(12) United States Patent
`Mueller et al.
`
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 lllll 111111111111111 1111111111 11111111
`US006185413Bl
`US 6,185,413 Bl
`*Feb.6,2001
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) MOBILE STATION HAVING A
`COST-EFFICIENT CALL MANAGEMENT
`METHOD AND SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Wilhelm Mueller, Woerth (DE); Neal
`J. King, Oakland; Michael Sassin, San
`Jose, both of CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich
`(DE); Siemens Information and
`Communication Networks, Inc., Boca
`Raton, FL (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros(cid:173)
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53( d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`
`Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this
`patent shall be extended for O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/877,192
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 17, 1997
`
`Int. Cl.7 ....................................................... H04Q 7/20
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................. 455/405; 455/414
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 455/405, 414,
`455/432, 419; 379/114
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,159,625 * 10/1992 Zicker .................................. 455/432
`5,173,933
`12/1992 Jabs et al. .............................. 379/58
`5,303,297 *
`4/1994 Hillis .................................... 455/406
`6/1994 McGregor et al. .................... 379/59
`5,325,418
`6/1995 Weinberger et al.
`................ 379/112
`5,425,085
`11/1996 McGregor et al. .................... 379/58
`5,577,100
`* 12/1996 Kojima ................................. 455/414
`5,590,397
`5,594,781
`1/1997 Kozdon et al. ........................ 379/60
`5,761,618 *
`6/1998 Lynch et al. ......................... 455/432
`5,802,502 *
`9/1998 Gell et al. ............................ 379/114
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Daniel S. Hunter
`Assistant Examiner-Myron K. Wyche
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A mobile station for transmitting a mobile radio signal to a
`base station has a memory device in which a number of
`available applications are stored which can relate to different
`"carriers," i.e., mobile radio network systems or service
`providers within a single mobile radio network. A selection
`device of the mobile station calculates expected charges for
`a desired connection for each of these applications which are
`being considered for the transmission connection. Based
`upon the calculations, the most cost-efficient application for
`the desired transmission is selected. The actual transmission
`of the communication data for the base station is then carried
`out on the basis of this application.
`
`4,989,230
`
`1/1991 Gillig et al.
`
`........................... 379/59
`
`12 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`16
`
`SELECTION
`OF
`MOST
`COST-EFFECTIVE
`APPLICATION
`
`AVAILABLE
`APPLICATIONS
`
`VOICE
`OUTPUT
`
`11
`
`INTERROGATION
`OF
`APPLICABLE
`CHARGES
`
`12
`
`13
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`GSN
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`DECT1
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`IS-95
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 1 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.6,2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`I
`
`\
`
`TIMER
`
`'
`CALL
`DURATION
`MEMORY
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`•
`
`\
`
`, - - ~
`
`INTERROGATION
`OF
`APPLICABLE
`CHARGES
`
`~ 8---- MEMORY
`8a- ..... GSN
`8b---..,_
`---- DECT 1
`Bbi ....____
`Bbjj-U l
`8b· .. -,...........
`~'c -- .... DECT 2
`• • •
`
`.... -- 2
`VOICE INPUT
`
`161 +
`DIALING
`REGISTER
`
`4 '\ I,
`
`SELECTION
`OF
`MOST
`COST-EFFECTIVE
`APPLICATION
`
`I
`
`DISPLAY - - - -
`- - - - - ; 18
`' I I
`APPLICATION LJ
`MEMORY
`
`(17
`
`..._
`
`AVAILABLE
`APPLICATIONS
`
`10
`\
`
`VOICE
`OUTPUT
`
`j
`
`11
`\
`
`I
`
`1
`
`_v12
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`GSN
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`DECT 1
`
`RADIO
`INTERFACE
`
`IS-95
`
`•••
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 2 of 11
`
`

`

`i,-
`~
`~
`i,-
`~
`(It
`~
`i,(cid:173)
`_,.a-...
`rJ'J.
`e
`
`,i;;..
`
`0 ....,
`N
`~ ....
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`
`'"""'
`0
`0
`N
`~~
`?'
