MXPA98003081A - Method and apparatus for offering subscribers access to unused communications capacity, in a celu communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to charging in the communication resources of a cellular telephone system is monitored (100) to detect cases of excessive amounts of unused resource capacity (102). When these cases are detected, a message is transmitted to the subscribers (106) through the cellular system offering reduced charge rates for calls initiated in response to the offering message. The subscriber's mobile stations are programmed to alert the subscriber (116) as to the broadcast of the offer message after which the subscriber can initiate a broadcast of the offer message after which the subscriber can initiate a call to the subscriber. reduced rate (118). The mobile stations can also be programmed to automatically initiate the cellular call (124) in response to the receipt of the offer message and then engage in communication. Monitoring of communications resources outside the cellular system is also carried out and an offer message is broadcast through the system in response to the detection of excess quantities of unused external resource capacity, in response to which the subscribers can initiate calls requesting access to a reduced rate to the resource

Description

"METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OFFERING SUBSCRIBERS ACCESS TO UNUSED COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY, IN A CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cell phone systems and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for inviting subscribers in cell phone systems to use the system during periods of resource load out of affluence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE Capacity is a critical issue to provide subscribers with cell phone services. This capacity issue arises not only with respect to the air interface through which radio frequency communications are made, but also with respect to all other resources used in or connected to the cellular system. The capacity, in view of the demand of the subscriber for access to the cellular system and any of the external resources connected thereto, also drives the determination of the charge rate for the cellular service and / or the charge rate for the use of the cellular service. external resources. Therefore, it is important, for those who plan the cellular system, to provide adequate capacity to handle the demand of the anticipated subscriber (ie the system load) during the hours of use of the day of greatest influx (such as the hours of greater affluence and at noon). An unacceptable loss of income occurs when the capacity stops filling the demand for the highest flow because it is at this time of day that the charge for the service and the potential for generating income are at their highest levels. elevated. However, when designing the cellular system so that it has an adequate capacity to handle the demand of greater affluence, there is an excess of capacity that is not used during certain hours of use of the day outside of affluence (for example, nights and ends of week and also those cases of momentary reduced load experienced during the hours of use of the day of greatest affluence). This is also unacceptable, because when the cellular system is not being used by subscribers, the capacity of the unused system is wasted and the cellular service provider does not generate as much revenue as possible from the system.

