Request to mobile station to change to common mode of communication upon entry into zone

A mobile switching component of an apparatus in one example requests a mobile station to change to a common mode of communication upon entry of the mobile station into a zone, wherein every mobile station supported by the mobile switching component in the zone employs the common mode of communication.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to telecommunications and more particularly to mobile station communications.

BACKGROUND

Mobile stations receive wireless service from one or more wireless networks. The wireless networks in one example comprise a plurality of base stations. The base stations communicate with the mobile stations to provide the wireless service. To provide wireless service to a mobile station, a base station sends and/or receives signals to and/or from the mobile station. Where the mobile station travels to an area of weak wireless coverage, for example, a location in which the base station is unable to send/receive signals to/from the mobile station, the mobile station fails to receive wireless service from the base station. For example, where a user of a mobile station enters a building, the mobile station fails to receive wireless service within the building.

In known wireless service solutions, a microcell is employed within the area of weak wireless coverage to provide wireless service to mobile stations within the area. A microcell employs a mode of communication to provide wireless service to mobile stations within the area. The mode of communication in one example comprises a wireless protocol (e.g., Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”), analog, and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”)) and a radio frequency (“RF”) (e.g., 850 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 1.9 GHZ, and 2 GHz). A microcell provides wireless service only to mobile stations that employ the mode of communication of the microcell, for example a wireless protocol and a radio frequency. As one shortcoming, to increase the likelihood that a mobile station will receive wireless service within an area, multiple microcells need to be installed within the area to support the multiple wireless protocols and the multiple radio frequencies employed by the mobile stations. Significant cost is associated with each installation of a microcell within an area. It is desirable to provide wireless service to a maximum number of mobile stations within an area through employment of a minimum number of microcells.

Thus, a need exists for reducing a cost for providing wireless service to mobile stations within an area.

SUMMARY

A zone of a mobile network, for example, a microcell within a building, provides wireless service to mobile stations within the zone through employment of a single mode of communication. Upon entry of a mobile station into the zone, a mobile switching component requests the mobile station to change to the single mode of communication. Where the mobile station changes to the single mode of communication, the mobile station receives the wireless service within the zone.

In one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus comprising a mobile switching component that requests a mobile station to change to a common mode of communication upon entry of the mobile station into a zone, wherein every mobile station supported by the mobile switching component in the zone employs the common mode of communication.

In another embodiment, there is provided a method for: determining an entry of a mobile station into a zone; initiating a request to the mobile station to change to a common mode of communication; and supporting wireless service for every mobile station in the zone that employs the common mode of communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning toFIG. 1, an apparatus100in one example comprises one or more mobile switching components105, one or more mobile subscriber databases110, and one or more networks115and120. The mobile switching component105in one example comprises a switch. The mobile switching component105in one example connects the networks115and120. The mobile switching component105comprises an instance of a recordable data storage medium101, as described herein. The mobile subscriber database110in one example comprises one or more mobile subscriber records for one or more users of one or more mobile stations185. A mobile subscriber record in one example comprises one or more modes of communication supported by a mobile station, for example, the mobile station185. The mobile station185comprises one or more dual band, dual mode, or dual band/dual mode phones. The modes of communication in one example comprises one or more wireless protocols and one or more radio frequencies (“RF”). The wireless protocols in one example comprise one or more of: Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”), Time Division Multiple Access (“TDMA”), Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”), analog, and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”). The radio frequencies in one example comprise one or more of: 850 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 1.9 GHZ, and 2 GHz. The mobile station185in one example employs a default mode of communication, for example, a 2 GHz TDMA mode of communication.

The network115comprises a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”). The network120comprises a mobile network. The network120in one example comprises one or more zones125,130,135,140,145, and150. The zones125,130,135,140,145, and150in one example comprise one or more cells, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The zones125,130,135,140,145, and150, in one example comprise one or more base stations155,160,165,170,175, and180and network equipment, for example, switches and routers, that support one or more modes of communication within the zones125,130,135,140,145, and150, as will be described herein. The mobile switching component105connects one or more calls between a telephony device118of the network115and one or more mobile stations185of the network120. The telephony device118in one example comprises a landline. The base stations155,160,165,170,175, and180provide wireless service to one or more mobile stations, for example, a mobile station185within the zones125,130,135,140,145, and150, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The mobile switching component105cooperates with the base stations155,160,165,170,175, and180to support wireless services for the mobile station185within the zones125,130,135,140,145, and150. The zone150in one example comprises a microcell. Zone150in one example comprises a limited area, for example, a parking garage, a building, and a floor of a building.

