Abstract:
The invention is a cellphone base station transceiver capable of spontaneously and substantially automatically creating a new cell in a communication network. This new cell provides an indivival-Point-Of-Connect, which will be referred to as iPOC, for cell phone users that address many of these and other problems. The iPOC system, methods, devices, and computer programs provides wireless standard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone service exists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells. Various embodiments of the iPOC include a portable, substantially-automated, user-installable dynamically-configurable cell phone base station device. Said iPOC system, methods, devices and computer programs address many of the current quality of service issues cell phone users commonly experience as well as other problems. IPOC provides wireless standard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone service exists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to systems and methods for quickly and dynamically providing cell phone service in areas where no service exists and for enhancing service is areas supposedly with coverage, but where signal strength in intermittent, weak of nonexistent.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The telecommunication&#39;s industry had undergone tremendous growth and change since Alexander Graham Bell first invented the telephone in 1876. During the 20th century we have seen the introduction and evolution of a public wire line network that provides reliable and affordable voice and low speed data communications throughout the world. Until fairly recently, the telephone system utilized analog signals over hardwired land-lines for home and business communication. The installation of land lines is difficult and expensive especially in less developed areas of the world.  
         [0003]     Mobile telephone communication was initially provided through a radiotelephone system. Each city had a single central tower with roughly 25 communication channels available to a small number of users with radiophones in cars. The central antenna had sufficient power to transmit about 50 miles. The system also required a high power antenna be instilled in each vehicle.  
         [0004]     More recently, wireless telephone communication, cellular and cordless telephony, have gained wide spread popularity, but due to current limitations wireless phone service has not substantially displaced public wire-line networks. Despite the convenience and added flexibility of mobile cellular, most cell phone users continue to have land-line phone service at home and at the office with unique phone numbers that are different from their cell phone numbers. One reason users have not switched entirely to cellular is that the quality of cell phone service does not always match what they have grown accustomed to with the land-line service of the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). Cell phone network coverage areas are often incomplete. There are dead zones in the network. Dead zones are small areas within a cell where signal strength in the cell phone providers network is weak or nonexistent High quality service everywhere in the network is not guaranteed.  
         [0005]     The ultimate goal for wireless communication is to provide the end user with uninterrupted wireless communications capability anywhere without regard to location or mobility.  
         [0006]     Both cellular and cordless telephony provide some degree of mobility for the end user. Cellular networks enables a cell phone, The mobile transceiver, to operate over a wide area throughout the network of cells. Cellular networks are designed to provide uninterrupted phone conversations to users traveling through the network by a hand-off of the call from one base station to another. The network is designed to attempt to provide seamless transfer of a call from one base station to another as the user crosses cell boundaries.  
         [0007]     The basic cordless telephone proves a wireless alternative to the standard telephone. It utilizes a simple user installed base station that connects to a standard telephone interface of the PSTN to provide a limited range of mobility in a relatively small area. A single private cell is created in the vicinity of the base station typically 50 to 500 meters. Although there are some wireless PBX applications supporting cordless phones, most cordless phones are used in a very small area in the vicinity of a simple self installed base station connected to the PSTN.  
         [0008]     Cell phone technology significantly increases the number of users that can simultaneously place wireless phone calls in the same geographic areas. Geographic region are divided into small cells allowing frequency reuse so that large numbers of people can simultaneously use their phones without interference. Cell phone networks can be complex configurations with smaller micro-cells existing within-larger macro cells. In a typical sample configuration each cell may be about 10 square miles. In general, all else being equal, as cell size decreases, the greater the frequency reuse, allowing much higher subscriber densities per MHz of spectrum. In other words, as cell size decreases system capacity increases.  
         [0009]     Cell phone networks are comprised of individual cells that cover a specific geographic area within the network. Fixed position base station transceiver are used to create cells and the collection of cells constitute the network. It is a common mistake to believe that each cell has a centrally positioned transmitting tower and radio equipment known as a base station in the middle of the hexagon. Most cells are split into sectors to improve efficiency allowing them to carry more calls. Antennas normally transmit inward towards the center of each cell thus covering only a portion of each cell&#39;s geographic area, but not the whole cell. Each base station typically transmits and receives on 3 different sets of channels, one for each sector of the 3 cells it covers. Cells are commonly divided into 3 sectors, but sometime there are only 2 sectors and occasionally there are as may as 6. A cellular system will have coverage gaps and dead zones within cells, but the hexagonal shape makes it easier conceptually for the planner to visualize how the specific network is configured.  
         [0010]     For simplicity, a cell is often conceptually thought of as a hexagon cell phone coverage grid created by a single base station transceiver. It is the geographic area in which a cell phone operates by communicating with a specific single base station. This is the definition of cell, what is meant, when the term is used hence forth in this document unless otherwise stated.  
         [0011]     Base station installation necessary to create a cell site can be far easier and less expensive than land-line network installation; however, it requires preplanning and professional installation to ensure that adjacent cells in the network do not interfere with each other. The cellular network base stations typically have antenna that are positioned over 50 ft above the ground. These base stations are typically larger more permanent structures used to create standard cellphone network cells. Each cell typically has a coverage area radius of 0.5-30 km.  
         [0012]     Thus a cell phone base station is a substantially fixed-permanent structure requiring substantial preplanning prior to installation. Operating frequencies must be selected to prevent interference with the preexisting cell networks in the area near where the base station will reside. Base station installation requires personnel with specialized skills to do the preplanning and install the base station. Even when temporary base stations are set up to handle unusually high call volumes in specific areas for things like sporting events, considerable preplanning work is required to set up and install these base stations.  
         [0013]     A large number of these substantially fixed-permanent base stations, typically hundreds, are required in each geographic region to create a cell phone network. Each base station is connected to a Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO). The MTSO controls all the base stations in the region and handles all the phone connections to other phone systems. The mobile cell phone and the base station transmissions within the cell do not propagate very far outside the cell because each has low power transmitters. Many cell phones have multiple signal strengths (e.g. 3 Watts and 0.6 Watts) to help reduce interference and conserve battery power.  