Cellular service providers often charge higher rates during the week, especially during work hours, for cellular calls. Due to these higher tariffs, subscribers who preferred to use the cellular system during working hours select, for reasons of load only, not to make cellular calls. This does not bother the service provider during the peak usage hours of the day because the subscriber's demand, even at a higher load rate, often almost fills (or possibly even exceeds) the capacity of the system and therefore Therefore, almost maximum income is being derived from the system. During the hours of use of the day out of affluence, or in those momentary cases of reduced load during the hours of use of the day of affluence, however, the service provider would deserve to derive additional income from the capacity of the unused system, and by Consequently, he would be very interested in encouraging additional subscribers and especially the cost-conscious subscriber to make use of the cellular system. Accordingly there is a need for a system and method that offers subscribers of the cellular service an opportunity to utilize the service capacity of the cellular telephone system not used or used inefficiently.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the communication load on one or more of the selected resources of a cellular telephone system is monitored. When certain cases of excessive amounts of unused resource capacity are detected, a message is transmitted to the subscribers through the cellular network and its mobile stations offering reduced charge rates for calls initiated in the mobile station, in response to the offering message. The subscribers can then advantageously use the system at a reduced call rate. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, mobile stations operating within the cellular telephone system function to provide a visual or aural indication to the subscriber related to the remainder of the offering message. It is in response to this indication, that a cell phone call is initiated for purposes of either voice or data transmission at a reduced load rate. In addition, mobile stations in accordance with the present invention are programmable by the subscriber to function by responding automatically upon receipt of the offering message, prompting the subscriber who wishes to make a cell phone call. In the case of a voice communication or a data communication aided by the subscriber, the mobile station responds to the receipt of the offer message and the automatic access of the cellular system by notifying the subscriber that the installed call is in progress. For data communications not assisted by the subscriber, on the other hand, the subscriber wishes that a data communication is automatically carried out through the cell phone system in response to receipt of the offering message. In addition, the present invention may also function to send the offering message only when all supervised resources show excessive amounts of unused capacity. In a data application, the capacity of the data service node connected to the cellular system (for example, comprising a facsimile server or a database) can be of great concern to the service provider that the system capacity of the cell phone or any of its resources included. In many cases and in addition to still another aspect of the present invention, the load on the data service node and / or its associated resources is monitored by the cellular system. When instances of excessive amounts of unused data service node capacity are detected, a message is transmitted to the subscribers through the cellular network and its mobile stations offering reduced charge rates for calls made from the mobile station to the mobile node. data service in response to the offering message. Alternatively, or in addition a reduced charge rate for use by the data service node may be offered to the subscriber for cell phone system accesses in response to the offer message. Also, the present invention may also function to send the offer message only when all supervised resources show excessive amounts of unused capacity. It is known that in some cellular systems, similar to a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular system, the load on the uplink channels of the air interface does not necessarily coincide with the load on the downlink channels. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention comprises the monitoring by the cellular system of the different load connections in the uplink and downlink communications channels. When instances of excessive amounts of unused uplink channel capacity are detected, a message is transmitted to the subscribers through the cellular network and its mobile stations offering reduced charge rates to use the uplink communication channels (mainly for data applications) in response to the offering message. The measurement of cases of excessive amounts of unused capacity of the downlink channel, on the other hand, results in the offering of reduced charge rates for the use of downlink communication channels (mainly for data applications) in response to the offering message.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention can be obtained by referring to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a functional diagram of a cellular telephone system; Figure 2A is a graph illustrating an example of a load experienced in an air interface of the cellular telephone system; Figure 2B is a graph illustrating an example of the load experienced in another type of cell phone air interface; Figure 3 is a functional diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention; Figure 4 is a functional diagram that further illustrates the operation of the present invention; Figure 5 is a simplified functional diagram of a mobile station in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 is a simplified functional diagram of a mobile switching center, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1, wherein a simplified functional diagram of a cellular telephone system 10 (AMPS, D-AMPS, GSM, CDMA or the like) including a single cell site 12 is illustrated. Of course it will be understood that these systems typically include a plurality of cell sites 12 and that the illustration of a single cell site should be taken as an