Location system for a wireless path

Abstract

The present invention is a system of at least a mobile wireless device and multiple communications paths from it to a target device, where the communications paths are through wireless intervening transmitters whose physical locations are used to determine a preferred path. A preferred system is one operating with a most direct physical path between the mobile device and the target device among the available communications paths.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to methods for routing communications between a target device and an out of range of the mobile, wireless device that can transmit to or receive from the target device.

[0003] There is an ongoing need for a communication system in which out of range operation for a cordless telephone can be achieved to thus eliminate the necessity for employing a cellular telephone (with the consequent cost) or the use of the telephone connection of another party.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention is a method for routing signals between a mobile, wireless device that can transmit to or receive from a target device. A mobile, wireless device that can transmit to or receive from a target device may move out its range. When that occurs, intervening transmitters may be used to complete the transmissions. If more than one intervening transmitter is required, a method of routing signals among the several devices is needed. Loop transmission and re-transmission of the same signal among the devices would occur and cause undesired and unnecessary traffic.

[0005] The present embodiment method uses geographical locations of the target device and one or more intervening transmitters. In one embodiment and as further described below for cordless phones, a base station may act as the target device and the cordless phone as the mobile device. The cordless phone embodiment below for leapfrogging from the cordless phone to the home base station is shown in the Figures as a linear connection between roughly equally spaced apart base stations. Those Figures are intended to also represent a two or three dimensional network where more than one non-home base station will be able to complete the step connection between base stations, i.e., the leapfrog step. In that circumstance, potential paths for transmissions grows quickly to a large number with only a few alternate non-home base stations positioned to make a step transmission.

[0006] This embodiment's method includes a target device having its physical location stored in its memory. The method may also include at least one intervening transmitter receiving or having stored in its memory geographical location(s) of the target device and/or other intervening transmitters. The purpose of using geographical locations of the target device and intervening transmitters is so that a transmission path can be determined and then established from the mobile device to an out of range target device.

[0007] The transmission path may be the physically shortest path based on relative positions of the target device and an intervening transmitter in direct wireless communication with the mobile device. This would be the entire or complete path. Or the transmission path may be longer than the physically shortest path if other criteria are established for alternate routing. There are well known algorithms for determining the shortest physical path among alternates if the physical locations are known. One or more steps of the entire or complete transmission path may be determined at the target device or at one or more of the intervening transmitters.

[0008] The preceding embodiment is described below as the third routing embodiment.

[0009] The present invention is a cordless telephone that can place, receive or continue processing of telephone calls, whether or not the cordless telephone is in range of its home base station. When out of range of its home base station, the cordless telephone of the subject invention transmits or receives digital mode signals with a non-home base station. Those transmitted or received digital mode signals are routed in one of several possible methods between the cordless telephone and its home base station, wirelessly or by wired connection.

[0010] The home base station receives the transmitted digital mode signals from a non-home base station, translates them to analog or other digital (i.e, such as ISDN) or data signals and transmits them to a home telephone line. The home base station may also receive analog or other digital (i.e, such as ISDN) or data signals from the telephone line, translate them to digital mode signals and transmit them to the non-home base station for retransmission to the cordless telephone.

[0011] A non-home base station can wirelessly route digital mode signals to the home base station, or vice versa. The wireless routing can be direct or indirect.

[0012] Direct wireless routing has a non-home base station in wireless range of a home base station. The digital mode signals are directly exchanged between those two base stations. This means that the cordless phone is out of range of its home base station but in range of the non-home base station.

[0013] Indirect wireless routing uses additional, intervening non-home base stations. A first non-home base station is out of range of the home base station but in range of a second non-home base station. The second station is either in range of the home base station or in range of a third non-home station. If in range of the home base station, the second station acts as a wireless link from the first non-home base station to the home base station. Other intervening non-home base stations can act as additional wireless links to span the distance between the first non-home base station and the home base station.

[0014] As long as one or more non-home base stations have overlapping wireless communication ranges between the cordless phone and the home base station, the user can move freely out of range of the home base station without service interruption. More importantly, the user can conceivably avoid cellular or telephone network charges for wireless communication from the cordless phone to the home base station. The invention wireless routing can be made without devoting new wireless bandwidth to its operation. Most locations in the world have cordless phone bandwidth already segregated for that purpose apart from cellular or other uses.

[0015] For effective wireless routing, the user can strategically locate his own non-home base stations within wireless range of each other over a desired area. Or the user can depend on non-home base stations located in and operating as parts of the base stations of other invention cordless phones. A new user gets their own uniquely addressed cordless phone and home base station and installs the home base station at a desired location. That new base station has means for acting as a non-home base station for another cordless phone uniquely addressed to a different home base station. Each new home base station installation at the desired location of a new user becomes an extension of the effective wireless operating range of the invention system.