         [0014]     Consider a common cell phone network configuration using a cluster of base stations with a frequency reuse pattern of 7 used to configure a provider network. It is a system where each cell uses one-seventh of the available communication channels to help ensure adjacent cells do not use the same frequencies to help prevent interference that would be caused when 2 cell phone users in close proximity attempt to place phone calls over the same channel. Each cell phone uses 2 frequencies per call in order to provide full duplex communication so that both parties can talk simultaneously. One frequency is used for the forward communication path, base station to mobile and the other provides the reverse path, mobile to base station communications. A Supervisory Audio Tone (SAT) is an inaudible high pitched tone that helps the system distinguish between callers on the same channel, but in different cells.  
         [0015]     AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) is a first generation analog cell phone system that has been available in the USA since 1983. An AMPS cell phone provider typically is allotted 832 frequencies to use in a city. 42 frequencies are used for cell phone control channels leaving 790 for voice communications. 2 frequencies are used for each voice channel leaving 395 voice channels per coverage area. Again a common configuration it to allocate one seventh of the available frequencies to each cell, which means that within any cell 56 people can talk at one time on first generation analog cell phone system file AMPS. AMPS uses FM (frequency modulation) for voice transmission and FSK (frequency shift keying) for signaling. Each call uses a different frequency. This type of spectrum sharing is know as FDMA (frequency division multiple access).  
         [0016]     Newer digital systems make better uses of the available channels enabling multiple simultaneous calls over voice channels. A digital cell phone system using TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) can handle 168 simultaneous calls, 3 times the number that can be handled on an analog system. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is a method for transmitting simultaneous signals over a shared portion of the spectrum. Qualcom for example operates CDMA cell phones in the 800 MHz band and 1.9 GHz PCS (Personal Communication Service) band. CDMA phones are noted for having excellent voice quality and long battery life. CDMA is less costly to implement, requiring fewer cell sites than GSM or TDMA digital cell phone systems and providing 3 to 5 times the calling capacity. CDMA is becoming widely used in North America and is also expected to become a 3rd generation technology for GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Currently GSM uses TDMA and is the predominant system in Europe and is also used around the world. Unlike GSM and TDMA, which divides the spectrum into different time slots. GSM defines the entire cellular system, not just the air interfaces (e.g. FDMA, TDMA, etc..). CDMA uses a spread spectrum technique. A narrow band voice signal is spread across the full bandwidth of the CDMA channel. By using different codes, voice conversations share the full bandwidth. TDMA has a precise limit to the number of simultaneous calls it can support. CDMA has no hard limit. The quality of the call starts to diminish as additional users are added.  
         [0017]     Roaming is a term used to describe a cell phone&#39;s ability to utilize another cell phone provider&#39;s network in order to place a call in an area without service by their provider. Roaming occurs when the subscriber of one wireless service users another providers wireless network. Roaming occurs if the System Identification Code (SID) on the control channel does not match the SID programmed into the user&#39;s cell phone. Roaming charges may be expensive especially since the second provider often has no direct preexisting financial contract with the user when the call is placed. In addition, the full complement of cell phone functions may not be available through another carriers network especially if it is an older analog network. If roaming is enabled on the cell phone and the carrier&#39;s signal becomes weak, roaming can occur even if it is a cell phone in operating in its&#39; own home calling area. In addition, if the user&#39;s network provider is at full capacity in the cell, all 56 channels being utilized for example, the cell phone may be configured to roam, using another provider&#39;s network instead of having the call dropped or blocked.  
         [0018]     Since cell phones rely on radio waves that travel through air, communication can at times be unreliable. Metal objects, weather conditions, large buildings, hilly terrain, and other objects can interrupt phone calls or prevent cell phone communication in specific areas of a cell all together. Antenna positioning and the surrounding landscape can create dead spots in a cell where signal strength is weak or non existent. This can be frustrating for customers especially when a dead zone coincides with their place of residence. The user may have a cell phone that works well most of the time, but when at home the cell phone may be non-operational or provide highly intermittent reception where many calls are dropped.  
         [0019]     Furthermore, cell phone providers tend to concentrate on building cells and providing service in highly populated areas and areas well traveled. It is not uncommon to find no service outside of major cities or incur substantial additional roaming charges. This can be particularly frustrating for people with a favorite weekend retreat or the primary or second home away from the city. Users are often required to pay for a separate land-line with a different phone number in order to have phone service. A person attempting to reach someone may first call their cell phone number, then call their home number, then call their business number and finally try the number at their second home (assuming they know all these numbers). When the service is available call forwarding can be used to redirect phone cells from one number to another, but that requires repeated manual procedures to enable and disable.  
         [0020]     There are systems available commercially that capture signals from an existing cell, transmit via wires into a building and then amplify and rebroadcast the signal within the building. These systems also capture the signal from cell phones within the building, transmit via wires to an antenna outside the building and them amplify the signals and rebroadcast. These systems can be used improve signal quality within a building in an existing cell. However, these systems do not extend the network outside the cell, but simply amplify existing cell phone signals within an existing cell. They require specialists to install and set up the equipment.  
         [0021]     The Global Positioning System (GPS) was designed to allow users to determine their precise position anywhere on earth. It was originally designed for military navigation, but can now be used by anyone. With a relatively simple inexpensive receiver one&#39;s position anywhere on the earth can be determined at any moment. GPS consists of 27 earth-orbiting satellites, 24 in operation and 3 spares. Each satellite makes 2 complete rotations every day. The satellites are arranged so that at least 4 are visible in the sky at any location on earth at any time. The GPS receiver determines the distance to each satellite. With that information and using a mathematical principle called trilateration precise position can be determined. Regularly, at predetermined instants of time, the satellites begin transmitting a pseudo-random code. The receiver begins running the same digital pattern at the same time. By comparing the patterns from each satellite, it can determine the time lag which is then uses to determine the distance to each satellite. Only 3 satellites are required to determine one&#39;s position, but with the distance information from a 4th satellite the receiver can determine how far off its&#39; quartz clock is from the extremely precise, but very expensive atomic clocks on each satellite and correct for any errors due to clocking variations. Thus, inexpensive quartz clocks can be used to reduce the cost of a GPS receiver and still provide extremely accurate positioning.  