illustration of, rather than a limitation on, the operation of the present invention. Each cell site 12 includes a base station 14 (BS) for performing the bidirectional radio frequency communications through an air interface 16, with the mobile stations 18 operating within the system 10. Furthermore, it will be understood that the telephone systems cellular as well as system 10 typically include much more than a mobile station 18 operating within the system 10 or any cell site 12 therein, at the same time, and that the illustration of only one mobile station should be taken as an illustration of instead of a limitation on the operation of the present invention. Each base station 14 is connected to a mobile switching center 20 (MSC) which connects to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22 or another telephone network (not shown). The mobile switching center 20 operates to control the operation of the control base station 14, to keep a record of the location of the mobile station within the system 10 and the switch, with the public telephone network 22 switched, of those calls cellular telephone originated or terminated at mobile stations. Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, graphs are shown illustrating charging at the air interface 16 for a cell site 12 of the cell phone system 10, experienced during a typical day. For each of the graphs, the load 24 measured at the air interface 16 is plotted against the y-axis 26 while the time during a single day is plotted against the x-axis 28. In Figure 2A, the measured load 24b is presents with respect to the air interface 16 in an Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), digital D-AMPS, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or a similar cell phone system, where the charges measured in the uplink and the downlink are the same. Figure 2b, on the other hand, presents the measured loads 24u and 24d with respect to the uplink and the downlink respectively of the air interface 16 in a code division multiple access (CDMA) or a similar cell-phone system, where the loads of the ascending link and the downlink measured frequently are of different times. For example, in a data communication (similar to a facsimile transmission of the mobile station), in a CDMA system a significant amount of bandwidth is used in the uplink direction to carry the message of the subscriber while being using a small amount of bandwidth in the downlink direction to carry system messages. It will be observed when reviewing Figures 2A and 2B, that the measured loads 24b, 24u and 24d vary considerably throughout the course of the day. During the periods of time of greatest consumption, for example, from 7 to 9 in the morning and from 4 to 6 in the afternoon, the load 24 measured is relatively high. In fact, in some cases, as indicated generally at 30, the demand for a cellular telephone service during these periods of time of demand for influx may exceed the loading capacity 22 of the system and therefore, all subscribers of Service that want a cell phone service during those times can not be accommodated. It will be possible to observe in addition to a revision of Figures 2A and 2B, that the measured loads 24b, 24u and 24d during other periods of time of the day (for example, in the evening hours, during the night, at mid-day and at mid-afternoon) as indicated generally at 34, they are relatively low. During these time periods 34 of out-of-flow demand, the system 10 has an excess capacity of the air interface that is inefficiently not used. To focus to a certain degree on the concerns of the service provider through the inefficient use of the air interface during certain periods of the day outside of affluence (and therefore of the week), as well as nights and On weekends, cellular service providers offer special call rate plans to subscribers. Calls made during the night or during the weekend according to the plan are charged at a considerably reduced rate and in some cases are almost free. The provision of these special call rate plans serves as an incentive to increase the use of the subscriber to the cellular telephone system during certain out-of-flow time periods and causes a corresponding increase in the load 24 measured at the air interface 16, as is generally indicated in 36. However, even with subscribers taking advantage of any special plan, it will be seen in Figures 2A and 2B that there is still a considerable amount of unused capacity as indicated generally at 38, in the interface 16 of air. In addition, these planes do nothing to direct the momentary reductions in the face experienced during otherwise hours of use of the day of influx. Reference is now made again to Figure 1. The cell phone system 10 also includes a plurality of devices 40 for measuring the various loads of the system and its components included. One of these devices 40 (1) is placed inside or fixed to the mobile switching center 20 and functions to measure the load 24 (see, Figures 2A and 2B) on the physical channels of the air interface 16. For example, in an AMPS type cell phone system, the device 40 (1) determines for each cell site 12 the number of radiofrequency carriers of the air interface 16 that are currently being used for cellular communications of the subscriber. . Similarly, in a D-AMPS digital type cell phone system or GSM communications, the device 40 (1) monitors the number of time slots that are being used in each cell for the cellular communications of the subscriber. Referring again to Figures 2A and 2B, and the load 24 measured by the device 40 (1) with respect to the physical channels that are being used in the air interface 16 over a given period of time is less than a predetermined threshold load 42, the cellular system 10 generates and transmits to all of the nearby mobile stations 18, a message offering the subscribers the use of the air interface at a reduced charge rate compared to the current effect rate at that time of day. This offer message is disseminated in an effort to invite mobile stations and their proprietary subscribers within site 12 of the cell, to make use of the cellular system in that specific case of out-of-bound demand. For exampleSuppose that the measured load 24 of the device 40 (1) at the air interface 16 at three o'clock in the afternoon is, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, smaller than the threshold load 44. The offer message is then generated and broadcast to nearby mobile stations 18. In response to the receipt of the offer message, a number of mobile stations 18 initiate cellular calls causing an increase in the measured load (shown by broken line 24) and resulting in the generation of additional revenue to the service provider. If the increased measurement load 24 'rises above the threshold load 42, the broadcast of the offer message is terminated and is not redistributed until the newly measured load 24 or 24' decreases to less than the threshold value. . In order to take advantage of the reduced charge rate offered by the cellular system during non-affluent demand cases, the mobile station 18 must transmit and the mobile switching center 20 must receive an indication in the call access request. transmitted by the mobile station through the air interface 16, that the access request is being made specifically in response to the offer message. This prevents a subscriber from incidentally instigating a cellular call during a time period of the demand outside of the maximum consumption demand and therefore, advantageously obtains the benefit of the reduced charge rate when the subscriber would otherwise be happy to pay a full rate for the call. It is possible that the load situation changes before the call is instigated. The indication sent by the mobile station is therefore also important because it functions as a request for access to the reduced rate, if the charging condition has changed, the subscriber can refuse access in response to the receipt of the indication system . In an analog cellular telephone system, such as the well-known AMPS system, the preferred offer message is transmitted through the analog control channel. In a digital cellular phone system, such as the well-known D-AMPS and GSM systems, the preferred offering message is transmitted through either the analog to the digital control channel. In the CDMA system, such as in the IS95 CDMA system, the preference offering message is transmitted through the radiolocation channel. Of course it will be understood that the offer message may be broadcast to the mobile stations within the cellular system, using any convenient means or method, and the foregoing specifications comprise illustrations rather than limitations on the implementation of the present invention. Now making reference again to the Figures 1, the mobile stations 18 operable in accordance with the present invention are programmed to respond to a subscriber indication of a desire to take advantage of the reduced charge rates offered by monitoring for the receipt of system 10 broadcasting of the offering message . These mobile stations 18 also operate in two modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, in response to the receipt of the broadcast message of the system, the mobile station 18 visually and / or aurally alerts the subscriber with respect to the charging condition outside the consumption greater than the system, 10 allowing for so that the subscriber then starts a cellular call and takes advantage of the reduced charge rate. The mobile station 18, which operates in accordance with its programming, automatically provides the indication to be sent with the call access request to the mobile switching center 20, that the cellular call is being made in response to the offering message. The subscriber then may then occur from either a voice or data cellular communication to be charged at a reduced charge rate unless the system denies access to the subscriber (possibly due to a change in loading conditions). In the second mode of operation, the station 18 mobile is configured by the subscriber to automatically initiate a cellular call in response to the receipt of the next broadcast message of the system 10. Again, together with the call access request, the mobile station 18 automatically provides the required indication to the 20 mobile switching center that the cellular call is being made in response to the offering message. When the subscriber wishes to participate in the voice or data communication, the mobile station 18 visually or aurally alerts the subscriber to the fact that the established call is in progress. Alternatively, and with specific application to the data communications, the mobile station 18 is programmable by the subscriber to carry out automatically the transfer of the data comprising either a facsimile or data transmission from the mobile station or a facsimile or transmission of data to the mobile station through the cellular telephone network 10. The present invention is possibly more useful in data applications than voice applications. One reason for this is that cellular data broadcasts are often not time-sensitive transmissions. As long as the data is sent or received for a certain time, it is independent for the subscriber if the transmission occurs now or an hour later. Voice communications, on the other hand, are often very sensitive to time. The call must be made now or never. The subscriber therefore can not wait or possibly is not patient enough to wait for the receipt of the offering message before starting the cellular call. Reference is now made in particular to Figure 2B. in a CDMA cell phone system or other similar cell phone system, times may occur during the course of the day where the load 24u measured in the uplink exceeds the threshold load 42, while at the same time the load 24d measured in the downlink is less than the threshold value. One of these cases in which this occurs is usually indicated at 44. It should be remembered that these loading measurements are being made on a cell-by-cell basis. In response to the measurement of the device 40 (1) of a downlink load 24d, smaller than the threshold load 42, the system 10 generates and transmits to all the mobile stations 18 located nearby, a message that offers subscribers the use of the connecting air interface 16 at a reduced charge rate compared to the rate currently in force at that time of day. This offer message is disseminated in an effort to invite the mobile stations and their subscribing owners to make use of the downlink portion of the CDMA cellular system 10 in that specific case of the out-of-bound downlink demand.

