Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MOBILE TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING INFORMATION
ASSOCIATED WITH A GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO A SUBSCRIBER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
s This invention relates to communication systems and more specifically
to mobile telephone communication systems including mobile stations that are
operable in a plurality of ident~able, distinct geographic areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The coverage areas for mobile telephone communication systems are
constantly expanding. It is now common for a single mobile station to be
operable
in a plurality of identifiable, distinct geographic areas so that a subscriber
may use
the mobile station as he travels from one distinct geographic area to another,
such
as traveling from city to city, state to state, andlor country to country.
During such
travels, there may be information associated with each distinct geographic
area that
is of potential interest to a subscriber. For example, the methodology for
making
certain telephone calls, such as emergency calls, long distance calls, etc.,
may
change from one geographic area to another. By way of further example, there
may
be a travel advisory or a weather bulletin associated with a particular
geographic
area that would be of interest to a subscriber if the subscriber is located in
the
2o particular geographic areas. As yet another example, there may be a number
of
important telephone numbers associated with each geographic area that is of
interest to a subscriber. For example, the telephone numbers of the Embassy,
local
hospitals, local Red Cross, local taxi services, local police, local business
office, local
business numbers, local business and personal contacts, etc. associated with a
2s distinct geographic area may all be of interest to a subscriber located in
the distinct
geographic area. Currently, it is typical for subscribers to obtain such
information
either by using local directories and assistance, or by anticipating the
geographic
areas in which the subscriber will travel and canying the information with the
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subscriber as the subscriber travels from one geographic area to another.
However,
subscribers cannot always anticipate the geographic areas to which they will
travel,
and locating and using local directories and assistance can take up valuable
time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for
communicating information for use by a subscriber in a terrestrial and/or
satellite
mobile telephone communication system including mobile stations that are
operable
in a plurality of identifiable, distinct geographic areas. The method includes
the
steps of storing a data base containing a plurality of information sets, each
~o information set corresponding to one of the distinct geographic areas and
containing
information associated with the distinct geographic area that is of potential
interest
to a subscriber located in the geographic area; determining a current distinct
geographic area in which a mobile station is located; and transmitting the
information
set corresponding to the current distinct geographic area from the data base
to the
mobile station.
In one form, each of the information sets contain telephone numbers
associated with one of the distinct geographic areas.
In one form, the method further comprises the step of storing the
telephone numbers in a memory device of the mobile station for future recall
and
2o use by a subscriber using the mobile station after the transmitting step.
In one form, the method further includes the step of enabling a speed
dialing function in the mobile station for at least some of the telephone
numbers.
In one form, the storing step comprises storing at least some of the
information in the data base in the form of voice messages that can be
transmitted
2s to a mobile station and conveyed to a subscriber through a speaker
associated with
the mobile station.
In one form, the storing step comprises storing at least some of the
information in the data base in the form of text messages that can be
transmitted to
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a mobile station and conveyed to a subscriber through a display associated
with the
mobile station.
In one form, the method further includes the step of comparing the
current distinct geographic area with a last known distinct geographic area in
which
the mobile station was located. The transmitting step includes the step of
transmitting the information set corresponding to the current distinct
geographic area
from the data base to the mobile station only if the cun-ent distinct
geographic area
is different than the last known distinct geographic area.
In one form, the method further includes the step of storing a time data
base of acceptable transmission times for the mobile station. The transmitting
step
includes the step of accessing the time data base for the acceptable
transmission
times for the mobile station and transmitting the information set
corresponding to the
current geographic area from the data base to the mobile station at one of the
acceptable transmission times for the mobile station.
In accordance with the present invention, a mobile telephone
communication system is provided for transmitting useful information to a
mobile
station for use by a subscriber located in any of a plurality of identifiable,
distinct
geographic areas. The communication system includes a memory device containing
a data base including a plurality of information sets corresponding to the
plurality of
2o distinct geographic areas, each information set corresponding to one of the
distinct
geographic areas and containing information associated with the distinct
geographic
area that is of potential interest to a subscriber located in the distinct
geographic
area. The communication system further includes a transmitter operably
associated
with the memory device to transmit the information sets to a mobile station
located
2s in one of the plurality of distinct geographic areas.
In one form, the communication system further includes a memory
device in a mobile station to store the transmitted information sets for
future recall
and use by a subscriber using the mobile station.
In accordance with the present invention, a mobile station is provided
so for use by a subscriber located in any of a plurality of identifiable,
distinct geographic
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areas serviced by a mobile telephone communication system. The mobile station -
includes a transmitter, a receiver, a memory device, and control circuitry.
