one cell face, such as a cell face  212  and cell face  214 . A typical antenna tower has three cell faces, but the number of cell faces can vary. Cell faces have one or more radios for transmitting and receiving cellular signals. Each cell face on the antenna tower  210  is positioned so that it covers an area within the cell  206 . Depending on the positioning and the orientation of the cell face  214 , the cell face  214  will receive calls coming from a particular direction. The cell face  212  is oriented in a different position to receive calls coming from a different direction with respect to the antenna tower  210 . A variety of cell face configurations are known in the art. For example, one cell face configuration is known as the omni face, which comprises a single cell face with a coverage area of 360° around the antenna tower. A common cell face configuration includes three cell faces with each cell face having a coverage area of 120° around the antenna tower. Typically a structure  216  is located near the antenna tower that houses communications equipment, such as radio transmitters, radio receivers, and power supplies. The communications equipment  216  is connected to transmitters and cell faces on the antenna tower via a communications link  218 . The structure  216  and the antenna tower  210  are commonly referred to as a base station  220 . The base station  220  is located substantially in the middle of the cell  206 . 
   Each cell face on the antenna tower  210  has an associated transmitter. Transmitters transmit control signals on unique control channels or frequencies that are used to send control messages to the cell phone  202 . When the cell phone  202  is in operation, the cell phone  202  searches for the strongest control signal coming from the antenna tower  210 . The receiver in the cell phone  202  locks on to the strongest control channel and begins receiving control information. The control information includes the transmission frequency at which the cell phone  202  should transmit. In the exemplary environment  200 , when the cell phone  202  begins operation, it receives the strongest control signal from a transmitter associated with the cell face  214 . Thus, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the signal  204  from the cell phone  202  is being received by the cell face  214 . The cell phone  202  may transmit using any of a number of communications protocols known in the art. The signal  204  will follow the protocol used by the cell phone  202 . For example, the cell phone  202  may utilize an analog protocol known as advanced mobile phone system (AMPS). Alternatively, the cell phone  202  may use a digital protocol, such as time division multiple access (TDMA). 
   The communications equipment  216  receives the signal  204  and may demodulate the signal. The communications equipment  216  typically is operable to receive signals in a variety of formats, including AMPS and TDMA. The signal  204  is sent to a cellular processor  222  via a communications link  224 . The cellular processor  222  is typically a sophisticated computing device operable to manage cellular communications at the antenna tower  210 . For example, the cellular processor  222  can monitor the signal strength of the signal  204 . Also, the cellular processor  222  can detect when the cell phone  202  has been disconnected to terminate the call  204 . The cellular processor  222  may also facilitate billing and locating the cell phone  202 . One example of a cellular processor known in the art is the Executive Cellular Processor (ECP) manufactured by Lucent. Many other cellular processors are known in the art. The cellular processor  222  utilizes a database  226  to perform its functions. One particular function that the cellular processor  222  performs is determining which of the cell faces on the antenna tower  210  should optimally be used to receive the signal  204 . 
   The cell phone  204  is transmitting a signal to the cell face  214 . The cell phone is moving in a direction  228 . When the cell phone initially places a call  204 , the cell phone  204  may be located in the coverage area of the cell face  214 . While the cell phone  202  moves in a direction  228 , the signal strength of the signal  204  will vary with respect to the cell faces  212  and  214 . The cellular processor  222  detects the variation in signal strength of the signal  204 . As the cell phone  202  moves in the direction  228 , it moves away from the cell face  214  and closer to the cell face  212 . The cellular processor  222  detects a decrease in the signal power received by the cell face  214 . Eventually, as the cell phone  202  continues to move, signal power received by the cell face  214  will be less than a minimum required level. When a call is placed from the cell phone  204 , the cellular processor  222  will determine that the signal strength of the call is less than the minimum required level. In either situation, the cellular processor  222  accesses the database  226  to determine which cell face the signal  204  can be transferred to. If, on the other hand, the signal strength is not below the minimum required for cell face  214 , but all the radios of cell face  214  are being used by other calls, the cellular processor  222  will access the database  226  to determine which cell face the signal  204  can be transferred to. 