Similarly, times may occur during the course of the day where the load 24d measured in the downlink exceeds the threshold load 42, while at the same time the load 24u measured in the uplink is less than the threshold value. One of these cases in which this occurs is usually indicated at 46. In response to the device 40 (1), the measurement of a downlink load 24u less than the threshold load 42, the system 10 generates and transmits to all mobile stations 18 placed next to a message offering subscribers the use of the uplink air interface 16 at a reduced charge rate compared to the currently valid rate at that time of day. This offer message is disseminated in an effort to invite mobile stations and their subscriber owners to make use of the uplink portion of a cellular CDMA system in this specific case of outbound uplink demand. The offer of either the uplink or downlink capability in the air interface 16 does not necessarily authorize the subscribers to engage in voice or data communications requiring the use of both the uplink and downlink portions of the air interface (ie bidirectional subscriber communications). Instead, the broadcast of the offering message invites only the subscribers to instigate a call from a mobile station 16 receiving messages and requests the reduced rate use of the portion of the demand outside of identified influx of the air interface 16. for the transmission of a unidirectional subscriber voice or a data communication. For example, in response to the measurement of the device 40 (1) of a load condition 24u uplink out of the maximum hours and further responds to the uplink offer message, the mobile receiving station 18 initiates a cellular call and transmits a communication of the unidirectional subscriber through the uplink portion of the air interface 16. These communications may include a facsimile transmission, data transmission or a voice call made to an answering machine or that attends automatically. Also, the measurement response of the device 40 (1) of a downlink load condition 24d out of the maximum hours and receipt of the offer message of the outgoing link, the mobile receiving station 18 initiates a cellular call and receives a communication of the unidirectional subscriber through the disjoint link portion of the air interface 16, it will of course be understood that in cases where both the overhead link load 24u and the overhead link load 24d are below the umnbral 42, the system 10 generates and transmits to all stations 18 nearby mobile stations a message that offers subscribers the use of both the link interface 16 as well as the connection link at a reduced charge rate. In response to this, the indication generated by the mobile station provides the identification of whether the use of the uplink, the downlink or both portions of the air interface 16 is desired. The air interface 16 does not comprise the only portion of the cellular system 10 that is subject to load restrictions that affect the operation of the system. In fact, there may be cases where the air interface 16 is in a load condition outside the maximum hours but the offer message should not be broadcast to indicate any additional load because it is essential that the operation of the system 10 efficiently control the load on other aspects of the system. The cellular system 10 may have been modified with an excess capacity of the air interface 16 and therefore, in accordance with the aforementioned implementation, the offering message would be transmitted at all times resulting in too many calls from the subscriber being made. at a reduced charge rate, a loss of revenue for the service provider and possibly the overload of another resource within or connected to the system. In this situation, the determination of whether the offer message should be transmitted should be based on the measured load of other resources (possibly in combination with the determination of the air interface 16) rather than on the measurement of the interface load. 16 air only. Accordingly, the cellular telephone system 10 includes additional devices 40 (2) -40 (4) to make the load measurements in other system resources. For example, one of these devices 40 (2) placed inside or fixed to the mobile switching center 20 functions to measure the load on the resource of the communication link 48 that extends between the mobile switching center and the base station 14. The load measurements are made with respect to either or both signal sending portions and / or the communication portion of the subscriber of each of the links 48. In case the load condition detected by the device 40 (2) is less than a predetermined loading threshold, the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offer message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber inviting the subscriber to use the cellular telephone system 10. This determination and diffusion are made independently of the current state of charge of the air interface 16. Then, a reduced charge rate for system 10 may be applied to all calls that have been initiated in response to the broadcast offer message. Another of these devices 40 (3) placed inside or fixed to the mobile switching center 20 functions to measure the load on the resource of the interface 50 of the mobile switching center that handles the communications through the communication link 48 that extend between the mobile switching center and the base station 14. The load measurements are made with respect to either or both of the signal sending portion or the subscriber communication portion of the interface 50. In case the load condition detected by the device 40 (3) is lower of a predetermined loading threshold, the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offer message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber inviting the subscriber to use the cellular telephone system 10. This determination and diffusion are made independently of the current state of charge of either the air interface 16 or the communication link 48. A reduced charge rate is then applied by system 10 to any of the calls that have been initiated in response to the broadcast offer message. Still another of these devices 40 (4) placed inside or fixed to the mobile switching center 20 functions to measure the load on the resource of the communication link 52 extending between the mobile switching center and the public switched telephone network 22. The load measurements are made with respect to either or both of the signal sending portion and / or the subscriber's communication portion of the link 52. In case the load condition detected by the device 40 (4 ) is less than a predetermined loading threshold, the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offering message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber inviting the use of the cellular telephone system 10. This determination and diffusion are made regardless of the current state of charge of either the air interface 16, the communication link 48 or the interface 50. A reduced charge rate is then applied by the system 10 to any of the calls that are made. initiate in response to the message of disseminated offer. Alternatively, the determination to broadcast the offering message via the system 10 may take into account the device 40 measured the charging conditions on any one or more of the system resources, including the air interface 16, the communication link 48, the interface 50 and / or the communication link 52. It will be understood, of course, that one of the load measuring devices 40 may be included and connected to make charge measurements at any resource within the system 10 that has a load restriction of interest to the operation of the system (such as the processor of the load center). mobile switching, for example) . In case the load condition detected by any one or more of the devices 40 in the system resources, either individually or in combination with one another as selected by the service provider, is less than a predetermined loading threshold , the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offering message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber inviting the use of the cellular telephone system 10. A reduced charge rate is then applied by system 10 to any calls that are initiated in response to the broadcast offer message. The load restrictions that affect the use of the subscriber of the cellular telephone system 10 may exist outside the system itself. For example, consider the existence of a data service node 54 connected either to the mobile switching center 20 or to the public switched telephone network 22. When connected directly to the mobile switching center 20, the data service node 54 may comprise a node in the telephone network (possibly within the public switched telephone network 22 or within the integrated services digital network (ISDN) )) that is maintained and provided by the telephone service provider. When connected to the telephone network 22, the data service node 54 may comprise a node in a local or wide area network (LAN or WAN) maintained and provided by a third party. The data service node 54 may still further comprise a data management device only connected to and accessible through either the mobile switching center 20 or the public switched telephone network 22. Additional devices 40 (5) -40 (6) for effecting load measurements on the resources associated with the data service node 54 include and connect to inform the cell phone system 10. For example, one of these devices 40 (5) connected to the mobile switching center 20 functions to measure the load on the communication link resource 56 that extend between the mobile switching center or the public switched telephone network 22 and the data service node 54. The load measurements are carried out with respect to either or both of the signal sending portion or the communication portion of the subscriber of the link 56. In case the load condition detected by the device 40 (5) is lower of a predetermined loading threshold, the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offering message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber inviting the subscribers to access and make use of the data service node 54 through the cellular telephone network 10 . A reduced charge fee is then applied by the system 10 for any calls that are initiated in response to the broadcast offer message. Another of these devices 40 (6) connected to the mobile switching center 20 functions to measure any of the load restrictions during operation of the data service node 54 itself. For example, the device 40 (6) may measure the capacity (eg, processor load) of the data service node 54 to process and handle the requests for data, or the input or output data. In case the charging condition detected by the device 40 (6) is less than a predetermined charging threshold, the system 10 generates and broadcasts the offering message to the mobile stations 18 of the subscriber, inviting the subscribers to have access and making use of the data service node 54 through the cell phone system 10. A reduced charge fee is then applied by the system 10 to any calls that are initiated in response to the broadcast offer message.