[0016] Such call processing of the invention cordless telephone through a non-home base station does not substantially affect call processing of a second telephone that can use the non-home base station as the second telephone's home base station.

[0017] Digital mode, as used herein, describes a digital transmission and reception technology signal, i.e., TDMA, E-TDMA, narrow band CDMA, and broadband CDMA, spread spectrum, or other appropriate mode that may be transmitted on a channel. In an optional mode, the cordless telephone may employ a direct wire connection with a non-home base station for processing. The subject system allows the cordless telephone user to roam away from his home base station to the range of another base station and transmit and receive in digital mode to the other base station without interfering with the local analog operation of the other base station. This aspect of noninterference or line sharing is entirely novel to the art.

[0018] For the out of range or roaming cordless telephone, digital mode signals are exchanged by a roaming cordless telephone at a signal-separable frequency than that of the one or more cordless telephone handsets for the other base station so the signals do not interfere with each other. In one of several methods of routing transmission from a roaming cordless telephone, a received signal from the out of range cordless telephone is received by the other base station and transmitted from the other base station to the home base station for translation to analog or other appropriate signals (such as for data communications).

[0019] The digital mode signals sent by the other base station are of course transmitted on the same conventional telephone network connection (land line, wireless or other means, referred to hereafter just as “land line”) used by the other station for its own analog or other communications with a telephone network. The concurrent operation of the subject system and the normal operation of the other base station takes place so that the integrity of the normal operation of the other base station is at least substantially maintained. Although complete absence of interference by line sharing would be preferable, the owner of the other base station may well accept a reduced performance of normal operation if in exchange for being part of the invention system and to share in its benefits.

[0020] In further explanation of the subject system, digital mode transmissions (and received signals as well) enter the land lines of the other base station from the other base station for handling in one of several modes of routing to the home base station. The digital mode transmissions may be received by the telephone network with unique identifier(s) indicating that the signals or packets must be directed to the home base station.

[0021] In an alternate embodiment, the other base station and its associated telephone account may be equipped with broad band communications technology, such as for DSL communications, permitting co-transmission of the digital mode signals with the normal operation of the other base station telephone line, although using some of the bandwidth of the telephone account for the other base station. In another alternate embodiment, the digital mode signals may be transmitted directly to the home base station without requiring processing by the telephone network. In one or more of these transmission (and/or receiving) methods for digital mode signals from the other base station to the home base station, the digital mode signals are delivered to the home base station.

[0022] The home base station incorporates apparatus for receiving these transmissions in a manner such that it does not substantially impair the normal land line operation. The normal land line operation may include exchange of signals in analog or other digital (i.e., such as ISDN and the like) and data signals. Analog signals are needed for phone speaker and microphone operation. The home base station, upon receiving a digital mode signal from the roaming cordless telephone (for example, the first number of a desired telephone number that the user wants to call) moves the home base station to an off-hook state and transmits the transformed digital mode signal (now in analog or other digital (i.e, such as ISDN) form) to the telephone network for appropriate processing. Each subsequent number received from the roaming cordless telephone causes the telephone network to respond as if the cordless telephone were within its home base station range. When a dial up attempt is completed, the roaming cordless telephone receives communications signals in the reverse order, i.e., the home base station receives an analog signal from a telephone network source, the analog signal is translated to a digital mode signal, the digital mode signal is transmitted to the other base station, the other base station transmits the non-analog signal to the roaming cordless telephone, and the roaming cordless telephone transforms the non-analog signal to an analog signal that may result in an audible or data output usable by the roaming cordless telephone holder.

[0023] These simple concepts eliminate the need for an out of range base station with a land line committed only to reception and transmission of signals from the roaming cordless handset. The prior art contains many examples of cordless telephones that switch to a cellular network when out of range of home base station. The present invention system is not one of that category.

[0024] The present invention may incorporate a feature for timing out in a standby mode for a period of time if the roaming cordless telephone moves out of range of any receptive base station, so that the user traveling in a car or other transport may not lose communication contact with the connected telephone number during a call. The out of range base station can be a telephone with similar capabilities as that of the home base station, providing inducement for many user's in a locality (corporate building or campus, small community or other relatively compact geographical area) to install the subject cordless telephone so that they may have the benefit of out of range operation without the need to pay for a cellular network call.