The mobile switching component105maintains a location of a mobile station within the network120. For example, the mobile switching component105determines that the mobile station185is within the zone125at a first time, and within the zone150at a second time. The mobile switching component105maintains the location of the mobile station185within the network120through receipt of one or more notifications from the base stations155,160,165,170,175, and/or180, as the mobile station185travels between the zones125,130,135,140,145, or150. The mobile switching component105determines entry of the mobile station185into and/or out of the zones125,130,135,140,145, or150. For example, the mobile station185crosses a boundary between the zone140and150. Upon entry of the mobile station185into the zone150, the base station180sends a notification to register the mobile station185within the zone150to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105receives the notification to register the mobile station185within the zone150from the base station180. The mobile switching component105determines entry of the mobile station185into the zone150upon receipt of the notification to register the mobile station185within the zone150from the base station180. The mobile switching component105updates the location of the mobile station to indicate that the mobile station185is within the zone150.

The mobile switching component105comprises a listing190of one or more selected zones and associated common modes of communication. The mobile switching component105in one example stores the listing190in a system database191. A selected zone employs a common mode of communication to support wireless service for every mobile station with the selected zone. For example, the mobile switching component105identifies the zone150as a selected zone. The mobile switching component105and the base station180employ the common mode of communication, for example, a 1.9 GHz time division multiple access (“TDMA”) mode of communication to support the mobile station185within the zone150. Upon receipt of a notification from the base station180, the mobile switching component105compares the zone150of the base station180to the one or more selected zones of the listing190and associated common modes of communication.

The mobile switching component105in one example receives the listing190of the one or more selected zones and associated common modes of communication from a service provider for the network120. For example, the service provider for the network120configures the mobile switching component105to employ a common mode of communication (e.g., 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication) to support every mobile station within the selected zones, for example, the zone150of the listing190. The mobile switching component105is provisioned with one or more zone boundaries, for example, zone boundaries421,422,423(FIG. 4). Upon receipt of a notification from the base station180to register the mobile station185within the zone150, the mobile switching component105compares the notification to the zone boundaries to determine entry of the mobile station185into a zone. The mobile switching component105updates one or more home location register193(“HLR”) entries and/or one or more visiting location register194(“VLR”) entries with the zone for the mobile station185upon entry of the mobile station185within the zone, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Upon entry of the mobile station150into a selected zone, for example, the zone150, the mobile switching component requests the mobile station185to change to a common mode of communication. The mobile switching component105sends a request to the base station180for the mobile station185. The base station180relays the request to the mobile station185. In one embodiment, the mobile station185re-tunes to the common mode of communication. The mobile switching component105supports wireless service for the mobile station185through employment of the common mode of communication. In another example, the mobile station185fails to change to the common mode of communication. The mobile switching component105fails to support wireless service for the mobile station185through employment of the common mode of communication where the mobile station185fails to change to the common mode of communication.

In one embodiment, the mobile switching component105initiates a request to change to a wireless protocol and a radio frequency of the common mode of communication for the zone150. In another example, the mobile switching component105formulates the request based on one or more comparisons between a wireless protocol and a radio frequency of the common mode of communication and a wireless protocol and a radio frequency of a mode of communication of the mobile station185outside of the zone150. For example, the mobile switching component105performs a comparison between the wireless protocol employed by a mode of communication for the mobile station185outside of the zone150to the wireless protocol of the common mode of communication. Where the wireless protocol employed by the common mode of communication differs from the wireless protocol employed by the mode of communication of the mobile station185outside the zone150, the mobile switching component105initiates a request to the mobile station185to change to the wireless protocol employed by the common mode of communication. Where the radio frequency employed by the common mode of communication differs from the radio frequency employed by the mode of communication of the mobile station185outside the zone150, the mobile switching component105initiates a request to the mobile station185to change to the radio frequency employed by the common mode of communication.