The
receiver is adapted to receive transmissions of any of a plurality of
information sets
corresponding to the plurality of distinct geographic areas, each information
set
corresponding to one of the distinct geographic areas and containing
information
associated with the distinct geographic area that is of potential interest to
a
subscriber located in a geographic area. The control circuitry is configured
to store
in the memory device a most recent one, of the information sets received by
the
receiver far future recall and use by a subscriber.
In one form, the mobile station further includes speed dialing circuitry.
Each of the information sets contain telephone numbers associated with one of
the
distinct geographic areas. The control circuitry is configured to enable the
speed
dialing circuitry for speed dialing of the telephone numbers of the most
recent one
of the information sets received by the receiver for future recall and use by
a
~5 subscriber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA1MNGS
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a communication system
embodying the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a mobile station for use in
2o the invention; and
Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method embodying the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
2s As seen in Fig. 1, the invention is embodied in a terrestrial and/or
satellite mobile telephone communication system 10 including mobile stations
12
that are operable in a plurality of identifiable, distinct geographic areas
14, 16, and
18, such as villages, towns, townships, cities, counties, states, regions,
countries,
and continents. The communication system 10 includes one or more switching =
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systems) 20, one or more memory devices) 22 that are operably associated with-
the switching systems) 20, one or more transmitters) 24 and receivers) 25 that
are
operably associated with the switching systems) 20 and memory devices) 22 and
capable of transmitting signals to any of the mobile stations 12 located in
the
geographic areas 14, 16, 18, and one or more control systems) 26 that are
operably
associated with the switching systems) 20, memory devices) 22, transmitters)
24
and receivers) 25 to control the communication system 10. The switching
systems)
20, the memory devices) 22, the transmitters) 24, the receivers) 25 and
control
systems) 26 may be located within or remote from any or all of the geographic
areas
14, 16, 18.
According to the invention, the communication system 10 is configured
to provide a subscriber traveling between the geographic areas 14, 16, 18 with
information associated with each of the geographic areas 14, 16, 18 that is of
potential interest to the subscriber when the subscriber is located in one of
the
geographic areas 14, 16, 18. For example, the communication system 10 is
configured so that when a subscriber travels from the geographic area 14 to
the
geographic area 16, the communication system 10 will provide the subscriber
with
information associated with the geographic area 16 that is of potential
interest to the
subscriber while the subscriber is located in the geographic area 16.
2o It should be understood that while only three distinct geographic areas
14, 16, and 18 are illustrated for the purpose of describing the invention,
the
invention contemplates anywhere from two geographic areas to as many
geographic
areas as may be required to service the coverage area for the communication
system 10.
Many types of mobile stations) 12, switching systems) 20, memory
devices) 22, transmitters) 24, receivers) 25, and control systems) 26 are well
known and may be utilized to practice the invention with little or no
modification other
than to the control scheme implemented by the control systems) 26.
Accordingly,
more detailed descriptions of the mobile stations) 12, switching systems) 20,
so memory devices) 22, transmitters) 24, and .control system(2) 26 is not
required
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herein. It should be understood that while the switching systems) 20, memory
devices) 22, transmitters) 24, receivers) 25, and control systems) 26 are
illustrated in Fig. 1 by separate blocks, these components 20, 22, 24, and 26
may
be selectively integrated with each other, or may exist separately from each
other.
s For example, one or more of the memory devices) 22 may be integrated with
one '
or more of the control systems) 26. By way of further example, one or more of
the
control systems) 26 may be integrated with one or more of the switching
systems)
20. As yet another example, one or more of the switching systems) 20 may be
integrated with one or more of the transmitters) 24. Again, because such
~o integration is well known, a more detailed description is not required
herein.
One example of a mobile station 12 for use in the invention is shown
in Fig. 2. The mobile station 12 includes a transmitteNreceiver 30; input-
output
devices 32, including a speaker 34 and a visual display 35; control circuitry
36;
memory 38; and speed dialing circuitry 40. Many types of
transmitters/receivers
15 (30), input-output devices 32, speakers 34, control circuitry 36, memory
38, and
speed dialing circuitry 40 for use in mobile stations 12 are well known and
may be
utilized to practice the invention with little or no modification.
Accordingly, more
detailed descriptions of these components is not required herein. Further, it
should
be understood that some of the components, such as the speaker 34, speed
dialing
2o circuitry 38 and memory 40, are not necessarily required for all
embodiments of the
invention.
With reference to Fig. 3, to practice the invention, a data base
containing the plurality of information sets (145, 165, 185) is stored in the
memory
devices) 22 as shown at block 42. Each information set 145, 165, 185
corresponds
2s to one of the distinct geographic areas 14, 16, 18 and contains information
associated with the distinct geographic area 14, 16, 18 that is of potential
interest to
a subscriber located in the geographic area 14, 16, 18. Examples of such
information were discussed more fully in the Background of the Invention
section of
this application, and include, for example, the methodology of making certain
3o telephone calls, such as emergency calls and long distance calls; travel
advisories;
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weather reports or bulletins; and important telephone numbers, such as the -
Embassy, local hospitals, local Red Cross, local taxi services, local police,
local
business office, local business numbers, and local business and personal
contacts
associated with the distinct geographic area.
