Communication system and method including dual mode capability

Abstract

A system and method for a communication apparatus to provide advanced features such as dual mode capability, billing options for communication charges (for instance reverse billing), and definable accessible controls. In one embodiment, a subscriber apparatus (for instance a wireless communication apparatus) including pager (such as page phone) or radiotelephone functions. A caller calls the subscriber apparatus. The caller gains two-way communication with the subscriber apparatus. The subscriber apparatus may include roaming capability to control movement of a communication channel of the subscriber apparatus from a first system (for instance a regular cellular system) to a second system (for instance a local loop). The billing options include reversing communication charges (for instance from a subscriber to a calling party), receiving advertisements to reduce communication charges, or splitting communication charges (for instance between a subscriber and a calling party).

1 .- 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A wireless system, comprising: 
 a radio frequency transceiver adapted to communicate with a local exchange carrier and to establish a local loop over a communication area;    a cellular apparatus having dual mode capability and configured to provide automatic roaming capability from said local loop to a cellular system, and to initiate at least one of de-registration and registration of said cellular apparatus between said local loop and said cellular system at least partially in response to a detected Radio Frequency (RF) power level; and    a module configured to receive and process a mobile identification number of at least one of said cellular apparatus or a first communication apparatus such that a two-way wireless connection is capable of being established between said first communication apparatus and said cellular apparatus.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said detected RF power level is capable of registering said cellular apparatus with said local loop from said cellular system when said detected RF power level is detected above a predefined power level.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said local loop is adapted to provide up to T1 capacity to a wireless local loop subscriber.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said cellular apparatus is adapted to operate on a dedicated frequency within a wireless local loop subscriber's premises or said communication area.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said local loop and said cellular system are adapted to utilize frequencies that are close in spectrum.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said local loop and said cellular system are adapted to utilize operational frequencies within approximately 100 MHz of each other.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a database configured to reverse charges of at least a portion of said two-way communication to an account associated with the first communication apparatus.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a customer profile that is adapted to reduce at least a portion of communication charges at least partially in response to receipt of one or more airtime discounted service (ADS) messages.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a database profile configured to reverse communication charges.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a database profile configured to divide communication charges between a subscriber and an account associated with the first communication apparatus.  
     
     
         34 . A wireless device, comprising: 
 a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with:    a local exchange carrier; and    wireless communication apparatus comprising a multi-mode transceiver configured to provide automatic roaming capability, the automatic roaming capability comprising at least one or de-registration and registration of said first wireless device between a cellular system and said local loop, the at least one of deregistration and registration responsive to a detected RF power level associated with the local loop;    wherein the wireless device is adapted to establish a local loop over an area via said radio frequency transceiver; and    wherein the wireless device is further adapted to receive and process a request and capable to establish a two-way wireless connection between the wireless communication apparatus and a user communication apparatus.    
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein said detected RF power level is adapted to provide registration of said wireless communication apparatus with said local loop from said cellular system when said detected RF power level is above a predefined power level.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first wireless communication apparatus is configured to process an associated identification number of at least one of the wireless communication apparatus, the user communication apparatus, and a subscriber.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the subscriber is one of at least the cellular system and the local loop.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 the associated identification number of at least one of the wireless communication apparatus, the user communication apparatus, and the subscriber comprises a carrier identification number; and    the local exchange carrier is configured to provide wideband capability to the subscriber.    
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein: 
 the associated identification number is selected from the group consisting of: a local phone number, a DID (Directory Inbound Dialing Number), a carrier identification number, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN); and    the local exchange carrier is adapted to communicate over a wideband area network.    
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the wireless communication apparatus is adapted to operate on a dedicated frequency within the local loop.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a database configured to provide a billing profile for communications associated with at least one of the user communication apparatus, the wireless communication apparatus, and a subscriber.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a customer profile to reduce communication charges in response to receipt of one or more discount service messages.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a database configured to provide service information comprising instructions to reverse communication charges to a calling party.  
     
     
         44 . A wireless communication device, comprising: 
 a module configured to communicate with a wireless local loop apparatus having a radio frequency transmitter, said radio frequency transmitter configured to communicate with a local exchange carrier to facilitate establishment of a local loop over a loop area;    wherein the module is further configured to communicate an associated mobile identification number and to provide multi-mode communication, the multi-mode communication comprising automatic roaming capability between said local loop and a regular cellular system in response a RF power level of the local loop being detected above a threshold level; and    wherein the wireless local loop apparatus is configured to receive and process said associated mobile identification number such that a wireless connection is capable of being made between said wireless communication device and a user communication device, thereby allowing two-way communication to be established between said user communication device and the wireless communication device.    
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the wireless local loop apparatus is configured to process an associated identification number of at least one of the user communication device, the wireless communication device, and a subscriber.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the associated identification number comprises a carrier identification number; and    the local exchange carrier provides wideband capability to the subscriber.    
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the associated identification number is selected from the group consisting of: a local phone number, a DID (Directory Inbound Dialing number), a carrier identification number, and a Mobile Identification Number (MIN); and    the local exchange carrier is configured to communicate over a wideband area network.    
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to operate on a dedicated frequency within the local loop.  
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 44 , further comprising an account associated with a calling party to charge at least a portion of charges associated with the two-way communication.  
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the associated mobile identification number of the user communication device comprises a Directory Inbound Dialing (DID) number.  
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein the local loop and the regular cellular system are adapted to utilize frequencies that are substantially close in a chosen frequency spectrum.  
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 44 , further comprising a database configured to provide an option of receiving airtime discounted service (ADS) messages to reduce or prevent communication charges.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 44 , further comprising a database configured to reverse communication charges.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein a database associated with the wireless communication device credits billing in response to received airtime discounted service (ADS) messages to reduce communication charges of at least one of a calling party and a subscriber.