The mobile switching component105performs one or more handoffs, for example, one or more hard handoffs or soft handoffs, for a call established with the mobile station185upon entry of the mobile station185into a selected zone, for example, the zone150. The mobile switching component105maintains the call with the mobile station185through employment of the common mode of communication. The mobile switching component105supports every mobile station within the selected zone, for example, the zone150, that employs the common mode of communication.

An illustrative description of exemplary operation of the apparatus100is presented, for explanatory purposes.

Turning toFIG. 2, the mobile station185enters the zone125. The mobile station185employs a mode of communication within the zone125, for example, a 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. The mobile switching component105employs a common mode of communication, for example, an 800 MHz CDMA mode of communication, to support every mobile station within the selected zone, for example, the zone150. In STEP205, the mobile station185establishes communication with the base station155. In STEP210, the base station155sends a notification to register the mobile station within the zone125to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105compares the zone125with the selected zone, the zone150. The mobile station185travels to the zone150. In STEP215, the mobile station185establishes communication with the base station180. In STEP220, the base station180sends a notification to register the mobile station within the zone150to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105compares the zone150with the selected zone, for example, the zone150. In STEP225, the mobile switching component105determines entry into the selected zone, for example, the zone150, and initiates a request to the mobile station185to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication via the base station180. In STEP230, the base station180of the zone150sends the request to the mobile station185to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication.

Turning toFIGS. 1 and 3, the mobile station185enters a selected zone, the zone150. In STEP305, the mobile station185enters the zone150. In STEP310, the mobile station310registers in the zone150. In response to registering in the zone150, the mobile switching component obtains the mobile subscriber record from the mobile subscriber database110. In STEP315, the mobile switching component105performs a comparison between the common mode of communication for the zone150and a mode of communication of the mobile station185from the mobile subscriber record. In STEP320, the mode of communication of the mobile station185is the same as the common mode of communication for the zone150. The mobile switching component105provides normal call handling for the mobile switching component105within the zone150.

In STEP325, the mode of communication of the mobile station185is different from the common mode of communication for the zone150. The mobile switching component105instructs the mobile station185to change to the common mode of communication for the zone150. In STEP330, the mobile switching component105makes a determination if the mobile station185is on a call. In STEP320, the mobile switching component105determines that the mobile station185is not on a call. The mobile switching component105provides normal call handling for the mobile station185within the zone150. In STEP335, the mobile switching component105determines that the mobile station185is on a call. The mobile switching component105transfers the call from the mode of communication of the mobile station185to the common mode of communication for the zone150.

Turning toFIGS. 4-5, the mobile switching component105provides wireless service in zones405,410,415, and420. The zones405,410,415, and420comprise base stations425,430,435, and440, respectively. The mobile switching component105and the base stations425,430, and435employ one or more modes of communication to support wireless service to mobile stations445,450, and455, within the zones405,410, and415, respectively. The mobile station445comprises a dual-band phone. The mobile station445employs an 800 MHz CDMA mode of communication and an 1900 MHz CDMA mode of communication. The mobile station450comprises a dual mode phone. The mobile station450employs an advanced mobile phone service (“AMPS”) mode of communication and a 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. The mobile station455comprises a dual-mode phone. The mobile station455employs an analog mode of communication and a digital mode of communication.

The base station425supports the mobile station445within the zone405through employment of the 800 MHz CDMA mode of communication. The base station430supports the mobile station450within the zone410through employment of the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. The base station435supports the mobile station455within the zone435through employment of the digital mode of communication. The zone420comprises a selected zone. The mobile switching component105and the base station440employ a common mode of communication to provide support for every mobile station within the zone420. The mobile switching component105and the base station440employ a 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication as the common mode of communication.

The mobile station445is located at a location457within the zone405. In STEP505, the mobile station445registers with the base station425within the zone405. The mobile station450is located at a location461within the zone410. In STEP510, the mobile station450registers with the base station430within the zone410. The mobile station455is located at a location465within the zone415. In STEP515, the mobile station455registers with the base station435within the zone415.