   The cellular processor  222  accesses cell face transfer data in the database  226 . The cell face transfer data is generally a list of cell faces to which a signal may be transferred. For example, the database  226  has cell face transfer data associated with the cell face  214 . Cell face transfer data for cell face  214  provides a list of available cell faces where the signal  204  can be transferred. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the cell face  212  is among the available cell faces given in the cell face transfer data for the cell face  214 . After the cellular processor  222  identifies the cell face  212  as available for a retry, the cellular processor  222  sends a message to the communications equipment  216  indicating that the cell phone  202  should begin transmitting at a frequency associated with the cell face  212 . In response to a message from the cellular processor  222 , the transmitter for the cell face  214  transmits a control signal to the cell phone  202  that instructs the cell phone to switch to a frequency associated with the cell face  212 . The process of transferring the cell phone signal  204  from the cell face  214  to the cell face  212  is extremely fast. There is no break in the conversation recognizable by the user of the cell phone  202 . Transferring a call or signal from one cell face to another typically occurs when the call is attempted and the initial cell face is not available. A cell face typically will not be available for a call if the signal strength of the call does not meet a specified signal strength or all the radios of the cell face are in use. 
   With respect to the cell face transfer data in the database  226 , cell face transfer data is typically in one form for AMPS and a different form for TDMA. Thus, there is an AMPS form for cell face transfer data and a TDMA form for cell face transfer data. While the AMPS form and the TDMA form preferably have the same cell face transfer data, the data is in a different format for each of the forms. In other words, the cell faces that are available to receive a call in a TDMA protocol preferably are the same as the cell faces available in the AMPS protocol. However, frequently the AMPS form and TDMA form differ in the cell face transfer data. The difference may arise when, for example, the AMPS form has been manually updated, but the TDMA form has not been updated. One type of form may be a standard form that is updated consistently when necessary, while other forms are not consistently updated. When the AMPS form has been updated and the TDMA form has not been updated to reflect available cell faces, the two forms can be automatically reconciled using an embodiment of the present invention so that the same cell faces are available in each communications protocol. 
   In order to automatically reconcile differences in the AMPS form and TDMA form, an embodiment of the present invention is running on a server  228  that is in communication with the cellular processor via a communication link  230 . The server preferably includes a reconciliation system that is accessible by a workstation  232  connected to the server via a communication link  234 . A user of the workstation  232  can access the reconciliation system running in the server  228  to facilitate automatic reconciliation of the database forms. Cellular processor  222  transfers the AMPS form and the TDMA form from the database  226  to the server  228  via the communication link  230 . The reconciliation system accesses the AMPS form and TDMA forms in the server  228 . If the AMPS form has been updated but the TDMA form has not, data in the TDMA form is updated to match data in the AMPS form. The cell face transfer data is read from the AMPS form and added to the TDMA form if it is not listed in the TDMA form. For example, if, in the AMPS form, the cell face  212  is listed as an available cell face to receive a call that is attempting to use the cell face  214 , but the cell face  212  is not listed in the TDMA form as an available cell face to receive a call that is attempting to use the cell face  214 , the cell face  212  is added to the TDMA cell face transfer data for the cell face  214 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary multiple cell operating environment  300  implementing an embodiment of the present invention. The environment can include one or more cells, such as cell  301 , cell  302 , cell  304 . Cells are often referred to as sites. Typically, each cell has an associated cell identification number used to identify the cell. Each cell has a base station, such as base station  306 . The cell  302  has a base station  314  and cell  304  has a base station  316 . Like the base station  220  of  FIG. 2 , the base stations  306 ,  314 , and  316  each include radio equipment and an antenna tower having one or more cell faces. Cells  301 ,  302  and  304  may, but do not necessarily, overlap, as shown by an overlapping region  307 . The cell  301  has a coverage area defined by a substantially hexagonal boundary  308 . During operation, a cellular processor  310  communicates with the base station  306  to monitor calls within the cell  301 . Another cellular processor  312  communicates with the base station  314  and the base station  316  to monitor calls within cell  302  and cell  304  respectively. A typical cellular processor may be associated with 100 or more cells and base stations. The environment illustrated in  FIG. 3  is exemplary only and the systems and methods described can generally be applied to environments including hundreds of cells. 
   As has been discussed, cellular processors, such as cellular processor  310  and cellular processor  312  typically monitor various data about cellular phone calls, such as signal strength, cell phone location, and billing. The cellular processors  310  and  312  also transmit signals to a mobile switching center (MSC)  318 . The MSC  318  relays cell phone signals to an external network  320 , such as a telephone wireline network. The MSC  318  is a sophisticated system that is in communication with networks and switches around the world to determine an optimal route for cell phone calls to reach their destination. 