         [0022]     Caller ID can be used to transmit the phone number and sometimes the name of the caller to the phone receiving the call right after the first ring. A standard phone uses a 90 Volt AC 20 Hz ring signal. A technique known as FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) is used to transmit ASCII characters to the caller ID modem circuitry in-between the first and second ring  
       SUMMARY  
       [0023]     The embodiments of the present invention is a cellphone base station transceiver capable of spontaneously and substantially automatically creating a new cell in a communication network. This new cell provides an indiviual-Point-Of-Connect, which will be referred to as iPOC, for cell phone users that address many of these and other problems. The iPOC system, methods, devices, and computer programs provides wireless standard cell phone communication in areas where no cell phone service exists or within dead zones in existing cell phone network cells. Various embodiment of the iPOC include a portable, substantially-automated, user-installable dynamically-configurable cell phone base station device.  
         [0024]     Many of the embodiments described in the remaining text describe iPOC can be used to create a new cell in a cell phone network, because that is an obvious and extremely useful exploitation of the invention. Nevertheless it should be understood that iPOC can be used to create a new cell in virtually any communications network, not just cell phone networks or telephone networks.  
         [0025]     One embodiment of the iPOC base station connects through a communications network to the cell phone providers network dynamically creating a new cell in order to provide cell phone communications at a remote location where no service is currently offered or within a dead cell zone where poor or intermittent service within a cell is encountered. In this embodiment, when the iPOC base station is initially powered on, it connects a cell phone network controller via one or more interconnected communication channels such as a computer network, the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), an analog telephone line with modem, a dedicated telephone line, a wireless LAN or other available communication channels. The many different communication channels can be utilized as long as they provides sufficient bandwidth and low latency to facilitate acceptable voice communications. Once a communication link is established with the appropriate cell phone provider&#39;s network controller, the iPOC base station transmits information about itself to the network controller and requests that it be added and connected as a new cell to the providers existing cell phone network. The network controller can be the MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) server of the cell phone provider for that area and handles the requests directly. Another embodiment would use a controller independent of the cell phone provider&#39;s network controller. It would be used to do some amount of screening and preprocessing of the iPOC cell phone provider&#39;s network attachment requests before forwarding the requests to the cell phone provider&#39;s network controller. If an intermediate controller is employed, said controller will be used to do some preprocessing to determine the physical location of the new cell and then forward the request to the appropriate MTSO. This will be a MTSO for a specific geographic area in the provider&#39;s network. In another embodiment the iPOC portable base station is configured with a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver allowing it to easily determine its&#39; precise position. The controller routes the portable base station location information to the cell phone provider requesting that it be configured into their network. Each iPOC portable base station has a unique identifier. The cell phone provider checks the information which would include location of the portable base station, maximum antenna transmission power and other parameters. The iPOC base station may have a small number of hardwired operating frequencies or the frequencies may be configurable by the network provider&#39;s controller or intermediate controller. If the provider determines that in the geographic area of said iPOC base station that the frequencies available to use will not interfere with the existing network or other iPOC units in the vicinity it can elect to make this iPOC portable base station part of its&#39; network thus creating a new cell in their existing wireless network. The provider will determine how many channels the iPOC can use and on which frequencies it will operate to ensure that it will not interfere with the existing fixed network of permanent base stations. One embodiment of the iPOC would have one or more reserved cell phone channels, operating frequencies, for the iPOC unit to simplify the processes of ensuring the iPOCs do not interfere with the existing cell phone network. Once the iPOC is connected as part of the cell phone providers network, the iPOC portable base station may have limited function supporting only a single cell phone connection or a small number of specific number of cell phones to simplify the design and minimize interaction with the provider network. Yet another embodiment would be configured with the full complement of functional capabilities similar to a permanent base station of the provider&#39;s network. If the network controller looses communication with a portable base station or finds it is unresponsive to commands it will remove it from its&#39; network.  
         [0026]     Another embodiment of the iPOC base station would use a low power transmission with a single control channel and a small number of voice channels to provide communication for a small number of cell phones used in a geographically fixed small establishment such as a home or office. Another embodiment of said low power iPOC base station would have reserved communication frequencies to simplify the design for a single establishment supporting a small number of cell phones.  
         [0027]     Another embodiment of the iPOC base station is a device that connects directly to a standard phone jack to interface to the POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) or PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). A cell phone user finding poor quality service or no cell phone service in a particular geographic area where they plan to reside for some time, say their home or a hotel room or a second home, can connect this embodiment of the iPOC base station to a standard PSTN. This embodiment of the iPOC base station is a compact simplified cell phone base station transceiver that wirelessly communicates with standard cell phone via standard cell phone interfaces and protocols used by the cell phone provider. The iPOC unit converts standard cell phone wireless signals, commands and voice channel into standard land line telephone signals so that a standard PSTN can be used to handle a cell phone call when normal provider network service does not exit at a particular site. In this embodiment the iPOC base station supports one or more cell phones, but perhaps more typically a single cell phone. It has a limited number of voice channels to keep the unit small and simple. The iPOC unit is connected to a standard phone jack via a standard phone cable and powered on. When iPOC unit is powered on and detects a cell phone in its&#39; micro-cell operating area, it dials a predefined phone number and through a standard PSTN line using an integrate phone modem in the iPOC unit it establishes a communication connection to a network controller, a server or other piece of electronic equipment. Via this connection it has established over a standard PSTN communications channel with said controller the iPOC unit requests permission to join the Cell Phone Provider&#39;s Network so that phone calls for this cell phone can be redirected to said iPOC unit. Said server may be the MTSO of the cell phone network provider or an intermediate controller that does some preprocess of the request. In either case, if the cell phone network provider approves the request and allows said iPOC unit to become part of their network, cell phone calls will then be forwarded to said iPOC unit through the PSTN. If the iPOC unit is permitted to become part of the cell phone providers network, it will disconnect the modem communication interface from the PSTN phone line and wait for an incoming call from the PSTN or an outgoing call from the cell phone. The iPOC unit will respond to any incoming call assuming it is a cell phone call and attempt to establish communication with the cell phone network. In this manner both normal PSTN phone traffic and cell phone calls coming from the cell phone network can be handled by a cell phone connected through the iPOC. When caller ID is unavailable, the phone number to which the iPOC unit is connected will need to be manually entered so that the cell phone network knows where to direct the calls. If call ID is available it will be determined by the network automatically.  