[0025] It is well known that cellular network calls are many times more expensive than those from a single land line telephone. The subject system having at least one cordless telephone and two or more base stations permits the user to place and receive calls from out of range locations where the only charges that will accrue to the user will be those that would have accrued had the user been within range of the home base station.

[0026] The frequencies for a roaming cordless telephone and that set aside for the local cordless telephone preferably operate within the broad ranges set aside for the spread spectrum technology of the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz cordless telephones. It is well known from the cellular telephone art and the cellular-cordless telephone art that one of several frequencies may be programmably selected by the invention cordless telephone so that its communication frequency does not interfere with the communications of a local base station as opposed to the home base station of the roaming cordless telephone. It is also well known in the cellular telephone art and the cellular-cordless telephone art that base station range sensing expedients and range to range “hand-off” expedients presently exist for relatively simple incorporation into the subject system so a roaming cordless telephone can move out of range of one of the other base stations and automatically transfer all communication exchanges with a nearby or adjacent-range base station. Optionally, the user can be given a visual or audible signal that the roaming cordless telephone is moving out of and/or into range of another base station. Such signal will alert the user that their call may be terminated if another base station range is not at least nearby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cordless telephone C1 within operating range of its home base station CB1, showing other base stations and cordless telephones according to the invention connected by land lines to a telephone network.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a cordless telephone C1 outside of operating range of its home base station CB1, showing other base stations and cordless telephones connected by land lines to a telephone network.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of functions for the subject cordless telephone system.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram of two cordless telephones and their respective base stations showing wireless connection of one cordless telephone to a non-home base station in accordance with the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a prior art system for a dual function handset to have a first means for wireless connection to a cellular system and a second means for wireless connection directly to a cordless phone home base station when the handset is within its range.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the invention system of an out of range cordless handset transceiving wireless signals with its home base station by leapfrogging on non-home base stations to establish intervening connection(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The subject system incorporates at least one cordless telephone and two or more base stations. The functions of an exemplary cordless telephone and the base stations are now discussed in more detail.

[0034] A cordless telephone in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention will have a transmit/receive circuit (with antenna(s)) operationally connected with programmable circuitry to select a transmit/receive frequency according the objects of the invention. The programmable circuitry may include a central processing unit connected to one or more forms of memory for directing and controlling the cordless telephone functions as required herein. As controlled by the programmable circuitry, a modem circuit can demodulate received radio signals into a continuous signal stream, which will be able to be decoded by the coder/decoder (CODEC) into an audio signal which is controllably amplified by an interface controller and output through a telephone speaker. Likewise, a reverse path is followed through the cordless telephone as the telephone microphone detects user speech. A keypad and a display provide conventional user input and output. Or more simply, as shown in cordless telephones C1 and C100 of FIG. 4, respective input/output circuitry 201 and 204 includes wireless transmission and reception apparatus in connection with logic 205 and 208 as well as analog user interface 209 and 212.

[0035] Each cordless telephone is identified to a base station by a unique identifier. As in FIG. 4, the base stations CB1 and CB100 respectively include input/output coupling circuitry 202 or 203 for connection by direct land line with the public telephone network or other telephone network. Base stations CB1 and CB100 also respectively incorporate logic 206 and 207 and analog user interfaces 210 and 211.

[0036] The ability to switch between invention base stations may be accomplished with known range sensing and hand-off technology which use an over-air protocol as with a mobile telephone system, such as a Personal Communication System (PCS) with hand-held telephones in a cellular communication system or any cellular or mobile telephone system. The protocol defines a method in which user stations, such as cellular or mobile telephone handsets, communicate with one or more base stations to place and receive telephone calls. The protocol provides air-channel agility between base stations and user stations. Each base station may simultaneously maintain communication with as many user stations as there are air channels in its polling loop. The ability of a user station to communicate on any unoccupied air channel makes the protocol air-channel agile. Each base station continually transmits on each one of its air channels in a predetermined sequence.

[0037] The ability and technology of a single circuit to conduct multiple simultaneous conversations through identical and closely coupled media without substantial interference are well known in the art. The present invention uses such technology for transmission, along the same land lines, the digital mode signals of the roaming cordless telephone and the analog signals from the cordless or other telephone of the local base station.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a set of base stations C1 to C100 according to the invention connected by land line L1. Those base stations are connected without an intervening first switching telephone network TN1. Similarly, a set of the subject base stations C101 to C200 are connected by land line Ln. Those base stations are connected without an intervening first switching telephone network TNn. The set of telephone networks TN1 to TNn represent a worldwide communication telephone network in which base stations according to the invention are capable of land line connection thereto for analog or other communication with any other effectively connected user of the worldwide communication telephone network. FIG. 1 shows only invention base stations in the worldwide communication telephone network.