`~
`"'!"j
`
`~ = ......
`~ ......
`~
`•
`r:JJ.
`d •
`
`810-830 MHz
`
`(DL)
`
`940-960 MHz
`
`(UL)
`
`(PDC)
`JDC
`
`1850-1990 MHz
`
`800-900 MHz
`
`IS-95
`
`869-894 MHz
`
`(DL)
`
`824-849 MHz
`
`(UL)
`
`(IS-54)
`D-AMPS
`
`FIG_:::
`
`n4-DQPSK
`
`QPSK
`
`rr/4-DQPSK
`
`GMSK
`
`GMSK
`
`GMSK
`
`TOMA
`
`CDMA
`
`TOMA
`
`TOMA
`
`TOMA
`
`TOMA
`
`3
`
`64
`
`3
`
`12
`
`8
`
`8
`
`25 kHz
`
`123 MHz
`
`30 kHz
`
`1,728 MHz
`
`200 kHz
`
`200 kHz
`
`1880-1900 MHz
`
`1805-1880 MHz
`
`(DL)
`
`935-960 MHz
`
`(DL)
`
`1710-1785 MHz
`
`(UL)
`
`890-915 MHz
`
`(UL)
`
`DECT
`
`DCS 1800
`
`(E1)
`
`(D1/D2)
`GSM
`
`MOBILE RADIO
`
`STANDARD
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`(MODULATION)
`
`METHOD
`
`METHOD
`ACCESS
`
`PER CARRIER
`CHANNELS
`
`SPACING
`CHANNEL
`
`FREQUENCY
`
`BAND
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 3 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.6,2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 4 of 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.6,2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`~
`_ j 0:
`
`< (Q 8~
`LU z
`
`J
`
`~
`0:
`0
`
`~ z
`LU z
`:::i
`0 z
`
`<(
`_ j
`
`CfJ
`~
`0:
`0
`
`~ LU z
`(.) g
`
`_ j
`<(
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 5 of 11
`
`

`

`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`1
`MOBILE STATION HAVING A
`COST-EFFICIENT CALL MANAGEMENT
`METHOD AND SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a mobile station to be
`used in mobile radio systems.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`Mobile communication is one of the fastest growing
`segments of the telecommunications industry. Until the end
`of the eighties, only some analog radio telephone systems
`were operated in Europe which essentially work within a
`frequency band of between 450 and 900 MHz. Because of
`the lack of a uniform technical standard and because of the
`rapid technical advances in the field of digital voice coders
`and digital signal processing, work was started on a uniform
`pan-European digital system, the GSM (Global System for
`Mobile Communication), which was taken into operation in 20
`western Europe in 1992. In the time following that, other
`digital mobile radio systems were developed which will be
`explained in the following paragraphs, referring to FIG. 2.
`The GSM was initially taken into operation only in
`western Europe and was then also successful in many
`countries outside of western Europe such as, for example,
`Australia, China, Russia, Singapore, etc. In Germany, the
`Federal Ministry for Post and Telecommunications issued
`two licenses for digital GSM networks which were obtained,
`on the one hand, by DeTeMobil GmbH and, on the other
`hand, by Mannesmann Mobilfunk. The GSM networks
`provided by the two operators are two physically separate
`mobile radio networks having their own transmitting sta(cid:173)
`tions. DeTeMobil GmbH operates its GSM network under
`the name "Dl," whilst the GSM network operated by
`Mannesmann Mobilfunk is known by the name "D2." As
`can be seen from FIG. 2, digital data transmission in the
`GSM network takes place from a mobile station which can
`be, for example, a car telephone, a cordless telephone or a
`handheld telephone, to the stationary base station in the
`frequency band between 890 and 915 MHz. This direction of
`connection is known as the "uplink." The "downlink," i.e.
`the data transmission from the stationary base station to the
`mobile station, takes place in the frequency band between
`935 and 960 MHz. The carrier frequencies modulated with
`the digital transmission information have a channel spacing
`of 200 kHz and it is possible to transmit eight individual
`channels per carrier frequency.