         [0028]     In this embodiment of the iPOC when the cell phone provider&#39;s network controller receives an incoming call for said cell phone, it now redirects the call through the standard PSTN to the phone line associated with the phone number it received from the iPOC unit when said iPOC unit first negotiated connection to the network. When the iPOC unit receives a ring signal from the PSTN it transmits corresponding signals to the cell phone causing it to ring. The iPOC unit uses the same signals and communication interface to the cell phone a standard cell phone base station uses. It sends out a digital paging message for the mobile on the forward control channel. The mobile receives the page, confirms and seizes the control channel. The iPOC unit assigns a voice channel and sends the assignment to the cell phone on the forward control path and at nearly the same time transmits the SAT on the forward voice path. The mobile tunes to the assigned channel, receives the tone and transponds the tone back to the iPOC unit on the reverse voice path. The iPOC unit detects this and sends an alert order using blank and burst on the voice channel to the mobile causing the cell phone to ring. If the cell phone user answers the call, the iPOC unit detects this via standard cell phone communications and takes the line back to the PSTN off hook. The iPOC unit converts the analog voice signal coming in from the phone line into wireless analog or digital signals depending on which specific cell phone system it operating with to engage in a call. The iPOC also converts wireless analog or digital signals on the voice channel from the cell phone into analog voice signals on the phone line so that a complete 2 way phone connection with the cell phone is established via the PSTN.  
         [0029]     For an outgoing call from the cell phone, the cell phone user simply uses the cell phone in the same way they would use it when connected to a standard network cell. They can dial or enter the phone number of the phone they wish to call into the cell phone and presses talk. The standard wireless signals for the particular cell phone network are transmitted between the cell phone and the iPOC unit through which the call is routed. The iPOC unit converts the cell phone signals into a off hook on the phone line and once it detects a dial tone, it transmits the phone number through phone line in order to establish a connection. One embodiment of this invention would have the iPOC unit first dial a predefined phone number, perhaps a toll free 800 number, to establish a connection to the cell phone provider&#39;s network through the standard PSTN. Once this connection is established, the iPOC unit would transmit the phone number for which the cell phone user wishes to place the call. In this way the cell phone provider can be aware of all outgoing calls from the cell phone.  
         [0030]     In this embodiment of the invention, if the iPOC unit looses contact with the cell phone for some predetermined period of time it will reestablish contact with the cell phone network through its&#39; phone modem interface and inform the cell phone provider to resume normal cell phone operations and not to forward calls to this number on the PSTN.  
         [0031]     Unlike a standard cell phone network where voice quality is not guaranteed, where calls can be dropped and voice quality can be quite poor at times, an iPOC cell will typically provide much higher voice quality. The position of a standard network cell base station is fixed and signal quality at different positions in a standard network cell is dictated by objects and signals that may cause interference, by the weather and by the unique signal transmission characteristics of the area, all of which change over time. By utilizing the iPOC dynamic portable user-installable base station connected directly to a hardwired land line of the POTS, the cell phone user will more often experience voice quality comparable to a standard telephone because the cell phone user can minimize interference and signal degradation since distance between the iPOC unit and the cell phone will be much shorter. In addition, with an iPOC unit plugged directly into a land line the specific position of the iPOC unit can be changed as necessary to improve signal quality within the iPOC cell. For example the iPOC unit used in a home might be moved from the down stairs to the upstairs phone jack. Repositioning the base station is not something a cellphone user controls in a standard network cell. The cell-phone base-station interface it designed to provide good voice quality when the phone is many miles from the base station. Using this same protocol in a small micro cell can improve voice quality.  
         [0032]     Another embodiment of this invention is to use the iPOC unit as a high quality cordless phone base station. It can plug into a analog phone line or any communication channel with sufficient bandwidth and latency to support phone traffic. Outgoing calls form the cell phone can be sent out directly through the analog phone line or other communication network. Incoming calls are routed directly to the number for the analog phone line, through the iPOC unit and on to the cell phone. This of course could only happen if the cell phone network provider, the FCC and other regulatory organization in various countries permit use of these cell phone frequencies for this type of application.  
         [0033]     Yet another embodiment is envisioned that enables the cell phone to respond to both incoming calls from the cell phone network provider being routed through the iPOC unit as well as normal telephone calls coming in through the analog phone line number.  
         [0034]     In another embodiment of the invention, caller ID is used to allow the iPOC base station to share a phone line with another phone. In this embodiment the iPOC unit upon detecting a ring signal will intercept and examine the caller ID information. If it recognizes the info, it will accept the call other wise it will do nothing.  
         [0035]     In yet another embodiment of this invention the iPOC base station is configured with a means for determining its location such as GPS (Global Positioning System) in the iPOC unit. GPS allows the iPOC unit to determine its&#39; location so that when it first contacts the cell phone network provider controller to negotiate being added to the provider network the controller can use the location information to aid in deciding if it should allow the iPOC unit to become part of the network. For example it could determine that operation of the iPOC unit might interfere with the existing substantially permanent-fixed network. It could also give the OK to join the network, but first adjust the power level or the voice/control channel frequencies being used to help ensure no interference occurs.  
         [0036]     Although keeping the iPOC unit functionally simple could help ensure it is compact, portable, low power and easy to install, the state of electronic technology is such that complex functions can be implement in a small number of VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) chips and in microcode stored in dense ROM (Read Only Memory) Chip and in other relatively small HDDs (Hard Disk Devices) that allow compact automated design be realized creating devices with robust sophisticated functionality. With sufficiently low-latency high-bandwidth communication interface available, it is possible for the iPOC units to be in direct contact with the MTSO and implement complex function, such as call hand off between adjacent cells in the network or borrow and share voice channels with adjacent cells during peak load periods. It would be possible for a large number of cells to be created by iPOC units to lessen the need for more permanent base stations in a particular cell phone provider network area.  