[0039] The subject base stations each have unique station identifiers matching those programmed into programmable circuitry in the cordless telephones associated with them as in FIG. 1, i.e., cordless telephone C1 transmits in an analog or data mode directly with base station CB1 when it is within its range. For a typical cordless telephone operating at 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz, that range may be anywhere from a 10-20 feet to hundreds of feet. It is within skill in the art with this disclosure to provide greater operating range of one or more of the subject base stations as desired and/or as permitted by regulation. No other base station will receive analog or data communication from cordless telephone C1 other than base station CB1, for example.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows cordless telephone C1 out of range of its home base station, base station CB1, but within range of a non-home base station, base station CB100. Non-home base station CB100 optionally has uniquely addressed to it a cordless telephone C100. A non-home base station CB100 routing digital mode signals wirelessly on path 215 doesn't need a telephone network connection path 216 for the invention system to work. Path 216 may exist in that circumstance so that station CB100 can act as a base station for cordless phone C100. A line is shown connecting cordless telephone C1 with base station CB100, which has a different station identifier than that of telephone C1. Base station CB100 cannot accept analog or data signals communicated by telephone C1. The base station incorporates standard cordless telephone circuitry with an additional transmit/receive circuit operatively connected with programmable circuitry which is turn is operatively connected with the land line connection of the base station to accomplish the objects of the invention.

[0041] The transmit/receive circuitry and programmable circuitry are adapted to permit transmit/receive functions of the subject system for more than one roaming cordless telephone. Where more than one cordless telephone is within range of a non-home base station, the programmable circuitry of the roaming cordless telephones and the non-home base station will operate to transmit/receive at separate frequencies for the roaming cordless telephones and operate on the digital mode signals of the multiple roaming cordless telephones as if they were different subscriber lines.

[0042] Non-home base stations (as to telephone C1) in the positions of base stations CB2 to CB100 may be capable of the transmit/receive functions for digital mode signals of the roaming cordless telephone to the home base station directly without intervening routing through the telephone network, as a portion of public telephone network TN1. More specifically, for a set of entirely local direct connection base stations as in base stations CB1 to CB100 (or the separate set of base stations CB101 to CB200), the several cordless telephones identified to their home base stations may roam from the range of their home base stations to the ranges of the local set of non-home base stations and be operatively connected with the home base station without intervening routing to the local telephone network.

[0043] The invention is now discussed with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3. Step 151 shows a first cordless telephone in a standby mode, thereafter performing step 152 of sensing for the range of a base station. If a base station is not sensed, the standby mode is maintained for a desired period of time. If a base station is sensed, step 153 is performed with communication established between the first cordless telephone and the base station to determine if the base station is the home base station of the first cordless telephone.

[0044] If a home base station is sensed in step 153, the first cordless telephone is thereafter in a state to place, receive or continue a call as in step 154. If a call is not placed, received or continued, the first cordless telephone is placed in a standby mode for a period of time. If a call is placed, received or continued, the first cordless telephone processes the call directly through its home base station as in step 155. If the first cordless telephone moves out of range of its home base station, it is returned to the state of step 152 to sense for a base station, otherwise the call processing is completed as in Step 157 and the first cordless telephone is returned to a standby mode in Step 151.

[0045] If at step 153 the first cordless telephone did not sense the home base station, it detects the non-home base station and its address in step 158. The first cordless telephone is moved to a state to place, receive or continue calls in step 159. If a call is not placed, received or continued, the first cordless telephone is placed in the standby mode of step 151. If a call is placed, received or continued, the first cordless telephone will transmit and receive digital signals as in step 160 to a non-home base station. This routing between the non-home and home base stations can be wireless or by wired connection. Digital mode signals are routed directly or indirectly to the home base station uniquely addressed to the roaming cordless telephone. The routing may use one or more intervening non-home base stations to connect the cordless phone with the home base station.

[0046] As a graphic example of the forms of routing, FIG. 4 shows wireless routing along path 215 between a non-home base station at CB100 and a home base station at CB1. FIG. 4 also shows wired routing along path 216 between the non-home base station at CB100 and a home base station at CB1, with an optional routing through network TN1 and path 219.