`To make it possible for several subscribers to access a
`certain frequency spectrum simultaneously, care must be
`taken to ensure that the signals of the individual subscribers
`do not interfere with one another. To be able to separate the
`various subscriber signals from one another, there are in
`principle three fundamental methods, namely the frequency
`division multiplex method (FDMA, Frequency Division 55
`Multiple Access), the time division multiplex method
`(TDMA, Time Division Multiple Access) and the code
`division multiplex method (CDMA, Code Division Multiple
`Access). In the FDMA method, the frequency axis is sub(cid:173)
`divided into frequency channels, each subscriber being 60
`allocated a separate channel on which the subscriber may
`transmit without restrictions as long as the transmission
`remains within the predetermined channel bandwidth. The
`FDMA method was last used mainly in the analog mobile
`radio systems. In the TDMA method, the time axis is 65
`subdivided instead of the frequency axis, i.e. although each
`subscriber has access to the entire bandwidth, the subscriber
`
`2
`only may transmit at certain times, i.e. in time slots. These
`slots have a width of, e.g., 0.577 ms in the GSM mobile
`radio system which, as can be seen from FIG. 2, uses the
`TDMA method as access method. In the CDMA method,
`5 each subscriber can use the entire frequency bandwidth as in
`the TDMAmethod but can also transmit over the entire time
`without having to adhere to certain time slots. To avoid a
`collision between individual subscriber signals in this case,
`nevertheless, the individual subscriber signals are separated
`10 by using orthogonal codes in the direction of the power axis,
`i.e. the individual subscriber signals are transmitted at
`different powers. Apart from these three basic types, com(cid:173)
`binations of the individual access methods are also
`conceivable, a combination of TDMA and FDMA being
`15 normally used in the GSM mobile radio system.
`For the transmission of digital communication
`information, a large number of different transmission meth(cid:173)
`ods are known which are distinguished from one another by
`the modulation method used in each case. Modulation is
`generally understood as being the change of a carrier signal
`depending on the information signal to be transmitted. In
`principle, the modulation methods involve three possibilities
`of impressing an information signal (which is present in
`digital form in digital modulation) on the carrier signal, a
`25 distinction being made between amplitude, frequency or
`phase modulation depending on whether it is the amplitude,
`the frequency or the phase angle which is changed by the
`information to be transmitted. A widely used phase modu(cid:173)
`lation method is the GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift
`30 Keying) method. The GMSK method has the advantages of
`the MSK (Minimum Shift Keying) method, but the break
`points occurring in the frequency and phase characteristic of
`the MSK signal as a result of a widening of the power
`density spectrum are eliminated in the GMSK method by
`35 using a Gaussian low-power variant. Another known phase
`modulation method is the it/4 DQPSK (Differential Quadra(cid:173)
`ture Phase Shift Keying) method which is an advantageous
`variant of the QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying)
`method. In the QPSK method, the communication informa-
`40 tion present as digital signals is divided into bits of even and
`odd position with the aid of quadrature phase shift keying
`and then multiplied by the carrier frequency. In this process,
`dips can occur in the envelope curve of the quadrature phase
`modulated signal which can lead to adjacent-channel inter-
`45 ference. To achieve as constant as possible an envelope
`curve, the QPSK method was developed further into the it/4
`DQPSK method in which the 180° phase jumps leading to
`the amplitude dips in the QPSK method are avoided. In
`addition to these phase modulation methods, a number of
`50 other modulation methods are known which, however, will
`not be discussed in greater detail in the text following.
`FIG. 2 shows the characteristics of the GSM mobile radio
`system. In addition to the Dl and D2 licenses, the Federal
`Ministry for Post and Telecommunications issued a third
`mobile radio license which relates to the DCS (Digital
`Cellular System) 1800 mobile radio system. The DCS 1800
`mobile radio system has been operated in Germany since
`1994 as the "El" network. A modified version of the GSM
`system is called PCS-1900 in the United States.
`As a rule, mobile radio systems which are aimed at a large
`number of subscribers have a cellular structure, i.e. the entire
`area to be supplied is subdivided into smaller radio zones,
`"radio cells." The intentional limiting of the radio zones
`makes it possible to reduce the transmitting power needed
`for transmitting information so that the transmitting
`frequencies, which are actually scarce, can be reused at a
`sufficiently large distance without the individual transmis-
`
`Ex.1007
`APPLE INC. / Page 6 of 11
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`

`

`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`30
`
`3
`sion channels interfering with one another. Two mobile radio
`subscribers which are far enough apart from one another can
`use the same frequency channel simultaneously in this
`manner. Each radio cell is allocated a base station, the
`receiving range of which is limited to the relevant radio cell. 5
`If a mobile station moves out of the service area of its base
`station, the connection must be conducted via another base
`station, which is then carried out by an automatic change in
`radio zone without significantly impairing the quality of the
`continuing connection. This process is called "handover." In 10
`contrast to the cellular systems, the PCS or PCN system
`comprises individual local networks which, in turn, can be
`structured as cellular networks. The individual local
`networks, however, are connected to one another by the
`landline network. This means that in the case of the PCS or 15
`PCN systems the entire area is not covered by radio zones,
`but mobile radio transmission is only possible within the
`individual local networks. It was especially for the American
`PCS systems that the DCS 1800 standard was developed
`further into the PCS 1900 standard, the frequency band of 20
`which is shifted by 100 MHz compared with the DCS 1800
`standard.
`Another mobile radio system standard shown in FIG. 2 is
`the American D-AMPS (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone
`System) standard which is also designated as IS-136
`(Interim Standard 136). The frequency information on the
`Uplink (UL) and the Downlink (DL) and the other technical
`parameters of the D-AMPS standard are listed in FIG. 2.
`Another mobile radio system standard commonly used in
`the United States is the IS-95 system, the technical data of
`which are also shown in FIG. 2. The frequency band used in
`accordance with the IS-95 standard is in the cellular band
`between 800 and 900 MHz and in the American PCS band
`between 1850 and 1990 MHz. The IS-95-standard is based
`on the CDMA access method described above. The modu(cid:173)
`lation method used is the QPSK method. FIG. 2 also shows
`the Japanese JDC (Japanese Digital Cellular) standard which
`is also called the PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) standard.
`Finally, FIG. 2 shows the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cord(cid:173)
`less Telecommunications) standard which, however, is not a
`mobile radio standard in its actual sense but a standard for
`wireless telephones. DECT does not specify a network for
`mobile communication, but only defines the radio interface
`between the base station and the mobile part. The DECT
`standard is the ideal standard within spatially defined areas
`such as office or private buildings or residential zones. Due
`to the relatively short range of the base station (between 30
`and 300 m), it is not yet possible to implement a full(cid:173)
`coverage DECT network. A significant difference between
`DECT networks and most of the other mobile radio net(cid:173)
`works such as, for example, the GSM systems, is that the
`handover described above is not controlled by the base
`station but by the mobile station.
`In addition to the actual mobile radio network operators, 55
`there are some service providers which purchase access to
`the corresponding mobile radio networks and then offer their
`services as chargeable services to the ultimate customer.
`It follows from the above description that a customer in a
`certain spatial region is provided with a selection of a large 60
`number of different mobile radio network systems and
`appropriate providers depending on the range of the indi(cid:173)
`vidual mobile radio networks.
`FIG. 3a shows as an example the spatial range of three
`different mobile radio systems I-III. These can be, for
`example, a GSM network, a DECT network, a DCS 1800
`network, etc. The three mobile radio networks overlap
`
`4
`spatially in area A shown shaded. A mobile radio subscriber
`located in this area A (shown by a handheld telephone 14 in
`FIG. 3a) thus has a choice between each of these three
`different mobile radio networks.
`FIG. 3b shows an example of the area-coverage of a
`region by four different mobile radio networks I-IV. In the
`area of overlap A, the mobile radio subscriber located in this
`area has a choice between four mobile radio systems, while
`there would only be a choice between the mobile radio
`systems III and IV in area B. In this case, too, the mobile
`radio networks I-IV can be any of the network systems
`shown in FIG. 2 or other known network systems. However,
`it is also conceivable that, for example, networks II and III
`are in each case GSM networks but are offered by different
`network operators. Thus, for example, the network desig(cid:173)
`nated by II could be the Dl network and the network
`designated by III could be the D2 network. It is also
`conceivable that the individual networks are different DECT
`networks, etc.
`As already mentioned, a mobile radio network is, as a
`rule, not offered by only one single network operator. In
`Germany, there are more than ten service providers which
`have in each case purchased access to the Dl, D2 and El
`networks and offer chargeable mobile radio services. Thus,
`25 the customer has not only a choice between different mobile
`radio systems depending on the range of the individual
`providers or the individual mobile radio networks, but also
`between the different service providers within the individual
`mobile radio systems.
`The mobile radio services are offered chargeably both by
`the actual mobile radio network operators and by the indi(cid:173)
`vidual service providers. FIG. 4 shows an example of the
`charges arising in an American PCS system. In this
`35 arrangement, a number of local radio networks 1-111 are
`connected to another local network IV via a landline net(cid:173)
`work. A mobile radio subscriber 14 located within the
`transmitting and receiving range of a certain mobile radio
`network 1-111 must first set up a connection to the appropriate
`base station of the mobile radio network selected by the
`subscriber so that the information to be transmitted is then
`transmitted from the base station via the landline network to
`the base station responsible for the local network IV in order
`to establish the connection between mobile radio subscribers
`14 and 15. In this arrangement, caller 14 must pay, on the
`one hand, the transmission charges (e.g., airtime) for the
`connection between the mobile station and the base station
`and, on the other hand, the charges for the transmission via
`the landline network.
`Since the GSM networks in western Europe are config(cid:173)
`ured as full-coverage networks, transmission of the commu(cid:173)
`nication information via the landline network is not required
`so that in this case there is no charge for the landline network
`transmission.
`The transmission and possibly landline network charges
`for which the customer are billed by the individual mobile
`radio network operators or service providers can differ
`markedly from one another. In some applications, it is
`important to know the charges for use of a wireless phone.
`U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,100 and 5,325,418, both to McGregor
`et al., describe wireless phones having internal accounting
`systems. The wireless phones are particularly suitable for
`rental phone systems and controlled intra-corporate phone
`systems where a pay-as-you-go process is desirable. A
`65 stored complex algorithm provides a multiple factor
`accounting protocol for decrementing a debit account as the
`phone is used. When a preselected charge amount is reached,
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`Ex.1007
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`

`US 6,185,413 Bl
`
`5
`
`6
`for each of these applications, which data are advanta(cid:173)
`geously stored in the mobile station. After selecting a
`destination number, a selection device provided in the
`mobile station first decides which of the different applica-
`tions available, i.e. different mobile radio networks or ser(cid:173)
`vice providers, can be considered or are available for the
`desired connection. That is, the selection device considers
`the different "carriers," i.e. mobile radio networks and
`service providers. This decision is made on the basis of the
`10 current location of the user of the mobile station and the
`location of the mobile radio subscriber corresponding to the
`dialed destination number. From the applications concerned,
`the selection device selects the application (i.e., carrier)
`which is most cost-efficient for the desired connection. This
`selection is made by calculating the charges to be expected
`for each application in question depending on the provided
`cost data, the transmission link required for the desired
`transmission and the call duration to be expected. After the
`most cost-efficient application has been selected, the desired
`transmission is carried out in accordance with the mobile
`radio network status corresponding to the selected applica-
`tion.
`The charge data stored in the mobile station for each
`available application can be regularly and automatically
`updated by the mobile station by calling a central informa(cid:173)
`tion station with the aid of a mobile radio signal. The period
`of such a polling of the valid charge rates is advantageously
`selected in such a manner that changes in charges to be
`expected can always reliably be detected.
`If the actual call duration exceeds the expected call
`duration or the position of the caller changes, this can
`influence the charges to be made. For this purpose, it is
`proposed according to the invention to determine the actual
`costs for each available application continuously depending
`35 on the actual call duration and the actual location of the
`caller and to compare them continuously so that, if
`necessary, appropriate information can be displayed when
`another mobile radio network operator or service provider
`can be considered as a cheaper application.