As shown at block 44, the control systems) 26 is configured to
determine a current geographic area in which a mobile station 12 is located.
The
communication system may perform this step for a plurality of mobile stations
12 to
determine the current distinct geographic area 14, 16, 18, for each of the
plurality of
mobile stations 12. Typically, this step will be performed whenever a location
update
~o is initiated for one of the mobile stations 12. In most current
communiratinr,
systems, a location update is initiated whenever a mobile station 12 is
powered on
and whenever a mobile station 12 moves from one geographic area 14, 16, 18 to
another geographic area 14, 16, 18 while the mobile station is powered on. In
this
regard, the communication system 10 may utilize the receivers) (25) to perform
the
~5 location update by receiving a signal from the one mobile station 12.
Alternatively,
the location update may be performed by utilizing global positioning
technology,
many forms of which are well known and need not be described in more detail
herein.
Preferably, as shown at block 46, the control systems) 26 is
2o configured to compare the current geographic area, as determined by the
most
recent location update, with the last known geographic area in which the one
mobile
station 12 was located, which will be the current geographic area determined
from
the location update that immediately preceded the most recent location update.
As
shown at block 48, if the current geographic area is different than the last
known
2s geographic area, the control systems) 26 is configured to transmit the
information
set corresponding to the current geographic area from the memory devices) 22,
through the switching systems) 20 and transmitters) 24 to the one mobile
station
12. As shown at block 50, if the current geographic area is the same as the
previous
geographic area, the system 10 repeats the determining step after the next
location
3o update, without transmitting the information set. It should be understood
that
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according to some alternate embodiments in the invention, the steps
illustrated by -
blocks 46 and 50 are eliminated so that the transmitting step illustrated by
block 48
occurs every time the determining step illustrated by block 44 is performed.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, each of the
information sets 145, 165, 185 contain telephone numbers associated with the
distinct geographic area 14, 16, 18 corresponding to the information set 145,
165,
185. After the transmitting step illustrated by block 48, the telephone
numbers are
stored in the memory 38 of the mobile station 12, as shown at block 52, and
the
speed dialing circuitry 40 is enabled for at least some of the telephone
numbers by
~o the controller 36 of the mobile station 12, as shown at block 54. In some
embodiments, the telephone numbers stored in memory 38 overwrite the telephone
numbers previously stored in memory 38 for speed dialing associated with the
geographic areas 14, 16, 18. Thus, for example, a mobile station 12 could be
configured so that the speed dial No. 1 always dials a local taxicab company,
the
speed dial No. 2 always dials the local U.S. Embassy, and the speed dial No. 3
always dials the local business office of the geographic area 14, 16, 18 in
which the
mobile station 12 is currently located. This allows a subscriber to access
such
important telephone numbers without anticipating the geographic areas to which
the
subscriberwill travel, and without taking the time to locate and utilize local
directories
2o and assistance.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the storing
step illustrated by block 42 includes the step of storing at least some of the
information in the data base in the form of voice andlor text messages that
can be
transmitted to one of the mobile stations and conveyed to a subscriber through
the
25 speaker 34 and/or visual display 35 of the mobile staticn 12. For example,
for these
embodiments, a subscriber arriving in the geographic area 16 could receive a
travel
advisory warning the subscriber of various potential dangers associated with
the
geographic area, and/or providing the subscriber with a current weather
forecast for
the geographic area 16 or warnings of impending severe weatherforthe
geographic
3o area 16. The technologies required for storing and transmitting voice
and/or text
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messages are well known and need not be described further herein. For example,
short-message service technology is well known for transmitting alphanumeric
text
messages.
According to one or more embodiments of the invention, the
alphanumeric storing step illustrated by block 42 includes the step of storing
a time
data base 56 of acceptable transmission times for one or more of the mobile
stations
12. The transmitting step illustrated by block 50 includes the step of
accessing the
time data base 56 for the acceptable transmission times for the mobile station
12
and transmitting the information set 145, 165, 185 corresponding to the
current
~o geographic area 14, 16, 18 at one of the acceptable transmission times for
the
mobile station 12. This feature is primarily useful with the embodiments which
include information in the data base in the form of voice messages. For
example,
the time data base may include acceptable transmission times of 9:00 a.m.
until 6:00
p.m. for one of the mobile stations 12 so that the subscriber each avoid
receiving the
~s transmission of a voice message information set during the evening and
early
morning hours.
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be
illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.
