Motorola Corporation

David M Baum

Andrea E Bradshaw

Steven Jeffrey Goldberg

Gregory B Vatt

Michael William Krutz

Christopher G McClain

Dionne A Rivera

Jeffrey S Crosbie

Christopher G Mcclain

Gregory Barton Vatt

A distribution network 108 receives simplex communications or pages from any number of user interface nodes (UINs) (202) and distributes the pages to one or more paging outlets provided by page termination nodes (PTNs) (110) and delivery systems (102). The UINs (202) perform the bulk of the processing related to the distributed system of the present invention. Originator services (1000) are provided through UINs (202). Through originator services (1000) callers may place pages or inquire about previously placed pages. In placing pages, page originators can specify options (1102-1104) related to the delivery of pages. Subscriber updating services (1100) are also provided through UINs (202). The updating services (1100) allow a subscriber to alter (802-812) the services provided by the distribution network (108). For example, the subscriber may change delivery addresses (402) which identify the delivery systems (102) through which pages are to be delivered. Security procedures are implemented to insure that only authorized persons can alter the specification of services provided by the distribution network (108).

Distributed multi-outlet paging

A communication network (10) includes a constellation (12) of mobile satellites (14) in low earth orbits and stationary gateways (24) near the surface of the earth. Data packets are routed through the network (10) using communication paths that change from moment to moment due to satellite movement. The routing paths are scheduled in advance (58) in response to predictable orbital satellite movement. The constellation (12) is configured so that only a minor amount of overlap in radio range exists between adjacent satellites (14). Gateways (24) include multiple, spaced apart antennas (30) that may be used to acquire arriving satellites (14'). When a gateway (24) has trouble quickly acquiring an arriving satellite (14'), an exception handoff time may be substituted for the scheduled normal handoff time at the gateway (24), departing satellite (14), and arriving satellite (14') involved.

Communication network with flexible handoff scheduling for mobile nodes

A unique cellular telephone billing system (100) processes call detail records (102) of cellular telephone calls made by users of multi-line customers to produce invoices and reports containing consolidated billing, usage and cost information for the current and other eligible cellular service plans. The call detail records (301 and 302) for each user of a multi-line customer include a unique key identification number (311 and 321) and may include an information format (401 and 402) having variable-length sub-fields (411-415 and 421-423). A candidate file (136) is created from the customer detail pool file (112) by including active user records for multi-line customers and usage data is accumulated in summary records for each user. Eligible cellular service plans are identified for each user in the candidate file and costs for accumulated usage data are estimated under the current and eligible cellular service plans. The estimated costs for the current and eligible cellular service plans may then be compared to determine the most cost effective service plan for each user on the basis of current average usage or rate plan level, account level or market level aggregate average usage. Reports may be generated for each multi-line user illustrating consolidated billing, usage and cost information by sorting on the basis of the corresponding key identification number and information format.

Method of selecting the most cost effective cellular service plan

A unique cellular telephone billing system (100) processes call detail records (102) of cellular telephone calls made by users of multi-line customers to produce invoices and reports. The call detail records (301 and 302) for each user of a multi-line customer include a unique key identification number (311 and 321) and may include an information format (401 and 402) having variable-length sub-fields (411-415 and 421-423). Call detail records (102) with key identification numbers are pooled into files (110) and then sorted for each multi-line customer by key identification number and corresponding information format to produce consolidated billing and usage information for all of the cellular telephones as well as individual invoices for each of user-employee of each multi-line customer.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

David M Baum