[0047] In a wireless routing operation as shown in FIG. 4, non-home base station CB100 has means for sensing if it is in wireless range of another base station and determining whether that other base station is the home base station of phone C1 or if it is in wireless range of a non-home base station as to phone C1. Routing along path 215 is wirelessly established if non-home base station CB100 senses home base station CB1 for phone C1. If non-home base station CB100 senses only one or more non-home base stations, non-home base station CB100 directs a control signal to those other non-home base stations to sense as it has just done for wireless range to home base station CB1 or to yet another non-home base station. Thus, an intervening non-home base station has means for receiving such a control signal, acting upon it to sense wireless range to other base stations and routing digital mode signals as an intervening link when the connection is ultimately made between non-home base station CB100 and CB1.

[0048] If the first cordless telephone moves out of range of the non-home base station with which it exchanges digital signals, as in step 161, the telephone is returned to the base station sensing step 152 for appropriate connection with a home base station or non-home base station. If in step 161 the first cordless telephone remains within the range of the non-home base station, the call processing is completed as in step 162, and thereafter the first cordless telephone is returned to the standby state.

[0049] It is important that the present invention not be perceived as being especially limited to the routing process of digital signals between a home base station and a non-home base station exchanging digital signals with a cordless telephone addressed to that home base station. Such digital signals may be routed directly by wire or wireless connection, through a local telephone network, through a public telephone network, through one or more of a sequence or network of non-home base stations, or other such configuration.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a prior art system for putting a cellular phone in the same handset case as a cordless phone. This combination phone doesn't change the way each phone connected with the telephone network (Telnet) before the two devices were put in the same case. The cellular phone connects to a cellular tower antenna that wirelessly connects to the telephone network. The cordless phone wirelessly connects directly with its home base station.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the invention system. Out of range of its home base station, the cordless handset sends its signals leapfrogging across non-home base stations to find their way to the home base station. The home base station is connected to the telephone network to complete a call with the “leapfrogged” signals from the cordless handset. Alternately, when the home base station gets a call from the telephone network and the handset is out of station range, the home base station sends its signals for the handset leapfrogging across non-home base stations to find their way to the cordless handset. The cordless handset can transceive after establishing that connection with the home base station.

[0052] The invention system lets the user wander as far from their home base station as they wish without incurring telephone network usage or charges. However, the invention system requires overlapping ranges of non-home base stations between the cordless handset and the home base station. As a user moves out of range of a non-home base station that directly receives the cordless handset signals, another non-home base station with an overlapping range will take on that task of direct reception.

[0053] Referring again to FIG. 6, the home base station and non-home base station are now further explained. Home base stations may be DECT cells as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,527. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,527, a cordless phone is described as having more than one home base station. The cordless phone can wirelessly connect with transceivers in any DECT cell where that phone is “assigned”. The prior art DECT cells are defined herein as a cordless phone network with multiple and direct telephone line connections to a telephone network so that more than one cordless phone in range of the cordless phone network can establish connection to the telephone network by direct connection. In the prior art, DECT cells have not had the ability to leapfrog signals from one DECT cell to another without the help of the telephone network. In the present invention, a DECT cell can be a home base station as the connection to a telephone network, but non-home base stations transceive signals between the DECT cell and a cordless phone that is “assigned” to that DECT cell. As described above, the digital mode signals from the handset “leapfrogged” to the DECT cell are converted at the DECT cell to appropriate signals for transmission to the telephone network. The invention may take advantage of existing DECT cells where the cordless phone is “assigned” a right to connect with the telephone network.

[0054] In addition, DECT cells, and their functional equivalents, can act as non-home base stations. Acting as non-home base stations, DECT cells, and their functional equivalents, may be able to send and receive signals as a non-home base stations at a much greater range than a standard single transceiver non-home base station. A DECT cell could operate as a broad range non-home base station even without permitting the invention cordless phone access to the telephone network of that DECT cell. The non-assigned DECT cell could simply act a as a leapfrog to a DECT cell where the invention cordless phone is in fact assigned.

[0055] The invention as shown in FIG. 6 also includes incorporation of a cellular phone into the invention cordless phone handset, similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,527. Cellular phone means can cooperate with the invention cordless phone in the same handset. When the invention cordless phone is outside of range of the home base station or a non-home base station, the cellular call capability could be activated through the cellular phone means in the same handset. The invention cordless phone reduces the need for cellular phone calls. In one form, an invention cordless phone in a handset with a cellular phone would switch from cordless phone operation to cellular phone operation on transmission of a digital mode signal that was not shown in the handset as received by the home base station after a short period of time. In another form, the invention cordless phone in a handset with a cellular phone would, during a cellular call, alert the handset user that the user had entered the range of a non-home base station that could connect with the home base station. A user could choose to end the cellular call and re-start the call from the home base station.

