HK1034405B - Method and apparatus for automatically determining an isp local access number based on device location - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for automatically determining local access number of internet service provider based on device location

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for facilitating communication. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically determining an appropriate local access number from a portable communication device to facilitate communications.

Background

Portable communication devices are becoming increasingly popular, especially for traveling business people. A portable communication device allows a user to perform multiple tasks such as word processing on a computer at any location. A portable communication device also allows a user to communicate with other devices or with the internet via a modem at any location.

A portable communication device communicates with the internet by connecting to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that provides local area services to its location. A typical local area may contain one or more cities. Many ISPs have different local access numbers in different cities within their local area in order to have cheaper access charges in those cities. By dialing the appropriate local access number in the local area where the portable communication device is located, the user can avoid long distance charges when accessing the internet. A problem with this procedure is that the user may not know the appropriate local access number for the local area in which he or she is attempting to communicate. The user then has to keep track of the different local access numbers, for example by manually entering them into the database of the portable communication device. As can be seen from the attached IBM global network telephone number list and IBM global network internet registered telephone list, the local access number list can be quite large. This makes it difficult for the user to remember all the necessary local access numbers or to enter them manually into the database. And entering the local access number into the database consumes valuable memory in the portable communication device. The problem becomes more complicated when the local access number changes, more access numbers are generated or the user needs to communicate from more local areas, as this requires updating the list of local access numbers.

Another problem with a user tracking local access numbers is that the user must know the local area in which he or she is located at a given time and/or the ISP serving that local area, or if there are multiple ISPs serving a local area, the ISP to know will be the cheapest one to access. The user must then pick an appropriate local access number accordingly. The only options for the user are to use a more expensive 800 number or to make a long distance call to a unique local number.

The problem is complicated by the fact that choosing an appropriate local access number may depend on factors other than cost, such as the quality of the transmission links provided by the different ISPs. Worse yet, many of the tasks of the portable computer are performed automatically without the active involvement of the user, so that the user may not be able to select an appropriate local access number before the connection is established. In this case, the portable communication device may use a local access number that is not the most desirable.

One approach to this problem has been developed by microsoft corporation. The proposed solution provides for the selection of the local telephone access number of the ISP, together with subscription and price information, based on the country, area code and telephone exchange of the user, so that the user can select the ISP, as described in the news published by microsoft on 7/30/1996 entitled "microsoft announces internet refereral servers to facilitate viewing, microsoft internet browser user selects internet service providers". This approach makes it easier for a user to determine the local access number of the ISP serving the local area that the user wants to communicate, but the user still needs to pick an appropriate local access number.

Thus, there is a need for a method and system that enables a user to communicate with a portable communication device from any location in the most efficient manner without requiring the user to track and select an appropriate local access number.

Summary of The Invention

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a method, apparatus and system for automatically determining a local access number to facilitate communications between a portable communication device and one or more local service providers.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a new location of the portable communication device may be detected and it may be determined whether a local access number for the new location of the portable communication device is stored in the device. If the local access number is not stored, the new location of the portable communication device is reported to a location server of a local service provider serving the new location. The location server provides an appropriate local access number for the new location and this local access number is stored in the portable communication device.

Brief Description of Drawings

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived from reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the associated drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to describe like elements, and wherein: in the apparatus. If the local access number is not stored, the new location of the portable communication device is reported to a location server of a local service provider serving the new location. The location server provides an appropriate local access number for the new location and this local access number is stored in the portable communication device.

Brief Description of Drawings

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived from reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the associated drawings, in which like reference numbers are used to describe like elements, and wherein:

fig. 1 depicts an exemplary system for automatically determining a local access number in accordance with an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention, and;

fig. 2 depicts an exemplary method for automatically determining a local access number in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary system for automatically determining a local access number in accordance with the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, portable communicator 110 is constantly changing locations and local areas. In fig. 1, 4 local areas a, B, C, and D, each containing a plurality of locations, are specified. The 4 zones in fig. 1 are by way of example only, and the present invention may be used with any number and configuration of local zones. Each local area is served by a local service provider, such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 140. Each ISP contains a location server 150 to track local access numbers assigned to different locations within the local area served by the ISP.

Portable communicator 110 contains software and hardware that allows user 100 to communicate with the internet from any location through an ISP serving that location. The portable communicator 110 includes a transceiver, such as a cellular telephone 120, and a computer 130. The computer 130 may be implemented by, for example, a programmable microprocessor. The portable communicator 110 can periodically utilize a data connection to the internet to facilitate messaging and information services. Unified email, fax mail and voice mail may be provided via communications. Information services may be provided by the world wide web, among other internet sources.

The portable communicator 110 automatically retrieves an appropriate local access number, either from an internal local cache in the portable communicator 110 or from the location server 150, at the location where the user 100 desires to establish a connection to the internet. For example, the last approximately 1000 local access numbers of a given ISP, each corresponding to a location within a local area serviced by the ISP, may be stored within the internal local cache of the portable communicator.