   In the exemplary environment  300  a mobile communication device, such as a cell phone  322 , is shown in the cell  301  transmitting a signal  324  to the base station  306 . The signal  324  transmits voice data over a voice channel to a cell face at the base station  306 . The base station  306  receives the signal  324  and transmits it to the cellular processor  310  so that the cellular processor  310  can monitor the signal  324 . The cellular processor  310  may also transmit the signal  324  to the MSC  318 , which may route the signal to the external network  320 . The cell phone  322  may utilize any communications technology known in the art and the signal  324  may follow any protocol known in the art. Communications technologies include, but are not limited to, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Personal Communications Service (PCS), Analog Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). Preferably, the base station  306  is operable to receive any or all of the possible communications technologies. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cell phone  322  is traveling in a direction  326 . The cell phone  322  is moving in the cell  301  toward the cell  304 . As the cell phone  322  travels, it maintains communications with the base station  306  and the cellular processor  310  monitors the strength of the signal  324 . As the cell phone  322  moves farther from the base station  306 , the cellular processor  310  may detect that the strength of the signal  324  diminishes or weakens. The cell phone  307  travels through the overlapping region  307  where cell  304  and cell  301  overlap. When the signal strength of the signal  324  drops below a minimum power level, the cellular processor  310  accesses a directed retry list (DRL) in a database  328  to determine an available cell face to receive a call from the cell phone  307 . The database  328  contains a plurality of DRLs. Each DRL is associated with a cell face at a cell. Preferably each DRL has a cell identifier and a cell face identifier for the associated cell face. The cellular processor  310  reads cell face transfer data entries from the DRL. Each cell face transfer data entry identifies an available transfer cell face that can receive a call from a cell phone. 
   Cell face transfer data may be updated when a new cell such as cell  304  is implemented. For example, cell  304  and its associated base station  316  may be put into service after the cells  301  and  302  are operating. When the base station  316  is put into service, a plurality of new cell faces associated with base station  316  are made available to offer mobile communication service that was not existent prior to implementation of cell  304 . As a result of the implementation of cell  304 , data in the databases  328  and  330  may be updated to reflect the addition of cell  304 . As an example, a call in cell  301  traveling into cell  304  may be transferred to a cell face of the base station  316 . The cellular processor  312  will monitor the mobile telephone user&#39;s call for various parameters including signal strength. As the traveler travels from the cell  301  toward the cell  304 , the signal strength from the call may diminish. The cellular processor  312  will send a signal to the base station  306  to initiate a transfer to retry the call using a cell face of the base station  316 . The cellular processor  310  accesses the cell face transfer data stored in the database  328 . The cellular processor  310  uses cell face transfer data in the database  328  to identify cell faces that are available for the call  324  to be transferred to. 
   As discussed earlier, the cell face transfer data may reside in the database  328  in multiple formats. Each format may be associated with a communications technology. An embodiment of the present invention allows for automatic reconciling of data in one format to the data in another format to ensure that cell face transfer data is the same for different communications technologies being processed by the cellular processor  310 . Thus, an embodiment of the present invention may be viewed as a method or system to ensure that cell face transfer data is consistent for different technologies. 
   Also shown in  FIG. 3  is a computer  332  communicating with the cellular processor  310  and the cellular processor  312 . The computer  332  implements a reconciliation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The reconciliation system can automatically update the database  328  and the database  330 . The communications channel  334  can be any communications means known in the art. Examples of communications channels include, but are not limited to, Ethernet, telephone lines, or any proprietary communications protocol. A user of the computer  332  can select between the database  328  and the database  330 , and access the database to update forms on the database when new cell face transfer data is created. The reconciliation system of computer  332  automatically compares data in one Directed Retry List (DRL) form in the database  328  to data in another DRL form in the database. The reconciliation system can then automatically modify data in either of the DRL forms such that data in the forms match. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary cellular processor including a forms database including cell face transfer data in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A cellular processor  400  is depicted having memory  408  wherein database data is be stored. Memory  408  can be any form of storage media known in the art, including, but not limited to random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or flash memory. Also, the form data base  402  can be stored on mass storage devices such as, but not limited to, CD ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), magnetic cassettes, PCMCIA card memory, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the cellular processor  400 . In general, the form database  402  is a table of binary encoded data that is indexable by cell identification numbers  404 . Each cell identification number  404  can identify a physical cell site. Each cell identification number  404  may also identify a cell face of a cell. For each cell identification number  404 , a plurality of forms  406  exist in the form database  402 . Each form holds a particular kind of data associated with a given cell identification number  404 , and preferably can be viewed on a computer monitor. 