         [0037]     Proper frequency allocation is critical for ensuring the portable iPOC base station does not interfere with the existing cell phone network. The iPOC unit can be designed with GPS (Global Positioning System) functionality so that when it initially powered on, and then again at regular intervals, it determines its&#39; location and transmits the location to the cell phone provider network controller. In this way the provider&#39;s controller can automatically configure said base station to use only frequencies that will not interfere with the standard fixed cells in the immediate area of the portable iPOC base station. It is also possible for the cell phone service provider to utilize the iPOC base station to service other cell phone users. In this way the iPOC base station can be used to help fill holes in the overall provider network.  
         [0038]     Another embodiment of this invention is envisioned where an iPOC base station transceiver device is created using an information processing device such as a personal computer or laptop computer. Some information processing devices today are equipped with a wireless transceiver used to establish a communication link with a wireless router for connecting to networks such as the Internet. In this embodiment of iPOC, a wireless transceiver in the information processing device would be used differently. It would be designed to communicate with a cell phone via a standard wireless cell phone interface. Via hardware integrated into the information processing device or a combination of integrated hardware and executable programs in microcode and application software, an information processing device can be configured to function as an iPOC base station transceiver. Said information processing device can function as an iPOC bases station transceiver when appropriately equipped and configured to communicate with a cell phone and when it has an adequate communication channel with sufficiently high bandwidth and sufficiently low latency that allows it to connect to a separate communication system such as a telephone system or cellphone system to route calls and provide voice communications. For example, if this is implemented in a laptop computer, one embodiment would allow a spontaneous micro-cell be formed automatically any time the lap top is operational and connected to a communications network. Naturally it is important that the iPOC unit not interfere with existing networks at that location or violate FCC or other country regulations. This could be accomplished by restricting the frequencies it uses, minimizing transmission power and the size of the new micro cell or determining its&#39; geographic position and configuration it appropriately. This embodiment could provide the user with cell phone communications in the vicinity of their lap top world wide completely independent of the cell phone system being used in the country he resides anytime his laptop is running and connected to an adequate communications link.  
         [0039]     Yet another embodiment is envisioned where the iPOC unit is set up an a completely remote location with no utility electric power. In this embodiment battery power or solar power or a combination of the two would be used to power the iPOC unit in order to create a new cell. A satellite link could be used to connect the iPOC unit to a network controller to negotiate establishment of the new cell. The satellite line would also be used as the conduit for cell phone communications.  
         [0040]     Another embodiment of the invention would listen to determine what other cells are operating in it&#39;s vicinity and communicate this information back to an intermediate server or the cell phone provider&#39;s network directly. This information could be used to determine if an iPOC unit should be allowed to join the network and what operating characteristics (e.g. voice channel frequencies, number of voice channels, antenna power transmitting levels, control channels, etc . . . ) it should be configured with and allowed to use. For an already operational iPOC unit the information could be collected over time and shared with cell phone providers to help understand traffic patterns to help in planning future expansion of their more permanent network structure.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0041]      FIG. 1  is an example of a cell phone network composed of individual cells create using cell phone base stations illustrating how no adjacent cell uses the same set frequencies thus preventing interference.  
         [0042]      FIG. 2  illustrates the iPOC base station can be used to enhance the cell phone providers network by creating new cells in areas where no service is currently provided or where signal strength within an existing cell is weak.  
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of an iPOC portable user installable dynamic base station.  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of this invention with an iPOC base station connected via several different communication channel paths to a cell phone providers network.  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of this invention with an iPOC base station connected via a standard telephone communication channel path via a POTS to a cell phone providers network.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing one embodiment of how a iPOC base station where it negotiates to become part of the existing network so that phone traffic is rerouted to it and how it requests to have phone traffic resume normal operation.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing one embodiment of the steps for handling an incoming call.  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  is a low chart showing one embodiment of the steps for handling an outgoing call.  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is an information processing device  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0050]     The embodiments of the present invention enhances cell phone network performance and extends the range of operation through with a portable dynamically configurable base station.  
         [0051]      FIG. 1  is an example of how an existing cell phone network can be configured using individual base stations to create individual cells that when used together create a cell phone network. In this example cells  5001 ,  5002 ,  5003 ,  5004 ,  5005 ,  5006 ,  5007  are each assigned unique voice channel and control channel frequencies. Typically, the cell phone network will have 56 voice channels and 6 control channels. Allocation of unique frequencies to 7 different cells facilitates network configurations where each of the 7 cell types can be reused in the network so that adjacent cells do not use the same frequencies. This configuration helps prevent call interference since cells using the same frequencies are not adjacent to each other. In  FIG. 1  it can be seen that the frequencies assigned to cells  5001  is reused 3 times in this network  5001   a ,  5001   b ,  5001   c  and that these cells are not directly adjacent to one another. The same non-adjacency rule holds true for the other cells in the illustration using the other 6 frequencies. A cell network control station  720 , a MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) interfaces with and controls each base station. The MTSO handles phone connections to other phone systems too, using communication channel  740 . In this illustration the cell phone network is comprised only of the area covered by all the cells. The area outside the cells is a “No Service Area”  9000  where no base station signals reach. There is cell phone service from this provider in area  9000 . There is a Dead Zone  4000  in cell  5005  where signal strength is weak due to unique topology characteristics of the area.  