A more complete understanding of this aspect of the invention can be obtained by referring to a specific example where the data service node 54 comprises a database that stores the recoverable information of specific interest, towards a group of subscribers to the network 10 of the cell phone. The database can correspondingly store periodically updated lists of real estate in a specific market and therefore be of interest to real estate people. An agent may wish to update the current lists but does not necessarily have to receive the information immediately and may not wish to pay a full fee for either the cellular connection or access to the database. In accordance with the present invention, a real estate agent can then program his cell phone to provide an alert when an offer message is broadcast from the system 10 or alternatively to automatically respond to the broadcast message of offering. In either case, a cellular call is made from the mobile station 14 of the agent to the data service node 54 indicating that the call is in response to the offering message and therefore must be charged at the reduced charge rate for either or both. of cellular air time and access to the database. In response to the receipt to the data service node 54 of the call from the agent, the current list stored in the database is downloaded through the cell phone system 10 to the agent through either a facsimile machine (FAX) 58 (using a facsimile message) or a data terminal (DT) 60 (via a data or an email communication) connected to the mobile station 14. Of course it will be understood that the data communication may alternatively be made from the subscriber to the data service node 54 in response to the offer message in cases where the data stored or processed in the node needs to be updated by a transmission of the subscribers. The offer message may also be related to particularizing the services that are provided by the system 10 that are to be offered at a reduced rate. For example, the air interface load may be low while the load on the data service node is high. In this case, the offering message invites the subscriber to use that does not require access to the loaded data service node but nevertheless to the use of the sub-used air interface. Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4, where flowcharts illustrating the operation of the present invention are shown. In general, the steps illustrated in Figure 3 apply to the operation of the mobile switching center or other control unit within the cellular telephone system. The steps of Figure 4, on the other hand, generally apply to the operation of the mobile subscriber station within the cellular telephone system. Referring now specifically to Figure 3 in step 100, the cell phone system operates to monitor the load on any of the internal and external resources of interest. As discussed above, these resources may comprise the cellular air interface, communication links, data service nodes, etc. A determination is then made in step 102 of whether the charge measured in any selected resource or combination of resources is less than a predetermined loading threshold. With respect to the air interface 16, this determination is made on a cell-by-cell basis. If the comparison of step 102 in the negative sense is answered, the process returns in step 104 to continue monitoring the loading of the resource. If the comparison is answered affirmatively, a message is generated by the system and is broadcast in step 106 through the cellular telephone system inviting the subscribers to use the resource or resources at a reduced charge rate, in case where the diffusion is based on measurements of air interface load, the diffusion is made by the system only in the cell or cells where the measured load is less than the threshold. Turning now to Figure 4, in step 108, the broadcast offering message is received by a mobile station in the cellular telephone system. A determination is then made in step 110 of whether the subscriber has indicated through programming of the mobile station a desire to take advantage of the reduced call rates associated with the offering message. If the comparison of step 110 is answered in a negative tone, the process returns to step 112 to continue monitoring the loading of the resource. If the comparison is answered in the affirmative tone, a determination is made in step 114 of whether the subscriber had programmed in the mobile station a request to be alert to the dissemination of the offering menage. If the subscriber wishes to be alert, a visual or aural alert generated in step 116 is generated, in response to which, in step 118, the subscriber can initiate a cell phone call (voice or data) to take advantage of the advantage of the reduced rates presented by the offering message. If the comparison in step 114 is answered in the negative sense, a determination is made in step 120 of whether the subscriber had programmed in the mobile station an automatic response to be made to an offering message. If not, the process returns in step 122 to continue monitoring the loading of the resource. If an automatic response has been programmed, the response, which comprises in part a cell phone call (voice or data) is executed in step 124 to take advantage of the reduced rates presented by the offering message. Part of the executed response may include, as generally indicated by the broken stream path line, the generation of an alert in step 116 to allow the subscriber to actively participate in the call. The cellular telephone calls initiated in steps 118 and 124 automatically include a mobile station generated in the specific indication that they are being made in response to the broadcast offer message. Referring again to Figure 3, all incoming cell phone calls are tested in step 126 to determine if they are being made in response to the offering message. If a call does not include the related specific indication that responds to the offering message, the call is processed in step 128 in a conventional manner at the charge rate applicable then for the call. On the other hand, a received call that includes the specific indication is processed in step 130 at the reduced charge rate offered in relation to the broadcast offer message. This processing step includes the evaluation of whether the link is going through, the link to the bandwidth or the bandwidth is being requested and is authorized by the offering message. The call processing that is provided in step 130 further includes processing in step 132 to determine whether the off-load demand load condition originally discovered in step 102 is still in effect at the time when the cell phone call of the incoming subscriber is received. If the load condition remains below threshold, the call continues to be processed in the manner indicated in step 130. If the measurement of the load on any selected resource or combination of resources increases to exceed the predetermined load threshold, the system may either : (1) deny the subscriber the call in step 134; or (2) continue to handle the call in accordance with step 130, at the reduced charge rate. The call processing that is provided in step 130 still further includes the optional processing in step 136 to determine if the off-load demand condition originally discovered in step 102 continues as the call continues. If the load condition remains under threshold, the call continues to be processed in the manner indicated in step 130. If the measurement of the load on any selected resource or combination of resources increases to exceed the predetermined load threshold, the subscriber may either : (1) continue to be charged at the reduced charge rate (step 130); (2) notifying in step 138 of the change after which the call is charged in step 128 in the conventional manner to the charge rate applicable then for the call; or (3) selects to terminate the call in step 140 to wait for the next case of a broadcast offer message to continue the call. Reference is now made to Figure 5 wherein a simplified functional diagram of a mobile station 18 according to the present invention is shown. The mobile station 18 includes a processor (CPU) 62 connected to a transceiver 64 that is capable of operating on a number of different physical channels of the cellular telephone system. An output signal from the processor 62 selects the channel in which the transceiver 64 operates for communication through the air interface. An antenna 66 is connected to the transceiver 64 to transmit and receive radio communications (both voice and data) through the cellular communications system using, for example, the base station 14 of Figure 1. A device 68 of data storage (preferably in the form of a read-only memory - ROM - and a random-read memory - RAM) is also connected to the processor 62. The data storage device 68 is used to store the programs and the data storage devices. data executed by the processor 62 to control the operation of the mobile station 18 in order to implement the conventional mobile station operations and functions as well as those operations and functions required to take advantage of the offered delivery messages of the system as described in the present and as illustrated in Figure 4. The mobile station 18 further includes a microphone 70 and a loudspeaker 72 connected to the processor 62 to facilitate telephone voice communications. It is through loudspeaker 72 that the oral indication of the dissemination of the offering message is made to the subscribers. A data port 74 is also included connected to the processor to facilitate telephone data communications through a connection to a facsimile machine 58 or a data terminal 60. The loading of the programming of the mobile station 18 can be achieved through the data port 74. A display panel 76 and a numeric keyboard 78 are also included in the mobile station and are connected to the processor 62. It is through the display panel 76 that the visual indication of the broadcast of the offering message is made to the subscribers. The input of the programming of the mobile station 18 and the operating blanks can also be done through the numeric keypad 78. Referring now to Figure 6, a simplified functional diagram of a mobile switching center 20 according to the present invention is shown. present invention. the mobile switching center 20 includes a switching section 80 and a control section 82. The switching section 80 includes the functionality required to switch telephone calls originated by or terminated at mobile stations operating within the cellular telephone network. The control section 82 includes the functionality to control the operation of the switching section 80, and to control the operation of the switching section 80 and to control the operation of the base stations connected to the mobile switching center 20. A processor (CPU) 84 operating in accordance with a control program stored in the memory 86 performs control through the operation of the mobile switching center 20. One aspect of this control functionality comprises the processing of the charge information received from the load measuring devices 40 which may be included both inside and outside of the mobile switching center 20. In response to this processing, as described above, an offer message is generated by the control section 20 and transmitted through the air interface to mobile stations offering use at reduced resource rates. of the cell phone system used inefficiently and other external resources. Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the detailed description above, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without deviating from the spirit of the invention as established and defined in the following claims.