     FIG. 5  is an exemplary screen shot illustrating form data in cell equipage face (CEQFACE) form utilized in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A screen shot  500  presents data associated with a cell and cell face. A title section  502  provides a form type, cell equipage face, and the associated cell and cell face identifiers. In the screen shot  500 , the cell identifier is  76  and the cell face identifier is  1 . Other information is shown in title section  502  that is not necessarily relevant to the present invention. Other data is shown in another data section  504  concerning data such as timers, power, transmission rates, and signal strengths. The data in section  504  is not necessarily relevant to the present invention. The directed retry list (DRL) section  506  presents a directed retry list having cell/cell face identification data associated with cell  76  face  1 . Finally a command section  508  provides commands that a user of the form may enter to review and/or process form data. 
   Most relevant to the present invention is the directed retry list  506  shown in the screen  500 . As was mentioned, the screen shot  500  provides data associated with cell face  1  of cell  76 . The directed retry list  506  provides cell face transfer data  312  associated with cell face  1  of cell  76 . Cell face transfer data  312  includes cell/cell face identification data identifying cell faces that are available for transfer from cell face  1  of cell  76  if cell face  1  of cell  76  is not available. For example, cell/cell face identification data  314  indicates that cell face  2  of cell  74  is available for a transfer from cell face  1  of cell face  76 . Therefore, when an attempt is made to place a call via cell face  1  of cell  76 , the call can be transferred to cell face  2  of cell  74 . As was discussed, a cell face typically will not be available to take a call when the call&#39;s signal strength does not meet a specified strength or when all radios of the cell face are in use. The cell equipage face form presents a set of cell/cell face identification data  312  in a row format with rows numbered 1–6. A cellular processor such as the cellular processor  222  of  FIG. 2 , is operable to access a binary encoded form of the cell equipage face data shown in the screen shot  500  and read the cell face transfer data  312  shown in the directed retry list  506 . As will be discussed, the cellular processor  222  is further operable to access cell face transfer data in other forms to determine if cell/cell face identifier pairs of the cell equipage face form are in the other forms. 
   Another form that can be stored in the database is a reselection list (RESEL) form. An exemplary portion of a reselection list form is shown in a partial screen shot  600  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Like the screen shot  500  of  FIG. 5  for cell equipage face form, the screen shot  600  provides sets of data associated with a cell face of a cell. Some of the data shown in the screen shot  600  for the reselection list form is the same as the data shown in the screen shot  600  for the cell equipage face form, but the data is in a different format for each of the forms. The screen shot  600  includes a title section  602  that provides the type of form, which is reselection list form. Other data is given in the title section  602  but is not necessarily relevant to the present invention. Another section  604  of the screen shot  600  provides a cell number and a face number. The data in section  604  indicates that the reselection list form is associated with cell face  1  of cell  76 . In other words, the data presented in the reselection list form of screen shot  600  is relevant to cell face  1  of cell  76 . Below the data section  604  a table is presented providing sets of data in a column/row format. Five sets of relevant data  606 ,  608 ,  610 ,  612  and  614  will be discussed in more detail below. Another data section  616  provides additional data such as delay, offset and frequency data, which is not necessarily relevant to this invention. 
   Cell identifiers  606  identify cells that are available for transfer from cell  76 . Cell face identifiers  608  provide the available cell face numbers associated with each of the cell identifiers  606 . Technology data  610  provides the particular communications technology or protocol relevant to the reselection list form. Technology indicated in the technology data  610  is digital control channel, which is commonly used in most digital cellular, TDMA, and PCS systems. The technology data  610  indicates that cells indicated in  606  and the cell faces in  608  utilize a digital channel technology. The channel data  612  provides channel frequencies utilized by the associated cell and cell face. A directed retry list  614  indicates whether the cell faces of cell face data  608  are available for a transfer from cell face  1  of cell  76 . The reader will recognize that the directed retry list  614  provides cell face transfer data in a format different than the directed retry list  506  of  FIG. 5 . The directed retry list  614  indicates whether associated cell of cell data  606  and cell face of cell face data  608  is available for a transfer by using a “yes” or “no” indicator. For example, row  618  lists cell  74  and cell face  2  in cell data  606  and cell face  608  respectively. Row  618  has data indicating that cell face  2  of cell  74  is of a digital technology as given in the technology data  610 . The cell face  2  of cell  74  further has a channel frequency of  784  as indicated by channel frequency data  612 . The directed retry list  614  indicates that cell face  2  of cell  74  is available for a transfer from cell face  1  of cell  76 . 
     FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of utilizing reconciled cell face transfer data in an embodiment of the present invention. Control initially transfers to a start operation  700  wherein any start-up processing occurs. Control then transfers to a 2-way operation  702  wherein 2-way communication is established between a cell phone and a cell face. As was discussed earlier, establishing 2-way communication typically involves the cell phone receiving a control signal from one or more cell faces and choosing a control signal that is the strongest. After receiving the control signal, the cell phone begins transmitting at a frequency associated with the cell face. Control then transfers to a query operation  704  wherein it is determined whether the signals from the cell phone are becoming weaker. As has been discussed, determining the power of the cell phone signal typically involves a cellular processor monitoring the power of the signal periodically. If it is determined that the power of the signal is not weakening, the control transfers back to the 2-way operation  702  wherein the 2-way communication continues. If, on the other hand, it is determined that the signal is weakening, control transfers to an opening operation  706  wherein a form is opened on a database to identify another cell face for receiving the phone signal. In the opening operation  706 , it is first determined which of a number of forms is appropriate given the type of signal received from the cell phone. This typically involves the cellular processor identifying communication protocol that is being utilized and selecting the corresponding form in the database from which to retrieve a list of available cell faces. Control then transfers to a query operation  708  wherein it is determined an alternative cell face is available. Determining whether an alternative cell face is available typically involves accessing the list of cell sites/cell face pairs from a form in the database. If no alternative cell face is available, control transfers back to the 2-way operation  702  wherein 2-way communication continues. If an alternative cell face is available, control transfers to a transfer operation  710  wherein the cell phone signal is transferred to the alternative cell face. Transferring the cell phone call typically involves adding information to the control channel that is transmitted to the cell phone instructing the cell phone to begin transmitting in an alternative frequency associated with the alternative cell face. After the cell phone signal has been transferred to the alternate cell face, control transfers to an end operation  712  wherein the transfer operation terminates. 
     FIG. 8  is a flow-control diagram in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Control initially transfers to a start operation  800  wherein initialization processing occurs. Control then transfers to an obtaining operation  802  wherein directed retry list (DRL) data is obtained from an advanced mobile phone system (AMPS) form. Control then transfers to and obtaining functions  804  wherein DRL data is obtained from a time division multiple access (TDMA) form. Control then transfers to a query operation  806  wherein it is determined whether the AMPS DRL data is different from the TDMA DRL data. If the two different forms of data are not different, control transfers to an end operation  808  wherein processing ends. If there is a difference between the two different forms of DRL data, control transfers from the query operation  806  to a query operation  810 . In the query operation  810 , it is determined whether the AMPS DRL data has been preselected as standard DRL data. Thus, the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8  provides for reconciling TDMA DRL data to match AMPS DRL data, or reconciling AMPS DRL data to match TDMA DRL data. If in the query operation  810  it is determined that the AMPS DRL data is the standard DRL data, control transfers to a changing operation  812 . In the changing operation  812 , the TDMA DRL data is changed to match the AMPS DRL data. The changing operation  812  reconciles the TDMA DRL form with the AMPS DRL form. If, on the other hand, in the query operation  810 , it is determined that the AMPS DRL data is not standard, control transfers to a changing operation  814 . In the changing operation  814 , the AMPS DRL form is changed to match the TDMA DRL form. The changing operation  814  reconciles the AMPS DRL form with the TDMA DRL form. After both changing operations  812  and  814 , control transfers to an end operation  816  when processing terminates. 
   The logical operations of the various embodiments of the present invention are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts or program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the present invention described herein are referred to variously as operations, structural devices, acts or modules. It will be recognized by one skilled in the art that these operations, structural devices, acts and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention as recited within the claims attached hereto. 
   Although the present invention has been described in connection with various exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications can be made thereto within the scope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention in any way be limited by the above description, but instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.