         [0052]      FIG. 2  illustrates how the iPOC base station can extend cell phone service to the sample network depicted in  FIG. 1 . The iPOC is used to enhance the cell phone providers network by providing service to areas where no service is currently provided and where signal strength within an existing cell is weak. In this example in  FIG. 2  iPOC base station cells  6001   a ,  6001   b ,  6001   c  and  6006  are used to enhance the network described in  FIG. 1 . In the example the iPOC base station cells  6001  and  6006  use the same voice and control frequencies as in permanent base station for cell type  5001  and  5006  respectively. Said iPOC base station cell  6001   c  is used to provide service in the “No Service Area”  9000  in an area well away from the existing permanent cell phone provide&#39;s network so interference with other cells in not an issue. Said iPOC base station cell  6001   a  is used to fill dead zone  4000  in cell  5005 . Since cell  5005  uses different frequencies than iPOC cell  6001   a  no interference will occur. The closest permanent cell that iPOC cell  6001   a  might possibly interfere with is permanent cell  5001   b . When iPOC cell  6001   a  first negotiates to be added to the network its physical location and transmitting power must be determined and used to decide which frequencies it should be assigned to help prevent interference with nearby permanent cells. Another embodiment of this invention is to assign unique voice and control channels to portable base stations which are not used in the permanent network, but that would be recognized as communication channels by the cell phones. This would simplify administration and guarantee that they do not interfere with permanent base stations. However, it would still be desirable to analyze the physical location and transmitting power to ensue they don&#39;t interfere with other iPOC base station cells. In this example iPOC base station cell  6001   b  is physically located near where permanent cells  5005  and  5002  meet. The frequencies used by iPOC cell  6001   b  are the same as that used by  5001 , so its&#39; channels will not interfere with  5005  nor  5002 . The iPOC cell  6001   b  overlaps with  6006 , but again since they use different channel frequencies there is no interference. Other embodiments using spread spectrum technologies like CDMA could simplify the frequency assignment for iPOC cells by providing special codes that are only used by iPOC cells.  
         [0053]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of an iPOC base station  110 . It has an antenna  111  used to transmit and receive signals from a cell phone in the vicinity of said iPOC unit  110 . Said antenna  111  is connected to electronics  114  with the iPOC unit  110  that provides the functionality of iPOC unit  110 . There is a power supply  115  that connects to via power code  105  to an AC wall outlet to provide power for the electronics and the antenna. It would also be possible to free DC power in from outside the unit. Embodiments that draw power from the a phone line are envisioned. There is a GPS feature  112  in this embodiment. This embodiment has a communications port  117  that connects the iPOC unit  110  to a cell phone network controller  130 , which can be an intermediate server or the MTSO controller via a communication network  119  to create communication path  120 . Communication plan  120  is used by iPOC unit  110  to communicate with network controller  130  to facilitate negotiation to determine if iPOC unit  110  will be allowed to become a base station connected to the cell phone providers network and the media for cell phone communication. Communication network  119  can be any communication medium that has sufficiently low latency and sufficiently high bandwidth to facilitate cell phone communication. Common media include ethernet connections, a dedicated phone line like a T1 line, a standard switched telephone line, a modem connection over an standard telephone line, a cable modem connection, DSL (digital subscriber line) or virtually any other type of communication channel. In this embodiment there is a computer port  116  that allows  118  a computer or lap top to connect to the iPOC unit  110 . Another embodiment would include an alphanumeric keypad and display  119  used to configure iPOC device  110 . The computer  118  can be used to configure the unit or it could be used as a permanent subsystem of the iPOC unit in order to simply the electronics of iPOC unit  110 . Another embodiment of the iPOC unit would be to implement the iPOC functionality as code running on computer  118  with the iPOC unit  110  as an integrated set of electronics within computer  118 . In this embodiment the iPOC unit  110  could be just an antenna with minimal electronics. In fact it could even be a pluggable card (e.g. PCI card or USB device) into the computer  118  or built in as a standard part of the computer  118 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of this invention which is a system with iPOC base station  110  that is in communication with cell phone  101  via the standard cell phone signals and protocol  105  this cell phone providers network. The iPOC base station  110  connects to network  500  via connection path  150  to provide the first leg of the communication path for cell phone communications at a remote location where no service is currently offered or to provide service in a dead cell zone where poor or intermittent service within a cell is encountered. In this embodiment network  500  is a cable TV system network, but this invention is not limited to this type of network. Network  500  can be any network with suitable latency and bandwidth. When iPOC base station  110  is initially powered on, it connects through network  500  to unit  520 . Unit  520  is a server, a router, or other type of equipment that enables network  500  to communicate with other networks which in this embodiment is Internet  600 . Said device  520  in turn connects through the Internet  600  to network controller  620 . In this embodiment the connection path  150  from iPOC base station  110  to said communication network  500  is via a cable modem using standard modem protocol. In other embodiments of the invention other communication medium and communication protocols with suitable latency and bandwidth can be used. Connection paths using ethernet, fiber optic cable, T1, telephone line with modem, or wireless LAN are envisioned. Once a communication path is established between iPOC base station  110  to network controller  620 , iPOC base station  110  provides information about itself to network controller  620  and requests that it be connected as a new cell to the providers existing cell phone network. In this embodiment network controller  620  is an intermediate controller that establishes a communication path with MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) network controller  720 . Other embodiments are envisioned with multiple intermediate controllers for large system configurations. Another embodiment is to have the MTSO network controller  720  be the only network controllers thus eliminating the need for network controller  620 . Yet another embodiment is to configure the system so that network controller  620  and MTSO network control  720  are one in the same and the MTSO handles the request directly. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  intermediate network controller  620  does some preprocessing to determine the physical location of the new cell and then forwards the request to MTSO network controller  720 , the MTSO network controller for the geographic area that portable iPOC base station  110  wishes to join in cell phone providers network  700 . In the embodiment in  FIG. 4  GPS satellites  900  are used by electronics in iPOC base station  110  to determine its locations. Other embodiments using other location determination techniques are also envisioned. Another embodiment would be to have multiple MTSO network controllers where network controller  620  first determines which MTSO network controller for which requests should be forwarded. Network controller  620  routes the iPOC base station  110  information to the cell phone provider&#39;s MTSO network controller  720  requesting that it be configured into network  700  as a new cell. The iPOC base station  110  will have a unique identifier to distinguish it from other iPOC base stations. The cell phone provider&#39;s controller  720  checks the information which it receives from network controller  620 , which in this embodiment includes location of the iPOC base station  110  functional characteristics such as maximum antenna transmission power, operating frequencies and other parameters. The iPOC base station  110  can be configured with