[0056] The invention as shown in FIG. 6 also includes using a modified non-home base station and the cellular system as a pseudo-home base station. The handset for the invention cordless phone in this form does not require a cellular phone installation. One or more non-home base stations have means for initiating cellular system calls by converting digital mode signals from the cordless phone to cellular system digital signals and transmitting the cellular system digital signals to a cellular system reception antenna. This cellular system connection detects the call being placed (or received) as if the carrier of the uniquely addressed handset was the one establishing the call, not the non-home base station. When the invention cordless phone is out of range of non-home base stations that will leapfrog the phone's signals to the home base station, the modified non-home base station in range of a cellular system receives the digital mode signals from the handset. The modified non-home base station converts the digital mode signals to cellular system digital signals and establishes a call through the cellular system. The user of the invention cordless phone handset can move out of range of the non-home base station that established the cellular call and not lose the connection. A second non-home base station can leapfrog the digital mode signals from the handset to the first non-home base station with the cellular system connection. This form allows a construction of the handset without cellular phone components, although cellular calls can still be made from the handset of the invention cordless phone.

[0057] The above system describes a cordless phone handset that can “leapfrog” through one or more non-home base stations to a home base station. Through the non-home base stations, a handset connects with the home base station or the home base station connects with the handset. If several of these non-home base stations are in range of each other, the handset, or the home base station, several routes could be available for completing the call.

[0058] Routing Embodiment #1

[0059] The following embodiment is for finding a fastest route among several available routes.

[0060] In the invention, the handset and/or the home base station are able to send a timed signal to a non-home base station, or vice versa. Or a non-home base station is able to send a timed signal to another non-home base station. This signal would be sent in a way so that the transmission and/or round trip time from one device to the other is measured. The address of the device first receiving the signal is also recorded. So a handset or home base station can be in range of more than one non-home base station and send timed signals to each one. Or a non-home base station can be in range of more than one non-home base station and send timed signals to each one. The time for the signal to make a one-way trip or round trip is found.

[0061] As just described, the time for each timed signal is recorded associated with the recorded address in a memory in the sending device. The times are compared. The shortest time indicates the best path for the transmission from the sending device. The sending device has means for directing transmissions along the best path. For example, a handset finding the best path among non-home base stations will send all its transmissions along that best path.

[0062] This timed signal system can be started manually, at timed intervals or when of the handset moves out of the range of the non-home base to which it is directly wirelessly connected.

[0063] Round trip and timestamped “ping” signals are well known in Internet and other communications. A “ping” signal is an example of the type of signal that may be used as a timed signal for this invention. Other signals may be used, preferably one that is short and easily identifiable by the receiving device. Preferred round trip times on a “ping” signal will be about 1 microsecond. Economically available microprocessors for phones (cordless and cellular), i.e., DSP's, currently using the invention embodiment of “ping” signals at about 1 microsecond trip time could have continuous overhead resulting varying delays much greater than 1 microsecond. Substantially faster (and larger or more expensive) microprocessors are available or may be arranged in parallel to get the benefits of the timed signals. The concept of timed signals could be used between cellular phones and reception towers, similar to the method just described for cordless phones and base stations, that could replace the need for cellular signal strength detection.

[0064] Several routing algorithms can be imposed on the invention system when timed signals are known. One preferred algorithm would be to allow each device, i.e., handset, non-home base station, and home base station, to control the direction of its transmissions to the best path. Another algorithm may set the route between the handset and the home base station anticipating a direction of travel or previous location, say from home to work or other course of travel previously used. Other information received about a non-home base station, such as a DECT for which the handset user is authorized to access, may be transmitted to the handset or home base station for a decision to hand the call off to the DECT.

[0065] In addition to times for best paths, signal strength on each path between devices may be recorded in the data carried in the timed signal. The timed signal data can be used in an optimization algorithm so that getting the fastest time can be balanced with the route having the strongest signals. A best route optimizing speed and signal strength can be chosen for the call. It is well known that “ping” signals, and other time signals, can be sent and received in several modes and time intervals to develop desired information.

[0066] The physical distance between devices with can be approximated based on timed signals. The approximate distance between a handset and a home base station can also be approximated by summing the approximate physical distances of the paths selected by the transmitting devices.

[0067] Routing Embodiment #2

[0068] The following is a more general embodiment of efficiently routing calls between a mobile handset and a receiving station through intermediate wireless stations. The receiving station for a cordless handset in the above invention would be the home base station. The receiving station for a cellular handset would be that antenna directly connected with the telephone network without intervening transmitters. For such a cellular handset, one or more leapfrog jumps are required through intervening antennae to communicate with the receiving station.

