Enterprise location discovery in dual-mode phones

Abstract

As dual-mode phones move within a wireless network, they track which cell tower they are associated with, reporting this information to a mobility controller. The mobility controller builds a list of cell tower identifiers which are associated with the wireless coverage, and makes this list available to subscribing dual-mode phones. Subscribing dual-mode phones can use this list to scan for network availability when they are associated with a cell tower which is on the list.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a network of a plurality of dual-mode phones each having a first radio for communicating with a cellular network comprising a plurality of cell towers and a second radio for communicating with a mobility controller associated with an enterprise network via at least one of a plurality of access nodes, the method comprising:
 receiving cell tower identification information by the mobility controller;   forming a list of cell towers by the mobility controller, where each cell tower has a coverage area with one of the plurality of access nodes within the coverage area; and   sending the list of cell towers to a dual-mode phone of the plurality of dual-mode phones, the list of cell towers for use in increasing a scanning rate for access nodes when the dual-mode phone is in communications with a cell tower on the list of cell towers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the providing of the list of cell towers to the dual-mode phone further comprises pushing the list of cell towers from the mobility controller for storage within the dual-mode phone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  where the providing of the list of cell towers to the dual-mode phone further comprises receiving a request for the list of cell towers from the dual-mode phone by the mobility controller and providing the list of cell towers in response to the request. 
     
     
         4 . A network comprising:
 a plurality of access nodes partially forming a wireless network; and   a mobility controller in communication with the plurality of access nodes to route information from telephone calls originating from a dual-mode phone to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the mobility controller being adapted to (i) receive cell tower identification information, (ii) form a list of cell towers where each cell tower has a coverage area with at least one of the plurality of access nodes within the coverage area, and (iii) provide the list of cell towers that is used for determining whether to increase a scanning rate for access nodes a recipient of the list of cell towers is in communications with a cell tower on the list of cell towers.