The mobile station445travels to a location459within the zone420. The mobile station445crosses a zone boundary421between the zone405and the zone420. In STEP520, the mobile station445registers with the base station440within the zone420. In STEP525, the base station440sends a notification to register the mobile station445within the zone420to the mobile switching component105. In STEP530, the mobile switching component105initiates a request to the mobile station445to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication via the base station440. In STEP535, the base station440receives the request and sends the request to the mobile station445. In response to the request, the mobile station445changes to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. The mobile switching component105supports wireless service for the mobile station445and the base station440within the zone420through employment of the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication.

The mobile station450travels to a location463within the zone420. The mobile station450crosses a zone boundary422between the zone410and the zone420. In STEP540, the mobile station450registers with the base station440within the zone420. In STEP545, the base station440sends a notification to register the mobile station450within the zone420to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105determines that the mobile station450employs the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. The mobile switching component105supports wireless service for the mobile station450and the base station440within the zone420through employment of the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication.

The mobile station455travels to a location467within the zone420. The mobile station455crosses a zone boundary423between the zone415and the zone420. In STEP550, the mobile station455registers with the base station440within the zone420. In STEP555, the base station440sends a notification to register the mobile station455within the zone420to the mobile switching component105. In STEP560, the mobile switching component105initiates a request to the mobile station455to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication via the base station440. In STEP565, the base station440receives the request and sends the request to the mobile station455. In response to the request, the mobile station455fails to changes to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. Where the mobile station455fails to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication, the mobile station455receives degraded wireless service from the mobile switching component105and the base station440within the zone420.

Turning toFIGS. 1,2, and6, the mobile station185travels from a selected zone, for example, the zone150, to the zone130. The mobile station185employs a default mode of communication, for example, a 800 MHz CDMA mode of communication. The mobile switching component105employs a common mode of communication, for example, a 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication, within the zone150. The mobile station185travels to the zone150. In STEP605, the mobile station185establishes communication with the base station180. In STEP610, the base station180sends a notification to register the mobile station185within the zone150to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105compares the zone150with the selected zone, for example, the zone150. In STEP615, the mobile switching component105determines entry into the selected zone and initiates a request to the base station180to request the mobile station185to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication. In STEP617, the base station180receives the request from the mobile switching component105and sends the request to the mobile station185to change to the 1.9 GHz TDMA mode of communication.

The mobile station185travels to the zone130. In STEP620, the mobile station185establishes communication with the base station160. In STEP625, the base station160sends a notification to register the mobile station185within the zone130to the mobile switching component105. The mobile switching component105compares the zone130with the selected zone, for example, the zone150. In STEP630, the mobile switching component105determines exit from the selected zone and initiates a request to the base station160to request the mobile station185to change to the default mode of communication for the mobile station. In STEP635, the base station160receives the request from the mobile switching component105and send the request to the mobile station185. The mobile station185changes to the 800 MHz CDMA mode of communication for the mobile station185.

The apparatus100in one example comprises a plurality of components such as one or more of electronic components, hardware components, and computer software components. A number of such components can be combined or divided in the apparatus100. An exemplary component of the apparatus100employs and/or comprises a set and/or series of computer instructions written in or implemented with any of a number of programming languages, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The apparatus100in one example employs one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media. The computer-readable signal-bearing media store software, firmware and/or assembly language for performing one or more portions of one or more embodiments of the invention. Examples of a computer-readable signal-bearing medium for the apparatus100comprise the recordable data storage medium101of the mobile switching component185. The computer-readable signal-bearing medium for the apparatus100in one example comprise one or more of a magnetic, electrical, optical, biological, and atomic data storage medium. For example, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium comprise floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disk drives, and electronic memory. In another example, the computer-readable signal-bearing medium comprises a modulated carrier signal transmitted over a network comprising or coupled with the apparatus100, for instance, one or more of a telephone network, a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), the Internet, and a wireless network.

The steps or operations described herein are just exemplary. There may be many variations to these steps or operations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified.