Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
213951~
W O 94/29995 PCT~US94/05721
CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM HAVING
INFORMATION RETRIEVAL AND METHOD
THEREFOR
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to cellular
communication systems and, more particularly, to a
system, and associated method, in which information is
provided to a radiotelephone.
R ~ c k ~ r o 1 n d
A cellular communication system is one type of
~ 15 radio communication system. Radio transceivers
(conventionally referred to as radiotelephones or cellular
phones) operative in such a cellular communication
system contain circuitry permitting generation and
reception of modulated signals. The remotely-positioned
2 0 transceivers, referred to as (base-stations), are
physically connected to a conventional telephonic
network to permit communication between a
radiotelephone and a fixed site of a conventional,
telephonic network. (A fixed site of the conventional,
2 5 telephonic network may also, of course, comprise a base-
station capable of transmitting modulated signals to a
radio transceiver, thereby permitting communication
between two radio transceivers.) A cellular
communication system is formed by positioning
3 0 numerous base-stations at spaced-apart locations
throughout a geographical area. Each base-station
contains circuitry to receive modulated signals
transmitted thereto by one, or many, radiotelephones.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 PCT/US94tO5721
~1 3 9 ~
Radiotelephones operative in such a cellular
communication system have been designed to be of
various types of constructions. Most of such
radiotelephone constructions may, however, be classified
as being of either of two general construction-types,
namely, a construction-type generically referred to as a
"mobile phone" and a construction-type generically
referred to as a "portable phone." (A third construction-
type, generically referred to as a "transportable phone",
has many of the characteristics of a portable phone.)
A mobile phone is designed to be mounted fixedly
in a motor vehicle. Since these mobile phones are
typically fixedly mounted in the motor vehicle,
portability of such a mobile phone is oftentimes limited.
A portable phone, conversely, is of reduced physical
dimensions, thereby to permit convenient carriage of
such a portable phone on the person of a user thereof.
However, a portable power supply (typically a
rechargeable battery) must be carried with the portable
2 0 phone to permit operation of such phone.
Use of a radiotelephone in a cellular
communication system permits the user to communicate
telephonically without any fixed connection to a
conventional, telephonic network. Calls may be initiated
2 5 by the user, or calls may be initiated by another and
received by the user, similar to telephonic
communication in a conventional, wireline telephonic
network. Because no fixed connection is required with
the conventional telephonic network, use of such
3 0 transceivers allows the user to communicate
telephonically during times when the user would
otherwise be unable to communicate telephonically upon
a conventional, wireline network (such as, e.g., while the
user is operating a motor vehicle).
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26
WO 94/29995 213 ~ ~ 1 4 PCT/US94/05721
- 3 -
Use of such a radiotelephone in a cellular
communication system is perhaps of greatest benefit in
event of emergency, as an emergency report or a
request for emergency assistance may be made to
S a~ o~iate emergency personnel. However, a user of
the radiotelephone for such an emergency purpose must
be able to identify the location at which the call is
initiated.
In this scenario of usage, however, telephonic
communication by way of a cellular communication
system varies somewhat with communication solely by
way of a conventional, wireline telephonic network.
When a telephone of a conventional, wireline telephonic
network is utilized to make an emergency report to or to
request assistance from emergency personnel, by dialing
an al l rol)liate emergency number (which, in the United
States usually comprises the number 9-1-1 dialed in
sequence), emergency personnel located most-proximate
(or otherwise positioned to respond best to the call) to
2 0 the location of the telephone are summoned. However,
when a radiotelephone operative in a cellular
communication system is utilized to make the
emergency report to or to request assistance by dialing
the same ay~lo~liate emergency number, the
2 5 emergency personnel summoned may not be located
most-proximate (or otherwise positioned to respond best
to the call) to the location from which the emergency
request is initiated. As a result, delays may occur as the
appropriate emergency personnel may subsequently
3 0 need to be notified of the emergency report or request.
What is needed, therefore, is means by which
most-appropriate emergency personnel may be
summoned when an emergency number is dialed by a
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 213 9 ~ 4 PCT/US94/05~21
user of a radiotelephone operative in a cellular
communication system.
~ mm~ry of the Invention:
s
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously
provides a communication system that overcomes the
limitations of the existing art and which further
advantageously provides one using the communication
system with information heretofore not readily available
to one utilizing a radiotelephone in a cellular
communication system.
According to one aspect of the immediate
invention, a remote cellular radiotelephone includes a
first receiver portion for receiving communication signals
from a cellular radiotelephone base station and a
transmitter for transmitting communication signals to
the cellular radiotelephone base station. The remote
cellular radiotelephone also includes a second receiver
2 0 portion for receiving communication signals comprised of
positional information identifying the geographic
positioning of the remote cellular radiotelephone. The
second receiver portion is coupled to the transmitter
whereby the remote cellular radiotelephone is operative
2 5 to transmit the positional information received thereat to
the base station and receive information from the
cellular radiotelephone base station associated with the
location information transmitted to the base station.
According to another aspect of the immediate
3 0 invention, a method for operating a remote-site
transceiver operatively coupled to at least one fixed-site
base-station to obtain data associated with a
geographical area in which the remote-site transceiver is
located includes receiving in a remote site receiver
SU3STiT~, E StiEET (~U~E 26)
WO 94/29995 213 ~ 51`4~; - PCT/US94/05721
-
-5 -
positional information from a global position system.
The remote site transceiver transmits the positional
information, received by the remote-site transceiver to
the fixed-site base-station. The remote-site transceiver
S receives information associated with the location of the
remote-site transceiver from the fixed-site base station.
Further advantages and features of the system and
method of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention will be better understood by reading the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments
hereinbelow.
~rief nescriotion of the nr~win~s:
The present invention will be better understood
when read in light of the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a cellular
communication system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of global position system
satellites, a fixed-site base-station, and a remote-site
radio transceiver, here positioned within a motor
vehicle, which is operative to receive signals transmitted
thereto by the global position system satellites and
2 5 operative both to transmit and to receive signals to and
from the fixed-site base-station;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the fixed-site base-
station and the remote-site radio transceiver shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partial block, partial schematic view of a
communication system of a further preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 213 9 5 1 4 PCT/US94/05721
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram listing the method steps of
the method of the preferred embodiment of the present
inventlon .
l)escription of the Preferred Fmbodiments:
Cellular communication systems are operable
throughout many geographic areas. Accordingly, in
order for useful geographically specific information to be
provided to a remote-site radiotelephone user, the
location of the radiotelephone from which the request is
initiated is first ascertained. Such positional information
is utilized to provide one using the radiotelephone with
information associated with the geographic area
proxim~te to the location of the radiotelephone.
A radiotelephone operable in a cellular
communication system contains circuitry to permit
transmission and reception of modulated signals,
2 0 thereby to permit two-way communication between the
radiotelephone and a fixed-site transceiver. In a cellular
communication system, the fixed-site transceivers are
typically referred to as base-stations.
Referring first to the schematic representation of
~IG. 1, a portion of a cellular communication system,
referred to generally by reference numeral 10, is shown.
The cellular communication system is formed by
positioning numerous base-stations at spaced-apart
locations throughout a geographical area. The base-
stations are indicated in FIG. 1 by points 12, 16, 20, 24,
28, 32, 36, and 40. While the figure illustrates eight
separate base-stations, it is to be understood, of course,
that an actual, cellular communication system is
conventionally comprised of a large plurality (of a
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 213 9 514 PCT/US94/05721
- 7 -
number greatly in excess of the eight base-stations
illustrated in FIG. 1 ) of base-stations. Each base-station,
represented by a point 12-40, is fixedly-positioned and
contains circuitry to receive modulated signals
transmitted by one, or many radiotelephones, and to
transmit modulated signals to the one, or many,
radiotelephones. Each base-station 12-40 is coupled to a
conventional, wireline, telephonic network. Such
connection is represented in the figure by line 44, shown
in dash, interconnecting the base-station represented by
point 40 and wireline network 48. Connections between
wireline network 48 and other ones of the base-stations
12-36 may be similarly shown.
The positioning of each of the base-stations 12-40
forming the cellular communication system is carefully
selected to ensure that at least one base-station is
positioned to receive a modulated signal transmitted by
a radiotelephone positioned at any location throughout
the geographic area encompassed by cellular
commnnication system 10. That is to say, at least one
base-station 12-40 must be within the transmission
range of a radiotelephone positioned at any such location
throughout the geographical area. (Because the
m~imum signal strength, and, hence, maximum
2 5 tr~nsmi~sion range, of a signal transmitted by a base-
station is typically greater than the maximum signal
strength, and corresponding maximum transmission
range, of a signal generated by a radiotelephone, the
m~lcimum transmission range of a signal generated by a
3 0 radiotelephone is the primary factor which must be
considered when positioning the base-stations of the
cellular communication system.)
Because of the spaced-nature of the positioning of
the base-stations, portions of the geographical area
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 213 9 514 PCT/US94/05721
throughout which base-stations 12-40 are associated
with individual ones of the base-stations. Portions of the
geographical area proximate to each of the spaced-apart
base-stations 12-40 define "cells" which are represented
in the figure by areas 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136,
and 140 surrounding the respective base-stations 12, 16,
20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40. Cells 112-140 together form
the portion of the geographical area of cellular
communication system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. A
1 0 radiotelephone positioned within the boundaries of any
of the cells of the cellular communication system may
transmit, and receive, modulated signals to, and from, at
least one base-station represented by points 12-40.
Line 152 extending in a generally-vertical
1 5 direction in FIG. 1 defines zones 154 and 158 formed at
the left-hand side portion and right-hand side portion,
respectively, of the figure. Zones 154 and 158 are
representative of geographic areas associated with
particular emergency assistance networks. When an
2 0 emergency number is dialed by one utilizing a telephone
of a conventional, telephonic network and located in
zone 154, telephonic communication is effectuated with
the particular emergency assistance network associated
with zone 154. Similarly, when an emergency number is
2 5 dialed by one utilizing a telephone of a conventional,
wireline, telephonic network and located in zone 158,
telephonic communication is effectuated with the
particular emergency assistance network associated with
zone 158.
3 0 However, when an emergency number is dialed by
one utilizing a radiotelephone operable in cellular
communication system 10, and the radiotelephone is
located in, for instance, zone 154, telephonic
communication is not necessarily effectuated with the
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~
WO 94/29995 ~ 1 ~ 9 51~ PCT/US94/05721
particular emergency assistance network associated with
zone 154.
For instance, when an emergency number is dialed
by one utilizing the radiotelephone when the
radiotelephone is located in cell 128 at a location
indicated by a X-marking 164, a communication link is
normally effectuated with fixed-site base-station 28, and
the base-station 28 is located within zone 158. In such
instance, telephonic communication is effectuated
1 0 between the radiotelephone located at the position
identified by X-marking 164 and the particular
emergency assistance network associated with zone 158.
In such an instance, effectuation of emergency
assistance, if necess~ry, to one located at the position by
1 5 X-m~rking 164 is likely to be delayed as personnel of
the particular emergency assistance network associated
with zone 158 must notify personnel of the particular
emergency assistance network associated with zone 154
so that personnel of the emergency assistance network
2 0 associated with zone 154 may provide the necessary
assistance.
By advantageously utilizing the information which
may be generated by circuitry simil~r to conventional,
and commercially-available, global position system
2 5 receivers, one utilizing a radiotelephone to dial an
emergency number in the communication system of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention, is
assured of effectuating a telephonic communication link
with an apl ro~liate emergency assistance network.
That is to say, and with reference to the
representation of FIG. 1, one utilizing a radiotelephone,
when positioned at a location indicated by X-marking
- 164, to dial an emergency number forms a telephonic,
communication link with the particular emergency
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/299g5 ~13 ~ 5 1~ PCT/US94/05721
- 1 0 -
assistance network associated with zone 154 rather than
with the emergency assistance network associated with
zone 158.
Turning next to the partial schematic, partial block
diagram of FIG. 2, the elements of the communication
system referred to generally by reference numeral 200,
of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are
shown .
Global position system satellites 206 and 212
generate signals 2 1 8 and 224, respectively.
Remote-site transceiver 240, here shown to be
mounted within vehicle 246, includes antenna 250
which is operative to receive signals 218 and 224
generated by satellites 206 and 212, respectively.
Antenna 250 is further operative to generate electrical
signals representative of signals 218 and 224 and to
provide such signals to receiver circuitry of remote-site
transceiver 240. A first portion of the receiver circuitry
of transceiver 240 is operative in a manner similar to
2 0 operation of conventional, global system receivers to
determine positional information of the transceiver 200
responsive to values of the signals representative of 218
and 224 received by antenna 250. In general, the first
portion of the receiver circuitry of transceiver 240
2 5 permits determination of such positional information
responsive to phase values of signals 218 and 224 as
well as coded information contained in signals 218 and
224.
Radio transceiver 240 further includes transmitter
3 0 circuitry permitting transmission, by way of antenna
256, of modulated signals 262 to a fixed-site base-
station 268. (It should be noted that separate antennas
250 and 256 are shown for purposes of illustration; a
single antenna may, of course, be constructed to be
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29gg5 213 9 51~ PCT/US94/05721
operative in a manner equivalent to operation of
antennas 250 and 256.)
Fixed-site base-station 268 is operable not only to
receive signals 262 transmitted thereto, but is operable
further to transmit modulated signals 274 which may be
received by antenna 256 of remote-site transceiver 240.
And, a second portion of the receiver circuitry of
transceiver 240 is operative in a manner ~imilar to
operation of the receiver circuitry of a radiotelephone
1 0 operable in a cellular communication system. Thereby,
two-way communication is permitted between remote-
site 240 and fixed-site base-station 268.
In manners analogous to those described
previously with respect to FIG. 1, base-station 268 is
1 5 coupled to a wireline network 280; such connection is
indicated by line 284. The transmitter circuitry of
remote-site transceiver 240 and a portion of the
receiver circuitry thereof are together operative in a
manner analogous to the operation of a radiotelephone
2 0 operative in a cellular communications system.
Computer data base 288 is further illustrated as
being connected to wireline network 280 by way of line
292 or to fixed-site base-station 268 by way of line 296,
shown in dash. Data stored within computer data base
2 S 288 is accessible by circuitry of wireline network 280
and then by fixed-site base station 268 or directly with
fixed-site base-station 268.
Remote-site transceiver 240 is operative to
determine positional information responsive to reception
3 0 by receiver circuitry thereof of signals 218 and 224
generated by satellites 206 and 212. The positional
information which identifies geographic positioning of
transceiver 240, once determined by the transceiver, is
thereafter transmitted to a fixed-site base-station of a
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RBIEE 26)
WO 94/29995 213 9 ~ 14 PCT/US94/05721
cellular communication system, here base-station 268.
The positional information, once received by base-
station 268 is provided to computer data base 288, and
data stored in computer data base 288 associated with
S the geographic positioning of transceiver 240, as
indicated by the geographical positioning of transceiver
240, is provided to base-station 268 for transmission
therefrom to remote-site transceiver 240.
In such manner, information associated with the
1 0 geographic positioning of remote-site transceiver 240 is
provided to the transceiver.
In a preferred embodiment, the data stored in
computer data base 288 comprises telephonic
identification codes (i.e., telephone numbers) of
1 5 emergency assistance org~ni7~tions associated with
various geographic areas. When positional information
of remote-site transceiver 240 is provided to base-
station 268, and the contents of computer data base 288
are accessed, base-station 268 transmits to remote-site
2 0 transceiver 240 the telephonic identification code of the
emergency assistance org~ni7~tion most appropriate for
the location of transceiver 240.
Remote-site transceiver 240 preferably further
includes appropriate circuitry or algorithms to cause the
2 5 transmitter circuitry of transceiver 240 to initiate a
communication link with the emergency assistance
org~ni7~tion associated with the telephonic identification
code accessed by the computer data base 288.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present
3 0 invention, communication system 200 is operative not
only for emergency purposes, but further for purposes
of providing one utilizing remote-site transceiver 240
with information pertaining to the geographic area in
which transceiver 240 is located. For instance, data may
SU3YITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26)
WO 94/299g5 2 ~ 3 9 514 PCT/US94/05721
- 1 3 -
be stored in computer data base 288 pertaining to
telephonic identification codes of commercial business
locations located in the general vicinity of the geographic
positioning of remote-site transceiver 240. Additional
S information, in addition to the telephonic identification
codes, may, of course, additionally be provided to one
utilizing remote-site transceiver 240.
Turning next to FIG. 3, a remote-site transceiver,
simil~r to remote-site transceiver 240 of communication
1 0 system 200 of FIG. 2 and here identified by reference
numeral 340, is shown. A fixed-site base-station, similar
in nature with that of base-station 268 of FIG. 2 and
here identified by reference numeral 368, is also shown.
Transmission of modulated signals between remote-site
transceiver 340 and fixed-site base-station 368 is
accomplished in manners analogous to tr~nsmission of
modulated signals between remote-site transceiver 240
and fixed-site base-station 268 of FIG. 2.
Remote-site transceiver 340 is comprised of global
2 0 position system receiver circuitry portion 444 and
cellular transceiver circuitry portion 448. Global
position system receiver circuitry portion 444 includes
antenna 450 which is operative to receive signals
generated by global position system satellites (such as
satellites 206 and 212 of FIG. 2). The signals received
by antenna 450 are provided by way of line 454 to
global position system receiver circuitry 460.
Receiver circuitry 460 includes demodulation
circuitry for demodulating the signal applied thereto on
line 456 and for generating a signal on line 464 which is
applied to global position system control computer
circuitry 468. Computer circuitry 468 is operative to
determine the geographic positioning of remote-site
transceiver 340 responsive to the signals transmitted
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
W O 94/29995 213 9 51~ T~CTrJS94/05721
-14 -
thereto by global position system satellites. Computer
circuitry 468 is coupled to display element 472 by way
of line 476 and also to interface circuitry 480. Interface
circuitry 480 forms an interface between computer
circuitry 468 and the circuitry of cellular transceiver
circuitry portion 448 of remote-site transceiver 340.
Cellular transceiver circuitry portion 448 iS shown
to be comprised of transceiver circuitry 484 and control
unit 488. Transceiver circuitry 484 and control unit 488
are connected theretogether by way of bus 492.
Interface circuitry 480 of global position system receiver
circuitry portion 444 iS connected to bus 492 by way of
line 496.
Transceiver circuitry 484 iS comprised of
transmitter circuitry 500 and receiver circuitry 506.
Both transmitter and receiver circuitry portions 500 and
506 are coupled to antenna 556 which is analogous to
antenna 256 of transceiver 240 of communication
system 200 of FIG. 2.
Fixed-site base-station 368 is comprised of
transceiver circuitry portion 568 and computer data
base circuitry portion 588. Portion 588 corresponds to
computer data base 288 of communication system 200
of FIG. 2.
Fixed-site base-station 368 iS further shown to
include control computer 592, modem 596, and wireline
network interface 600. (As computer data base circuitry
portion 588 iS shown in the figure as a portion of fixed-
site base-station 368, the illustrated embodiment of FIG.
3 iS representative of an embodiment in which the
computer data base is connected directly to the base-
station, such as that indicated by line 296
interconnecting computer data base 288 and base-
station 268 of communication system 200 of FIG. 2.)
SU~STITUTE SHEET (RU!LE 26)
W094/2~S 2 13 9 514 PCT~S94/0~721
- 15 -
Transceiver circuitry portion 568 is shown to be
comprised of transmitter circuitry 606 and receiver
circuitry 612. Modem 596 is coupled to transmitter
circuitry 606 by way of line 618 and receiver circuitry
612 is coupled to modem 596 and wireline interface 600
by way of line 624.
Computer data base circuitry 588 iS shown to be
comprised of storage element 630 and computer control
circuit 636. Circuit 636 and storage element 630 are
connected theretogether by way of line 642. And,
computer circuit 636 iS coupled to modem 596 by way
of line 648.
Because receiver circuitry 612 of transceiver
circuitry portion 568 iS coupled to modem 596 and
computer circuit 636 iS also coupled to modem 596,
positional information transmitted to fixed-site base-
station 368 from remote-site transceiver 340 iS
provided to computer circuit 636 to permit accessing of
particular storage locations of storage element 630. Once
the particular storage locations of storage element 630
are accessed and the stored data contained therein is
ascertained, signals indicative of such stored data are
transmitted by transceiver circuitry 606 to remote-site
transceiver 340. As noted previously, data stored in
computer data base circuitry 588, and, more
particularly, in storage element 630 thereof, includes
emergency telephonic identification codes and also
telephonic identification codes of non-emergency
locations as well as other information. Thereby,
responsive to positional information provided to the
fixed-site base-station 368 of the geographic positioning
of remote-site transceiver 340, information may be
provided to the remote-site transceiver 340.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94t2~5 ~ 13 9 ~ I ~ PCT~S94/05721
- 16-
Turning next to the partial block, partial schematic
view of FIG. 4, communication system 700 of a further
preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown. Similar to communication system 200 of FIG. 2,
communication system 700 includes global position
system satellites, here satellites 706 and 712, which
generate modulated signals 718 and 724, respectively.
Again, the signals generated by satellites 706 and 712
include phase information as well as coded information.
Remote-site transceiver 740 of communication
system 700 includes global position system receiver
circuitry portion 744 and cellular transceiver circuitry
portion 748.
Global position system receiver circuitry portion
744 of remote-site transceiver 740 includes antenna 750
operative to receive modulated signals 718 and 724
generated by satellites 706 and 712. Antenna 750
converts the modulated signals received thereat into
electrical signals on line 756 which are applied to global
position system receiver circuitry 760. Receiver
circuitry 760 includes demodulation circuitry for
demodulating the signals applied thereto and for
generating signals on line 764 which are applied to
global position system control computer 768. Receiver
circuitry portion 744 further comprises display element
which is coupled computer circuitry 768 by way of line
776. And, interface circuitry 780 iS coupled to control
computer circuitry 768.
Cellular transceiver circuitry portion 748 of
3 0 remote-site transceiver 740, similar to circuitry portion
448 of FIG. 3, is comprised of transceiver circuitry 784
and control unit 788. Transceiver circuitry 784 and
control unit 788 are connected theretogether by way of
bus 792. And, transceiver circuitry 784 iS coupled to
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26~
WO 94/2g995 213 9 5 1~ PCT/US94/05721
-
interface circuitry 780 of the global position system
receiver circuitry portion 744 by way of line 796.
Transceiver circuitry 784 is again shown to be
comprised of both receiver circuitry, here receiver
S circuitry 800, and transmitter circuitry, here transmitter
circuitry 806. Transmitter and receiver circuitry 800
and 806 of transceiver circuitry 784 are coupled to
antenna 856 which is operative to transmit modulated
signals therefrom and to receive modulated signals
1 0 transmitted thereto. In the preferred embodiment
illustrated in the figure, transceiver circuitry 784
includes cellular modem 808 and controller 810. Modem
808 is coupled to interface 780 by way of line 796 and
controller 810 is coupled to control unit 788.
1 5 Fixed-site base-station 868 includes transceiver
circuitry operative to transmit modulated signals to
cellular transceiver circuitry portion 748 of remote-site
transceiver 740 and to receive modulated signals
transmitted thereto by the remote-site transceiver.
2 0 Base-station 868 is connected to wireline network 880
by way of line 884.
Wireline network 880 is shown to be comprised of
a mobile telephone switching office 888 which is coupled
to a local public switched telephone network 892 by way
2 5 of line 896. Local telephonic network 892 includes
appropriate switching circuitry to form connections with
wireline locations including emergency assistance facility
900, a representative, non-emergency facility 906, and
computer data base 908.
3 0 Computer data base 908 is shown to be comprised
of first and second modems 912 and 916, respectively,
which permit coupling to local telephonic network 892,
control computer 920, which is coupled to modems 912
and 916 by way of bus 924, and emergency and non-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 21~ 9 51~ PCT/US94/05721
- 1 8 -
emergency data bases 928 and 932 which are coupled to
control computer 920 by way of bus 936.
Emergency assistance facility 900 is shown to
include switching circuitry 950, conventional wireline
telephone 956, coupled to switching circuitry 950 by
way of line 962, modem 968, coupled to switching
circuitry 950 by way of bus 972, mapping computer 976
coupled to modem 968 by way of bus 980, and data base
984 which is coupled to mapping computer 976 by way
1 0 of bus 988. Similarly, non-emergency facility 906 is
shown to be comprised of switching circuitry 1000,
wireline telephone 1006 which is coupled to switching
circuitry 1000 by way of line 1012, and modem 1018
which is coupled to switching circuitry 1000 by way of
1 5 bus 1022. Facility 906 is further shown to include
mapping computer 1026 to which data base 1034 is
coupled by way of bus 1038. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, emergency
assistance facility 900 is associated with a particular
2 0 telephonic-identification code, in the United States
preferably an 800-type number which is accessible by a
caller located at any position within the coverage area of
a cellular communication system. (An 800-type number
is prefereably utilized in the United States as localized
2 5 data-bases may be accessed via a single 800-type
number. In other embodiments, a centralized data base
may be preferred and a telephonic identification code
associated with the centralized data base may be
utilized .)
3 0 Remote-site transceiver 740 may be positioned at
any location permitting of two-way communication with
fixed-site base-station 868. Global position system
receiver circuitry portion 744 is operative to receive
signals generated by satellites 706 and 712 and to
SiJ~STITUTE SHEET (~ULE 26)
WO 94/29995 PCT/US94/05721
- 2~39514
1 9 -
determine, responsive to such signals, positional
information relating to the geographic positioning of
transceiver 740. The positional information determined
by circuitry portion 744 is provided to cellular
S transceiver circuitry portion 748.
When a user of transceiver 740 requests
emergency assistance, a preselected, telephonic
identification code, here an 800-number, is dialed which
is associated with computer data base 908. Cellular
1 0 transceiver circuitry portion 748 is operative in a
manner analogous to operation of a conventional cellular
radiotelephone to establish a telephonic, communication
link with computer data base 908. Once a telephonic,
communication link is established with computer data
1 5 base 908, the positional information determined by
circuitry portion 744 is provided to the computer data
base.
Computer data base 908 is operative to access
stored data contained in data bases 928 (or 932)
2 0 associated with the geographic area at which remote-site
transceiver 740 is positioned (as identified by the
positional information determined by receiver circuitry
portion 744 of the remote-site transceiver).
The data stored in data base 928 includes
2 5 telephonic identification codes of emergency assistance
facilities. When the positional information of the
location of remote-site transceiver 740 is provided to
computer data base 908, emergency data base 928 is
accessed and the telephonic identification code of an
3 0 emergency assistance facility most appropriate for the
location at which remote-site transceiver 740 is located
is determined. Control computer 920 provides such
- telephonic identification code to modem 916 which, in
turn, transmits the telephonic identification code to the
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
W094/2~g5 PCT~S94/05721
2139514
- 2 0 -
telephonic network 892, telephonic network 892
provides the telephonic identification code to switching
office 888 which, in turn, provides the telephonic
identification code to fixed-site base-station 868 which,
then, in turn, transmits the telephonic identification code
to remote-site transceiver 740.
Once the user of the remote-site transceiver 740
obtains the telephonic identification code of the most-
appropriate, emergency assistance facility, telephonic
1 0 communication may be initiated with such emergency
assistance facility in conventional manner. For purposes
of example, the most-appropriate, emergency assistance
facility may comprise emergency assistance facility 900.
The user of the remote-site transceiver 740, upon
1 5 receiving the telephonic identification code identifying
emergency assistance facility 900, initiates telephonic
communication therewith in conventional manner by
way of cellular transceiver circuitry portion 748 of
transceiver 740. Emergency assistance may thereafter
2 0 be provided.
In a further embodiment of the present invention,
circuitry, or algorithms, contained within remote-site
transceiver 740 automatically initiates effectuation of a
telephonic communication link with the emergency
2 5 assistance facility associated with the telephonic
identification code accessed by computer data base 908
and transmitted to transceiver 740 by way of base-
station 868.
A user of remote-site transceiver 740 may also
3 0 utilize the transceiver to obtain other information
associated with the geographical area in which
transceiver 740 is located. In a manner analogous to the
manner in which the telephonic identification code of a
most-appropriate, emergency assistance facility is
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
W09412~5 213 9 5 1 ~ PCT~S94/05721
accessed by computer data base 908 and provided to
remote-site transceiver 740 by way of base-station 868,
telephonic identification codes associated with other
facilities, such as commercial and other retail
establi.~hments, may be obtained. The telephonic
communication link is again established with computer
data base 908 by dialing the telephonic identification
code, here again, an 800-number, associated with the
computer data base. Positional information associated
1 0 with the geographic positioning of remote-site
transceiver 740 iS again provided to computer data base
908 by way of fixed-site base-station 868, mobile
telephone switching office 888, and local telephonic
network 892.
1 5 When the positional information is received by
control computer 920 of computer data base 908, stored
data contained within non-emergency data base 932 is
associated with the geographic area identified by the
positional information is accessed. Telephonic
2 0 identification codes comprising such stored information
is provided to control computer 920 of computer data
base 908 are provided to remote-site transceiver 740,
again by way of telephonic network 892, switching office
888, and base-station 868. Thereafter, a user of remote-
2 5 site transceiver 740 may initiate a telephonic
communication link with a location associated with a
telephonic identification code provided thereto.
Such non-emergency facility, for purposes of
example, comprises non-emergency facility 906. A user
3 0 of remote-site transceiver 740 initiates effectuation of a
communication link with non-emergency facility 906 by
transmitting a telephonic identification code associated
- with such non-emergency facility previously provided
thereto by way of computer data base 908, in
SUBSTITUTE S~EET (RU~E 26)
wo s4/2ssgs 213 ~ PCT/USg4/0
conventional manner by transmitting the telephonic
identification code to base-station 868. A
communication link is effectuated between transceiver
740 and non-emergency facility 906 by way of base-
S station 868, switching office 888, and telephonic
network 892. Again, non-emergency facility 906
includes apparatus, namely wireline telephone 1006,
permitting normal, voice communication between
transceiver 740 and the non-emergency facility 906 as
1 0 well as transmission of data information including
positional information provided to computer 1026 of
non-emergency facility 906. Data stored within data
base 1034 of non-emergency facility 906 may also be
accessed, if desired.
1 5 Accordingly, the system of the present invention
permits a user of a remote-site transceiver including a
global positioning system receiver circuitry portion and
a cellular transceiver circuitry portion to effectuate a
communication link with a most-appropriate emergency
2 0 assistance facility and also to obtain information, as well
as to establish other telephonic, communication links
with other facilities, associated with the geographic area
in which the transceiver is located.
Finally turning now to the logical flow diagram of
2 5 FIG. 5, the method steps of a method, referred to
generally by reference numeral 1100, of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention are listed. The
method is for a remote-site transceiver including a
radiotelephone operative in a cellular communication
3 0 system having at least one fixed-site base-station as a
portion thereof and a global position system receiver as
another portion thereof. The method is operative to
obtain data associated with a geographical area in which
the remote-site transceiver is located.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26)
WO 94/29995 PCT/US94/05721
._ 213.9514
-23 -
First, and as indicated by block 1 106, data at the
fixed-site base-station associated with various
geographic areas is stored.
Next, and as indicated by block 111 2,
communication signals are transmitted to the remote-
site transceiver comprised of positional information
permitting identification of geographic positioning of the
remote-site transceiver.
Next, and as indicated by block 1 118, the
positional information, once received by the remote-site
transceiver, is transmitted from the remote-site
transceiver to the fixed-site base-station.
Next, and as indicated by block 1 124, particular
data associated with a geographical area identified by
the positional information transmitted to the fixed-site
base-station by the remote-site transceiver of the data
stored at the fixed-site base-station is accessed.
Finally, and as indicated by block 1130, the
particular data accessed is transmitted to the remote-
2 0 site transceiver.
While the present invention has been described in
connection with the preferred embodiments shown in
the various figures, it is to be understood that other
similar embodiments may be used and modifications and
2 5 additions may be made to the described embodiments
for performing the same function of the present
invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the
present invention should not be limited to any single
embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope
3 0 in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET ~RULE 26)