[0069] Routing Embodiment #3

[0070] This third embodiment is useful where a mobile device will wirelessly communicate with a target device through more than one wireless transmitters for relay of signals. One form of wireless relay is described above for cordless phone handsets and home base stations as respectively a mobile device and a target device. This third embodiment is broader in application than cordless phones. A mobile device for this embodiment extends to all radio or other wireless communications through leapfrogging relays to a target device. Mobile devices will include cordless phones, cellular and DECT phones, PDA's, portable computers, and all such wireless communication devices. Routing of the communications between the mobile device and target device is in a preferred embodiment the most direct, non-circular, and non-repetitive route available. However, if unregulated, the availability of several transmission paths between the mobile device and the target device will result in non-direct, circular and repetitive communications.

[0071] This third embodiment solves that problem with one or more uses of geographical locations. The handset, intervening transmitters, and/or target device have means for storage of geographical location data. At a minimum, the geographic locations of at least one intervening transmitter and the target device must be stored for use at required locations in the system of the mobile device, intervening transmitters and target device.

[0072] Data systems establishing relative geographic locations have been previously created in the prior art and easily gotten from several sources. One readily available and accurate source of location data is from data tables used by the GPS satellites or other such grid type data tables. Precise latitude and longitude are also available for input as geographical locators. A preferred type of data for locations is one where a specific physical postal address has been correlated to a specific alphanumeric code. A target device and relays will often be located at physical postal addresses. A physical location of a mobile handset may be determinable by the user for input into its memory or upon receipt into memory from a GPS device, although input of a physical location of the mobile handset is not essential to the invention.

[0073] The devices in the system have particular addresses by which they are identifiable to all other devices. Transmissions from a mobile device to an intervening transmitter are capable of being determined by that transmitter as required for delivery to a specific target device. A mobile device in this embodiment may direct its transmissions to or receive signals from more than one target device, although the methods available for establishing transmission to or reception paths from those separate target devices will be substantially the same.

[0074] Location data for a target device and intervening transmitters may be distributed among these devices in several ways to accomplish the objects of this embodiment. This embodiment is directed to using that location data to determine a transmission path for communication between a mobile device and a target device.

[0075] In a table storage form of this routing embodiment, the physical locations of intervening transmitters are gathered in a locations table. The locations table is stored in at least an intervening transmitter in range of the mobile device or the target device. The data gathering for the locations table may be manually, i.e., by a person recording that information and inputting it into a data table format. The data gathering may be by broadcast, i.e., intervening transmitters have their locations input into them when their eventual physical location is known and that data is periodically broadcast to other intervening transmitters and target device for accumulation in a locations table. Whatever the method of data accumulation, the locations table contains sufficient information so that an intervening transmitter receiving signals from the mobile device can determine a preferred transmission path to or from the target device based on geographic location data. In a preferred operation, an intervening transmitter in range of the mobile device receives a signal from the mobile device or from the target device broadcasting to find the location of the mobile device. That intervening transmitter determines a physically shortest path for sending and receiving signals between the mobile device and the target device and then that intervening transmitter selects which of the other intervening transmitters will operate to complete the path.

[0076] The table storage form of this routing embodiment may operate where all or substantially all the intervening transmitters have the locations table stored for their access. Alternately, a central intervening transmitter may contain that locations table. Other intervening transmitters sense signals directly from the mobile device and send that information to the central intervening transmitter, preferably along a pre-determined communication path among all the intervening transmitters. The central intervening transmitter then determines and delivers to other intervening transmitters signals sufficient to maintain an authorized communication path between the mobile device and the target device based on location data.

[0077] In a mobile device origination form of this routing embodiment. The mobile device has stored in its memory the location of the target device and then wirelessly connects directly with more than one intervening transmitters. The location of the target device and address of the mobile device is sent to the receiving transmitters from the mobile device. The receiving transmitters determine that the incoming signals originate from a mobile device and that a transmission path to a target device must be determined based on location data. Each of the receiving transmitters has stored in its memory at least its own location. The receiving transmitters compare their own location with that of the target device. The results of that comparison are a vector from each receiving transmitter to the target device. Each vector generated is transmitted to the mobile device for selection of a preferred transmission path. In a preferred mode, the physically most direct transmission path for transmissions is elected by the mobile device, as for a telephone call. The mobile device may evaluate the vectors and select the one most physically direct to the target device from one of the receiving transmitters. The mobile device sends an authorization code to the receiving transmitter with the most direct path. Only that chosen transmitter will transmit the mobile device signals. That chosen transmitter then wirelessly connects with the target device to complete the transmissions, if possible. If the chosen transmitter is outside of range of the target device, the chosen transmitter relay operates in the same way as the mobile device in this form to elect among in-range intervening transmitters that lie in a physically most direct path from the chosen transmitter to the target device. This set of steps is continued until mobile device signals are delivered to the target device. The target device sends signals along the chosen or authorized transmission path back to the mobile device.