Fig. 2 depicts an exemplary method for automatically determining a local access number in accordance with the present invention. The method begins when the portable communicator 110 enters a new location and the cellular telephone 120 detects the new location and notifies the computer 130 of the new location. The cellular telephone 120 can detect and determine the new location by, for example, exchanging information with a base station serving the new location, in accordance with known techniques.

Next, if the user 100 attempts to access the internet, for example, to view email, the computer 130 determines whether the local access number for the new location of the portable communicator 110 is already stored in the local cache. If the local access number for the new location was already stored in the local cache at the time the user made the 'view email' request, the local access number is dialed directly and an attempt is made to contact ISP 140.

If the local access number of the new location is not stored in the local cache and the user 100 attempts to establish an internet connection, a Short Message Service (SMS) message is sent to query the location server 150 for the local access number before attempting to establish an internet connection. Computer 130 sends an SMS message to cellular telephone 110 and the cellular telephone sends an SMS query to location server 150. Location server 150 determines an appropriate local access number for the new location and sends an SMS response to cellular telephone 110 containing the local access number. This determination may be accomplished by reference to a table of local access numbers stored in location server 150 that are defined for different locations. This table may be updated as needed when local access numbers are added or changed.

The SMS response from the location server 150 may also include call setup data such as baud rate, modem type, etc. Location server 150 may track all portable communicators and other devices that have received messages at each location serviced by the corresponding ISP140 so that updated values may be sent to each device at a particular location when call setup data is changed for that location.

If the cell phone 110 does not receive an SMS response from the location server 150 within a reasonable time (e.g., 30 seconds), the call will be placed to a "default" local access number. This time can be set to any desired amount. The cellular telephone 110 then sends an SMS response to the computer 130 containing the local access number, which the computer 130 stores in the local cache. If the local cache is full, the oldest entry in the cache is deleted and replaced with the new local access number. Computer 130 then commands cellular telephone 110 to place a call to the ISP and cellular telephone 110 initiates call setup.

In accordance with the present invention, an appropriate local access number may be automatically determined to facilitate communications between the portable communication device and the local service provider. Allowing a user to communicate from any location without having to track local access numbers for different locations.

Although the above described embodiments are directed to an internet environment, the present invention is not limited to internet applications. Furthermore, although the above embodiments are directed to portable communication devices in a cellular network, the same principles may be applied to other wired or wireless communication systems.

While the foregoing description includes many details and particularity, it is understood that this is done for explanatory purposes only. Many obvious modifications within the scope of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims (12)

1. A method of automatically determining a local access number for facilitating communication of a portable communication device (110) with one or more local service providers (140), comprising the steps of:

detecting a new location of the portable communication device (110);

determining whether a local access number for the new location is already stored in the portable communication device (110); and

if the local access number of the new location is not stored, the new location of the portable communication device (110) is reported to a location server (150) of a local service provider (140) serving the new location, wherein the location server (150) provides an appropriate local access number for the new location, and the local access number is stored in the portable communication device (110).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device (110) stores a plurality of local access numbers for a plurality of locations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the local service provider (140) is an internet service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a default local access number is used as the local access number if the portable communication device (110) does not receive the local access number for the new location within a predetermined time.

5. A portable communication device (110) for automatically determining a local access number to facilitate communication of the portable communication device with one or more local service providers (140), comprising:

a cellular transceiver (120) for detecting a new location of the portable communication device (110);

a memory for storing a local access number; and

a computer (130) for determining whether the local access number for the new location is stored in memory, wherein if the local access number for the new location is not stored, the cellular transceiver (120) reports the new location of the portable communication device (110) to a location server (150) of a local service provider (140) serving the new location, the location server (150) providing an appropriate local access number for the new location, and the local access number is stored in the memory.

6. The portable communication device (110) of claim 5, wherein the memory stores a plurality of local access numbers for a plurality of locations.

7. The portable communication device (110) of claim 5, wherein the local service provider (140) is an internet service provider.

8. The portable communication device (110) of claim 5, wherein a default local access number is used as the local access number if the local access number for the new location is not received from the location server (150) within a predetermined time.

9. A system for automatically determining local access numbers to facilitate user communication with one or more local service providers (140), comprising:

one or more location servers (150), each location server containing local access numbers for a plurality of locations served by a corresponding local service provider (140); and

a portable communication device (110) having different local access numbers stored therein, wherein the portable communication device (110) detects a new location of the portable communication device and determines whether the local access number for the new location has been stored, and if the local access number for the new location has not been stored, the portable communication device (110) reports the new location to a location server (150) of a local service provider (140) serving the new location, the location server (150) provides the new location with an appropriate local access number, and the local access number is stored in the portable communication device (110).

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the portable communication device (110) stores a plurality of local access numbers for a plurality of locations.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the local service provider (140) is an internet service provider.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a default local access number is used as the local access number if the portable communication device (110) does not receive the local access number for the new location within a predetermined time.