Location-dependent cellular service profile

In a system having a first cell site defining a first user zone, a second cell site not in the user zone, and a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to the first cell site, a method of selectively modifying a service profile for a cellular telephone based upon the geographic location of that cellular telephone, the service profile including (i) an identification number identifying the cellular telephone, and (ii) a calling service feature specification indicative of whether or not each of one or more cellular telephone calling service features are to be performed, and/or specifying one or more operating parameters for cellular calling service, said method including the following steps:

• (a) directing the MTSO to modify at least a portion of the calling service feature specification of the service profile for the cellular telephone site if communications are established between the cellular telephone and the first cell site in preparation for using the modified calling service feature specification for communications between the cellular telephone and the first cell;
• (b) directing the MTSO to use the calling service feature specification of the service profile for the cellular telephone if communications are established between the cellular telephone and the second cell site, so that the MTSO does not modify the calling service feature specification of the service profile when communications are established between the cellular telephone and the second cell site.

In a system having a first cell site defining a first user zone, a second cell site not in the user zone, and a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to the first cell site, a method of selectively modifying a service profile for a cellular telephone based upon the geographic location of that cellular telephone, the service profile including (i) an identification number identifying the cellular telephone, and (ii) a calling service feature specification indicative of whether or not each of one or more cellular telephone calling service features are to be performed, and/or specifying one or more operating parameters for cellular calling service, said method including the following steps:

• (a) directing the MTSO to use the calling service specification of the service profile for the cellular telephone if communications are established between a cellular telephone and the first cell site, so that the MTSO does not modify the calling service feature specification of the service profile when communications are established between the cellular telephone and the first cell site;
• and
• (b) directing the MTSO to modify at least a portion of the calling service feature specification of the service profile if communications are established between the cellular telephone and the second cell site in preparation for using the modified calling service feature specification for communications between the cellular telephone and the second cell site.

A system for selectively modifying a service profile for a cellular telephone if the cellular telephone is situated within a user zone, the user zone including one or more cells, microcells, picocells, cell sectors, picocell sectors, and/or microcell sectors, the service profile including (i) an identification number uniquely identifying the cellular telephone, and (ii) a calling service feature specification indicative of whether or not each of one or more cellular telephone calling service features are to be performed and/or setting forth one or more operating parameters for cellular service, the system including:

• (a) a user zone MTSO coupled to the user zone and adapted for coupling to a second MTSO via an MTSO communications link, the user zone MTSO including (i) a receiving device for receiving a service profile from the second MTSO;
• (ii) a user zone MTSO processor coupled to the receiving device;
• and (iii) a location determining device for determining whether or not the cellular telephone is situated within the user zone;
• wherein the user zone MTSO processor, in response to the location determining device determining that the cellular telephone is situated within the user zone, selectively modifying at least a portion of the calling service specification of the service profile.

In a cellular telephonic communications system, a method of providing location-dependent cellular service including the following steps:

• (a) providing access to a first cellular service profile from a first set of locations;
• and
• (b) providing access to a second cellular service profile from a second set of locations;
• wherein the first and second cellular service profiles each include (i) an identification number identifying a cellular telephone, and (ii) a calling service feature specification indicative of whether or not each of one or more cellular telephone calling service feature are to be performed and/or setting forth one or more operating parameters for cellular calling service;
• and
• wherein the first and second sets of locations are each defined with reference to the boundaries of one or more microcells, picocells, cells, microcell sectors, picocell sectors, and/or cell sectors.

In a system having a first cell site defining a first user zone, a second cell site not in the user zone, and a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to the first cell site, a method of selectively modifying a service profile for a cellular telephone based upon the geographic location of that cellular telephone in a user area in which the cellular telephone is not authorized, the service profile including (i) an identification number identifying the cellular telephone, and (ii) a calling service feature specification indicative of whether or not each of one or more cellular telephone calling service features are to be performed, and/or specifying one or more operating parameters for cellular calling service, said method including the following steps:

• (a) directing the MTSO to modify at least a portion of the calling service feature specification of the service profile for the cellular telephone if communications are established between a cellular telephone and the first cell site when the cellular telephone is in an area where the cellular telephone is not authorized, in preparation for using the modified calling service feature specification for communications between the cellular telephone and the first cell;
• (b) directing the MTSO to modify at least a portion of the calling service feature specification of the service profile for the cellular telephone site if communications are established between a cellular telephone and the second cell site when the cellular telephone is in an area where the cellular telephone is not authorized, in preparation for using the modified calling service feature specification for communications between the cellular telephone and the second cell.

Programmable wireless communications control apparatus for providing location-dependent wireless communications services in at least one user zone applicable to wireless communications for a given subscriber, each user zone including one or more cells, microcells, picocells, cell sectors, microcell sectors, and/or picocell sectors, said apparatus comprising:

• a first and a second set of calling service features wherein the first set of features is not identical to the second set of features;
• means for enabling the first set of calling service features for a cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is situated in a given user zone;
• and
• means for enabling the second set of calling service features for a cellular telephone when the cellular telephone is situated outside the user zone.

Programmable wireless communications control apparatus for providing location-dependent wireless communications services in at least one user zone, said user zone applicable to wireless communications for a given subscriber, each user zone including one or more cells, microcells, picocells, cell sectors, microcell sectors, and/or picocell sectors, said apparatus comprising:

• memory for storing the identity of a first calling service provider having a first billing rate and a second calling service provider having a second billing rate;
• means for enabling a cellular telephone to access the first calling service provider so that the first billing rate is applied to calls made from the cellular telephone when the cellular phone is situated in the user zone;
• and
• means for enabling a cellular telephone to access the second calling service provider so that the second billing rate is applied to calls made from the cellular telephone when the cellular phone is situated outside the user zone.