[0078] For a target device origination form, the target device may operate in reverse of the mobile device origination form. In this target device origination form, the target device wirelessly transmits signals to in-range intervening transmitters, where one becomes a chosen intervening transmitter, that chosen intervening transmitter directly and wirelessly transmits the target device signals to the mobile device or to other intervening transmitters, where a transmission path is determined based on location data. For this target device origination form, the target device or in-range intervening transmitter must have received location data of one or more intervening transmitters that are in-range of the mobile device. That location data enables the target device or an in-range transmitter to determine a preferred transmission path.

[0079] In an expected location form of this routing embodiment, a target device has input means so that the user may input a location where the user expects to be either when the user is at the target device or by remote input. The target device can then determine and authorize a preferred or most direct path in reverse of the process used by the handset in the target device origination form or according to the location table form. The user can then travel to that new location and the target device will be able to originate communications without having to determine and “authorize” a most direct path.

[0080] In broadcast form of this routing embodiment, periodically the mobile device may broadcast to in-range intervening transmitters and establish a preferred or most direct path to the target device. Establishing that path reduces time needed to establish the preferred or most direct path when communications must be completed. Alternately, periodically the target device may broadcast to in-range intervening transmitters along preferably non-repeating and non-looping paths searching out the mobile device. An intervening transmitter that is in range of the mobile device will deliver to it a request for confirmation signal, which signal will be sent to that intervening transmitter. Among the above forms and other forms of this routing embodiment, a preferred or most direct transmission path will be determined and that information returned to the target device. The target device will use that transmission path if it initiates communication with the mobile device. If the mobile device moves out of range of the intervening transmitter the mobile device directly used in the transmission path, the fact of that break will be delivered to the target device, which may renew broadcasts to determine a new or most direct path to the mobile device. The target device may record one or more of the previously established transmissions paths. The target device may then preferentially direct broadcasts for the location of the mobile device along the recorded transmission paths before more globally broadcasting for connection with the mobile device.

[0081] The above options will sometimes present the skilled artisan with considerable and wide ranges from which to choose appropriate apparatus and method modifications for the above examples. However, the objects of the present invention will still be obtained by that skilled artisan applying such options in an appropriate manner.

Claims

1. A system for a preferred wireless path between a mobile device and a target device using multiple wireless intervening transmitters comprising: (a) preference means using unique device addresses so that the mobile device preferentially indirectly communicates with the target device through two or more intervening transmitters; (b) data storage means for storing location data of the physical locations of intervening transmitters and the target device in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters, and the target device sufficient so that if the mobile device is out of range of the target device and in range of an intervening transmitter a preferred wireless path based on the locations is determined; and (c) path means for causing the preferential communication to take place along the preferred wireless path.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein location data for the location of the target device is input by a user into the target device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the preferred wireless path is the physically most direct path between the mobile device and the target device among those available through intervening transmitters.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein location data of one or more of the intervening transmitters and the target device is stored as a locations table in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters and the mobile device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the locations table comprises the locations of all the intervening transmitters.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the locations table is stored only in one or more intervening transmitters.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the locations table is stored in all intervening transmitters.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein path means comprise means for determining at least part of the preferred path as a most direct physical path between the mobile device and the target device among alternate paths available among the mobile device, intervening transmitters and the target device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the locations of intervening transmitters are gathered at least in part in a locations table as a result of transmission from one or more intervening transmitter to other intervening transmitters

10. A system determining a preferred path between a mobile device and a target device using multiple intervening transmitters making available several alternate transmission paths comprising: (a) preference means causing the mobile device to preferentially communicate with the target device through two or more intervening transmitters; (b) location data of the physical locations of intervening transmitters and the target device in one or more of the target device stored at one or more of the intervening transmitters, and the target device so that if the mobile device is out of range of the target device and in range of an intervening transmitter a preferred path determined; and (c) path means for causing the preferential communication to take place along the preferred wireless path.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the preferred path is the physically most direct path between the mobile device and the target device among those available through intervening transmitters.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein location data of one or more of the intervening transmitters and the target device is stored as a locations table in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters and the mobile device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the locations table comprises the locations of all the intervening transmitters.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the locations table is stored only in one or more intervening transmitters.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the locations table is stored in all intervening transmitters.