`
`30
`
`5
`the phone is deactivated. Thus, the rental company or
`corporate entity that provides the telephone to a user is not
`at risk of having the user mount up excess charges.
`The method and system of McGregor et al. operate well
`for their intended purpose. However, the method and system
`are "passive" with respect to the connectivity of the outgo(cid:173)
`ing calls. That is, the internal accounting merely monitors
`the usage.
`A more "active" system is described in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,173,933 to Jabs et al. The system is particularly suited for
`use in a telecommunications system of an ocean-going
`vessel. Such a vessel may have access to alternative com(cid:173)
`munication media. The patent to Jabs et al. describes pro(cid:173)
`viding a hierarchy of the communications media based upon
`cost. For example, when the vessel is docked, there may be 15
`trunk channels connected directly to land telephone lines. A
`somewhat more expensive communications medium is iden(cid:173)
`tified as a cellular connection. A yet more expensive com(cid:173)
`munications medium is a satellite connection. Within the
`hierarchy, if the wired telephone line is accessible at the start 20
`of a call, the land-based line will be utilized. If the trunk
`channel connected to the land-based line is not available, a
`determination will be made as to whether the cellular line is
`available. If not, the satellite connection will be utilized.
`Thus, the communication carrier having the communica- 25
`tions medium or network of least cost is selected. If the
`routing is to be established using satellite communications,
`the system selects the coast earth station of least cost based
`upon location of the ocean-going vessel, the destination of
`the call, and other rate considerations.
`The hierarchical selection of communications media
`taught in Jabs et al. is centrally located. That is, the selection
`process occurs in a communications room of the ocean(cid:173)
`going vessel, rather than at the location of the callers. Thus,
`the process is universally implemented and not specific to a
`caller. Caller-specific implementation and/or phone-specific
`implementation of the selection process is not available.
`Instead, a selection of a communications medium is based
`firstly upon a determination of the availability of the differ- 40
`ent media and secondly upon the established hierarchy for
`the media that are available.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,085 to Weinberger et al. discloses a
`device which connects a landline telephone to the corre(cid:173)
`spondingly most cost-efficient telephone provider. However, 45
`the device described in this patent specification only relates
`to the selection of the provider which is most cost-efficient
`for the transmission via the landline network, i.e. the
`exchange line. The different charges of the local mobile
`radio network operators or service providers, respectively, 50
`are not taken into consideration. Since U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,
`085 relates exclusively to landline telephones, the patent
`also does not take into consideration the inherent problems
`of mobile stations, namely that the site of the caller can
`change during a call, which may influence the charges to be 55
`made for the connection.
`What is needed is a call management method and system
`that provide flexibility in selecting among a number of
`different operators and/or service providers available to a
`portable phone to establish connectivity for outgoing calls. 60
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of the mobile
`station according to the invention.
`FIG. 2 shows a listing of the technical parameters of
`known mobile radio network systems.
`FIGS. 3 and 4 show representations for explaining the
`object forming the basis of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`With reference to FIG. 1, a mobile station 1 according to
`the invention includes a voice input device 2, such as a
`microphone, a keyboard 3 for inputting or selecting previ(cid:173)
`ously stored telephone numbers, a display 7 for displaying
`selected or entered telephone numbers and for displaying
`operational messages of the mobile station, and a voice
`output device 10, which is formed by a loudspeaker for the
`audible reproduction of received communication data or
`operational status messages of the mobile station.
`The mobile station 1 is capable of processing at least two
`different applications of a user. That is, more than one carrier
`is available for establishing connectivity for outgoing calls.
