SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING A DUAL-MODE CALLING INSTRUMENT IN A PLURALITY OF NETWORKS
A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols, each respective network of the plurality of networks including at least one respective communication access unit coupled with a respective controller unit and a respective switching unit for routing communication to a called unit, includes: a data base coupled with each respective controller unit and with each respective switching unit. The data base cooperates with each respective controller unit to store location information substantially when the calling instrument begins communicating in the respective network coupled with the respective controller unit. The respective switching unit in the respective network coupled with the respective controller unit employs the location information to effect the locating.
1 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks; the system comprising:
(a) at least one communication access unit for each respective network of said plurality of communication networks; said calling unit effecting communications via a respective communication access unit of said at least one communication access unit;
(b) at least one controller unit coupled with each said respective network and with at least one switching unit; said at least one controller unit and said at least one switching unit cooperating to effect routing of communications to a called unit; and
(c) at least one data base coupled with at least one selected controller unit of said at least one controller unit; a respective data base of said at least one data base cooperating with a respective controller unit of said at least one selected controller unit to enter said location information in said respective data base substantially when said calling unit begins communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit.
2 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 1 wherein said respective data base cooperates with said respective controller unit to remove said location information from said respective data base substantially when said calling unit ceases communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit.
3 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 1 wherein said calling instrument is a dual-mode calling unit configured for communicating using two communication protocols.
4 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 3 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol.
5 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 3 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
6 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 2 wherein said calling instrument is a dual-mode calling unit configured for communicating using two communication protocols.
7 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 6 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol.
8 . A system for providing location information indicating locus of a calling unit roaming within or among a plurality of communication networks as recited in claim 7 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
9 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols; each respective network of said plurality of networks including at least one respective communication access unit coupled with a respective controller unit and a respective switching unit for routing communication to a called unit; the system comprising: a data base coupled with each said respective controller unit and with each said respective switching unit; said data base cooperating with each said respective controller unit to store location information substantially when said calling instrument begins communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit; said respective switching unit in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit employing said location information to effect said locating.
10 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein said data base cooperates with said respective controller unit to remove said location information from said data base substantially when said calling instrument ceases communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit.
11 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol.
12 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
13 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 10 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol.
14 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 10 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
15 . A system for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 13 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
16 . A method for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols; each respective network of said plurality of networks including at least one respective communication access unit coupled with a respective controller unit and a respective switching unit for routing communication to a called unit; the method comprising:
(a) providing a data base coupled with each said respective controller unit and with each said respective switching unit;
(b) operating said data base to cooperate with each said respective controller unit to store location information substantially when said calling instrument begins communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit; and
(c) operating said respective switching unit in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit employing said location information to effect said locating.
17 . A method for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein said data base cooperates with said respective controller unit to remove said location information from said data base substantially when said calling instrument ceases communicating in said respective network coupled with said respective controller unit.
18 . A method for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol.
19 . A method for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 9 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.
20 . A method for locating a dual-mode telecommunication calling instrument communicating in or among a plurality of networks using two communication protocols as recited in claim 10 wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is an unlicensed mobile access protocol, and wherein one communication protocol of said two communication protocols is a radio access network protocol.