one or more hardwired operating frequencies or it can be dynamically configured to use frequencies that that network controller  620  or MTSO network controller  720  select during initial set up and activation. If the cell phone provider controller  720  determines that operating said iPOC base station  110  in the geographic area where it is located will not result in interference with the existing networks it can elect to allow it to be configured as a new iPOC cell in their existing wireless network. The cell phone provider will determine how many channels it can use and the operating frequencies to ensure that it will not interfere with the existing fixed network of permanent base stations. Once portable iPOC base station  110  is configured as part of the provider network  700 , said portable base station may have limited function to support a single or small number of specific cell phone users. Other embodiments envision it to be configured with the full complement of functional capabilities, more like the permanent base stations of the provider&#39;s network including more complex functions like hand-off of calls to adjacent cells as the cell phone moves in and out of range of said new iPOC cell. If MTSO controller  720  looses communication with the iPOC base station  110  or finds it is unresponsive to commands it will remove it from its&#39; network. After the initial negotiation by the iPOC base station  110  to become part of the network, call traffic to and from the iPOC unit  110  to cell phone network  700  may propagate through a variety of communication paths and does not necessarily have to always travel through network controller  620 , unless of course there is a need to monitor all communications traffic at a central point. Embodiments of this invention well include dynamic interconnection with multiple dynamic communication paths with full duplex communication supported. The Internet for example uses protocols TCP/IP which facilitates reliable transmission and re-assembly the data packets at the end destination. The package may travel over a variety of communication paths and mediums even if the packets arrive out of order. Some embodiments of this invention are envisioned using TCP/IP as well as other protocols. Indeed,  FIG. 4  illustrates that network  500  can also connect through server/router  820  in POTS network  800  back through Internet  600  or directly to cell phone network  700  through MTSO controller  720  as yet other communication paths. Many different paths are possible through the network allowing cell phone  101  to place or receive phone call to other phones including standard phone  801  connected to POTS network  800  and cell phone  701  connected to the cell phone providers network  700 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 5  depicts another embodiment of a system using iPOC base station  110  connected to POTS network  800  via standard telephone connection  160 . The iPOC unit  110  is a cell phone base station transceiver that wirelessly communicates with standard cell phone  101  via the cell phone network providers standard cell phone signals, interface and protocols  105 . The iPOC base station  110  converts standard cell phone wireless signal, commands and voice channel into standard land line telephone signals so that a standard POTS network  800  sends and receives calls through standard POTS switching equipment to unit  820 . In this embodiment, a simplified low power base station  110  supports a small number of cell phones, perhaps most normally only a single cell phone  101 . In this embodiment iPOC unit  110  is connected to a standard phone jack via a standard phone cable and powered on. When iPOC unit  110  detects a cell phone  101  in its&#39; mirco-cell operating area it dials a predefined phone number through the POTS network to MTSO controller  720  which answers the call creating communications path  160  and  170 . Using an integrated phone modem in iPOC base station  110  said iPOC unit  110  uses a communication paths  160  and  170  to MTSO controller  720  to request permission to join the Cellphone Provider&#39;s Network  700 , so that phone calls for cell phone  101  can be redirected to said iPOC unit  110 . Other embodiments of the invention are envisioned where MTSO network controller  720  may be or an intermediate server that does some preprocess of the requests. In either case, if the network provider approves the request and allows said iPOC unit  110  to become part of cell phone network  700 , from then on, cell phone call will be forwarded to said iPOC unit  110  through the POTS  800 . In this embodiment of the invention, if the iPOC unit  110  is permitted to become part of the cell phone provider&#39;s network  700 , it will disengage communication path  160  and  170 , disconnecting the modem communication interface and wait for an incoming call from the POTS  800  or an outgoing call from cell phone  101 . Where caller ID is unavailable the phone number of the phone line to which the iPOC unit  110  is connected will be entered manually, otherwise it will be automatically transmitted to cell phone network provider&#39;s network controller  720  via POTS  800 .  
         [0056]     When the cell phone provider&#39;s network  700  receives an incoming call for said cell phone  101 , it now redirects the call through the standard POTS  800  to the phone line using the phone number where the iPOC unit  110  is connected establishing communication path  160  to the iPOC unit  110 . When the iPOC unit  110  receives a ring signal from the POTS  800  it transmits corresponding standard signals for that network provider to the cell phone  101  over standard cell phone wireless communication interface  105  causing cell phone  101  to ring. The iPOC unit  110  converts standard POTS signals and protocols to a standard cell signal  105 . In this embodiment iPOC unit  110  sends out a digital paging message for the mobile  101  on the forward control channel. The mobile  101  receives the page, confirms and seizes the control channel. The iPOC unit  110  assigns a voice channel and sends the assignment to the cell phone on the forward control path and at nearly the same time transmits the SAT on the forward voice path. The mobile  101  tunes to the assigned channel, receives the tone and transponds tone back to the iPOC unit  110  on the reverse voice path. The iPOC unit  110  detects this and sends an alert order using blank and burst on the voice channel to the mobile  101  causing the cell phone  101  to ring. If the cell phone user answers the call, the iPOC unit  110  detects this via standard cell phone communications and take the line back to the POTS  800  off hook. The iPOC unit  110  converts the standard POTS voice signal coming in from the phone line via communication path  160  into wireless analog or digital signals for the specific cell phone system being used to permit the cell phone  101  engages in a call. It also converts  105  wireless analog or digital signals on the voice channel from the cell phone  101  into analog voice signals on the phone line communication channel  160  so that a complete full duplex 2 way phone connection with cell phone  101  is established. Calls between cell phone  101  and any other phone in the interconnected phone network like traditional telephone  801  or cell phone  701  can be established. Other embodiments are also envisioned.  
         [0057]     For an outgoing call from the cell phone  101 , the cell phone user enters the phone number they wish to call into the cell phone and presses talk. The standard wireless signals  105 , for this cell phone network provider, are transmitted between cell phone  101  with the iPOC unit  110  through which the call is to be routed. In this embodiment iPOC unit  110  converts the cell phone signals  105  into an off hook on the phone line. Once it detects a dial tone it transmits the phone number through phone line communications channel  160  in order to establish a connection. One embodiment of this invention would have the iPOC unit  110  first dial a predefined phone number, perhaps a toll free 800 number, to establish a connection via communication path  170  to cell phone provider MTSO controller  720  through the standard POTS  800 . Once this connection is established the iPOC unit  110  would transmit the phone number for which the cell phone user wishes to place the call. This way the cell phone provider can be aware of all outgoing calls from cell phone  101 . Calls between cell phone  101  and any other phone in the interconnected phone network, like traditional telephone  801  or cell phone  701  can be established. Other embodiments are also envisioned including using an intermediate server vs. connecting directly to MTSO network controller  720  directly.  