`For this purpose, the mobile station 1 has a memory S which
`stores various applications Sa-Sc of the user. Each of the
`applications corresponds to an authorization of the user
`which allows him to operate the mobile radio network
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`A mobile station is provided for selecting among a
`number of different applications which authorize use of a
`certain mobile radio network or use of a mobile radio service 65
`of a certain service provider. The mobile station according to
`the invention is supplied with the corresponding charge data
`
`Ex.1007
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`US 6,185,413 Bl
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`belonging to the application or to use the service provider
`belonging to the application. As a rule, a user obtains the
`authorization for use by concluding a contract with the
`relevant mobile radio network operator or service provider
`(i.e., carrier). After a user has obtained access authorization,
`each user is allocated "authentication data" which unam(cid:173)
`biguously identify the mobile radio subscriber. These
`authentication data are interrogated and checked each time
`a connection is set up via the base station which corresponds
`to the communication standard or mobile radio standard of
`the corresponding application, in order to be able to effec(cid:173)
`tively avoid accounting errors due to false identities and
`attacks by masquerading by means of a pretended identity.
`The mobile station 1 in FIG. 1 operates as follows: The
`mobile radio subscriber initially dials the call number of a
`desired destination set via the keyboard 3. This call number
`is stored in a dialing register 16 from where it is supplied to
`a selection device 4 which determines the most cost-efficient
`mobile radio network operator or service provider within the
`individual mobile radio networks available for the desired 20
`transmission connection.
`The destination call number dialed by the mobile radio
`subscriber also contains the appropriate preselection code or
`local area code, so that the selection device 4 can draw
`conclusions regarding the location of the destination set by
`means of the dialed telephone number. To be able to deter(cid:173)
`mine the most cost-efficient provider for the desired trans(cid:173)
`mission connection, it is firstly necessary to be able to
`unambiguously determine the transmission link leading
`from the mobile station to the destination set. For this 30
`purpose, it is necessary to determine, in addition to the
`location of the destination set, the service provider which is
`accessible at the location of the mobile station 1. This is
`done by means of the procedures defined in the appropriate
`radio standards, with the aid of a device 17 which deter(cid:173)
`mines the applications, i.e. the network operator and/or
`service provider, available at the location of the mobile radio
`subscriber and stores them in a memory 18.
`After the determination of the mobile radio networks or
`service providers to be considered for the desired transmis(cid:173)
`sion connection, and of the destination set corresponding to
`the dialed call number, the selection device 4 determines the
`most cost-efficient mobile radio network operator or service
`provider for the desired transmission connection. Thus, there
`are two levels in the selection of the most cost-efficient 45
`provider. Since, however, the charges for the mobile radio
`network and possibly the landline network (compare FIG. 4)
`to be expected for the transmission connection are depen(cid:173)
`dent on the transmission time, i.e. the call duration, the
`selection device 4 must also base the determination of the 50
`most cost-efficient provider on a predetermined call duration
`value. For this purpose, a standard or default value, e.g., five
`minutes, which is routinely used as a basis for the determi(cid:173)
`nation by the selection device 4, can be stored in a call
`duration memory 6. As an alternative, the caller can inform
`the selection device 4 of the call duration to be expected via
`the keyboard 3. It is also conceivable that the call duration
`memory 6 continues to learn on the basis of the calls last
`made and continuously updates its contents in that it always
`stores the current mean value of the call durations of, for
`example, the last five calls as a default value for the call
`duration. Naturally, the mean value can also be determined
`from a larger or smaller number of past calls.
`Once the selection device 4 has determined the location of
`the mobile station 1, the location of the destination set, the
`applications of the memory 8 which are to be considered for
`the desired transmission connection, and the call duration to
`
`8
`be expected, the selection device 4 also needs information
`on the charge rates applicable to the individual applications
`in order to be able to actually determine the most cost(cid:173)
`efficient provider for the desired transmission connection.
`5 These charge rates are usually dependent both on the day of
`the week and the time of day. It is, therefore, necessary that
`the selection device 4 be supplied with extensive charge
`information on the applications to be considered for the
`transmission connection, i.e. for the mobile radio networks
`or service providers within the mobile radio networks to be
`considered. The corresponding charge information is advan(cid:173)
`tageously stored together with the application data for each
`application in the memory 8. However, it is also conceivable
`that the selection device 4 is informed about the charge
`information via keyboard 3 (which, however, is relatively
`15 complex) or via an exchangeable chipcard which contains
`the charge rates applicable in each case for all