Claims (41)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S:

1. A method for inviting subscribers of a cellular telephone system to use inefficiently used communications resources comprising the steps of: measuring the load on a communication resource of the selected internal or external cellular telephone system; determining whether the measured load on the selected communications resource is less than a predetermined threshold; that responds to an affirmative determination, by broadcasting an offer message to subscribers of the cell phone system inviting the use of the selected communication resource at a reduced charge rate; and to grant subscribers who respond to the message of offered diffusion to access the resource of selected communications at a reduced charge rate.

The method of claim 1, further including the step of coupling in a data communication through the selected communications resource.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication resource comprises an air interface of the cellular telephone system.

The method of claim 3, wherein the air interface comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) interface.

The method of claim 3, wherein the air interface includes an uplink portion and a downlink portion and the step of measuring includes the step of separately measuring the load on the uplink and downlink portions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of independently comparing the measured loads of the uplink and the link above the threshold, and wherein the step of diffusing comprises the steps of: spreading a message of offering the connection to subscribers of the cellular telephone system inviting the use of the uplink portion of the air interface, at a reduced charge rate and the charge of the incoming link is less than the threshold; and broadcasting a downlink offering message to subscribers of the cellular telephone system inviting the use of the downlink portion of the air interface at the reduced charge rate if the downlink load is less than the threshold.

The method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication resource comprises a data service node connected to the cellular telephone system.

The method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication resource comprises a plurality of data service nodes connected to the cellular telephone system and the disseminating step further comprises the step of indicating which of the service nodes of data is being offered at the reduced rate.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of generating a message in the subscriber to answer the offering message requesting the establishment of a cell phone call, the response message includes a specific indication that the message of response is being sent in response to the offering message.

The method of claim 9, further including the step of processing the response message during receipt to confirm the presence of the specific indication before granting access to the selected communication resource at the reduced charge rate.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of generating comprises the step of automatically generating the response message after receipt of the offer message.