         [0058]     In this embodiment of the invention, if iPOC unit  110  looses contact with the cell phone  101  for some significant period of time it will reestablish contact with the cell phone network  700  through its&#39; phone modem interface and inform the cell phone providers network  700  to resume normal cell phone operations and not to forward calls to this number through POTS  800 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 6  Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flow illustrating how an iPOC base station joins and leaves a cell phone providers network Step  7001  is the iPOC device powering on. Some time later after power on  7001  is complete step  7002  occurs where the iPOC device detects an active cell phone in the cell area established by the iPOC base station. Upon detection of the active cell phone the iPOC device initiates step  7003  requesting permission to become an active cell in the cell phone providers network. A decision is made in step  7005  to either not allow the iPOC device to become part of the providers network which in that case step  7010  occurs where the cell phone network continues to handle cell phone calls in its&#39; standard manner. If during step  7005  the iPOC unit is granted permission to join the cell phone providers network step  7006  is executed where the iPOC base station is now recognized as part of the cell phone providers network and is ready to handle call traffic. In this embodiment step  7007  is executed if the active iPOC unit looses contact with the all active cell phones in vicinity of the cell it has crested. In step  7008  if it continues to finds an active cell phone it remains in an active cell state. If it no longer find an active cell phone in it&#39;s cell, it proceeds to step  7009  where it informs the provider that it is disconnecting from the network as an active cell and the cell phone provider should resume operation, step  7010 , where calls are no longer forwarded to this iPOC unit. Another embodiment envisioned where the iPOC unit requests to become an active cell in the provider&#39;s network immediately after it powers up, independent of whether or not it detects an active cell phone in its&#39; cell. If granted permission to become part of the network it would remain active indefinitely.  
         [0060]      FIG. 7  Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flow illustrating how an incoming call is handled. In step  8001  the cell phone providers network receives an incoming tall for a cell phone. In step  8002  it determines whether or not the call should be directed to a cell phone in an active cell created by an iPOC device that has been allowed to join the cell phone providers network. If in step  8003  it determines that this call is not to go to an active cell phone in an iPOC cell it proceeds to step  8009  and handles the call in the standard manner for the network. If in step  8003  it determines the call is intended for a cell phone in an active iPOC cell it proceeds to step  8004  where the cell phone network communicates with the iPOC device informing it has a call for a cell phone with a specific phone number in its&#39; cell. In the next step  8005 , it is determined if the cell phone is already in use. If it is in use, the iPOC unit transmits a busy signal back through the cell phone&#39; providers network to the phone of the person initiating the call, step  8008 . The call is terminated, step  8009  and the provider&#39;s network returns to handling calls in it&#39;s standard manner, step  8010 . On the other hand if in step  8005  the line is not busy then the next step  8006  is executed where the iPOC device transmits signals recognized by the cell phone making it ring. In step  8007  if the cell phone users does not answer the call the phone continues to ring indefinitely. If the call is answered in step  8007  then step  8011  is executed where the iPOC device informs the cell phone providers network that the call has been answered. In the next step  8012 , the cell phone provider routes the call to iPOC and completes the connection and the call is in progress, step  8013 . The call remains active until either party ends the call, step  8014  and it is the end of the call is detected in step  8009 . The call is terminated and the cell phone provider&#39;s network returns to normal operation in step  8010 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 8  Is one embodiment of the invention showing a logical flow illustrating how an outgoing call is handled. In step  9001  a cell user initiates a cell phone call in an active iPOC cell. Next, step  9002 , the iPOC device detects the cell phone call request and initiates step  9003  to determine if said cell phone is authorized to use the network. The iPOC unit may have already determined this or may need to communicate with the provider&#39;s network to make the determination. In step  9004  if the cell phone is not authorized it takes no action and proceeds with step  9012  where the cell phone providers network continues to operate as before the call attempt. If in step  9004  it is determined that this is an authorized phone, it is then executed in step  9005  where the cell phone providers network attempts to complete the connection with the phone number supplied by the cell phone attempting to place the call in the active iPOC cell phone network. If in steps  9006  and  9007  no connection can be established a busy signal is transmitted back to the cell phone, attempting to place the call in step  9010 , the call is terminated step  9011 , and the cell phone provider&#39;s network returns to normal operations, step  9012 . If on the other hand in step  9006  and  9007  a connection can be established a ring signal is transmitted back to the cell phone in the iPOC cell attempting to place the call, step  9008 . In step  9009 , if the cell phone user does not answer the call the phone continues to ring indefinitely. If the call is answered in step  9009  then step  9013  the iPOC device in conjunction with the cell phone provider completes the connection and the call is in progress, step  9014 . The call remains active until either party ends the call, step  9015 . It is detects the of the call in step  9016  and the call is terminated in step  9011  where the cell phone provider&#39;s network returns to normal operation, step  9012 .  
         [0062]      FIG. 9  illustrates the major functional components of an information processing device  10000  on which this invention can be realized in whole or in part. The functional elements include a power source  10001 , main memory or RAM (Random Access Memory)  10002 , Read Only Memory (ROM)  10003 , a processor  10004  that executes programming instructions, other electronics  10005  which may be implemented on computer chips or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) and a system clock  10006 . Information processing device  10000  includes an Input/Output function  10007  that interfaces with display interface  10008 , keyboard  10009 , and mouse  10010 . The I/O function  10007  also includes features and optional interfaces such as serial port  10011 , PCI  10012 , network interface  10013 , and Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) or Integrated Device Electronics (IDE)  10014  interface is used to connect to hard disk drive  10016  and removable media device  10015 . Most functional elements are designed as a combination of electronic and executable code.