Reconfigurable communication network
View Patent ↗A communication system includes first and second terminals which are able to communicate control messages to each other. One of the terminals can reconfigure itself by a process of service negotiations with the other terminal where the capabilities of the reconfigurable terminal are provided to the other terminal. Each of the terminals has a transceiver, a memory for storing software functions, and a processor for controlling the operation of the terminal in accordance with stored software functions. At least one of the software functions is alterable in response to the receipt of a control message containing the new software function plus interface software required by the processor in building a new function into an actual implementation on the terminal. The communication system may be a cordless and/or cellular telephone system where messages are sent over-the-air, or a corded system where messages are relayed by landline.
1. A method of configuring a profile of a fixed terminal comprising:
transmitting capabilities of said fixed terminal to a mobile terminal;
selecting by said mobile terminal parameters that match said capabilities and transmitting said parameters to said fixed terminal;
selecting by said fixed terminal a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and informing said mobile terminal of said selected parameters; and
transmitting by said mobile terminal to said fixed terminal required information to form said profile based on said selected parameters.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting said capabilities of said fixed terminal by said mobile terminal.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising testing delivery integrity of said required information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
testing delivery integrity of said required information; and
requesting retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising acknowledging proper reception of said required information.
6. A communication terminal comprising:
means for transmitting capabilities of said communication terminal to another terminal;
means for receiving parameters from said another terminal, said parameters matching said capabilities;
means for selecting a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and informing said another terminal of said selected parameters;
means for receiving from said another terminal required information to form a profile of said communication terminal based on said selected parameters; and
means for configuring said profile in response to said required information from said another terminal.
7. The communication terminal of claim 6 , further comprising means for requesting said capabilities of said communication terminal by said another terminal.
8. The communication terminal of claim 6 , further comprising means for testing delivery integrity of said required information.
9. The communication terminal of claim 6 , further comprising:
means for testing delivery integrity of said required information; and
means for requesting retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
10. The communication terminal of claim 6 , further comprising means for acknowledging proper reception of said required information.
11. A communication terminal comprising:
a memory which stores data indicative of capabilities of said communication terminal;
a transmitter which transmits said capabilities to another terminal;
a receiver which receives parameters from said another terminal, said parameters matching said capabilities; and
a controller which selects a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and informs said another terminal of said selected parameters;
said receiver receiving from said another terminal required information to form a profile of said communication terminal based on said selected parameters; and
said controller configuring said profile in response to said required information from said another terminal.
12. The communication terminal of claim 11 , wherein said another terminal is configured to request said capabilities of said communication terminal.
13. The communication terminal of claim 11 , wherein said controller is configured for testing delivery integrity of said required information.
14. The communication terminal of claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to request retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
15. The communication terminal of claim 11 , wherein said controller is configured to acknowledge proper reception of said required information.
16. A method of establishing a communications link between a mobile terminal and a fixed terminal, the method comprising:
transmitting capabilities of said fixed terminal to said mobile terminal;
selecting by said mobile terminal parameters that match said capabilities and transmitting said parameters to said fixed terminal;
selecting by said fixed terminal a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and informing said mobile terminal of said selected parameters; and
transmitting by said mobile terminal to said fixed terminal required information to form a profile based on said selected parameters to establish said communications link.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the mobile terminal transmits the required function plus software required in building a new function into an actual implementation on the fixed terminals.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16 , further comprising testing the air interface to ensure that said configuring has taken place without error.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising requesting said capabilities of said fixed terminal by said mobile terminal.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising testing delivery integrity of said required information.
21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
testing delivery integrity of said required information; and
requesting retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising acknowledging proper reception of said required information.
23. A fixed terminal for use in a communication system to establish a communications link with a mobile terminal, the fixed terminal comprising:
a transceiver configured to transmit capabilities of said fixed terminal to said mobile terminal, said mobile terminal selecting parameters that match said capabilities and transmitting said parameters to said fixed terminal; and
a controller configured to select a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and inform said mobile terminal of said selected parameters;
wherein said mobile terminal configured to transmit to said fixed terminal required information to form a profile based on said selected parameters to establish said communications link.
24. The fixed terminal of claim 23 , wherein said mobile terminal is configured to request said capabilities of said fixed terminal.
25. The fixed terminal of claim 23 , wherein said controller is configured for testing delivery integrity of said required information.
26. The fixed terminal of claim 25 , wherein said controller is configured to request retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
27. The fixed terminal of claim 23 , wherein said controller is configured to acknowledge proper reception of said required information.
28. A mobile terminal for use in a communication system to establish a communications link with a fixed terminal, the mobile terminal comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive capabilities of said fixed terminal;
said mobile terminal selecting parameters that match said capabilities and transmitting said parameters to said fixed terminal; and
a controller configured to select parameters that match said capabilities, said transceiver transmitting said parameters to said fixed terminal;
wherein said fixed terminal is configured to select a portion of said parameters to form selected parameters and inform said mobile terminal of said selected parameters;
said mobile terminal being configured to transmit to said fixed terminal required information to form a profile based on said selected parameters to establish said communications link.
29. The mobile terminal of claim 28 , wherein said controller is configured to request said capabilities of said fixed terminal.
30. The mobile terminal of claim 28 , wherein said fixed terminal is configured for testing delivery integrity of said required information.
31. The mobile terminal of claim 30 , wherein said fixed terminal is configured to request retransmission of said required information if said testing indicates an error in said delivery integrity.
32. The mobile terminal of claim 28 , wherein said fixed terminal is configured to acknowledge proper reception of said required information.