12. A cellular communication system comprising: at least one restricted communication resource of charge; a means to measure the load on the restricted communications resource of cargo; a control processing unit connected to receive the measured load values from the measuring means, the processing unit operates to compare the measured load values with a threshold, and responds to measured load values that are less than the threshold generate a signal that offers subscribers the use of the restricted communication resource of cargo, and also responds to an access signal of the received subscriber that grants access to the subscriber that responds to the restricted communication resource load; and a radio frequency communication means connected to the control processing unit for broadcasting the subscriber's offering signal and for carrying the access signal of the subscriber's subscriber responding to the control processing unit.

The system of claim 12, wherein the load-restricted communication resource comprises an air interface of the cellular communication system.

The system of claim 13, wherein the air interface comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA) interface.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the air interface includes an uplink portion and a downlink portion, the means for measuring comprises a means for independently measuring the uplink and downlink load.

The system of claim 15, wherein the offering signal comprises an uplink offering signal if the downlink load is less than the threshold and a downlink offering signal if the downlink load is less than the threshold.

The system of claim 12, wherein the subscriber access signal is generated in response to receipt to the broadcast offer signal.

The system of claim 12, wherein the communication resource is load restricted comprises a data service node connected to the cellular telephone system.

The system of claim 12, wherein the load-restricted communication resource comprises a plurality of data service nodes connected to the cellular communication system, and the signal that offers subscribers the use of resources, indicates which of the data service nodes is being offered.

The system of claim 12, wherein the restricted communication resource of load comprises a communication link within the cellular telephone system.

The system of claim 12, further including a mobile subscriber station that includes a means for generating the subscriber access signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the subscriber's mobile station further includes a means responsive to receipt of the broadcast offer signal to send an alert signal to the subscriber.

The system of claim 21, wherein the means for generating comprises means for automatically generating the subscriber access signal in response to receipt of the broadcast offer message.

The system of claim 21, wherein the mobile station of the subscriber further includes a data port for facilitating the connection of a data communication device with the mobile station for coupling in data communications using the restricted communication resource of load to which access has been given.

25. A method for inviting subscribers of a cellular telephone system to use inefficiently used communications resources comprising the steps of: measuring the load on a communication resource of the selected internal or external cellular telephone system; spreading an offer message to subscribers of the cell phone system inviting the use of the selected communication resource at a reduced charge rate in case the measured load is less than a predetermined threshold; grant subscribers access to the selected communications resource at a rate other than the reduced charge rate if a request for access does not specifically indicate what is being done in response to the broadcast message; and granting subscribers who specifically indicate the response to the offered message of access to the selected communication resource at the reduced charge rate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cellular telephone system is a code division multiple access telephone (CDMA) system.

27. The method of claim 25, which also includes the step of continuing to measure the load after the dissemination of the offering message.

The method of claim 27, further including the step of denying subscribers who respond to the broadcast offer message access to the selected communication resource at a reduced charge rate if the measured load rises above a predetermined threshold before the answer of the subscriber.

29. The method of claim 25, further including the step of continuing to measure the load after subscriber access to the selected communications resource.

30. The method of claim 29, further including the step of continuing to grant subscribers access to the selected communications resource at a rate other than the reduced charge rate if the measured load rises above the predetermined threshold during the access.

31. The method of claim 29, further including the step of terminating the subscriber's access to the selected communications resource if the measured load rises above the predetermined threshold during access.

32. A cellular communication system comprising: at least one restricted communication resource of charge; a mobile switching center that includes: a means for measuring the load on the restricted communication resource of the load; means for generating a resource offering message if the measured load is less than a predetermined threshold; and a means for processing the subscriber's requests for access to the restricted communication resource by charging the subscriber with access to the restricted communication resource at a reduced charge rate in response to a request from the subscriber received for access; and a means including a mobile station that responds to the receipt of the resource offering message to generate the subscriber's request for access processed by the mobile switching center.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the cellular telephone system comprises a code division multiple access telephone (CDMA) system.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the load-restricted communication resource comprises an air interface of the cellular telephone system through which communications between the mobile station and the mobile switching center are carried out.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the air interface includes an uplink portion and a downlink portion, and the means for measuring makes load measurements independent of each portion.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the resource offering message indicates which of the uplink or downlink portions or both have measured the load less than the predetermined threshold.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the reduced load rate is offered only in the uplink or downlink portions or both, which have measured the lower load of the predetermined threshold.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the mobile station further includes a means for scheduling by the subscriber in order to automatically respond to the receipt of the resource offering message by generating the subscriber's request for access.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the mobile station further includes a means for alerting the subscriber of the receipt of the resource offering message.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the load-restricted communication resource comprises a data service node connected to the cellular telephone system.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the means for processing denies the subscriber access to the restricted communication resource at a reduced charge rate if the subscriber's request received for access is not sent acknowledging the response to the offering message. of resource.